Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2012

1933 Act Registration File No. 333-182417

1940 Act File No. 811-22718

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 


REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  [ X ]


[ X ] Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2

                                                                                                                                

[    ] Post-Effective Amendment No.

                                                                                                                                

and/or


REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   [ X ]



[ X ] Amendment No. 2

                                                                                                                                

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE  68130

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:

402-895-1600


The Corporation Trust Company

1209 Orange Street

Wilmington, DE  19801

(Name and. Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:




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Aisha J. Hunt

Dechert LLP

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300

San Francisco, CA   94111

(415) 262-4594 (phone)

(415) 262-4555 (fax)

James Ash

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

(631) 470-2619 (phone)



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

[   ]   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

[   ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

[   ]   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(l)

[   ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(l)

[   ]   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(l)

[   ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

[ x ]   as soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file an amendment which specifically states that the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.


                     



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Subject to Completion—Dated October 26, 2012


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.





Alternative Avenue Fund



PROSPECTUS


[___], 2012


Investor Class   AAVEX




Advised by:

Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA  01803




www.ariafundsllc.com          1-866-862-9686



This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.


These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.






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TABLE OF CONTENTS


FUND SUMMARY

 

Investment Objective

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

Performance

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Tax Information

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Sub-Advisers

 

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

 

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Distributor

 

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries

 

Householding

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Privacy Notice

 



 



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FUND SUMMARY


Investment Objective: The Alternative Avenue Fund (the “Fund”) seeks capital appreciation with an emphasis on absolute returns and low correlation to the broader U.S. equity and bond markets.


Fees and Expenses of the Fund:  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.


Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Investor

Class

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a % of offering price)

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

(as a % of original purchase price)

None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed

On Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions

None

Redemption Fee

(as a % of amount redeemed within 90 days of purchase)

2.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage

of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee (1)

1.95%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

0.00%

Other Expenses (2)

0.00%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (3)

0.04%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.99%

 

(1) The Fund’s Adviser provides investment advisory service, pays all sub-advisory fees and pays most of the Fund’s operating expenses (with certain exceptions) in return for a “unitary fee” (exclusive of any taxes, short selling expenses, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation).

(2) Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(3) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.  The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

 

Example:  This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.


The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 year

3 years

Investor Class

$202

$624


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 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

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in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. No portfolio turnover rate is provided for the Fund because the Fund has not completed its first fiscal year as of the date of this Prospectus.


Principal Investment Strategies: The Fund pursues its objective by utilizing various investment strategies and allocating its assets among multiple sub-advisers (each, a “Sub-Adviser”). The Adviser selects and oversees the Sub-Advisers who each manage separate segments of the Fund’s portfolio using distinct investment styles. The Adviser may select Sub-Advisers with overlapping strategies to pursue the Fund’s investment objective.


The Adviser will select and determine the percentage of Fund assets to allocate to each Sub-Adviser.  The Adviser, however, retains discretion to invest the Fund’s assets in securities and other instruments directly.


Each Sub-Adviser has discretion to invest the portion of the Fund’s assets it has been allocated as it deems appropriate, based on the Sub-Advisers’ investment style and process. The Sub-Advisers may not utilize all of the strategies all of the time due to the opportunistic and flexible nature of their investment approach and philosophy. The performance of these strategies may not correlate to the performance of traditional markets because of the strategies’ focus on limiting downside investment risk.  Although, each Sub-Adviser is subject to the general oversight of the Adviser, the Adviser does not manage the day-to-day investments of the Sub-Advisers.  The Sub-Advisers will employ a variety of strategies in managing the Fund’s investment portfolio, including the following:


Long/Short Equity Investing, Market Neutral Equity Investing: taking long and short positions in equity securities, including common stocks and preferred stocks of U.S. and foreign issuers with the goal of minimizing exposure to general market risk.


Fixed Income, Long/Short Credit: taking long and short positions in fixed income securities, with the goal of minimizing exposure to general market risk.


Convertible Arbitrage Investing: investing in interest-bearing convertible debentures and high yielding, convertible preferred stocks.  These long convertible positions are hedged against market and issuer risk by selling short a percentage of the underlying common stock and/or by writing equity call options.


Event Driven Investing: investing in equity or fixed income securities to take advantage of the impact of corporate events, such as bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations, spin-offs, restructurings and material litigation, on the market value of company securities before and after such events occur.


Long Investing:  focuses on the purchase of equities and fixed income securities of U.S. issuers and foreign issuers based on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to capitalize on a rising market through appreciation.  In making sell decisions, the Sub-Adviser considers, among other factors, whether a security’s price target has been met, whether there has been an overvaluation of the issuer by the market, whether there has been a clear deterioration of future earnings power and whether, in the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, there has been a loss of a long-term competitive advantage.



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Opportunistic and Global Macro Investing : long and short investing in equity, fixed income and currency markets globally with the objective of generating a return from market trends across various U.S. and foreign markets, sectors and industries.


Distressed Securities Investing:  investing in securities of companies or government entities that are currently undervalued, out-of-favor, have low credit ratings, are engaged in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings or are affected by other adverse factors.


Managed Futures Related Investing: investing in a portfolio of financial futures contracts and futures-related instruments, such as equity index futures, currency forwards and fixed income futures.


To implement the various strategies, the Fund may invest in a wide variety of securities and financial instruments, markets, and asset classes available in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets, including emerging markets.  These securities and financial instruments may include, but are not limited to, equity securities, fixed income securities of any credit quality and maturity, and derivatives based on a variety of underlying assets, including options, futures, forward contracts and swap agreements, as described in greater detail below and in the Statement of Additional Information.


The Fund may take both long and short positions in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations of any size, including common and preferred stock of U.S. and foreign companies (including issuers located in emerging markets), convertible securities, depositary receipts, equity swaps and derivative instruments that are linked to equity securities.  In addition to direct investments in equity securities and equity-linked instruments, the Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that invest in equity securities and equity-linked instruments.  The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of U.S. and foreign issuers (including issuers located in emerging markets), and derivative securities that are linked to fixed income securities.  “Fixed income securities” include corporate bonds, fixed income securities and other fixed income instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. governments (including their agencies or instrumentalities) and private-sector entities, exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), distressed debt securities, bank loan participations, and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.  These investments may include securities of varying maturities, durations and ratings, including securities that have been rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (“NRSRO”), commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or “high yield bonds.”  Fixed income securities may also be secured or unsecured, or have various rankings (such as senior or subordinate) to other fixed income securities of the same issuer.  In addition to direct investments in fixed income securities and other instruments that are linked to fixed income securities, the Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies that invest in fixed income securities and other instruments that are linked to fixed income securities, including shares of ETFs.  


The Fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies (including that of issuers located in emerging markets).  In addition, the Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency, enter into spot or forward currency contracts, and may invest in currency futures contracts, options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures.  



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The Fund’s investments in derivative securities, specifically futures contracts, options, options on futures contracts, swap agreements, credit default swaps and currency-linked derivatives, may be used as a substitute for making direct investments in the underlying instruments or to reduce exposure to, or “hedge,” against market volatilities and other risks. The Fund does not invest more than 25% of its assets in contracts with any one counterparty. The Fund may use a derivative investment rather than investing directly in an underlying asset class as a low-cost, effective means to gain exposure to the asset class.  Derivatives and short sale transactions involve the use of leverage.  Accordingly, the Fund will maintain long positions in securities available for collateral, consisting of cash, cash equivalents and other liquid securities, to comply with applicable legal requirements. The Fund will sell an investment during portfolio rebalancing periods when the Fund’s holdings in that investment are larger than the allocation suggested by a Sub-Adviser’s investment models or when a more attractive investment becomes available.

 

The Fund actively trades portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.


Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover due to active and frequent trading will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.

 

Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to risk of prepayment. These types of securities may also decline in value because of mortgage foreclosures or defaults on the underlying obligations.


Bank Loan Risk. The Fund’s investments in secured and unsecured participations in bank loans and assignments of such loans may create substantial risk. In making investments in such loans, which are made by banks or other financial intermediaries to borrowers, the Fund will depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.




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Convertible Securities Risk. The risk that the market value of a convertible security will perform the same as a regular fixed income security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of the convertible security falls. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities generally would be paid after the company’s creditors but before the company’s common shareholders. Consequently, an issuer’s convertible securities generally may be viewed as having more risk than its fixed income securities but less risk than its common stock.


Currency and Forward Currency Contracts Risks. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of what the Fund owns and the Fund’s share price. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, an investment in that foreign currency loses value because it is worth fewer U.S. dollars. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. Investments in forward currency contracts could minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, but may also limit any potential gain from an increase in the value of the currency.


Derivatives Risk. The Fund may use derivatives (including futures, options and swap agreements) to enhance returns or hedge against market declines.  The Fund, however, will not invest in commodity futures or any commodity-related instruments.  The Fund's derivative investments have risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets of the Fund, which creates the possibility that the loss on such instruments may be greater than the gain in the value of the underlying assets in the Fund's portfolio; the loss of principal; the possible default of the other party to the transaction; and illiquidity of the derivative investments. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. Certain derivatives may give rise to a form of leverage. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss.


Distressed Securities Risk. The Fund’s investment in distressed securities may involve a substantial degree of risk. These instruments, which involve loans, loan participations, bonds, notes, non-performing and sub-performing mortgage loans typically are unrated, lower-rated, in default or close to default. Many of these instruments are not publicly traded, and may become illiquid. The prices of such instruments may be extremely volatile. Securities of distressed companies are generally more likely to become worthless than the securities of more financially stable companies. Valuing such instruments may be difficult, and the Fund may lose all of its investment, or it may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than the Fund’s original investment. Issuers of distressed securities are typically in a weak financial condition and may default, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment.


Equity Risk. Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. Preferred stocks are subject to the risk that the



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dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer, and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited.


ETF Risk. When the Fund invests in ETFs, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the other investment company’s or ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying investments the ETF holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.


Event Risk. Event risk is the risk that corporate issuers may undergo restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers, or similar events financed by increased debt. As a result of the added debt, the credit quality and market value of a company’s bonds and/or other fixed income securities may decline significantly.


Exchange-Traded Note Risk. The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying securities markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.


Fixed Income Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities or derivatives, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities or derivatives owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.


Foreign and Emerging Markets Securities Risk . The risk of investments in foreign companies involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in the securities of U.S. companies, including changes in currency exchange rates, unstable political, social and economic conditions, a lack of adequate or accurate company information, differences in the way securities markets operate, less secure international banks or securities depositories than those in the U.S. and foreign controls on investment. In addition, individual international country economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rates of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Sub-Advisers may invest in emerging market countries, which can involve higher degrees of risk as compared with developed economies.


Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from,



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and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).  The Fund could be unable to recover assets held at the futures clearing broker, even assets directly traceable to the Fund from the futures clearing broker in the event of a bankruptcy of the broker.  Although a Futures Commission Merchant (including the futures clearing broker) is required to segregate customer funds pursuant to the Commodities Exchange Act, in the unlikely event of the broker’s bankruptcy, there is no equivalent of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation insurance as is applicable in the case of securities broker dealers’ bankruptcies.


Government-Sponsored Entities Risk. The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored entities. However, these securities may not be guaranteed or insured by the U.S. Government and may only be supported by the credit of the issuing agency.


High-Yield Fixed Income Securities Risk . The fixed income securities held by the Fund that are rated below investment grade are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default, illiquidity of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer. Such securities are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality fixed income securities.


Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index.


Interest Rate Risk . Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes.


Investment Companies and Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. When the Fund invests in other investment companies, including ETFs, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the other investment company’s or ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying investments the



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ETF holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.


Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.


Limited History of Operations. The Fund has a limited history of operation. In addition, the Adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund.


Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.


Management Risk. If the Fund’s Adviser or Sub-Advisers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the fund’s investment performance.


Market Risk. Overall equity market risk may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.


Multi-Style Management Risk. Because portions of the Fund’s assets are managed by different Sub-Advisers using different styles, the Fund could experience overlapping security transactions. Certain Sub-Advisers may be purchasing securities at the same time other Sub-Advisers may be selling those same securities, which may lead to higher transaction expenses compared to a Fund using a single investment management style.


New Fund Risk. There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size.


Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Options Risk. Options and options on futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the investments in which the Fund invests directly, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in options and options on futures involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a



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small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using an option or futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. In addition, the value of an option may not correlate perfectly to the underlying financial asset, index or other investment or overall securities markets.


Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Regulatory Risk . Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) recently adopted amendments to existing regulations that, upon effectiveness, may subject activities of the Fund involving investments in futures contracts and similar instruments to regulation by the CFTC, including a variety of registration, disclosure and operational obligations.


Short Sales Risk. The risk on a short sale is the risk of loss if the value of a security sold short increases prior to the delivery date, since the Fund must pay more for the security than it received from the purchaser in the short sale. Therefore, the risk of loss may be unlimited.


Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.


Sub-Adviser Allocation Risk. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends on, among other things, both the Adviser’s skill in selecting Sub-Advisers and allocating assets to those Sub-Advisers and on a Sub-Adviser’s skill in executing the relevant strategy and selecting investments for the Fund.


Swap Agreements Risk. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than a year, and will not have liquidity beyond the counterparty to the agreement. A swap contract may not be assigned without the consent of the counterparty, and may result in losses in the event of a default or bankruptcy of the counter-party.


Tax Risk. There is the risk that the Fund’s investment strategies, specifically its investments in derivative instruments, may subject the Fund to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains or convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses.



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U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.

 

Written Options Risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a written options (also referred to as a short position) if the price of the written option instrument increases in value between the date when the Fund writes the option and the date on which the Fund purchases an offsetting position. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in a written call transaction.

 

Performance: Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of this Prospectus.  Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.ariafundsllc.com or by calling 1 -866-862-96861.


Investment Adviser:   Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”)


Portfolio Manager:   Jason Myers, Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser, has served as Portfolio Manager of the Fund since it commenced operations in 2012.  


Sub-Advisers


Each of the following has served as a Sub-Adviser or Portfolio Manager to the Fund since the Fund commenced operations in 2012.


Name of the Sub-adviser

Portfolio Managers

Title and Length of Service with Adviser

Battenkill Capital Management Inc.

Richard Franzen

Portfolio Manager since 2007


Del Mar Asset Management, LP

Peter Wisniewski

Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager since 2005



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Highland Capital Management, L.P.

Matthew Lemme


Managing Director  since 2007


Kellner Management, LP

Chris Pultz

Portfolio Manager since 1999

Phineus Partners, L.P.

Michael Grant

General Partner since 2002

RockView Management, LLC

Kevin Schweitzer

Managing Member, Portfolio Manager, and Chief Investment Officer since 2004

Sound Point Capital Management, LP

Stephen Ketchum

Founder and Managing Partner since 2009


Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares:   The minimum initial investment in Investor Class shares is $2,000 for regular accounts and $250 for retirement plans, and the minimum subsequent investment is $200 for regular accounts and $50 for retirement plans.  You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.  Redemption requests may be made in writing, by telephone, or through a financial intermediary and will be paid by automated clearing house funds (“ACH“), check, or wire transfer.  The Fund or its Adviser may waive any of the minimum initial and subsequent investment accounts.


Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.  


Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create 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.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS


Investment Objectives




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The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation with an emphasis on absolute returns and low correlation to the broader U.S. equity and bond markets. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval, upon 60 days, prior written notice to shareholders.


Principal Investment Strategies


The Fund pursues its objective by utilizing various investment strategies and allocating its assets among multiple Sub-Advisers. The Adviser selects and oversees the Sub-Advisers who each manage separate segments of the Fund’s portfolio using distinct investment styles. The Adviser may select Sub-Advisers with overlapping strategies in order to seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives.

The Adviser will select and determine the percentage of Fund assets to allocate to each Sub-Adviser. The Adviser, however, retains discretion to invest the Fund’s assets in securities and other instruments directly.  The Adviser selects Sub-Advisers based on top-down and bottom-up analysis. Top-down factors include economic, geo-political, as well as fundamental and technical market expectations and the Advisers assessment of those factors' impact on certain strategies. This analysis informs the Adviser with respect to favorable exposures to strategies and markets. Bottom-up factors include the Sub-Advisers’ expertise in executing their respective strategies, portfolio management, investment styles, risk management, team dynamics, performance in different market environments and correlations to markets and other potential Sub-Advisers. This analysis informs the Adviser with respect to the selection process of Sub-Advisers. The Adviser may select more than one Sub-Adviser to execute a similar strategy as Sub-Advisers may execute similar strategies in different manners creating complementary exposures in the Fund.


Manager-of-Managers Order


The Fund and the Adviser have requested, or intend to request, that the Securities and Exchange Commission grant an order to allow the Adviser to hire a Sub-Adviser or Sub-Advisers without shareholder approval (the "Order"). Until that Order is granted, shareholder approval is required if the Adviser hires a Sub-Adviser or Sub-Advisers. However, there is no guarantee that such an Order will be issued. If the Order is issued, the Adviser will manage the Fund using a "manager-of-managers" approach and will allocate Fund assets to a carefully selected Sub-Adviser or group of sub-advisory firms. The Adviser will select and oversee one or more Sub-Advisers who will manage separate segments of the Fund’s portfolio using a wide range of strategies, discussed below.


Pending the Order, The Adviser will monitor the Sub-Advisers and may terminate or hire a new Sub-Adviser if the Adviser determines the Sub-Adviser is not meeting expectations, the opportunity set has diminished, markets have become unfavorable for the given strategy or the Adviser has identified a Sub-Adviser that can execute the strategy in a more favorable manner to the Fund.


The Adviser and Sub-Advisers determine whether to buy or sell an investment for the Fund’s portfolio by applying the following strategies:




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Long/Short Equity Investing, Market Neutral Equity Investing. Long/short equity investing involves taking long and short positions in equity securities, including common stocks and preferred stocks of U.S. and foreign issuers with the goal to minimize exposure to issuers, industry and/or general market risk. A Sub-Adviser may purchase and hold securities (taking a “long position”) it believes to be undervalued when seeking to capitalize on upward market movements through appreciation. A Sub-Adviser may seek to capitalize on downward market movements by selling (taking a “short position”) an overvalued security which the Fund does not own or through writing of options on stocks, indices, financial futures and other futures contracts. A Sub-Adviser may maintain a portfolio that is long-only or long- or short biased, or may engage in market neutral investing, which involves balancing investment exposure to seek an investment return independent of market movements. A Sub-Adviser may also maintain a portfolio investing in a single country, industry or industry sector.


Fixed Income, Long/Short Credit. Fixed income and long/short credit investing includes the use of long/short or event driven styles similar to those described above in “Long/Short Equity Investing” and “Event Driven Investing,” as applied to investments in fixed income securities, including investments in distressed securities, as discussed above under “Distressed Securities Investing.” A Sub-Adviser may utilize short positions, including credit default swaps and short sales of individual bonds, to hedge risk or profit from an anticipated decline in the price of a security. A Sub-Adviser may also use investments in derivative securities to hedge against risk or position its portfolio to benefit from a decline in the price of a bond or other security.


Convertible Arbitrage Investing. Convertible arbitrage investing involves the purchase of interest-bearing convertible debentures and high yielding, convertible preferred stocks. These long convertible positions are hedged against issuer, industry and/or market risk by selling short a percentage of the underlying common stock and/or by writing equity call options. Current income may be derived from coupon interest and preferred dividends received from the convertible securities held long or from rebate interest received from the proceeds of the short sale of common stock and/or any option premium. Convertible securities utilized by these strategies may have credit ratings below investment grade. The Sub-Advisers may also employ leverage and investments in derivative securities to increase returns. A Sub-Adviser may also maintain a sector and market neutral portfolio.


Event Driven Investing. A Sub-Adviser may seek to take advantage of the impact of corporate events on the market value of company securities before and after such events occur. Corporate events include, but are not limited to, bankruptcies, mergers, reorganizations, spin-offs, restructurings and material litigation. All types of corporate equity and fixed income securities and derivative positions may be used to implement this strategy such as common and preferred stock, corporate fixed income securities including those that have high yields and credit ratings below investment grade or “junk bonds,” convertible securities and options on equity and fixed income securities. Event driven investing involves the risk that corporate events may not occur as planned. Event driven investing may involve distressed investing strategies, as discussed below under “Distressed Securities Investing.”


Opportunistic and Global Macro Investing. Opportunistic and Global Macro investing employs long and short investing in equity, fixed income and currency markets globally with



17



the objective of generating a return from market trends across various U.S. and foreign markets, sectors and industries. A Sub-Adviser may use derivative securities to hedge against risk or to quickly position a portfolio to profit from changing markets.


Distressed Securities Investing. Distressed securities include securities of companies or government entities that are already in or are heading toward some sort of distress, such as  default or bankruptcy. Distressed securities most commonly include corporate debt and bank fixed income securities that are currently undervalued, out-of-favor, have low credit ratings or subject to bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency proceedings, or are affected by other adverse factors. The use of distressed securities strategies may include the purchase of bonds of companies with lower credit ratings and that have attractive risk/reward characteristics due to, among other things, an anticipation of an upgrade in the bond’s ratings, expectation that a company reorganization will provide greater value, or other positive business factors that are not yet reflected in their market value.


Managed Futures Investing. Managed futures investing employs a portfolio of futures contracts and futures-related instruments (e.g. equity index futures, currency forwards and fixed income futures) involving three major asset classes: currencies, fixed income and equities. In particular, the Fund will invest in short-term futures tied to the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index.   A Sub-Adviser may combine long and short positions in securities in these asset classes in order to benefit if the price of the underlying instrument rises or falls.


Long Investing. Long investing involves purchasing and holding long positions in equity and/or fixed income securities, with the goal of capitalizing on rising markets through appreciation. A Sub-Adviser will purchase and hold securities it believes to be undervalued. A Sub-Adviser may determine to sell a security based on various factors, including whether a security’s target value has been met, whether an issuer has lost a competitive advantage, whether an issuer’s fundamentals have deteriorated, or whether a more attractive investment opportunity has become available.


To implement these strategies, the Sub-Advisers may invest in various types of securities, as discussed in greater detail below.


Investments in Equity Securities. The Fund may take both long and short positions in equity securities, including common and preferred stock of U.S. and foreign companies (including issuers located in emerging markets), convertible securities, depositary receipts, warrants, rights and derivative instruments that are linked to equity securities. The Fund is generally not constrained among the other types of equity securities in which it may invest. The Fund may invest in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations of any size. In addition to direct investments in equity securities and other equity-linked instruments, the Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies and ETFs that invest in equity securities and other equity-linked instruments.


Investments in Fixed Income Securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of U.S. and foreign issuers (including issuers located in emerging markets), and derivative securities that are linked to fixed income securities. “Fixed income instruments” in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, corporate bonds, convertible bonds, fixed



18



income securities and other fixed income instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. governments (including their agencies or instrumentalities), municipal securities, partnership securities, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, asset backed securities, zero coupon bonds, variable and floating rate securities, when issued securities, private placements, and private-sector entities. These investments may include securities of varying maturities, durations and ratings, including securities that have been rated below investment grade by a NRSRO, commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or “high yield bonds.” Fixed income securities may also be secured or unsecured, or have various rankings (such as senior or subordinate) to other fixed income securities of the same issuer. In addition to direct investments in fixed income securities and other instruments that are linked to fixed income securities, the Fund invests in shares of other investment companies that invest in fixed income securities and other instruments that are linked to fixed income securities, including shares of ETFs.


Currencies. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies (including that of issuers located in emerging markets). In addition, the Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency, enter into spot or forward currency contracts, and may invest in currency futures contracts, options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures.


Investments in Derivative Instruments. The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in derivative instruments.  The Fund’s investments in derivative securities, including futures contracts, options, options on futures contracts, swap agreements, credit default swaps and currency-linked derivatives may be used in an effort to enhance portfolio gains, as a substitute for making direct investments in the underlying instruments or to reduce exposure to, or “hedge” against market volatilities and other risks. The Fund does not invest more than 25% of its assets in contracts with any one counterparty. The Fund may use a derivative investment rather than investing directly in an underlying asset class as a low-cost, effective means to gain exposure to the asset class. Derivatives and short sale transactions involve the use of leverage. Accordingly, the Fund will maintain long positions in securities available for collateral, consisting of cash, cash equivalents and other liquid securities, to comply with applicable legal requirements.


The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.


In response to market, economic, political or other conditions, the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser may temporarily use a different investment strategy for the Fund for defensive purposes. Such a strategy could include investing up to 100% of a Fund’s assets in cash or cash equivalent securities such as U.S. Treasury securities and money market mutual funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees. Defensive investing could affect a Fund’s performance and the Fund might not achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.




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  Principal Investment Risks:


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs associated with the turnover which may reduce the Fund’s return, unless the securities traded can be bought and sold without corresponding commission costs. Active trading of securities may also increase the Fund’s realized capital gains or losses, which may affect the taxes you pay as a Fund shareholder.


Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are subject to risk of prepayment. This is more likely to occur when interest rates fall because many borrowers refinance mortgages to take advantage of more favorable rates. Prepayments on mortgage backed securities are also affected by other factors, such as the volume of home sales. The Fund’s yield will be reduced if cash from prepaid securities is reinvested in securities with lower interest rates. The risk of prepayment may also decrease the value of mortgage-backed securities. Asset-backed securities may have a higher level of default and recovery risk than mortgage-backed securities. However, both of these types of securities may decline in value because of mortgage foreclosures or defaults on the underlying obligations. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, or the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults. The values of certain types of mortgage-backed securities, such as inverse floaters and interest-only and principal-only securities, may be extremely sensitive to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates.


Bank Loan Risk. The Fund’s investments in secured and unsecured participations in bank loans and assignments of such loans may create substantial risk. In making investments in such loans, which are made by banks or other financial intermediaries to borrowers, the Fund will depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price could be adversely affected. The Fund may invest in loan participations that are rated by a NRSRO or are unrated, and may invest in loan participations of any credit quality, including “distressed” companies with respect to which there is a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested. In addition, certain bank loans in which the Fund may invest may be illiquid and, therefore, difficult to value and/or sell at a price that is beneficial to the Fund.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security is a fixed income security (a debt instrument or a preferred stock) that may be converted at a stated price within a specified period of time into a certain quantity of the common stock of the same or a different issuer. Convertible securities are senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but are subordinated to any senior fixed-income securities. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable



20



from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.


Credit Default Swap Risk. Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in an obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. If the Fund is a buyer in a credit default swap agreement and no credit event occurs, then it will lose its investment. In addition, the value of the reference obligation received by the Fund as a seller if a credit event occurs, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund. As a seller of a credit default swaps, the Fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, provided there is no default. If an event of default occurs, the Fund would be obligated to pay the notional value of the underlying reference obligation in return for the receipt of the underlying reference obligation. The value of the underlying reference obligation received by the Fund coupled with the periodic payments previously received may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.


Credit Risk. There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes. Lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security. Default, or the market’s perception that an issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and liquidity of securities held by the Fund, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. Credit risk also exists whenever the Fund enters into a foreign exchange or derivative contract, because the counterparty may not be able or may choose not to perform under the contract. When the Fund invests in foreign currency contracts, or other over-the-counter derivative instruments (including options), it is assuming a credit risk with regard to the party with which it trades and also bears the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from risks associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily mark-to-market and settlement, segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those



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counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.


Currency and Forward Currency Contracts Risks. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of what the Fund owns and the Fund’s share price. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, an investment in that foreign currency loses value because it is worth fewer U.S. dollars. The foreign currency exchange market can be highly volatile for a variety of reasons. For example, devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority also will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. Investments in forward currency contracts could minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, but may also limit any potential gain from an increase in the value of the currency.


Derivatives Risk. The Fund may use derivatives (including futures, options and swap agreements) to enhance returns or hedge against market declines.  The Fund will not invest in commodity futures or any commodity-related instruments.  The Fund's derivative investments have risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets of the Fund, which creates the possibility that the loss on such instruments may be greater than the gain in the value of the underlying assets in the Fund's portfolio; the loss of principal; the possible default of the other party to the transaction; and illiquidity of the derivative investments. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding, or may not recover at all. In addition, in the event of the insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative contract would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If the Fund is owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative contract and its claim is unsecured, the Fund will be treated as a general creditor of such counterparty, and will not have any claim with respect to the underlying security. Certain of the derivative investments in which the Fund may invest may, in certain circumstances, give rise to a form of financial leverage, which may magnify the risk of owning such instruments. The ability to successfully use derivative investments depends on the ability of the Adviser to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. In addition, amounts paid by the Fund as premiums and cash or other assets held in margin accounts with respect to the Fund's derivative investments would not be available to the Fund for other investment purposes, which may result in lost opportunities for gain.


The derivative instruments and techniques that the Fund may use include:


o

Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specific price at a specific



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future time. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the underlying instrument. Depending on the terms of the particular contract, futures contracts are settled through either physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date. A decision as to whether, when and how to use futures involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. In addition to the derivatives risks discussed above, the prices of futures can be highly volatile, using futures can lower total return, and the potential loss from futures can exceed the Fund's initial investment in such contracts.  


o

Options. If the Fund buys an option, it buys a legal contract giving it the right to buy or sell a specific amount of the underlying instrument or futures contract on the underlying instrument at an agreed-upon price typically in exchange for a premium paid by the Fund. If the Fund sells an option, it sells to another person the right to buy from or sell to the Fund a specific amount of the underlying instrument or futures contract on the underlying instrument at an agreed-upon price typically in exchange for a premium received by the Fund. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well-conceived option transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. The prices of options can be highly volatile and the use of options can lower total returns.


o

Swaps. A swap contract is an agreement between two parties pursuant to which the parties exchange payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified notional amount, with the payments calculated by reference to specified securities, indexes, reference rates, currencies or other instruments.  Most swap agreements provide that when the period payment dates for both parties are the same, the payments are made on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with only the net amount paid by one party to the other). The Fund's obligations or rights under a swap contract entered into on a net basis will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by each counterparty. Swap agreements currently are not entered into or traded on exchanges and there is no central clearing or guaranty function for swaps. Therefore, swaps are subject to credit risk or the risk of default or non-performance by the counterparty. Swaps could result in losses if interest rate or foreign currency exchange rates or credit quality changes are not correctly anticipated by the Fund or if the reference index, security or investments do not perform as expected. The Fund's use of swaps may include those based on the credit of an underlying security, commonly referred to as "credit default swaps." Where the Fund is the buyer of a credit default swap contract, it would be entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty to the contract only in the event of a default or similar event by a third party on the debt obligation. If no default occurs, the Fund would have paid to the



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counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and received no benefit from the contract. When the Fund is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments but is obligated to pay an amount equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation upon the default or similar event of that obligation. The use of derivatives subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") by underlying investment funds could cause the Fund to be a commodity pool, which would require the Fund to comply with certain rules of the CFTC.  


If the Fund invests in derivatives at inopportune times or incorrectly judges market conditions, the investments may reduce the return of the Fund or result in a loss. The Fund could also experience losses if Derivatives are poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund is unable to liquidate the position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many Derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for Derivatives. Furthermore, when seeking to obtain short exposure by investing in Derivatives, the Fund may be subject to regulatory restrictions as discussed in “Short Sales Risk” below.


Distressed Securities Risk. The Fund’s investment in distressed securities may involve a substantial degree of risk. These instruments, which involve loans, loan participations, bonds, notes, non-performing and sub-performing mortgage loans typically are unrated, lower-rated, in default or close to default. Many of these instruments are not publicly traded, and may become illiquid. The prices of such instruments may be extremely volatile. Securities of distressed companies are generally more likely to become worthless than the securities of more financially stable companies. Valuing such instruments may be difficult, and the Fund may lose all of its investment, or it may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than the Fund’s original investment. Issuers of distressed securities are typically in a weak financial condition and may default, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment.


Event Risk. Event risk is the risk that corporate issuers may undergo restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers, or similar events financed by increased debt. As a result of the added debt, the credit quality and market value of a company’s bonds and/or other fixed income securities may decline significantly.


Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment objective, strategies and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and the Fund could lose money when investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds: (1) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to their NAV; (2) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (3) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed



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from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. Additionally, ETFs have management fees, which increase their cost.


Exchange-Traded Note Risk. ETNs are subject to the credit risk of the issuer. The value of an ETN will vary and will be influenced by its time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities, currency markets as well as changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. There may be restrictions on the Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which is meant to be held until maturity. The Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.


Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities held by the Fund are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk, which are more fully described below.


o

Call Risk. During periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in its income.


o

Credit Risk . Fixed income securities are generally subject to the risk that the issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when they are due. There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay back debt. Lower rated fixed income securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.


o

Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held. These features make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on its performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out an investment contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to hold the security or keep the position open, and it could incur losses.


o

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Many types of fixed income securities are subject to prepayment risk. Prepayment occurs when the issuer of a fixed income security can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity. Fixed income securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. In addition, the potential impact of



25



prepayment features on the price of a fixed income security can be difficult to predict and result in greater volatility. On the other hand, rising interest rates could cause prepayments of the obligations to decrease, extending the life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities with lower payment rates. This is known as extension risk and may increase the Fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.


Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk. Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Those risks are increased for investments in emerging markets.


Foreign securities include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and similar investments, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), dollar-denominated foreign securities and securities purchased directly on foreign exchanges. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are depositary receipts for foreign company stocks that are not themselves listed on a U.S. exchange, and are issued by a bank and held in trust at that bank, and that entitle the owner of such depositary receipts to any capital gains or dividends from the foreign company stocks underlying the depositary receipts. ADRs are U.S. dollar denominated. EDRs and GDRs are typically U.S. dollar denominated but may be denominated in a foreign currency. Foreign securities, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, may be subject to more risks than U.S. domestic investments. These additional risks may potentially include lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory, market or economic developments. Foreign companies also may be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies, including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing the earnings potential of such foreign companies.


In addition, amounts realized on sales of foreign securities may be subject to high and potentially confiscatory levels of foreign taxation and withholding when compared to comparable transactions in U.S. securities. The Fund will generally not be eligible to pass through to shareholders any U.S. federal income tax credits or deductions with respect to foreign taxes paid unless it meets certain requirements regarding the percentage of its total assets invested in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities involve exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Such fluctuations may reduce the value of the investment. Foreign investments are also subject to risks including potentially higher withholding and other taxes, trade settlement, custodial, and other operational risks and less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards in certain foreign markets. In addition, foreign markets can and often do perform differently from U.S. markets.


Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial



26



investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).


Government Sponsored Entity Risk. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury. Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so. As a result, there is a risk that these entities will default on a financial obligation. For instance, securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, commonly known as “Ginnie Mae,” are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government. However, the obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been placed into conservatorship until the entities are restored to a solvent financial condition. Securities issued by the Student Loan Marketing Association are supported only by the credit of that agency.


Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner adverse to the portfolio construction employed by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and may be increased. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


High-Yield Fixed Income Securities Risk. High-yield fixed income securities or “junk bonds” are fixed income securities rated below investment grade by a NRSRO. Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than higher-rated securities, they are subject to a greater risk of loss of income and principal. Junk bonds are subject to greater credit risk than higher-grade securities and have a higher risk of default. Companies issuing high-yield junk bonds are more likely to experience financial difficulties that may lead to a weakened capacity to make



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principal and interest payments than issuers of higher grade securities. Issuers of junk bonds are often highly leveraged and are more vulnerable to changes in the economy, such as a recession or rising interest rates, which may affect their ability to meet their interest or principal payment obligations.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.


Interest Rate Risk . Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value if interest rates rise. Fixed income securities with longer maturities sometimes offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income securities with shorter maturities.


Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security or option can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole. The value of large cap securities, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, can be more volatile than smaller cap securities due to differing market reactions to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations.


Limited History of Operations. The Fund has a limited history of operation. Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to the adviser’s management of individual and institutional accounts. As a result, investors cannot judge likely mutual fund performance of the Adviser by its track record of managing non-mutual fund assets and the Adviser may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.


Liquidity Risk . Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.


Management Risk. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the Adviser and Sub-Advisers’ investment strategies for the Fund. The value of your investment in the Fund may vary with the effectiveness of the Sub-Advisers’ research, analysis and asset allocation among portfolio securities. If the



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Sub-Advisers’ investment strategies do not produce the expected results, the value of your investment could be diminished or even lost entirely.


Market Risk. Overall equity market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.


Multi-Style Management Risk. Because portions of the Fund’s assets are managed by different Sub- Advisers using different styles, the Fund could experience overlapping security transactions. Certain Sub-Advisers may be purchasing securities at the same time that other Sub-Advisers may be selling those same securities, which may lead to higher transaction expenses compared to a Fund using a single investment management style.


New Fund Risk. There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board of Trustees may determine to liquidate the Fund. Liquidation of the Fund can be initiated without shareholder approval by the Board of Trustees if it determines it is in the best interest of shareholders. As a result, the timing of any Fund liquidation may not be favorable to certain individual shareholders.


Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Options Risk. Options and options on futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the investments in which the Fund invests directly, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in options and options on futures involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using an option or futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. In addition, the value of an option may not correlate perfectly to the underlying financial asset, index or other investment or overall securities markets.


Other Investment Companies Risk. Federal law generally prohibits a mutual fund from acquiring shares of an investment company if, immediately after such acquisition, the fund and its affiliated persons would hold more than 3% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares. This prohibition may prevent the Fund from allocating its investments in an optimal manner. You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying funds in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses and, as a result, your cost of investing in the Fund will generally be higher than the cost of investing directly in the underlying fund shares.



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Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) recently adopted amendments to existing regulations that, upon effectiveness, may subject activities of the Fund involving investments in futures contracts and similar instruments to regulation by the CFTC, including a variety of registration, disclosure and operational obligations.


Short Sales Risk. The Fund may attempt to limit its exposure to a possible market decline in the value of its portfolio securities through short sales of securities that its portfolio manager believes possess volatility characteristics similar to those being hedged. The Fund may also use short sales for non-hedging purposes to pursue its investment objectives if, in the portfolio manager’s view, the security is over-valued. Short selling is speculative in nature and, in certain circumstances, can substantially increase the effect of adverse price movements on the Fund’s portfolio. A short sale of a security involves the risk of an unlimited increase in the market price of the security that can in turn result in an inability to cover the short position and a theoretically unlimited loss. No assurance can be given that securities necessary to cover the Fund’s short position will be available for purchase. The SEC and other U.S. and non-U.S. regulatory authorities have imposed, and may impose in the future, restrictions on short selling, either on a temporary or permanent basis. Such restrictions may include placing limitations on specific companies and/or industries with respect to which the Fund may enter into short positions, and may hinder the Fund in, or prevent it from, implementing its investment strategies, and may negatively affect performance.


Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk. Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies. Small and medium capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and their management may be dependent on a limited number of key individuals. Securities of those companies may have limited market liquidity and their prices may be more volatile.


Sub-Adviser Allocation Risk. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends on, among other things, both the Adviser’s skill in selecting Sub-Advisers and allocating assets to those Sub-Advisers and on a Sub-Adviser’s skill in executing the relevant strategy and selecting investments for the Fund.




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Swap Agreements Risk. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than a year, and will not have liquidity beyond the counterparty to the agreement. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns earned on specific assets, such as the return on, or increase in value of, a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. A swap contract may not be assigned without the consent of the counterparty, and may result in losses in the event of a default or bankruptcy of the counter-party.


Tax Risk. The Fund’s investments and investment strategies, specifically its investments in derivative instruments, may subject the Fund to special federal income tax provisions that may, among other things: (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions; (ii) accelerate income to the Fund; (iii) convert long-term capital gain taxed at lower rates into short-term capital gain or ordinary income taxed at higher rates; (iv) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited); (v) treat dividends that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend” income as non-qualified dividend income; or (vii) create a risk that the Fund will fail the diversification and source of income requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which could cause the Fund to fail to qualify for the tax treatment applicable to a regulated investment company.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.

 

Written Options Risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a written options (also referred to as a short position) if the price of the written option instrument increases in value between the date when the Fund writes the option and the date on which the Fund purchases an offsetting position. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in a written call transaction.



Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1 -866-862-9686.




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MANAGEMENT


Investment Adviser


Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC located at 15 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA  01803, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund.  The Adviser was formed in 2012 for the purpose of advising the Fund and has no other clients.  Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund’s investments, executing transactions and providing related administrative services and facilities under an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser.


The Adviser provides investment advisory services, pays all Sub-Adviser fees and pays most of the Fund’s operating expenses (with certain exceptions) in return for a “unitary fee.” For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to 1.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Fund, not the Adviser, pays the following expenses: all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short and interest), and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Board of Trustees and officers with respect thereto.


The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or to make payments to limit Fund expenses, until at least February 28, 2014 so that the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividend expense on securities sold short, underlying fund fees and expenses or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) of the Fund do not exceed 1.95% for Investor Class shares. Waivers and expense payments may be recouped by the Adviser from the Fund, to the extent that overall expenses fall below specified limits, within three years of when the amounts were waived or recouped. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


Portfolio Manager


Jason Myers:   Mr. Myers is a co-founder of the Adviser and will be responsible for the firm’s operations and investment activities including investment policy and portfolio construction, risk management, and manager selection. Prior to founding the Adviser he was the Managing Director at Newport Capital Advisers, from 2004-2012. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about Mr. Myers compensation, other accounts he manages and his ownership of shares in the Fund.


Sub-Adviser Portfolio Managers


Sub-Advisers and Sub-Adviser Portfolio Managers

 

Battenkill Capital Management, Inc. (“Battenkill”) , 34 South Main Street, Allentown, NJ 08501, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of



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Trustees and oversight by the adviser, Battenkill is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and Battenkill, as sub-adviser, Battenkill is entitled to receive an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that is paid by the adviser, not the Fund. Battenkill is an SEC registered investment advisory firm specializing in fundamental, bottom-up long-short, market neutral equity strategies with an emphasis on the energy and industrial sectors. Battenkill was founded in 2007 and has approximately $75 million in assets under management.


Richard Franzen

Portfolio Manager


Mr. Franzen founded Battenkill in 2007 and serves as its Portfolio Manager. Prior to launching Battenkill, Mr. Franzen worked at Millennium Partners (“Millennium”) as an analyst on the Energy Supply Chain Team.  While at Millennium, Mr. Franzen was responsible for generating long and short ideas in the industrials, materials and energy sectors. Mr. Franzen received his MBA from New York University with concentrations in Finance, International Business and Management in 2000. Mr. Franzen is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


Del Mar Asset Management, LP (“Del Mar”) , 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10022, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees and oversight by the adviser, Del Mar is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and Del Mar, as sub-adviser, Del Mar is entitled to receive an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that is paid by the adviser, not the Fund. Del Mar is an SEC registered investment advisory firm specializing in long and short exposures to volatility index (“VIX”) futures contracts.  Del Mar utilizes the mechanics of daily resetting of exposures to generate synthetic straddle exposures.  Del Mar was founded in 2007 and has approximately $515 million in assets under management.


Peter Wisniewski,

Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager


Mr. Wisniewski is a partner of Del Mar Asset Management focused on derivatives including equity volatility and convertible strategies. Previously, he was Vice President of trading at Deutsche Bank, where he employed various proprietary strategies in the convertible, capital structure, and credit markets. Prior to this, Mr. Wisniewski was a trader at Susquehanna International Group (“SIG”), where he was employed for approximately six years. Mr. Wisniewski was recruited by SIG into the highly selective assistant trader program and worked as an assistant trader on the American Exchange, New York Mercantile Exchange, and SIG’s proprietary convertible bonds desk. Mr. Wisniewski received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts



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manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


Highland Capital Management, L.P. (“Highland”) , 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75201, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund.  Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees and oversight by the adviser, Highland is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and Highland, as sub-adviser, Highland is entitled to an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that is paid by the adviser, not the Fund. Highland is a SEC registered investment adviser, and, with its affiliates, manages approximately $19 billion in assets. It is one of the largest global high yield credit managers, specializing in bank loans, high yield bonds, distressed debt and structured products. In addition, Highland manages alternative assets in commodities, longevity, and opportunistic long/short equity.  It is the one of the largest CLO managers, and has structured and monitored 32 CLOs/CDOs totaling over $28 billion in asset value.


Highland's client base includes public pension plans, foundations and endowments, corporations, financial institutions, fund of hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, high net worth individuals, and mutual fund investors.


Matthew Lemme

Managing Director


Mr. Lemme has served as a portfolio manager for Highland since April 2012. Prior to joining Highland, Mr. Lemme was an associate research analyst at UBS Securities in New York, NY. Prior to UBS, Mr. Lemme was a consultant at Deloitte Consulting in Irving, TX, where he provided mergers & acquisitions and strategic advisory services to electric utilities and independent power producers. Prior to Deloitte, Mr. Lemme was an investment banking analyst at CCF Charterhouse, a French investment bank now owned by HSBC. He received an MBA from the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Villanova University. Mr. Lemme is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


Kellner Management, LP (“Kellner”) , 900 Third Avenue, Suite 1000, New York, NY 10022, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees and oversight by the adviser, Kellner is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and Kellner, as sub-adviser, Kellner is entitled to receive an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s daily net assets that is paid by the Advisor, not the Fund.  Kellner is a registered investment advisory firm specializing in a fundamental analysis backed long-short trading strategy, focusing on high quality liquid U.S. and International mergers and acquisitions that have relatively low volatility and low correlation with the equity market. Kellner was founded in 1981 and has approximately $200 million assets under management.




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Chris Pultz

Portfolio Manager


Mr. Pultz joined Kellner in 1999 as a merger arbitrage analyst and in August of 2009 became a portfolio manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Fairfield University and an MBA from Fordham University Graduate School of Business. In addition, Mr. Pultz is registered as a General Securities Representative (Series 7) and has passed the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (Series 63). The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


Phineus Partners, L.P. (“Phineus”) , 251 Post Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94108, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees and oversight by the adviser, Phineus is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and Phineus, as sub-adviser, Phineus is entitled to receive an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that is paid by the adviser, not the Fund. Phineus is an SEC registered investment advisory firm specializing in fundamental, bottom-up, Global long-short equity fund with an emphasis on the Technology Sector. Phineus was founded in 2002 and has approximately $140 million under management.


Michael Grant

Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager


Mr. Grant founded Phineus in March 2002 and serves as the Chief Investment Officer and portfolio manager. Mr. Grant has final decision making authority for investment decisions. Mr. Grant earned a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics, where he specialized in International History. Mr. Grant also holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta, Canada. The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


RockView Management, LLC (“RockView”) , Metro Center – One Station Place, 7th Floor, Stamford, CT, USA 06902, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund.  Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees and oversight by the adviser, RockView is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and RockView, as sub-adviser, is entitled to receive an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that is paid by the adviser, not the Fund. RockView is an SEC registered investment advisory firm specializing in a short bias, long-short fundamental, bottom-up strategy with a thematic overlay, focusing on investment-grade corporate debt. RockView was founded in 2004 and has approximately $102 million assets under management.


Kevin Schweitzer

Managing Member, Portfolio Manager and Chief Investment Officer



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Mr. Schweitzer launched RockView Capital Credit Fund in August 2004 as a fundamental long/short credit strategy. Mr. Schweitzer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Accounting from Lehigh University where he graduated in 1989. The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


Sound Point Capital Management, LP (“Sound Point”) , 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10036, serves as a sub-adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees and oversight by the adviser, Sound Point is responsible for management of a portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio according to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the adviser and Sound Point, as sub-adviser, Sound Point is entitled to receive an annual sub-advisory fee on its portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that is paid by the adviser, not the Fund. Sound Point is an SEC registered investment advisory firm specializing in liquid long and short corporate credit opportunities focused on relative value, special situations and event driven opportunities. Sound Point primarily invests in secured bank debt, corporate bonds, equity and equity-linked securities. Sound Point was founded in 2009 and has approximately $400 million assets under management.  


Stephen Ketchum

Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager


Mr. Ketchum founded Sound Point in 2009 and serves as the Managing Partner and portfolio manager. Prior to forming Sound Point, Mr. Ketchum was Global Head of Media Investment and Corporate Banking for Bank of America Securities (“BofA”).  While at BofA he was also a member of BofA’s Global Investment Banking Leadership Team. As Global Head of Media Banking, Mr. Ketchum was responsible, together with a risk partner, for a multi-billion dollar portfolio of bank and bridge loans. Prior to joining BofA, he was a Managing Director at UBS in their technology, media and telecommunications investment banking group. Mr. Ketchum earned a Bachelor of Arts from New England and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts manages by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.


HOW SHARES ARE PRICED


The net asset value ("NAV") and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business.  NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of the Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV).  The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the



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redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.  


Generally, the Fund’s securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the last bid on the primary exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price.  If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and evaluated by the Board as to the reliability of the fair value method used.  In these cases, the Fund’s NAV will reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair value rather than their market price.  Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available.  


The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the fair market value of the Fund’s securities.  In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. Because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of some of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.  In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE.  Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value.  For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments.  As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

 

With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, each Fund’s net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the



37



circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.




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HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES


Share Classes: This Prospectus describes one class of shares offered by the Fund. There is no investment minimum on reinvested distributions and the Fund may change investment minimums at any time.  The Fund and the Adviser may each waive investment minimums at their individual discretion. All share classes may not be available in all states.


Investor Class Shares:  Investor Class shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Investor Class shares pay up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation for service and distribution-related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services.


Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares of the Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

Alternative Avenue Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the Application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder’s identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.


Purchase through Brokers: You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your servicing agent.  


Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1 -866-862-9686 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will



39



normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.   


Automatic Investment Plan: You may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at 1 -866-862-9686 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan.


Transactions through www.ariafundsllc.com: You may purchase the Fund's shares and redeem the Fund's shares through the website www.ariafundsllc.com. To establish Internet transaction privileges you must enroll through the website. You automatically have the ability to establish Internet transaction privileges unless you decline the privileges on your New Account Application or IRA Application. You will be required to enter into a user's agreement through the website in order to enroll in these privileges. In order to conduct Internet transactions, you must have telephone transaction privileges. To purchase shares through the website you must also have ACH instructions on your account.


Redemption proceeds may be sent to you by check to the address of record, or if your account has existing bank information, by wire or ACH. Only bank accounts held at domestic financial institutions that are ACH members can be used for transactions through the website. Transactions through the website are subject to the same minimums as other transaction methods.


You should be aware that the Internet is an unsecured, unstable, unregulated and unpredictable environment. Your ability to use the website for transactions is dependent upon the Internet and equipment, software, systems, data and services provided by various vendors and third parties. While the Fund and its service providers have established certain security procedures, the Fund, its distributor and its transfer agent cannot assure you that trading information will be completely secure.


There may also be delays, malfunctions, or other inconveniences generally associated with this medium. There also may be times when the website is unavailable for Fund transactions or other purposes. Should this happen, you should consider purchasing or redeeming shares by another method. Neither the Fund or its transfer agent, distributor or adviser will be liable for any such delays or malfunctions or unauthorized interception or access to communications or account information.


Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts: The minimum initial investment in Investor Class shares is $2,000 for regular accounts and $250 for retirement plans, and the minimum subsequent investment is $200 for regular accounts and $50 for retirement plans. There is no minimum investment requirement when you are buying shares by reinvesting dividends and distributions from the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to waive any investment minimum requirement.




40



The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to the Fund. The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.


Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.   


When Order is Processed: All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share (plus applicable sales charges, if any) next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be processed on the next business day.   


Good Order: When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order.


"Good order" means your purchase request includes:   

the name of the Fund;

the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;

a completed purchase application or investment stub; and

check payable to the “Alternative Avenue Fund.”


Retirement Plans: You may purchase shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the Funds at 1 -866-862-9686 for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.  


HOW TO REDEEM SHARES


Redeeming Shares: You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:  


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

Alternative Avenue Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


Redemptions by Telephone: The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts.  If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account. The proceeds, which are equal to number of shares times NAV less any applicable



41



deferred sales charges or redemption fees, will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or sent electronically, via ACH or wire, directly to your existing account in a bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem by telephone, call 1 -866-862-9686. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or electronically within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.  


The Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither the Fund, the transfer agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss.  The Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.  


Redemptions through Broker: If shares of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.  


Redemptions by Wire: You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.  


Transactions through www.ariafundsllc.com: You may redeem the Fund's shares through the website www.ariafundsllc.com as more fully described above.


Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If your individual account, IRA or other qualified plan account has a current account value of at least $10,000, you may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the Fund at 1 -866-862-9686 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan.


Redemptions in Kind: The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders made by a shareholder during any 90-day period by making payment in whole or in part in portfolio securities (“redemption in kind”) if the amount of such a request is large enough to affect operations (if the request is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period).  The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued using the same procedures as used in calculating the Fund’s NAV. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.



42



When Redemptions are Sent: Once the Fund receives your redemption request in "good order" as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in "good order." If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank (usually within 10 days of the purchase date).


Good Order: Your redemption request will be processed if it is in "good order."  To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:


The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;

The request must identify your account number;  

The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and

If you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person, bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.


When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees :  If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by writing to the Fund with your signature guaranteed.  A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:


you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the Fund;

you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with the Fund;

the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;

any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or

your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.


Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations).  Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.


Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.  



43




Low Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts), the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts) within 30 days of the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts) due to a decline in NAV.


FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES


The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Fund’s investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Fund’s Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Fund currently uses several methods to reduce the risk of market timing. These methods include:


Committing staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Fund’s "Market Timing Trading Policy;"

Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests;

Rejecting purchase requests from certain investors; and

Charging a 2% redemption fee on shares sold within 90 days.


Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders.  


Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the Adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to the Fund as described in the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy and elect to (i) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases into the Fund and/or (ii) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future exchanges or redemptions out of the Fund.


The Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder’s trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor’s financial advisor) from opening new accounts with the Fund.  


Although the Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee



44



that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund.  While the Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information to the extent known to the broker to the Fund upon request. If the Fund or its transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the Adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.


Any sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account).  When you redeem your shares you may realize a taxable gain or loss.  This is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in the Fund.  Due to recent legislation, 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 purchased on or after January 1, 2012. Please see the SAI for more information relating to this legislation).


The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income quarterly and net capital gains annually in December.  Both types of distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive cash.  Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash.  Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions.  IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.

 

Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes.  A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.



45



On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS.  If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires the Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number.  If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund may be required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.


This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund’s shares.


DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES


Distributor: Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.


Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Fund’s distributor, its affiliates, and the Fund’s Adviser may, at their own expense and out of their own legitimate profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others. These payments may be in addition to any sales charges that are disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The distributor may, from time to time, provide promotional incentives, including reallowance and/or payment of up to the entire sales charge, to certain investment firms. Such incentives may, at the distributor’s discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional commissions.  


Householding: To reduce expenses, the Fund mails only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1 -866-862-9686 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS




46



Because the Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for the Fund at this time.  In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.



47




PRIVACY NOTICE


FACTS

WHAT DOES TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Why?

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.

Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.
Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

THE TYPES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND SHARE DEPENDS ON THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE WITH US. THIS INFORMATION CAN INCLUDE:

·

Social Security number and income

·

Account transactions and transaction history

·

Investment experience and purchase history

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

­­­­­How?

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reason Two Roads Shared Trust chooses to share and whether you can limit this sharing.




Reasons we can share your personal information

Does Two Roads Shared Trust share?

Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

YES

NO

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

NO

We do not share

For joint marketing with other financial companies

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

NO

We do not share



48



For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates to market to you

NO

We do not share

For nonaffiliates to market to you

NO

We do not share



Questions?

Call 1 -866-862-9686





What we do

How does Two Roads Shared Trust protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.

These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.


Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

How does Two Roads Shared Trust collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

·

open an account or give us contact information

·

provide account information or give us your income information

·

make deposits or withdrawals from your account

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

·

sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

·

affiliates from using your information to market to you

·

sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing



                                                                                      Definitions

Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust has no affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.



49





Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliates financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust does not jointly market.





50




Alternative Avenue Fund


Adviser

Alternative Road

Investment Advisers

14 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA  01803

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE  68130

Custodian

Union Bank, N.A.

350 California Street, 6th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

Legal Counsel

Dechert LLP

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300

San Francisco, CA   94111

Transfer Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE  68130

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

McGladrey LLP

555 17th Street, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80202



Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI"). The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund’s policies and management.  Additional information about the Fund’s investments will also be available in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. In the Fund’s Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.


To obtain a free copy of the SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call 1-866-862-9686. The Fund does not have a website; however information relating to the Fund can be found on the Adviser’s website at www.ariafundsllc.com.  You may also write to:


Alternative Avenue Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


You may review and obtain copies of the Fund’s information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.



Investment Company Act File # 811-22718






51



Subject to Completion—Dated October 26, 2012


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.




Belvedere Alternative Income Fund



PROSPECTUS


[___], 2012


Class A    BELAX

Class C    BELCX

Class I     BELIX

Class R    BELRX*



Advised by:

Belvedere Asset Management, LLC

610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 600

Newport Beach, CA  92660

(949) 209-8744




www.BelvedereFunds.com          1-866-851-2525



*Not offered for sale through this prospectus until on or about December 7, 2012.


This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.


These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.




                   




52




TABLE OF CONTENTS


FUND SUMMARY

 

Investment Objective

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

Performance

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

Tax Information

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Sub-Advisers

 

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

 

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Distributor

 

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries

 

Householding

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Privacy Notice

 



53



FUND SUMMARY


Investment Objective: The Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (the “Fund”) seeks capital appreciation and capital preservation.


Fees and Expenses of the Fund:  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in How to Purchase Shares on page [_] of the Fund's Prospectus.


Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class R

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a % of offering price)

5.75%

None

None

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

(as a % of original purchase price)

1.00%

1.00%

None

None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed

On Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions

None

None

None

None

Redemption Fee

(as a % of amount redeemed within 90 days of purchase)

2.00%

2.00%

2.00%

2.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage

of the value of your investment)





Management Fees

1.95%

1.95%

1.95%

1.95%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

0.25%

1.00%

None

0.50%

Other Expenses (1)

0.90%

0.90%

0.90%

0.90%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (2)

3.10%

3.85%

2.85%

3.35%


(1) Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(2) The Fund’s Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund until at least February 28, 2014, to ensure that total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and reimbursement (exclusive of any taxes, short selling expenses, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 3.20%,3.95%, 2.95% and 3.45% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R shares, respectively.  This agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees on 60 days written notice to the Adviser. Because a fee waiver will have a positive effect upon the Fund’s performance, a fee waiver that is in place during the period when the Performance Adjustment applies may affect the performance fee in a way that is favorable to the Adviser.  It is possible that the cumulative dollar amount of additional compensation ultimately payable to the Adviser will, under some circumstances, exceed the cumulative dollar amount of fees waived by the Adviser.


54



Example:  This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  


The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 year

3 years

Class A

$870

$1477

Class C

$387

$1175

Class I

$288

$883

Class R

$338

$1030


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 may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. No portfolio turnover rate is provided for the Fund because the Fund has not completed its first fiscal year as of the date of this Prospectus.


Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in:

 

cash and cash equivalents, including high-quality short-term (3 months or less) fixed income securities such as U.S. Treasury securities; and


long and short call and put options on Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P”) futures contracts.

 

The Fund generally seeks to achieve its capital preservation objective by investing a majority of the Fund’s assets in U.S. Treasury securities that do not serve as margin collateral for its credit-option-spread trading.  


The Fund generally seeks to achieve its capital appreciation objective by investing a minority of the Fund’s assets in call and put option spreads on S&P futures contracts.  The call and put option spreads are covered option spreads that aim to limit potential losses in the event of market volatility.



55




The Fund buys and writes current month credit-option-spreads that it believes will expire out-of-the money meaning that the actual price of the underlying S&P stays below the lower strike price in a call-option credit spread or above the higher strike price in a put-option credit spread for the period that each option spread is open.  A credit-option-spread is named a credit spread because the Fund receives a net cash credit from the counterparties it transacts with each time it places a credit-option spread in exchange for taking on the risk that a particular option might be exercised before its expiration.  So, when the credit option spreads expire out-of-the money, the Fund profits.


The Fund actively trades options and other portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of options and other portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.


The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.


Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program but rather one component of a diversified investment portfolio. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover due to active and frequent trading will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Derivatives Risk. The risk of investing in derivative instruments, including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, mispricing or improper valuation.  Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.


Fixed Income Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities or derivatives, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities or derivatives owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share



56



price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.


 Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).


 Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index.


 Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.


 Limited History of Operations . The Fund has a limited history of operation. In addition, the Adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund.


 Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.


 Management Risk. The Adviser’s decisions on size and diversity of portfolio holdings and its judgments about the potential change in value of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect.


 Market Risk. Overall equity market risk may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events



57



affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.


 Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


 Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


 Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.


 Written Options Risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a written options (also referred to as a short position) if the price of the written option instrument increases in value between the date when the Fund writes the option and the date on which the Fund purchases an offsetting position. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in a written call transaction.


Performance: Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of this Prospectus.  Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.BelvedereFunds.com or by calling 1-866-851-2525.


Investment Adviser:   Belvedere Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”)


Portfolio Manager:   Jonathan M. Hansen, a Principal of the Adviser, has served as Portfolio Manager of the Fund since it commenced operations in 2012.


Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares:   You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading by written request, by telephone at 1 -866-851-2525, or through your broker.  Redemptions will be paid by



58



automated clearing house funds (“ACH”), check or wire transfer.  The Fund or its Adviser may waive any of the minimum initial and subsequent investment accounts.

 

Class

Minimum Investment

Initial

Subsequent

A

$2,500

$500

C

$2,500

$500

I

$100,000

$1,000

R

$2,500

$500


Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.  


Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create 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.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS


Investment Objective:  The Fund seeks capital appreciation and capital preservation.  The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon 60 days, prior written notice to shareholders.


Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in:

long and short call and put options on Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P”) futures contracts; and

cash and cash equivalents, including high-quality short-term (3 months or less) fixed income securities such as U.S. Treasury securities.


The Fund seeks generally to achieve the capital preservation component of its investment objective by generally investing the majority of its assets in U.S. Treasury Securities.



59




The Fund generally seeks to achieve its capital appreciation objective by investing a minority of the Fund’s assets in call and put option spreads on S&P futures contracts.  The call and put option spreads are covered option spreads that aim to limit potential losses in the event of market volatility.

 

The Fund employs a proprietary investment strategy that incorporates both (1) a quantitative model to assess relative value among option contracts and (2) a technical analysis overlay to determine short-term stock market entry and exit points (buy and sell signals for S&P futures). The Fund generally executes new credit option spread trades at the beginning and throughout semi-monthly cycles, with the aim of capturing optimal upside and downside ranges based on the Adviser’s analysis. Adjusting put/call levels at the beginning of every option cycle allows the Adviser to continually track and adjust its trading strategy relative to both historical volatility and implied/future volatility.


Quantitative Modeling. The Adviser uses mathematic analytics and modeling of stock market price history and volatility.  Quantitative modeling is useful in furthering understanding of volatility conditions and trends, and in developing decisive forecasts for market direction, volatility including a range of volatility. The mathematical and statistical calculations involved in such modeling include exponential price moving averages, return standard deviation and variance, among others. The Adviser's quantitative model uses historical stock market volatility to forecast future volatility, which serves as an input to determine relative value among call and put options.

Technical Analysis. Technical analysis is a method of evaluating securities by analyzing statistics generated by market activity, such as past prices and volume. Technical analysis does not attempt to measure a security's intrinsic value, but instead use charts and other tools to identify patterns that can suggest future price trends. The Adviser uses technical analysis to forecast short-term movements in both the stock market overall and specific option contracts. This analysis enables the Adviser to identify short-term trading opportunities to enter and exit the market overall or to buy and sell individual securities and options.


The Fund will generally invest in S&P 500 futures credit spread options that are "out of the money" (i.e., the exercise price of the call options sold generally will be above the current level of the index when written and the exercise price of put options sold generally will be below the current level of the index when written).  In implementing this credit spread option strategy, the Fund generally intends to enter into written call and put option spread positions that primarily have a maturity of approximately 3 to 15 days, and may stagger the timing of its spread originations through each semi-monthly period. For each option spread combination, the Fund intends to buy S&P 500 futures call spreads and put spreads with substantially equivalent notional values and identical expiration dates.


Credit Spreads


A credit spread is an alternative option writing strategy which involves selling or “writing” an option and also purchasing another option on the same underlying security. The option that



60



is written is sold at a higher price than the cost of the option that is purchased, thereby creating a credit. Unlike writing uncovered options, where the potential for unlimited loss exists, the maximum loss is limited to the amount of the difference between the strike prices of the two options in the spread. Any loss would be further reduced by the amount of the credit received, less commissions and fees.


S&P Call Credit Spreads


A call credit spread consists of writing a call and buying another call, which has a higher strike price and is therefore less expensive than the one written. If a call spread is not closed prior to expiration, the trade will be profitable if the current price of the S&P is below the strike price of the written call when the spread expires. If the S&P rises above the strike price of the written call at expiration, the trade may produce a loss.


S&P Put Credit Spreads


A put credit spread consists of writing a put and buying another put, which has a lower strike price and is therefore less expensive than the one written. If a put spread is not closed prior to expiration, the trade will be profitable if the current price of the S&P is above the strike price of the written put when the spread expires. If the S&P falls below the strike price of the written put at expiration, the trade may produce a loss.


The economics of writing credit option call spreads and credit option put spreads differs from writing equivalent calls and puts in that (i) the net premiums received are reduced by the premiums paid on the purchased options and (ii) the risk of loss if written options expire in-the-money is negligible because the purchased option will offset any losses associated with the written option.  Amounts payable at settlement by a seller of index futures call and put spreads will equal the total payments made with respect to written calls and puts less the total payments received with respect to purchased calls and puts. If written calls and puts expire worthless, the Fund will neither pay nor receive settlement proceeds. If written calls or puts expire in-the-money, the Fund will receive net proceeds at settlement equal to the difference between the amounts payable on written calls and amounts receivable, if any, on the associated purchased calls and puts. If purchased calls or puts expire in-the-money, the net amount payable by the Fund will be capped at an amount defined by the difference in exercise price of the written and purchased options positions.  The Adviser buys securities and options that it believes will generate positive capital appreciation and sells them when a fair-value price target is achieved or fundamentals have diverged from the Adviser’s investment thesis.  The Adviser writes options to reduce the net cost of the Fund’s purchased option positions.  It covers (buys back) written options when a fair-value price target is achieved or to adjust portfolio positions when a purchased option is sold.  


Exchange-traded options on broad-based equity indices that trade on a national securities exchange registered with the SEC or a domestic board of trade designated as a contract market by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission generally qualify for treatment as "section 1256 contracts," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Under the Code, capital gains and losses on "section 1256 contracts" are generally recognized annually based on a marking-to-market of open positions at tax year-end, with gains or losses treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term, regardless of



61



holding period. The Fund intends to utilize primarily options that are "section 1256 contracts."


The Fund actively trades options and other portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of options and other portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.


The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.


In response to market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may temporarily use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes. Such a strategy could include investing up to 100% of a Fund’s assets in cash or cash equivalent securities such as U.S. Treasury securities and money market mutual funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees. Defensive investing could affect a Fund’s performance and the Fund might not achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.


Principal Risk Factors


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs associated with the turnover which may reduce the Fund’s return, unless the securities traded can be bought and sold without corresponding commission costs. Active trading of securities may also increase the Fund’s realized capital gains or losses, which may affect the taxes you pay as a Fund shareholder.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Credit Risk. There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes. Lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security. Default, or the market’s perception that an issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and liquidity of securities held by the Fund, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. Credit risk also exists whenever the Fund enters into a foreign exchange or derivative contract, because the counterparty may not be able or may choose not to perform under the



62



contract. When the Fund invests in foreign currency contracts, or other over-the-counter derivative instruments (including options), it is assuming a credit risk with regard to the party with which it trades and also bears the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from risks associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily mark-to-market and settlement, segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.


Derivatives Risk. The risk of investing in derivative instruments, including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, mispricing or improper valuation.  Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.


Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities held by the Fund are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk, which are more fully described below.


o

Call Risk. During periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in its income.


o

Credit Risk . Fixed income securities are generally subject to the risk that the issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when they are due. There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay back debt. Lower rated fixed income securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.


o

Interest Rate Risk . Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value if interest rates rise. Fixed income securities with longer maturities sometimes offer higher yields, but are subject to greater



63



price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income securities with shorter maturities.


o

Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held. These features make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on its performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out an investment contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to hold the security or keep the position open, and it could incur losses.


o

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Many types of fixed income securities are subject to prepayment risk. Prepayment occurs when the issuer of a fixed income security can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity. Fixed income securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. In addition, the potential impact of prepayment features on the price of a fixed income security can be difficult to predict and result in greater volatility. On the other hand, rising interest rates could cause prepayments of the obligations to decrease, extending the life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities with lower payment rates. This is known as extension risk and may increase the Fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.

 

Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).  The Fund could be unable to recover assets held at the futures clearing broker, even assets directly traceable to the Fund from the futures clearing broker in the event of a bankruptcy of the commodity broker.  Although a Futures Commission Merchant (including the futures clearing broker) is required to segregate customer funds pursuant to the Commodities Exchange Act, in the unlikely event of the commodity broker’s bankruptcy, there is no equivalent of the Securities Investors Protection



64



Corporation insurance as is applicable in the case of securities broker dealers’ bankruptcies.


Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner adverse to the portfolio construction employed by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and may be increased. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

 

Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.


Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security or option can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole. The value of large cap securities, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, can be more volatile than smaller cap securities due to differing market reactions to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations.


Limited History of Operations. The Fund has a limited history of operation. Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to the adviser’s management of individual and institutional accounts. As a result, investors cannot judge likely mutual fund performance of the Adviser by its track record of managing non-mutual fund assets and the Adviser may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.


Liquidity Risk. The Fund is subject to liquidity risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations. Funds with principal investment strategies that involve securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations,



65



non-U.S. securities, Rule 144A securities, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk.


Management Risk . The Adviser's reliance on its option-based strategy and its judgments about the potential appreciation of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect.

 

Market Risk. Overall equity market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.


Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) recently adopted amendments to existing regulations that, upon effectiveness, may subject activities of the Fund involving investments in futures contracts and similar instruments to regulation by the CFTC, including a variety of registration, disclosure and operational obligations.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.

 


Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1 -866-851-2525.



66



MANAGEMENT


Investment Adviser


Belvedere Asset Management, LLC, with principal offices at 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 600 Newport Beach, CA 92660, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund. The Adviser was formed in 2008. Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund’s investments, executing transactions and providing related administrative services and facilities under an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser.  In addition to the services it provides to the Fund the Adviser manages approximately $62,000,000 in assets contained in private investment funds and separately managed client accounts.


The Adviser has entered into an advisory agreement with the Fund, whereby the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to 1.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. In addition to investment advisory fees, the Fund pays other expenses including costs incurred in connection with the maintenance of its securities law registration, printing and mailing prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information to shareholders, certain financial accounting services, taxes or governmental fees, custodial, transfer and shareholder servicing agent costs, expenses of outside counsel and independent accountants, preparation of shareholder reports and expenses of trustee and shareholders meetings.




The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or to make payments to limit Fund expenses until at least February 28, 2014, so that the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividend expense on securities sold short, underlying fund fees and expenses or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) of the Fund do not exceed 3. 20 % for Class A shares, 3.95 % for Class C shares, 2.95 % for Class I shares and 3.45% for Class R shares.  A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement is available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


Portfolio Manager


Jonathan M. Hansen


Mr. Hansen is a Principal and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser.   Mr. Hansen joined the Adviser in 2012.  In November of 2005, Mr. Hansen formed Newport Private Capital, LLC (“Newport”).  Since that time Mr. Hansen has serve as the Newport President, overseeing Newport’s trading decisions for private investment funds and separately managed client accounts. The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about Mr. Hansen compensation, other accounts he manages and his ownership of shares in the Fund.


Prior Performance Information




67



Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, limited performance information is available.  At Newport, Mr. Hansen has been responsible for managing client accounts prior to serving as the Fund’s portfolio manager. Some of these accounts were invested employing the same features of the Fund’s principal investment strategies using the Adviser’s investment principles. The performance information shown below represents a composite of the prior performance of all discretionary accounts managed by Mr. Hansen with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Fund (the “Optimum Income Program Composite” or “Composite”).

 

The information for the Optimum Income Program Composite, which includes all substantially similar accounts, is provided to show the past performance of those accounts as measured against the specified index. The performance of the Composite does not represent the historical performance of the Fund, and should not be considered indicative of future performance of any of the accounts in the Composite or the Fund. Future results will differ from past results because of differences in future behavior of the various investment markets, in brokerage commissions, account expenses, the size of positions taken in relation to account size and diversification of securities, and the timing of purchases and sales, among other things. In addition, the accounts in the Composite were not subject to certain investment limitations and other restrictions imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Internal Revenue Code which, if applicable, might have adversely affected the performance of the Composite during the periods shown. Performance of the Fund for future periods will definitely vary, and some months, quarters, and years may result in negative performance.


The Adviser provided the information shown below and the performance information was calculated by an independent certified public accountant firm. The Composite returns shown include realized and unrealized gains plus income, including accrued income. The performance is shown net of actual operating expenses. The accounts in the Composite were not subject to a sales load. Returns from cash and cash equivalents in the accounts in the Composite are included in the performance calculations, and the cash and cash equivalents are included in the total assets on which the performance is calculated. The performance below is calculated in accordance with Rule 4.25 under Part 4 of the CFTC Regulations promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 that applies to commodity pools. Rule 4.25 requires cumulative returns to be calculated net of all fees, expenses and allocations to the commodity pool operator.


Optimum Income Program Composite

Annual Total Returns

For periods ended December 31

(Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did)



Cumulative Return

2011

2010

2009

2008



68



Optimum Income Program Composite (after actual expenses) 1

40.08%

4.51%

7.54%

10.99%

12.29%

BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index 2

2.51%

0.10%

0.13%

0.21%

2.06%

1 Account values are aggregated every month to arrive at the composite value, and the composite monthly value is adjusted by the time weighted cash flow of the month to arrive at the monthly composite return. The monthly composite returns are geometrically linked to arrive at the annual composite returns.  The annual average assets under management for accounts in the Composite was $21,906,770.

2  The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that is comprised of a single U.S. Treasury issue with approximately three months to final maturity, purchased at the beginning of each month and held for one full month. At the end of the month, that issue is sold and rolled into a newly selected issue.  




Optimum Income Program Composite

Average Annual Total Returns

For periods ended December 31



Annual 1 Year Return

Average Annualized Total Return

Since Inception (2008)

Optimum Income Program Composite (after actual expenses)

4.51%

8.83%

BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index 1

0.10%

0.62%

1 The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that is comprised of a single U.S. Treasury issue with approximately three months to final maturity, purchased at the beginning of each month and held for one full month. At the end of the month, that issue is sold and rolled into a newly selected issue.  



HOW SHARES ARE PRICED


The net asset value ("NAV") and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business.  NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of the Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV).  The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,



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Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.  


Generally, the Fund’s securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the last bid on the primary exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price.  If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and evaluated by the Board as to the reliability of the fair value method used.  In these cases, the Fund’s NAV will reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair value rather than their market price.  Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available.  


The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the fair market value of the Fund’s securities.  In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. Because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of some of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.  In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE.  Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value.  For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments.  As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.



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With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, each Fund’s net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.


HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES  


Share Classes: This Prospectus describes four classes of shares offered by the Fund: Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R. The Fund offers these four classes of shares so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs. Refer to the information below so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs.  The main differences between each class are sales charges, ongoing fees and minimum investments. Class R shares are available only to eligible retirement plans. In choosing which class of shares to purchase, you should consider which will be most beneficial to you, given the amount of your purchase and the length of time you expect to hold the shares. For information on ongoing distribution fees, see Distribution Fees on page [_] of this Prospectus.  Each class of shares in the Fund represents interest in the same portfolio of investments within the Fund.  There is no investment minimum on reinvested distributions and the Fund may change investment minimums at any time.  The Fund reserves the right to waive sales charges, as described below.  The Fund and the Adviser may each waive investment minimums at their individual discretion. All share classes may not be available in all states.


Class A Shares:   Class A shares are offered at their public offering price, which is NAV plus the applicable sales charge and is subject to 12b-1 distribution fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares.  The minimum initial investment in Class A shares of the Fund is $2,500 for all accounts.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class A shares of the Fund is $500 for all accounts.  The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest.  There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions.  The following sales charges, which may be waived in the Adviser’s discretion, apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund:


Amount Invested

Sales Charge as a % of Offering Price(1)

Sales Charge as a % of Amount Invested

Dollar Reallowance

Under $25,000

5.75%

6.10%

5.00%

$25,000 to $49,999

5.00%

5.26%

4.25%

$50,000 to $99,999

4.75%

4.99%

4.00%



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$100,000 to $249,999

3.75%

3.83%

3.25%

$250,000 to $499,999

2.50%

2.56%

2.00%

$500,000 to $999,999

2.00%

2.04%

1.75%

$1,000,000 and above(2)

0.00%

0.00%

See below.

(1)Offering price includes the front-end sales load.  The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculation used to determine your sales charge.

(2) A selling broker may receive commissions on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: 1.00% on purchases equal to or greater than $1 million but less than $3 million, 0.50% on amounts equal to or greater than $3 million but less than $5 million, 0.25% on amounts equal to or greater than $5 million.


A selling broker may receive commissions on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: 1.00% on purchases between $1 million and $3 million, 0.50% on amounts over $3 million but less than $5 million, 0.25% on amounts over $5 million.  The commission rate is determined based on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Class A shares.


As shown, investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more of the Fund’s Class A shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase.  However, purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") on shares redeemed during the first 18 months after their purchase in the amount of the commissions paid on the shares redeemed.  The Class A CDSC does not apply if you are otherwise eligible to purchase Class A shares without an initial sales charge or are eligible for a waiver of the CDSC.  See “Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges” below.


How to Reduce Your Sales Charge


You may be eligible to purchase Class A shares at a reduced sales charge.  To qualify for these reductions, you must notify the Fund’s distributor, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), in writing and supply your account number at the time of purchase.  You may combine your purchase with those of your "immediate family" (your spouse and your children under the age of 21) for purposes of determining eligibility.  If applicable, you will need to provide the account numbers of your spouse and your minor children as well as the ages of your minor children.


Rights of Accumulation: To qualify for the lower sales charge rates that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you may combine your new purchases of Class A shares with Class A shares of the Fund that you already own.  The applicable initial sales charge for the new purchase is based on the total of your current purchase and the current value of all other Class A shares that you own.  The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases and must be requested in writing when you buy your shares.


Shares of the Fund held as follows cannot be combined with your current purchase for purposes of reduced sales charges:




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Shares held indirectly through financial intermediaries other than your current purchase broker-dealer (for example, a different broker-dealer, a bank, a separate insurance company account or an investment advisor);


Shares held through an administrator or trustee/custodian of an Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (for example, a 401(k) plan) other than employer-sponsored IRAs;


Shares held directly in the Fund account on which the broker-dealer (financial advisor) of record is different than your current purchase broker-dealer.


Letter of Intent:  Under a Letter of Intent ("LOI"), you commit to purchase a specified dollar amount of Class A shares of the Fund, with a minimum of $25,000, during a 13-month period.  At your written request, Class A shares purchases made during the previous 90 days may be included.  The amount you agree to purchase determines the initial sales charge you pay.  If the full-face amount of the LOI is not invested by the end of the 13-month period, your account will be adjusted to the higher initial sales charge level for the amount actually invested.  You are not legally bound by the terms of your LOI to purchase the amount of your shares stated in the LOI.  The LOI does, however, authorize the Fund to hold in escrow 5% of the total amount you intend to purchase.  If you do not complete the total intended purchase at the end of the 13 month period, the Fund’s transfer agent will redeem the necessary portion of the escrowed shares to make up the difference between the reduced rate sales charge (based on the amount you intended to purchase) and the sales charge that would normally apply (based on the actual amount you purchased).


Repurchase of Class A Shares:  If you have redeemed Class A shares of the Fund within the past 120 days, you may repurchase an equivalent amount of Class A shares of the Fund at NAV, without the normal front-end sales charge.  In effect, this allows you to reacquire shares that you may have had to redeem, without repaying the front-end sales charge.  You may exercise this privilege only once and must notify the Fund that you intend to do so in writing.  The Fund must receive your purchase order within 120 days of your redemption.  Note that if you reacquire shares through separate installments (e.g., through monthly or quarterly repurchases), the sales charge waiver will only apply to those portions of your repurchase order received within 120 days of your redemption.


Sales Charge Waivers


The sales charge on purchases of Class A shares is waived for certain types of investors, including:


Current and retired directors and officers of any Fund sponsored by the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries, their families (e.g., spouse, children, mother or father) and any purchases referred through the Adviser.


Employees of the Adviser and their families, or any full-time employee or registered representative of the distributor or of broker-dealers having dealer agreements with the distributor (a "Selling Broker") and their immediate families (or any trust, pension, profit sharing or other benefit plan for the benefit of such persons).



73




Any full-time employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or other financial institution that utilizes a Selling Broker to clear purchases of the fund’s shares and their immediate families.


Participants in certain "wrap-fee" or asset allocation programs or other fee-based arrangements sponsored by broker-dealers and other financial institutions that have entered into agreements with the distributor.


Clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into arrangements with the distributor providing for the shares to be used in particular investment products made available to such clients and for which such registered investment advisors may charge a separate fee.


Institutional investors (which may include bank trust departments and registered investment advisors).


Any accounts established on behalf of registered investment advisors or their clients by broker-dealers that charge a transaction fee and that have entered into agreements with the distributor.


Separate accounts used to fund certain unregistered variable annuity contracts or Section 403(b) or 401(a) or (k) accounts.


Employer-sponsored retirement or benefit plans with total plan assets in excess of $5 million where the plan’s investments in the Fund are part of an omnibus account.  A minimum initial investment of $1 million in the Fund is required.  The distributor in its sole discretion may waive these minimum dollar requirements.


The Fund does not waive sales charges for the reinvestment of proceeds from the sale of shares of a different fund where those shares were subject to a front-end sales charge (sometimes called an "NAV transfer").


Class C Shares: Class C shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Class C shares pay up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation for service and distribution-related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services.  Over time, fees paid under this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of a Class C shareholder’s investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.  Additionally, you normally pay a CDSC of 1% if you redeem Class C shares during the first year after your initial purchase. The Class C CDSC is waived for certain categories of investors. See “Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges” below. The minimum initial investment in Class C shares of the Fund is $2,500.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class C shares of the Fund is $500.


Years Since Purchase Payment was Made

Dollar Reallowance



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First

1.00%

Thereafter

0.00%


A CDSC is imposed on redemptions of Class C shares (and where applicable, Class A shares) on the amount of the redemption which causes the current value of your account for the particular class of shares of the Fund to fall below the total dollar amount of your purchase payments subject to the CDSC.


The following rules apply under the method for calculating CDSCs:

Shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions will be redeemed first and will not be subject to any CDSC.

For the redemption of all other shares, the CDSC will be based on either your original purchase price or the then current NAV of the shares being sold, whichever is lower. To illustrate this point, consider shares purchased at an NAV per share of $10. If the Fund’s NAV per share at the time of redemption is $12, the CDSC will apply to the purchase price of $10. If the NAV per share at the time of redemption is $8, the CDSC will apply to the $8 current NAV per share.

CDSCs will be deducted from the proceeds of your redemption, not from amounts remaining in your account.

In determining whether a CDSC is payable, it is assumed that the shareholder will redeem first the lot of shares which will incur the lowest CDSC.

The following example illustrates the operation of the Class C CDSC:

Assume that an individual opens an account and makes a purchase payment of $10,000 for 1,000 Class C shares of the Fund (at $10 per share) and that six months later the value of the investor’s account for that Fund has grown through investment performance to $11,000 ($11 per share). If the investor should redeem $2,200 (200 shares), a CDSC would be applied against $2,000 of the redemption (the purchase price of the shares redeemed, because the purchase price is lower than the current NAV of such shares ($2,200)). At the rate of 1%, the Class C CDSC would be $20.

Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges

The initial sales charges on Class A shares and the CDSCs on Class A and Class C shares may be reduced or waived under certain purchase arrangements and for certain categories of investors.   The CDSC applicable to Class A and Class C shares is currently waived for:


Any partial or complete redemption in connection with (a) required minimum distributions to IRA account owners or beneficiaries who are age 70 1/2 or older or (b) distributions to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans upon



75



attaining age 59 1/2 or on account of death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e) of the Internal Revenue Code) that occurs after the purchase of Class A or Class C shares.

Any partial or complete redemption in connection with a qualifying loan or hardship withdrawal from an employer sponsored retirement plan.

Any complete redemption in connection with a distribution from a qualified employer retirement plan in connection with termination of employment or termination of the employer’s plan and the transfer to another employer’s plan or to an IRA.

Any partial or complete redemption following death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e) of the Internal Revenue Code) of an individual holding shares for his or her own account and/or as the last survivor of a joint tenancy arrangement (this provision, however, does not cover an individual holding in a fiduciary capacity or as a nominee or agent or a legal entity that is other than an individual or the owners or beneficiaries of any such entity) provided the redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of disability and provided the death or disability occurs after the purchase of the shares.

Any redemption resulting from a return of an excess contribution to a qualified employer retirement plan or an IRA.

Up to 10% per year of the value of the Fund account that (a) has the value of at least $10,000 at the start of such year and (b) is subject to an Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

Redemptions by Trustees, officers and employees of any of the Trust and by directors, officers and employees of the Distributor, the Adviser or its affiliates.

Redemptions effected pursuant to the Fund’s right to involuntarily redeem a shareholder’s Fund account if the aggregate net asset value of shares held in such shareholder’s account is less than a minimum account size specified in such Fund’s prospectus.

Involuntary redemptions caused by operation of law.

Redemptions of shares of the Fund that is combined with another investment company, or personal holding company by virtue of a merger, acquisition or other similar reorganization transaction,

Redemptions by a shareholder who is a participant making periodic purchases of not less than $50 through certain employer sponsored savings plans that are clients of a broker-dealer with which the Distributor has an agreement with respect to such purchases.

Redemptions effected by trustees or other fiduciaries who have purchased shares for employer-sponsored plans, the trustee, administrator, fiduciary, broker, trust company or registered investment adviser for which has an agreement with the Distributor with respect to such purchases.



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Redemptions in connection with IRA accounts established with Form 5305-SIMPLE under the Internal Revenue Code for which the Trust is the designated financial institution.

A redemption by a holder of Class A shares who purchased $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares (and therefore did not pay a sales charge) where the participating broker or dealer involved in the sale of such shares waived the commission it would normally receive from the Distributor pursuant to an agreement with the Distributor.

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived all payments it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (i.e., commissions or reallowances of initial sales charges and advancements of service and distribution fees).

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where, by agreement with the Distributor, the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived a portion of any payment it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (or otherwise agreed to a variation from the normal payment schedule) in connection with such purchase.

The Distributor may require documentation prior to waiver of the CDSC for any class, including distribution letters, certification by plan administrators, applicable tax forms, death certificates, physicians’ certificates (e.g., with respect to disabilities), etc.

Exempt Transactions; No CDSCs or Payments to Brokers

Investors will not be subject to CDSCs, and brokers and dealers will not receive any commissions or reallowances of initial sales charges or advancements of service and distribution fees, on the transactions described below (which are sometimes referred to as “Exempt Transactions”):

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived all payments it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (e.g., commissions and/or reallowances of initial sales charges and advancements of service and distribution fees.

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where, by agreement with the Distributor, the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived a portion of any payment it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (or otherwise agreed to a variation from the normal payment schedule) in connection with such purchase.

Class I Shares


Class I shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge and are not subject to 12b-1 distribution fees, but have a higher minimum initial investment than Class A



77



and Class C shares.  This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund.  Class I shares require a minimum initial investment of $100,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $1,000.


Class I shares are available to certain institutional investors, and directly to certain individual investors as set forth below:


Institutional Investors may include, but are not limited to, corporations, retirement plans, foundations/endowments and investors who purchase through a wrap account offered through a selling group member that enters into a wrap fee program agreement with the Distributor.

Individual Investors include trustees, officers and employees of the Trust and its affiliates, and immediate family members of all such persons.

For accounts sold through financial intermediaries, it is the primary responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements such as investor type and investment minimums.


Class R Shares


Class R shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge and are subject to 12b-1 distribution fees of up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of Class R shares.  This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. The minimum initial investment in Class R shares of the Fund is $2,500.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class R shares of the Fund is $500.

Class R shares are available only to certain employer-sponsored retirement, savings or benefit plans held in plan level or omnibus accounts. Class R shares are not available to non-retirement accounts, traditional or Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SAR-SEPs, Simple IRAs, individual 403(b)s and most individual retirement accounts.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Share Class:  When deciding which class of shares to purchase, you should consider your investment goals, present and future amounts you may invest in the Fund, and the length of time you intend to hold your shares. To help you make a determination as to which class of shares to buy, please refer back to the examples of the Fund’s expenses over time in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section for the Fund in this Prospectus. You also may wish to consult with your financial Adviser for advice with regard to which share class would be most appropriate for you.


Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares of the Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130




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The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the Application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder’s identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.


Purchase through Brokers: You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your servicing agent.  


Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1 -866-851-2525 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.   


Automatic Investment Plan: You may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at 1 -866-851-2525 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan.


Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts: The minimum initial investment in Class A shares, Class C shares and Class R shares is $2,500. The minimum initial investment in Class I shares is $100,000.  The minimum additional investment for Class A shares, Class C shares and Class R shares is $500; and $1,000 for Class I shares.  There is no minimum investment requirement when you are buying shares by reinvesting dividends and distributions from the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to waive any investment minimum requirement.


The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full



79



amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to the Fund. The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.


Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.   


When Order is Processed: All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share (plus applicable sales charges, if any) next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be processed on the next business day.   


Good Order: When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order.


"Good order" means your purchase request includes:   


the name of the Fund;

the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;

a completed purchase application or investment stub; and

check payable to the “Belvedere Alternative Income Fund”.


Retirement Plans: You may purchase shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the Funds at 1 -866-851-2525 for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.  


HOW TO REDEEM SHARES


Redeeming Shares: You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:  


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


Redemptions by Telephone: The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts.  If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account. The proceeds, which are equal to number of shares times NAV less any applicable deferred sales charges or redemption fees, will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or sent electronically, via ACH or wire, directly to your existing account in a



80



bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem by telephone, call 1 -866-851-2525. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or electronically within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.  


The Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither the Fund, the transfer agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss.  The Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.  


Redemptions through Broker: If shares of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.  


Redemptions by Wire: You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.  


Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If your individual account, IRA or other qualified plan account has a current account value of at least $10,000, you may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the Fund at 1 -866-851-2525 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan.


Redemptions in Kind: The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders made by a shareholder during any 90-day period by making payment in whole or in part in portfolio securities (“redemption in kind”) if the amount of such a request is large enough to affect operations (if the request is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period).  The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued using the same procedures as used in calculating the Fund’s NAV. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.


When Redemptions are Sent: Once the Fund receives your redemption request in "good order" as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in "good order." If you purchase shares



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using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank (usually within 10 days of the purchase date).


Good Order: Your redemption request will be processed if it is in "good order."  To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:


The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;

The request must identify your account number;  

The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and

If you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person, bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.


When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees :  If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by writing to the Fund with your signature guaranteed.  A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:


you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the Fund;

you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with the Fund;

the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;

any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or

your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.


Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations).  Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.


Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.  


Low Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts), the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts) within 30 days of the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close



82



your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts) due to a decline in NAV.


FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES


The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Fund’s investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Fund’s Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Fund currently uses several methods to reduce the risk of market timing. These methods include:


Committing staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Fund’s "Market Timing Trading Policy;"

Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests;

Rejecting purchase requests from certain investors; and

Charging a 2% redemption fee on shares sold within 60 days.


Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders.  


Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the Adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to the Fund as described in the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy and elect to (i) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases into the Fund and/or (ii) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future exchanges or redemptions out of the Fund.


The Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder’s trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor’s financial advisor) from opening new accounts with the Fund.  


Although the Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund.  While the Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial



83



intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information to the extent known to the broker to the Fund upon request. If the Fund or its transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the Adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.


Any sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account).  When you redeem your shares you may realize a taxable gain or loss.  This is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in the Fund.  Due to recent legislation, 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 purchased on or after January 1, 2012. Please see the SAI for more information relating to this legislation).


The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income quarterly and net capital gains annually in December.  Both types of distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive cash.  Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash.  Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions.  IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.

 

Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes.  A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.



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On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS.  If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires the Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number.  If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund may be required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.


This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund’s shares.


DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES


Distributor: Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.


Distribution Fees: Each class of shares of the Fund, other than Class I shares, has adopted a Distribution Plan ("12b-1 Plan" or "Plan"), pursuant to which the Fund may pay the Fund’s distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares, up to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares, and up to 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares.


The Fund’s distributor and other entities are paid under the Plan for services provided and the expenses borne by the distributor and others in the distribution of Fund shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of dealers and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares to other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the distributor or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any un-reimbursed expenses.  


You should be aware that if you hold your shares for a substantial period of time, you may indirectly pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge allowed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority due to the recurring nature of distribution (12b-1) fees.


Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Fund’s distributor, its affiliates, and the Fund’s Adviser may, at their own expense and out of their own legitimate profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others. These payments may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees and any sales charges that are disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide

85



shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The distributor may, from time to time, provide promotional incentives, including reallowance and/or payment of up to the entire sales charge, to certain investment firms. Such incentives may, at the distributor’s discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional commissions.  


Householding: To reduce expenses, the Fund mails only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1 -866-851-2525 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


Because the Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for the Fund at this time.  In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.



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PRIVACY NOTICE


FACTS

WHAT DOES TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Why?

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.

Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.
Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

THE TYPES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND SHARE DEPENDS ON THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE WITH US. THIS INFORMATION CAN INCLUDE:

·

Social Security number and income

·

Account transactions and transaction history

·

Investment experience and purchase history

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

­­­­­How?

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reason Two Roads Shared Trust chooses to share and whether you can limit this sharing.




Reasons we can share your personal information

Does Two Roads Shared Trust share?

Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

YES

NO

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

NO

We do not share

For joint marketing with other financial companies

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates to market to you

NO

We do not share

For nonaffiliates to market to you

NO

We do not share




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Questions?

Call 1 -866-851-2525




                                                                                    What we do

How does Two Roads Shared Trust protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.

These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.


Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

How does Two Roads Shared Trust collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

·

open an account or give us contact information

·

provide account information or give us your income information

·

make deposits or withdrawals from your account

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

·

sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

·

affiliates from using your information to market to you

·

sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing



                                                                                      Definitions

Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust has no affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliates financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust does not jointly market.




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Belvedere Alternative Income Fund


Adviser

Belvedere Asset Management, LLC

610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 600

Newport Beach, CA  92660

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE  68130

Custodian

Union Bank, N.A.

350 California Street, 6th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

Legal Counsel

Dechert LLP

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300

San Francisco, CA   94111

Transfer Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE  68130

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

McGladrey LLP

555 17th Street, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80202



Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI"). The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund’s policies and management.  Additional information about the Fund’s investments will also be available in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders.  In the Fund’s Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.


To obtain a free copy of the SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call 1-866-851-2525. The Fund does not have a website; however information relating to the Fund can be found on the Adviser’s website at www.BelvedereFunds.com.  You may also write to:


Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


You may review and obtain copies of the Fund’s information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.



Investment Company Act File # 811-22718



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Subject to Completion—Dated October 26, 2012


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.


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund


LJM Income Plus Fund



PROSPECTUS


[___], 2012


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

Class A    LJMAX

Class C    LJMCX

Class I    LJMIX


LJM Income Plus Fund

Class A   LJIAX

Class C   LJICX

Class I   LJIIX



Advised by:

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

One Financial Place

440 S. La Salle Street, Suite 2301

Chicago, IL  60605




www.ljmfunds.com         1 -855-LJM-FUND



This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.


These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS


FUND SUMMARIES

 

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

 

LJM Income Plus Fund

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Prior Performance Information

 

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

 

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Distributor

 

Distribution of Fees

 

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries

 

Householding

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Privacy Notice

 



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FUND SUMMARIES


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund


Investment Objective: The LJM Preservation and Growth Fund (the “Fund”) seeks capital appreciation and capital preservation with low correlation to the broader U.S. equity market.


Fees and Expenses of the Fund:  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in How to Purchase Shares on page [_] of the Fund's Prospectus.

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A

Class C

Class I

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a % of offering price)

5.75%

None

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

(as a % of original purchase price)

1.00%

1.00%

None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed

On Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions

None

None

None

Redemption Fee

(as a % of amount redeemed within 90 days of purchase)

1.00%

1.00%

1.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage

of the value of your investment)




Management Fee

1.95%

1.95%

1.95%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

0.25%

1.00%

None

Other Expenses (1)

0.98%

0.98%

0.98%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (2)

0.04%

0.04%

0.04%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

3.22%

3.97%

2.97%

Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement (3)

(0.73)%

(0.73)%

(0.73)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and or Reimbursement

2.49%

3.97%

2.24%

(1) Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(2) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.  The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

(3) The Fund’s Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, until at least February 28, 2014, to ensure that total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and reimbursement (exclusive of any taxes, short selling expenses, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 2.45%, 3.20% and 2.20% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C and Class I shares, respectively.  These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  This agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees on 60 days written notice to the Adviser.


Example:  This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  

92



The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:



1 year

3 years

Class A

$813

$1,446

Class C

$327

$1,143

Class I

$227

$850


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 may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  No portfolio turnover rate is provided for the Fund because the Fund has not completed its first fiscal year as of the date of this Prospectus.


Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in:


long and short call and put options on Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P”) futures contracts; and

cash and cash equivalents, including high-quality short-term (3 months or less) fixed income securities such as U.S. Treasury securities.


The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by capturing gains on purchased or written options on S&P futures contracts and investing in high-quality cash equivalent instruments, including U.S. Treasury securities.  


The Fund opportunistically invests where futures markets, cash markets, and option pricing provide favorable risk/reward models and where gains can be attained independent of the direction of the broader U.S. equity market.  The Fund uses quantitative models and analysis of historical portfolio profit and loss information to identify favorable option trading opportunities, including favorable call and put option spreads.  The Fund’s investment strategy also takes into account fundamental business and macro economic factors.


The Fund employs a variety of derivatives trading strategies to pursue its objectives, including buying (long) and writing (short) “out of the money” call and put options on S&P futures contracts to create spreads. The Fund may employ additional call spreads during periods of S&P appreciation or additional put spreads during periods of S&P decline.  The



93



Fund may include long or short S&P futures contracts to adjust risk exposure.  In periods subsequent to significant gains in the S&P 500 cash markets, the Fund may assume greater risk through the selling of short call option premiums. The Fund aims to preserve capital, particularly in down markets (including major market drawdowns), through using option spreads as a form of hedging.  Option positions are held until either they expire or are liquidated to either capture gains as option expirations approach or to adjust positions to reduce or prevent losses and to take other potentially profitable positions.

 

The Fund actively trades options and other portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of options and other portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.

Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program but rather one component of a diversified investment portfolio. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover due to active and frequent trading will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Derivatives Risk. The risk of investing in derivative instruments, including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, mispricing or improper valuation.  Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.


Fixed Income Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities or derivatives, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities or derivatives owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.




94



Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).


Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index.


Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.


Limited History of Operations . The Fund has a limited history of operation. In addition, the Adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund.


Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.


Management Risk. The Adviser’s decisions on size and diversity of portfolio holdings and its judgments about the potential change in value of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect.


Market Risk. Overall equity market risk may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.




95



Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.


Written Options Risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a written options (also referred to as a short position) if the price of the written option instrument increases in value between the date when the Fund writes the option and the date on which the Fund purchases an offsetting position. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in a written call transaction.


Performance: Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of this Prospectus.  Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.ljmfunds.com or by calling 1-855-LJM-FUND.


Investment Adviser:   LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (the “Adviser”)


Portfolio Managers:   Anthony J. Caine, Founder and Chairman of the Adviser, and Anish Parvatenini, Director of Trading of the Adviser, have served as Portfolio Managers of the Fund since it commenced operations in 2012.


Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares:   You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading by written request,



96



by telephone at 1 -855-LJM-FUND, or through your broker.  Redemptions will be paid by automated clearing house funds (“ACH”), check or wire transfer.  The Fund or its Adviser may waive any of the minimum initial and subsequent investment accounts.


Class

Minimum Investment

Initial

Subsequent

A

$2,500

$500

C

$2,500

$500

I

$100,000

$1,000


Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.  


Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create 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.


LJM Income Plus Fund


Investment Objective: The LJM Income Plus Fund (the “Fund”) primarily seeks capital preservation with capital appreciation as a secondary goal with low correlation to the broader U.S. equity market.


Fees and Expenses of the Fund:  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in How to Purchase Shares on page [_] of the Fund's Prospectus.








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Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A

Class C

Class I

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a % of offering price)

5.75%

None

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

(as a % of original purchase price)

1.00%

1.00%

None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed

On Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions

None

None

None

Redemption Fee

(as a % of amount redeemed within 90 days of purchase)

1.00%

1.00%

1.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage

of the value of your investment)




Management Fee

1.95%

1.95%

1.95%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

0.25%

1.00%

None

Other Expenses (1)

1.86%

1.86%

1.86%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (2)

0.04%

0.04%

0.04%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

4.10%

4.85%

3.85%

Fee Waiver and/or Reimbursement (3)

(1.61)%

(1.61)%

(1.61)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and or Reimbursement

2.49%

3.24%

2.24%

(1) Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(2) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.  The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

(3) The Fund’s Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund until at least February 28, 2014, to ensure that total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and reimbursement (exclusive of any taxes, short selling expenses, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 2.45%, 3.20% and 2.20% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C and Class I shares, respectively.  These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  This agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees on 60 days written notice to the Adviser.


Example:  This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  


The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:



1 year

3 years

Class A

$813

$1,612

Class C

$327

$1,315



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Class I

$227

$1,027


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 may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  No portfolio turnover rate is provided for the Fund because the Fund has not completed its first fiscal year as of the date of this Prospectus.


Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in:


long and short call and put options on Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P”) futures contracts; and

cash and cash equivalents, including high-quality short-term (3 months or less) fixed income securities such as U.S. Treasury securities.


The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by capturing gains on purchased or written options on S&P futures contracts and investing in high-quality cash equivalent instruments, including U.S. Treasury securities. The Fund employs elevated levels of hedging when economic factors indicate potential increases in market volatility with the aim of constraining losses in the event of  a sudden and significant drop in the S&P 500.  

 

The Fund opportunistically invests where futures markets, cash markets, and option pricing provide favorable risk/reward models and where gains can be attained independent of the direction of the broader U.S. equity market.  The Fund uses quantitative models and analysis of historical portfolio profit and loss information to identify favorable option trading opportunities, including favorable call and put option spreads.  The Fund’s investment strategy also takes into account fundamental business and macro economic factors.


The Fund employs a variety of derivatives trading strategies to pursue its objectives, including buying (long) and writing (short) “out of the money” call and put options on S&P futures contracts to create spreads. The Fund may employ additional call spreads during periods of S&P appreciation or additional put spreads during periods of S&P decline.  The Fund may include long or short S&P futures contracts to adjust risk exposure.  In periods subsequent to significant gains in the S&P 500 cash markets, the Fund may assume greater risk through the selling of short call option premiums. The Fund aims to preserve capital, particularly in down markets (including major market drawdowns), through using option spreads as a form of hedging.  Option positions are held until either they expire or are liquidated to either capture gains as option expirations approach or to adjust positions to reduce or prevent losses and to take other potentially profitable positions.

 

The Fund actively trades options and other portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of



99



options and other portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.

Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program but rather one component of a diversified investment portfolio. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover due to active and frequent trading will result in higher transactional and brokerage costs.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Derivatives Risk. The risk of investing in derivative instruments, including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, mispricing or improper valuation.  Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.


Fixed Income Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities or derivatives, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities or derivatives owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.


Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk,



100



interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).


Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index.


Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.


Limited History of Operations . The Fund has a limited history of operation. In addition, the Adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund.


Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations.


Management Risk. The Adviser’s decisions on size and diversity of portfolio holdings and its judgments about the potential change in value of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect.


Market Risk. Overall equity market risk may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.


Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.




101



Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.


Written Options Risk. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a written options (also referred to as a short position) if the price of the written option instrument increases in value between the date when the Fund writes the option and the date on which the Fund purchases an offsetting position. The Fund’s losses are potentially large in a written put transaction and potentially unlimited in a written call transaction.


Performance: Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time.  In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of this Prospectus.  Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.ljmfunds.com or by calling 1-855-LJM-FUND.


Investment Adviser:   LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (the “Adviser”)


Portfolio Managers:   Anthony J. Caine, Founder and Chairman of the Adviser, and Anish Parvatenini, Director of Trading of the Adviser, have served as Portfolio Managers of the Fund since it commenced operations in 2012.


Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares:   You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading by written request,





by telephone at 1-855-LJM-FUND, or through your broker.  Redemptions will be paid by automated clearing house funds (“ACH”), check or wire transfer.  The Fund or its Adviser may waive any of the minimum initial and subsequent investment accounts.


Class

Minimum Investment

Initial

Subsequent



102



A

$2,500

$500

C

$2,500

$500

I

$100,000

$1,000


Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.  


Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create 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.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund


Investment Objective:  The Fund seeks capital appreciation and capital preservation with low correlation to the broader U.S. equity market. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval, upon 60 days, prior written notice to shareholders.


Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in:


·

long and short call and put options on Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P”) futures contracts; and

·

cash and cash equivalents, including high-quality short-term (3 months or less) fixed income securities such as U.S. Treasury securities.


The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by capturing gains on purchased or written options on S&P futures contracts and investing in high-quality cash equivalent instruments, including U.S. Treasury securities.  


The Fund opportunistically invests where futures markets, cash markets, and option pricing provide favorable risk/reward models and where gains can be attained independent of the direction of the broader U.S. equity market.  The Fund uses quantitative models and analysis of historical portfolio profit and loss information to identify favorable option trading



103



opportunities, including favorable call and put option spreads.  The Fund’s investment strategy also takes into account fundamental business and macro economic factors.


Quantitative Modeling. The Adviser uses mathematic analytics and modeling of equity index options relative to implied volatility; and models historical realized volatility against implied volatility to seek inefficiencies in options pricing.  Quantitative modeling is useful in furthering understanding of volatility conditions and trends, and in developing decisive forecasts for volatility relative to historic behavior patterns. The mathematical and statistical calculations involved in such modeling include exponential price moving averages, return standard deviation and variance, among others. The Adviser's quantitative model uses historical stock market volatility to forecast future volatility, which serves as an input to determine relative value among call and put options.


The Fund employs a variety of derivatives trading strategies to pursue its objectives, including buying (long) and writing (short) “out of the money” call and put options on S&P futures contracts to create spreads including:


S&P Call Spreads .  A call option is “out of the money,” when its strike price is higher than the market price of the underlying futures contract.  A call spread consists of writing a call and buying another call, which has a higher strike price and is therefore less expensive than the one written. If a call spread is not closed prior to expiration, the trade will be profitable if the current price of the S&P is below the strike price of the written call when the spread expires. If the S&P rises above the strike price of the written call at expiration, the trade may produce a loss.


S&P Put Spreads .  A put option is “out of the money” when its strike price is below the market price of the underlying futures contract.  A put spread consists of writing a put and buying another put, which has a lower strike price and is therefore less expensive than the one written. If a put spread is not closed prior to expiration, the trade will be profitable if the current price of the S&P is above the strike price of the written put when the spread expires. If the S&P falls below the strike price of the written put at expiration, the trade may produce a loss.


S&P Bear Spreads.  A put option is purchased “out of the money” and a 2nd put option, further “out of the money”, is simultaneously sold.  The cost of executing a Bear Spread is the difference between the pricing of the long put contract which is purchased and the short put contract which is sold.  The Bear Spread profits if the S&P falls below the strike price of the long put, less the net cost of the spread.  Profits are constrained to the difference between the strike prices of the long put and the short put, less the net cost of the spread.


S&P Bull Spreads.  A call option is purchased “out of the money” and a 2nd call option, further “out of the money”, is simultaneously sold.  The cost of executing a Bull Spread is the difference between the pricing of the long call contract which is purchased and the short call contract which is sold.  The Bull Spread profits if the S&P moves above the strike price of the long call, less the net cost of the spread.



104



 Profits are constrained to the difference between the strike prices of the long call and the short call, less the net cost of the spread.


S&P Strangles.   An “out of the money” call contract and an “out of the money” put contract are simultaneously sold resulting in premium placed in the Fund’s cash account.  An S&P strangle profits when the S&P index, at expiration, is between the strike prices of the short call and the short put, plus net premium collected.  Losses are experienced if the S&P, at expiration, is higher than the call strike price plus premium collected, or, is below the put strike price less premium collected.  Losses on S&P strangles are theoretically unlimited if the market moves higher than the call strike, and are limited to the difference between the put strike less and zero, less premium collected.


Naked Call Selling.  “Out of the money” S&P call contracts are sold.  Profits are derived if the S&P index, at expiration, is below the strike price plus net premium collected.  Profits are constrained to total premium collected.  Losses occur if the S&P market, at expiration, is above the strike price plus net premium collected.  Losses are theoretically unlimited.


Purchase of Long Put contracts.  “Out of the money” S&P put contracts are purchased.  Profits are derived if the S&P index, at expiration, is below the strike price plus net premium collected.  Losses are constrained to the cost of the long put contracts.


The Fund may employ additional call spreads during periods of S&P appreciation or additional put spreads during periods of S&P decline.  In periods subsequent to significant gains in the S&P 500 cash markets, the Fund may assume greater risk through the selling of short put option premiums. The Fund aims to preserve capital, particularly in down markets (including major market drawdowns), through the use of option spreads and the purchase of long put contracts as forms of hedging.  Option positions are held until either they expire or are liquidated to either capture gains as option expirations approach or to adjust positions to reduce or prevent losses and to take other potentially profitable positions.


The Fund actively trades options and other portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of options and other portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

Exchange-traded options on broad-based equity indices that trade on a national securities exchange registered with the SEC or a domestic board of trade designated as a contract market by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission generally qualify for treatment as "section 1256 contracts," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Under the Code, capital gains and losses on "section 1256 contracts" are generally recognized annually based on a marking-to-market of open positions at tax year-end, with gains or losses treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term, regardless of holding period. The Fund intends to utilize primarily options that are "section 1256 contracts."



105



The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.

In response to market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes, which is inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Such a strategy could include investing up to 100% of a Fund’s assets in cash or cash equivalent securities such as money market mutual funds. To the extent that a Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because a Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees.  Defensive investing could affect a Fund’s performance and the Fund might not achieve its investment objectives. A Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.


106



Principal Risk Factors


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs associated with the turnover which may reduce the Fund’s return, unless the securities traded can be bought and sold without corresponding commission costs. Active trading of securities may also increase the Fund’s realized capital gains or losses, which may affect the taxes you pay as a Fund shareholder.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Credit Risk. There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes. Lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security. Default, or the market’s perception that an issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and liquidity of securities held by the Fund, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. Credit risk also exists whenever the Fund enters into a foreign exchange or derivative contract, because the counterparty may not be able or may choose not to perform under the contract. When the Fund invests in foreign currency contracts, or other over-the-counter derivative instruments (including options), it is assuming a credit risk with regard to the party with which it trades and also bears the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from risks associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily mark-to-market and settlement, segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.


Derivatives Risk. The risk of investing in derivative instruments, including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, mispricing or improper valuation.



107



 Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.


Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities held by the Fund are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk, which are more fully described below.


o

Call Risk. During periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in its income.


o

Credit Risk . Fixed income securities are generally subject to the risk that the issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when they are due. There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay back debt. Lower rated fixed income securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.


o

Interest Rate Risk. Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value if interest rates rise. Fixed income securities with longer maturities sometimes offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income securities with shorter maturities.


o

Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held. These features make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on its performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out an investment contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to hold the security or keep the position open, and it could incur losses.


o

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Many types of fixed income securities are subject to prepayment risk. Prepayment occurs when the issuer of a fixed income security can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity. Fixed income securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. In addition, the potential impact of prepayment features on the price of a fixed income security can be difficult to predict and result in greater volatility. On the other hand, rising interest rates



108



could cause prepayments of the obligations to decrease, extending the life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities with lower payment rates. This is known as extension risk and may increase the Fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.


Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).  The Fund could be unable to recover assets held at the futures clearing broker, even assets directly traceable to the Fund from the futures clearing broker in the event of a bankruptcy of the commodity broker.  Although a Futures Commission Merchant (including the futures clearing broker) is required to segregate customer funds pursuant to the Commodities Exchange Act, in the unlikely event of the commodity broker’s bankruptcy, there is no equivalent of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation insurance as is applicable in the case of securities broker dealers’ bankruptcies.


Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner adverse to the portfolio construction employed by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and may be increased. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.




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Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security or option can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole. The value of large cap securities, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, can be more volatile than smaller cap securities due to differing market reactions to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.

 

Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations.


Limited History of Operations. The Fund has a limited history of operation. Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to the adviser’s management of individual and institutional accounts. As a result, investors cannot judge likely mutual fund performance of the Adviser by its track record of managing non-mutual fund assets and the Adviser may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.


Liquidity Risk. The Fund is subject to liquidity risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations. Funds with principal investment strategies that involve securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, non-U.S. securities, Rule 144A securities, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk.


Management Risk. The Adviser's reliance on its option-based strategy and its judgments about the potential appreciation of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect.

 

Market Risk. Overall equity market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.


Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.



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Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) recently adopted amendments to existing regulations that, upon effectiveness, may subject activities of the Fund involving investments in futures contracts and similar instruments to regulation by the CFTC, including a variety of registration, disclosure and operational obligations.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.


LJM Income Plus Fund


Investment Objective:  The Fund primarily seeks capital preservation with capital appreciation as a secondary goal with low correlation to the broader U.S. equity market. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval, upon 60 days, prior written notice to shareholders.


Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in:


long and short call and put options on Standard & Poor's 500 Index (“S&P”) futures contracts; and

cash and cash equivalents, including high-quality short-term (3 months or less) fixed income securities such as U.S. Treasury securities.


The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by capturing gains on purchased or written options on S&P futures contracts and investing in high-quality cash equivalent instruments, including U.S. Treasury securities. The Fund employs elevated levels of hedging when economic factors indicate potential increases in market volatility with the aim of constraining losses in the event of  a sudden and significant drop in the S&P.  


The Fund opportunistically invests where futures markets, cash markets, and option pricing provide favorable risk/reward models and where gains can be attained independent of the direction of the broader U.S. equity market.  The Fund uses quantitative models and analysis of historical portfolio profit and loss information to identify favorable option trading opportunities, including favorable call and put option spreads.  The Fund’s investment strategy also takes into account fundamental business and macro economic factors.




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Quantitative Modeling. The Adviser uses mathematic analytics and modeling of equity index options relative to implied volatility; and models historical realized volatility against implied volatility to seek inefficiencies in options pricing.  Quantitative modeling is useful in furthering understanding of volatility conditions and trends, and in developing decisive forecasts for volatility relative to historic behavior patterns. The mathematical and statistical calculations involved in such modeling include exponential price moving averages, return standard deviation and variance, analysis of option “greeks”, among others. The Adviser's quantitative model uses historical stock market volatility to forecast future volatility, which serves as an input to determine relative value among call and put options.


The Fund employs a variety of derivatives trading strategies to pursue its objectives, including buying (long) and writing (short) “out of the money” call and put options on S&P futures contracts to create spreads including:


S&P Call Spreads .  A call option is “out of the money,” when its strike price is higher than the market price of the underlying futures contract.  A call spread consists of writing a call and buying another call, which has a higher strike price and is therefore less expensive than the one written. If a call spread is not closed prior to expiration, the trade will be profitable if the current price of the S&P is below the strike price of the written call when the spread expires. If the S&P rises above the strike price of the written call at expiration, the trade may produce a loss.


S&P Put Spreads .  A put option is “out of the money” when its strike price is below the market price of the underlying futures contract.  A put spread consists of writing a put and buying another put, which has a lower strike price and is therefore less expensive than the one written. If a put spread is not closed prior to expiration, the trade will be profitable if the current price of the S&P is above the strike price of the written put when the spread expires. If the S&P falls below the strike price of the written put at expiration, the trade may produce a loss.


S&P Bear Spreads.  A put option is purchased “out of the money” and a 2nd put option, further “out of the money”, is simultaneously sold.  The cost of executing a Bear Spread is the difference between the pricing of the long put contract which is purchased and the short put contract which is sold.  The Bear Spread profits if the S&P falls below the strike price of the long put, less the net cost of the spread.  Profits are constrained to the difference between the strike prices of the long put and the short put, less the net cost of the spread.


S&P Bull Spreads.  A call option is purchased “out of the money” and a 2nd call option, further “out of the money”, is simultaneously sold.  The cost of executing a Bull Spread is the difference between the pricing of the long call contract which is purchased and the short call contract which is sold.  The Bull Spread profits if the S&P moves above the strike price of the long call, less the net cost of the spread.  Profits are constrained to the difference between the strike prices of the long call and the short call, less the net cost of the spread.




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S&P Strangles.   An “out of the money” call contract and an “out of the money” put contract are simultaneously sold resulting in premium placed in the Fund’s cash account.  An S&P strangle profits when the S&P index, at expiration, is between the strike prices of the short call and the short put, plus net premium collected.  Losses are experienced if the S&P, at expiration, is higher than the call strike price plus premium collected, or, is below the put strike price less premium collected.  Losses on S&P strangles are theoretically unlimited if the market moves higher than the call strike, and are limited to the difference between the put strike less and zero, less premium collected.


Naked Call Selling.  “Out of the money” S&P call contracts are sold.  Profits are derived if the S&P index, at expiration, is below the strike price plus net premium collected.  Profits are constrained to total premium collected.  Losses occur if the S&P market, at expiration, is above the strike price plus net premium collected.  Losses are theoretically unlimited.


Purchase of Long Put contracts.  “Out of the money” S&P put contracts are purchased.  Profits are derived if the S&P index, at expiration, is below the strike price plus net premium collected.  Losses are constrained to the cost of the long put contracts.


The Fund may employ additional call spreads during periods of S&P appreciation or additional put spreads during periods of S&P decline.  In periods subsequent to significant gains in the S&P 500 cash markets, the Fund may assume greater risk through the selling of short put option premiums. The Fund aims to preserve capital, particularly in down markets (including major market drawdowns), through using option spreads as a form of hedging.  More sophisticated hedging techniques are utilized during periods of greater market volatility. Option positions are held until either they expire or are liquidated to either capture gains as option expirations approach or to adjust positions to reduce or prevent losses and to take other potentially profitable positions.

 

The Fund actively trades options and other portfolio investments, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, active trading of options and other portfolio investments may lead to higher taxes if Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

Exchange-traded options on broad-based equity indices that trade on a national securities exchange registered with the SEC or a domestic board of trade designated as a contract market by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission generally qualify for treatment as "section 1256 contracts," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Under the Code, capital gains and losses on "section 1256 contracts" are generally recognized annually based on a marking-to-market of open positions at tax year-end, with gains or losses treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term, regardless of holding period. The Fund intends to utilize primarily options that are "section 1256 contracts."

The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund.



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In response to market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes, which is inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Such a strategy could include investing up to 100% of a Fund’s assets in cash or cash equivalent securities such as money market mutual funds. To the extent that a Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because a Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds’ advisory fees and operational fees.  Defensive investing could affect a Fund’s performance and the Fund might not achieve its investment objectives. A Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.

Principal Risk Factors


Active Trading Risk. A higher portfolio turnover may result in higher transactional and brokerage costs associated with the turnover which may reduce the Fund’s return, unless the securities traded can be bought and sold without corresponding commission costs. Active trading of securities may also increase the Fund’s realized capital gains or losses, which may affect the taxes you pay as a Fund shareholder.


Call Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a call option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Credit Risk. There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes. Lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it difficult for the Fund to sell the security. Default, or the market’s perception that an issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and liquidity of securities held by the Fund, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. Credit risk also exists whenever the Fund enters into a foreign exchange or derivative contract, because the counterparty may not be able or may choose not to perform under the contract. When the Fund invests in foreign currency contracts, or other over-the-counter derivative instruments (including options), it is assuming a credit risk with regard to the party with which it trades and also bears the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from risks associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily mark-to-market and settlement, segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its



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payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.


Derivatives Risk. The risk of investing in derivative instruments, including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, mispricing or improper valuation.  Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.


Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities held by the Fund are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk, which are more fully described below.


o

Call Risk. During periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in its income.


o

Credit Risk . Fixed income securities are generally subject to the risk that the issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when they are due. There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay back debt. Lower rated fixed income securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.


o

Interest Rate Risk. Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value if interest rates rise. Fixed income securities with longer maturities sometimes offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income securities with shorter maturities.


o

Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held. These features make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on its performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out an investment contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be



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required to hold the security or keep the position open, and it could incur losses.


o

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Many types of fixed income securities are subject to prepayment risk. Prepayment occurs when the issuer of a fixed income security can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity. Fixed income securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. In addition, the potential impact of prepayment features on the price of a fixed income security can be difficult to predict and result in greater volatility. On the other hand, rising interest rates could cause prepayments of the obligations to decrease, extending the life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities with lower payment rates. This is known as extension risk and may increase the Fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.


Futures Contract Risk. Futures contracts are subject to the same risks as the underlying investments that they represent, but also may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying investments. Investments in futures contracts involve additional costs, may be more volatile than other investments and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts the value of investments in using a futures contract, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into the contract. Because the futures utilized by a Fund are standardized and exchange traded, where the exchange serves as the ultimate counterparty for all contracts, the primary credit risk on futures contracts is the creditworthiness of the exchange itself. Futures are also subject to market risk, interest rate risk (in the case of futures contracts relating to income producing securities) and index tracking risk (in the case of stock index futures).  The Fund could be unable to recover assets held at the futures clearing broker, even assets directly traceable to the Fund from the futures clearing broker in the event of a bankruptcy of the commodity broker.  Although a Futures Commission Merchant (including the futures clearing broker) is required to segregate customer funds pursuant to the Commodities Exchange Act, in the unlikely event of the commodity broker’s bankruptcy, there is no equivalent of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation insurance as is applicable in the case of securities broker dealers’ bankruptcies.

 

Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative to offset the risks associated with other Fund holdings. While hedging can reduce losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains or cause losses if the market moves in a manner adverse to the portfolio construction employed by the Fund or if the cost of the derivative outweighs the benefit of the hedge. Hedging also involves the risk that changes in the value of the derivative will not match those of the holdings being hedged as expected by the Fund, in which case any losses on the holdings being hedged may not be reduced and may be increased. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be



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either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.


Index Risk. If the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities, including inverse securities (which move in an opposite direction to the index), may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.


Issuer-Specific Risk. The value of a specific security or option can be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market as a whole. The value of large cap securities, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, can be more volatile than smaller cap securities due to differing market reactions to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.


Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as that embedded in options, will magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations.


Limited History of Operations. The Fund has a limited history of operation. Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to the adviser’s management of individual and institutional accounts. As a result, investors cannot judge likely mutual fund performance of the Adviser by its track record of managing non-mutual fund assets and the Adviser may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.


Liquidity Risk. The Fund is subject to liquidity risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments of the Fund would be difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling such illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price, or possibly requiring the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations. Funds with principal investment strategies that involve securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, non-U.S. securities, Rule 144A securities, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk.


Management Risk . The Adviser's reliance on its option-based strategy and its judgments about the potential appreciation of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect.

 

Market Risk. Overall equity market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.



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Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund’s greater investment in a single issuer makes the fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuer. A decline in the value of or default by a single security in the non-diversified fund’s portfolio may have a greater negative effect than a similar decline or default by a single security in a diversified portfolio.


Put Option Risk. When the Fund purchases a put option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not decrease in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.


Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) recently adopted amendments to existing regulations that, upon effectiveness, may subject activities of the Fund involving investments in futures contracts and similar instruments to regulation by the CFTC, including a variety of registration, disclosure and operational obligations.


U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.


Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1 -855-LJM-FUND.


MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser


LJM Funds Management, Ltd., located at One Financial Place, 440 S. La Salle Street, Suite 2301, Chicago, IL  60605, serves as the investment adviser for the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund (each a “Fund,” and collectively the “Funds”).  The Adviser was formed on June 20, 2012 for the purpose of advising the Fund and has no other clients.  Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing each Fund’s investments, executing transactions and providing related administrative services and facilities under an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser.




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The management fee set forth in each Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement is 1.95% annually, to be paid on a monthly basis. In addition to investment advisory fees, each Fund pays other expenses including costs incurred in connection with the maintenance of its securities law registration, printing and mailing prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information to shareholders, certain financial accounting services, taxes or governmental fees, custodial, transfer and shareholder servicing agent costs, expenses of outside counsel and independent accountants, preparation of shareholder reports and expenses of trustee and shareholders meetings.


The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or to make payments to limit Fund expenses, until at least February 28, 2014 so that the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividend expense on securities sold short, underlying fund fees and expenses or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) of each Fund do not exceed 2.45% for Class A shares, 3.20% for Class C shares, and 2.20% for Class I shares.  Waivers and expense payments may be recouped by the Adviser from each Fund, to the extent that overall expenses fall below specified limits, within three years of when the amounts were waived or recouped. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement will be available in each Fund’s first annual or semi-annual shareholder report.


Portfolio Managers


Anthony J. Caine . Anthony J. Caine is the portfolio manager of the Funds and the Founder and Chairman of the Adviser.   Since 1998, Mr. Caine has served as the Chairman of the LJM Partners, Ltd..  The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about Mr. Caine’s compensation, other accounts he manages and his ownership of shares in the Fund.


Anish Parvatenini.  Mr. Parvatenini will serve as the co-portfolio manager of the Funds and serves as the Director of Trading for the Adviser.  Since 2010, Mr. Parvatenini has served as Director of Trading for LJM Partners, Ltd.  From 2008-2010, Mr. Parvatenini worked as an algorithmic trader at Jump Trading in Chicago.  During 2007, Mr. Parvatenini worked as trader at Citadel Investment Group.  The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about Mr. Parvatenini’s compensation, other accounts he manages and his ownership of shares in the Fund.


Prior Performance Information


At LJM Partners, Ltd. (an affiliate of the Adviser) the portfolio managers, Mr. Caine and Mr. Parvatenini have previously managed a private fund—LJM Preservation and Growth Fund, L.P. (the “Private Fund”)—with substantially similar objectives, policies and strategies as they will use to manage the Fund. The performance information shown below represents the historical performance of the Private Fund.


The information for the Private Fund is provided to show its past performance as measured against the specified index. The performance of the Private Fund does not represent the historical performance of the Fund, and should not be considered indicative of future



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performance of the Private Fund or the Fund. Future results will differ from past results because of differences in future behavior of the various investment markets, in brokerage commissions, account expenses, the size of positions taken in relation to account size and diversification of securities, and the timing of purchases and sales, among other things. In addition, the Private Fund was not subject to certain investment limitations and other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code which, if applicable, might have adversely affected the performance of the of the Private Fund during the periods shown. Performance of the Fund for future periods will definitely vary, and some months, quarters, and years may result in negative performance.


LJM Partners, Ltd. and the Adviser provided the information shown below and calculated the performance information. The Private Fund returns shown include realized and unrealized gains plus income, including accrued income.  The performance is shown net of actual operating expenses and net of performance fees of 20% of profits, if any.  The Private Fund was not subject to a sales load.  However, the Fund is not subject to performance fees.  If the Private Fund had not been subject to a performance fee, its performance would have been higher. In addition, the Private Fund did not invest in any underlying funds, but rather only invested in cash, cash equivalents and options on Standard & Poor 500 futures. Returns from cash and cash equivalents in the Private Fund are included in the performance calculations, and the cash and cash equivalents are included in the total assets on which the performance is calculated.  The performance below is calculated in accordance with Rule 4.25 under Part 4 of the CFTC Regulations promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 that applies to commodity pools. Rule 4.25 requires cumulative returns to be calculated net of all fees, expenses and allocations to the commodity pool operator.


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund, L.P.

Annual Total Returns & Cumulative Return

For periods ended December 31



Cumulative

Return

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund, L.P. (after actual expenses) 1

81.9%

9.20%

11.14%

11.11%

12.13%

12.57%

6.84%

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index 2

14.24%

2.04%

15.05%

26.46%

-37.00%

5.49%

15.79%

1 Performance for 2006 is from inception of the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund, L.P., May 1, 2006.

2 The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is an unmanaged index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for their market size, liquidity and industry group representation, and is considered to be representative of the U.S. equity market.  Unlike a mutual fund, it does not reflect any trading costs or management fees.  Performance for 2006 is from May 1, 2006.



LJM Preservation and Growth Fund, L.P.

Average Annual Total Returns

For periods ended December 31



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1 Year Annual Return

Average 5 Year Annualized Return

Average Annual Total Return

Since Inception (2006)

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund, L.P. (after actual expenses)

9.20%

11.22%

11.43%

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index 1

2.04%

-0.27%

2.24%

1 The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is an unmanaged index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for their market size, liquidity and industry group representation, and is considered to be representative of the U.S. equity market.  Unlike a mutual fund, it does not reflect any trading costs or management fees.


HOW SHARES ARE PRICED


The net asset value ("NAV") and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business.  NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of each Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV).  The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of each Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by each Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.  


Generally, each Fund’s securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the last bid on the primary exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price.  If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and evaluated by the Board as to the reliability of the fair value method used.  In these cases, each Fund’s NAV will reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair value rather than their market price.  Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the



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value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available.  


Each Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the fair market value of each Fund’s securities.  In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for each Fund. Because each Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of some of each Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.  In computing the NAV, each Fund values foreign securities held by each Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE.  Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in each Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before each Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value.  For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before each Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using each Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of each Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of each Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments.  As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.


With respect to any portion of each Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, each Fund’s net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.


HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES


Share Classes: This Prospectus describes three classes of shares offered by each Fund: Class A, Class C and Class I. Each Fund offers these three classes of shares so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs. Refer to the information below so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs.  The main differences between each class are sales charges, ongoing fees and minimum investments. In choosing which class of shares to purchase, you should consider which will be most beneficial to you, given the amount of your purchase and the length of time you expect to hold the shares. For information on ongoing distribution fees, see Distribution Fees on page [_] of this Prospectus.  Each class of shares in each Fund represents interest in the same portfolio of investments within each Fund.  There is no investment minimum on reinvested distributions and each Fund may change investment minimums at any time.  Each Fund reserves the right to waive sales charges, as described below.  Each Fund and



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the Adviser may each waive investment minimums at their individual discretion. All share classes may not be available in all states.


Class A Shares:   Class A shares are offered at their public offering price, which is NAV plus the applicable sales charge and is subject to 12b-1 distribution fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares.  The minimum initial investment in Class A shares of each Fund is $2,500 for all accounts.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class A shares of each Fund is $500 for all accounts.  The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest.  There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions.  The following sales charges, which may be waived in the Adviser’s discretion, apply to your purchases of Class A shares of each Fund:



Amount Invested

Sales Charge as a % of Offering Price(1)

Sales Charge as a % of Amount Invested

Dollar Reallowance

Under $25,000

5.75%

6.10%

5.00%

$25,000 to $49,999

5.00%

5.26%

4.25%

$50,000 to $99,999

4.75%

4.99%

4.00%

$100,000 to $249,999

3.75%

3.83%

3.25%

$250,000 to $499,999

2.50%

2.56%

2.00%

$500,000 to $999,999

2.00%

2.04%

1.75%

$1,000,000 and above(2)

0.00%

0.00%

See below.


(1)Offering price includes the front-end sales load.  The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculation used to determine your sales charge.

(2)A selling broker may receive commissions on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: 1.00% on purchases equal to or greater than $1 million but less than $3 million, 0.50% on amounts equal to or greater than $3 million but less than $5 million, 0.25% on amounts equal to or greater than $5 million.


A selling broker may receive commissions on purchases of Class A shares over $1 million calculated as follows: 1.00% on purchases between $1 million and $3 million, 0.50% on amounts over $3 million but less than $5 million, 0.25% on amounts over $5 million.  The commission rate is determined based on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Class A shares.




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As shown, investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more of each Fund’s Class A shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase.  However, purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") on shares redeemed during the first 18 months after their purchase in the amount of the commissions paid on the shares redeemed.  The Class A CDSC does not apply if you are otherwise eligible to purchase Class A shares without an initial sales charge or are eligible for a waiver of the CDSC.  See “Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges” below.






How to Reduce Your Sales Charge


You may be eligible to purchase Class A shares at a reduced sales charge.  To qualify for these reductions, you must notify the Fund’s distributor, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), in writing and supply your account number at the time of purchase.  You may combine your purchase with those of your "immediate family" (your spouse and your children under the age of 21) for purposes of determining eligibility.  If applicable, you will need to provide the account numbers of your spouse and your minor children as well as the ages of your minor children.


Rights of Accumulation: To qualify for the lower sales charge rates that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you may combine your new purchases of Class A shares with Class A shares of the Fund that you already own.  The applicable initial sales charge for the new purchase is based on the total of your current purchase and the current value of all other Class A shares that you own.  The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases and must be requested in writing when you buy your shares.


Shares of the Fund held as follows cannot be combined with your current purchase for purposes of reduced sales charges:




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Shares held indirectly through financial intermediaries other than your current purchase broker-dealer (for example, a different broker-dealer, a bank, a separate insurance company account or an investment advisor);


Shares held through an administrator or trustee/custodian of an Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (for example, a 401(k) plan) other than employer-sponsored IRAs;


Shares held directly in the Fund account on which the broker-dealer (financial advisor) of record is different than your current purchase broker-dealer.


Letter of Intent:  Under a Letter of Intent ("LOI"), you commit to purchase a specified dollar amount of Class A shares of the Fund, with a minimum of $25,000, during a 13-month period.  At your written request, Class A shares purchases made during the previous 90 days may be included.  The amount you agree to purchase determines the initial sales charge you pay.  If the full-face amount of the LOI is not invested by the end of the 13-month period, your account will be adjusted to the higher initial sales charge level for the amount actually invested.  You are not legally bound by the terms of your LOI to purchase the amount of your shares stated in the LOI.  The LOI does, however, authorize the Fund to hold in escrow 5% of the total amount you intend to purchase.  If you do not complete the total intended purchase at the end of the 13 month period, the Fund’s transfer agent will redeem the necessary portion of the escrowed shares to make up the difference between the reduced rate sales charge (based on the amount you intended to purchase) and the sales charge that would normally apply (based on the actual amount you purchased).


Repurchase of Class A Shares:  If you have redeemed Class A shares of the Fund within the past 120 days, you may repurchase an equivalent amount of Class A shares of the Fund at NAV, without the normal front-end sales charge.  In effect, this allows you to reacquire shares that you may have had to redeem, without repaying the front-end sales charge.  You may exercise this privilege only once and must notify the Fund that you intend to do so in writing.  The Fund must receive your purchase order within 120 days of your redemption.  Note that if you reacquire shares through separate installments (e.g., through monthly or quarterly repurchases), the sales charge waiver will only apply to those portions of your repurchase order received within 120 days of your redemption.


Sales Charge Waivers


The sales charge on purchases of Class A shares is waived for certain types of investors, including:


Current and retired directors and officers of any Fund sponsored by the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries, their families (e.g., spouse, children, mother or father) and any purchases referred through the Adviser.


Employees of the Adviser and their families, or any full-time employee or registered representative of the distributor or of broker-dealers having dealer agreements with the distributor (a "Selling Broker") and their immediate families (or any trust, pension, profit sharing or other benefit plan for the benefit of such persons).



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Any full-time employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or other financial institution that utilizes a Selling Broker to clear purchases of the fund’s shares and their immediate families.


Participants in certain "wrap-fee" or asset allocation programs or other fee-based arrangements sponsored by broker-dealers and other financial institutions that have entered into agreements with the distributor.


Clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into arrangements with the distributor providing for the shares to be used in particular investment products made available to such clients and for which such registered investment advisors may charge a separate fee.


Institutional investors (which may include bank trust departments and registered investment advisors).


Any accounts established on behalf of registered investment advisors or their clients by broker-dealers that charge a transaction fee and that have entered into agreements with the distributor.


Separate accounts used to fund certain unregistered variable annuity contracts or Section 403(b) or 401(a) or (k) accounts.


Employer-sponsored retirement or benefit plans with total plan assets in excess of $5 million where the plan’s investments in the Fund are part of an omnibus account.  A minimum initial investment of $1 million in the Fund is required.  The distributor in its sole discretion may waive these minimum dollar requirements.


The Fund does not waive sales charges for the reinvestment of proceeds from the sale of shares of a different fund where those shares were subject to a front-end sales charge (sometimes called an "NAV transfer").


Class C Shares: Class C shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Class C shares pay up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation for service and distribution-related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services.  Over time, fees paid under this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of a Class C shareholder’s investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.  Additionally, you normally pay a CDSC of 1% if you redeem Class C shares during the first year after your initial purchase. The Class C CDSC is waived for certain categories of investors. See “Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges” below. The minimum initial investment in Class C shares of the Fund is $2,500.  The minimum subsequent investment in Class C shares of the Fund is $500.


Years Since Purchase Payment was Made

Dollar Reallowance



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First

1.00%

Thereafter

0.00%


A CDSC is imposed on redemptions of Class C shares (and where applicable, Class A shares) on the amount of the redemption which causes the current value of your account for the particular class of shares of the Fund to fall below the total dollar amount of your purchase payments subject to the CDSC.


The following rules apply under the method for calculating CDSCs:

Shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions will be redeemed first and will not be subject to any CDSC.

For the redemption of all other shares, the CDSC will be based on either your original purchase price or the then current NAV of the shares being sold, whichever is lower. To illustrate this point, consider shares purchased at an NAV per share of $10. If the Fund’s NAV per share at the time of redemption is $12, the CDSC will apply to the purchase price of $10. If the NAV per share at the time of redemption is $8, the CDSC will apply to the $8 current NAV per share.

CDSCs will be deducted from the proceeds of your redemption, not from amounts remaining in your account.

In determining whether a CDSC is payable, it is assumed that the shareholder will redeem first the lot of shares which will incur the lowest CDSC.

The following example illustrates the operation of the Class C CDSC:

Assume that an individual opens an account and makes a purchase payment of $10,000 for 1,000 Class C shares of the Fund (at $10 per share) and that six months later the value of the investor’s account for that Fund has grown through investment performance to $11,000 ($11 per share). If the investor should redeem $2,200 (200 shares), a CDSC would be applied against $2,000 of the redemption (the purchase price of the shares redeemed, because the purchase price is lower than the current NAV of such shares ($2,200)). At the rate of 1%, the Class C CDSC would be $20.

Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges

The initial sales charges on Class A shares and the CDSCs on Class A and Class C shares may be reduced or waived under certain purchase arrangements and for certain categories of investors.  The CDSC applicable to Class A and Class C shares is currently waived for:


Any partial or complete redemption in connection with (a) required minimum distributions to IRA account owners or beneficiaries who are age 70 1/2 or older or (b) distributions to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans upon



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attaining age 59 1/2 or on account of death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e) of the Internal Revenue Code) that occurs after the purchase of Class A or Class C shares.

Any partial or complete redemption in connection with a qualifying loan or hardship withdrawal from an employer sponsored retirement plan.

Any complete redemption in connection with a distribution from a qualified employer retirement plan in connection with termination of employment or termination of the employer’s plan and the transfer to another employer’s plan or to an IRA.

Any partial or complete redemption following death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e) of the Internal Revenue Code) of an individual holding shares for his or her own account and/or as the last survivor of a joint tenancy arrangement (this provision, however, does not cover an individual holding in a fiduciary capacity or as a nominee or agent or a legal entity that is other than an individual or the owners or beneficiaries of any such entity) provided the redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of disability and provided the death or disability occurs after the purchase of the shares.

Any redemption resulting from a return of an excess contribution to a qualified employer retirement plan or an IRA.

Up to 10% per year of the value of the Fund account that (a) has the value of at least $10,000 at the start of such year and (b) is subject to an Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

Redemptions by Trustees, officers and employees of any of the Trust and by directors, officers and employees of the Distributor, the Adviser or its affiliates.

Redemptions effected pursuant to the Fund’s right to involuntarily redeem a shareholder’s Fund account if the aggregate net asset value of shares held in such shareholder’s account is less than a minimum account size specified in such Fund’s prospectus.

Involuntary redemptions caused by operation of law.

Redemptions of shares of the Fund that is combined with another investment company, or personal holding company by virtue of a merger, acquisition or other similar reorganization transaction,

Redemptions by a shareholder who is a participant making periodic purchases of not less than $50 through certain employer sponsored savings plans that are clients of a broker-dealer with which the Distributor has an agreement with respect to such purchases.

Redemptions effected by trustees or other fiduciaries who have purchased shares for employer-sponsored plans, the trustee, administrator, fiduciary, broker, trust company or registered investment adviser for which has an agreement with the Distributor with respect to such purchases.



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Redemptions in connection with IRA accounts established with Form 5305-SIMPLE under the Internal Revenue Code for which the Trust is the designated financial institution.

A redemption by a holder of Class A shares who purchased $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares (and therefore did not pay a sales charge) where the participating broker or dealer involved in the sale of such shares waived the commission it would normally receive from the Distributor pursuant to an agreement with the Distributor.

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived all payments it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (i.e., commissions or reallowances of initial sales charges and advancements of service and distribution fees).

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where, by agreement with the Distributor, the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived a portion of any payment it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (or otherwise agreed to a variation from the normal payment schedule) in connection with such purchase.

The Distributor may require documentation prior to waiver of the CDSC for any class, including distribution letters, certification by plan administrators, applicable tax forms, death certificates, physicians’ certificates (e.g., with respect to disabilities), etc.

Exempt Transactions; No CDSCs or Payments to Brokers

Investors will not be subject to CDSCs, and brokers and dealers will not receive any commissions or reallowances of initial sales charges or advancements of service and distribution fees, on the transactions described below (which are sometimes referred to as “Exempt Transactions”):

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived all payments it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (e.g., commissions and/or reallowances of initial sales charges and advancements of service and distribution fees.

A redemption by a holder of Class A or Class C shares where, by agreement with the Distributor, the participating broker or dealer involved in the purchase of such shares waived a portion of any payment it normally would receive from the Distributor at the time of purchase (or otherwise agreed to a variation from the normal payment schedule) in connection with such purcha se.


Class I Shares: Class I shares of each Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge and are not subject to 12b-1 distribution fees, but have a higher minimum initial investment than Class A and Class C shares.  This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed



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into shares of a Fund.  Class I shares require a minimum initial investment of $100,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $1,000.


Class I shares are available to certain institutional investors, and directly to certain individual investors as set forth below:


Institutional Investors may include, but are not limited to, corporations, retirement plans, foundations/endowments and investors who purchase through a wrap account offered through a selling group member that enters into a wrap fee program agreement with the Distributor.

Individual Investors include trustees, officers and employees of the Trust and its affiliates, and immediate family members of all such persons.

For accounts sold through financial intermediaries, it is the primary responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements such as investor type and investment minimums.


Factors to Consider When Choosing a Share Class:  When deciding which class of shares to purchase, you should consider your investment goals, present and future amounts you may invest in a Fund, and the length of time you intend to hold your shares. To help you make a determination as to which class of shares to buy, please refer back to the examples of a Fund’s expenses over time in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section for the Funds in this Prospectus. You also may wish to consult with your financial Adviser for advice with regard to which share class would be most appropriate for you.


Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares of a Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


-or-


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

LJM Income Plus Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130



The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including each Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the Application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street



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address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, a Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, a Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder’s identity. As required by law, each Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.


Purchase through Brokers: You may invest in either Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. A Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your servicing agent.  


Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire money to make an investment in a Fund, please call the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 11-855-LJM-FUND for wiring instructions and to notify the respective Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. Each Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.   


Automatic Investment Plan: You may participate in either Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND for more information about the respective Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan.


Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts: The minimum initial investment in Class A shares and Class C shares is $2,500.  The minimum initial investment in Class I shares is $100,000.  The minimum additional investment for Class A shares and Class C shares is $500; and $1,000 for Class I shares.   There is no minimum investment requirement when you are buying shares by reinvesting dividends and distributions from either Fund. Each Fund reserves the right to waive any investment minimum requirement.


Each Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to



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the either LJM Preservation and Growth Fund or the LJM Income Plus Fund.  The Funds will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Funds will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.


Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Funds’ transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by a Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.   


When Order is Processed: All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share (plus applicable sales charges, if any) next determined after the respective Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by each Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be processed on the next business day.   


Good Order: When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order.


"Good order" means your purchase request includes:   

the name of the Fund;

the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;

a completed purchase application or investment stub; and

check payable to the “LJM Preservation and Growth Fund" or the “LJM Income Plus Fund”.


Retirement Plans: You may purchase shares of either Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.  


HOW TO REDEEM SHARES


Redeeming Shares: You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:  


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130


-or-


Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

LJM Income Plus Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130




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Redemptions by Telephone: The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts.  If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the applicable Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account. The proceeds, which are equal to number of shares times NAV less any applicable deferred sales charges or redemption fees, will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or sent electronically, via ACH or wire, directly to your existing account in a bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem by telephone, call the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or electronically within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.  


Each Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither a Fund, its transfer agent, nor its respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss.  Each Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If a Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.  


Redemptions through Broker: If shares of a Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the applicable Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.  


Redemptions by Wire: You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. Each Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.  


Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If your individual account, IRA or other qualified plan account has a current account value of at least $10,000, you may participate in either Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the respective Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND for more information about the respective Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan.


Redemptions in Kind: Each Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders made by a shareholder during any 90-day period by making payment in whole or in part in portfolio securities (“redemption in kind”) if the amount of such a request



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is large enough to affect operations (if the request is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the respective Fund’s net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period).  The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued using the same procedures as used in calculating the Fund’s NAV. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.


When Redemptions are Sent: Once a Fund receives your redemption request in "good order" as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in "good order." If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank (usually within 10 days of the purchase date).


Good Order: Your redemption request will be processed if it is in "good order."  To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:


The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;

The request must identify your account number;  

The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and

If you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person, bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.


When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees :  If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by writing to the respective Fund with your signature guaranteed.  A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:


you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the applicable Fund;

you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with the applicable Fund;

the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;

any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or

your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.


Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations).  Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.



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Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.  


Low Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts), a Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts) within 30 days of the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the applicable Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below $2,000 ($1,000 for retirement accounts) due to a decline in NAV.


FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES


The Funds discourage and do not accommodate market timing. Frequent trading into and out of a Fund can harm all the respective Fund’s shareholders by disrupting that Fund’s investment strategies, increasing its expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. Each Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Funds’ Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. Each Fund currently uses several methods to reduce the risk of market timing. These methods include:


Committing staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Fund’s "Market Timing Trading Policy;"


Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests;


Rejecting purchase requests from certain investors; and


Charging a 1% redemption fee on shares sold within 60 days.


Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, each Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the respective Fund’s shareholders.  


Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the Adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to a respective Fund as described in that Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy and elect to (i) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases into a respective Fund and/or (ii) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future exchanges or redemptions out of a respective Fund.




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Each Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder’s trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither a Fund nor the Adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor’s financial advisor) from opening new accounts with a Fund or any Funds.  


Although each Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that a Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of a fund. While each Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the respective Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, a Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with a Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information to the extent known to the broker to the Fund upon request. If a Fund or its transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the Adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.


Any sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account).  When you redeem your shares you may realize a taxable gain or loss.  This is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in a Fund.  Due to recent legislation, 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 purchased on or after January 1, 2012. Please see the SAI for more information relating to this legislation).


Each of the Funds intends to distribute substantially all of their respective net investment incomes quarterly and net capital gains annually in December.  Both types of distributions will be reinvested in shares of the respective Fund unless you elect to receive cash.  Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from a Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash. Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the respective Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions.  IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.



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Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes.  A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.

 

On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS.  If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires each Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. Each Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number.  If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. Each Fund may be required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.


This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning a Fund’s shares.


DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES


Distributor: Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of each Fund. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Shares of each Fund are offered on a continuous basis.


Distribution Fees: Each class of shares of the Fund, other than Class I shares, has adopted a Distribution Plan ("12b-1 Plan" or "Plan"), pursuant to which the Fund may pay the Fund’s distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares and up to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares.

  

The Funds’ distributor and other entities are paid under the Plan for services provided and the expenses borne by the distributor and others in the distribution of Fund shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of dealers and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of each Fund’s shares to other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the distributor or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate dealers or other entities for their



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opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any un-reimbursed expenses.  


You should be aware that if you hold your shares for a substantial period of time, you may indirectly pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge allowed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority due to the recurring nature of distribution (12b-1) fees.  


Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Funds’ distributor, their affiliates, and the Funds’ Adviser may, at their own expense and out of their own legitimate profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of a Fund. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others. These payments may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees and any sales charges that are disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of a Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The distributor may, from time to time, provide promotional incentives, including reallowance and/or payment of up to the entire sales charge, to certain investment firms. Such incentives may, at the distributor’s discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional commissions.  


Householding: To reduce expenses, each Fund mails only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND  on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


Because each Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for either Fund at this time.  In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.



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PRIVACY NOTICE


FACTS

WHAT DOES TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Why?

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.

Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.
Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

THE TYPES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND SHARE DEPENDS ON THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE WITH US. THIS INFORMATION CAN INCLUDE:

·

Social Security number and income

·

Account transactions and transaction history

·

Investment experience and purchase history

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

­­­­­How?

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reason Two Roads Shared Trust chooses to share and whether you can limit this sharing.



Reasons we can share your personal information

Does Two Roads Shared Trust share?

Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

YES

NO

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

NO

We do not share

For joint marketing with other financial companies

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

NO

We do not share

For our affiliates to market to you

NO

We do not share

For nonaffiliates to market to you

NO

We do not share




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Questions?

Call 1 -855-LJM-FUND





                                                                                    What we do

How does Two Roads Shared Trust protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.

These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.


Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

How does Two Roads Shared Trust collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

·

open an account or give us contact information

·

provide account information or give us your income information

·

make deposits or withdrawals from your account

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

·

sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

·

affiliates from using your information to market to you

·

sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing



                                                                                                                 Definitions

Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust has no affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control.  They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliates financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

·

Two Roads Shared Trust does not jointly market.




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LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

LJM Income Plus Fund

Adviser

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

One Financial Place

440 S. La Salle Street, Suite 2301

Chicago, IL  60605

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE  68130

Custodian

Union Bank, N.A.

350 California Street, 6th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

Legal Counsel

Dechert LLP

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300

San Francisco, CA   94111

Transfer Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE  68130

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

McGladrey LLP

555 17th Street, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80202


Additional information about each Fund is included in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI"). The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about each Fund’s policies and management.  Additional information about each Fund’s investments will also be available in the respective Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. In the Fund’s Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.


To obtain a free copy of the SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about a Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about a Fund, please call the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund at 1 -855-LJM-FUND or the LJM Income Plus Fund at 1-855-LJM-FUND. The Funds do not have websites; however information relating to the Funds can be found on the Adviser’s website at www.ljmfunds.com, or you may write to:


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

-or-

LJM Income Plus Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

You may review and obtain copies of each Fund’s information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.



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Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.


Investment Company Act File # 811-22718



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Subject to Completion—Dated October 26, 2012

 

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND


A Series of Two Roads Shared Trust



STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Investor Class AAVEX


[___], 2012




This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of Alternative Avenue Fund (the “Fund”) and dated [___], 2012, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting the Fund’s Transfer Agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-866-862-9686. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the Adviser’s website at www.ariafundsllc.com.




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TABLE OF CONTENTS


THE FUND

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO

 

MANAGEMENT

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

TAX STATUS

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 



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THE FUND


Alternative Avenue Fund is a series of Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 8, 2012 (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”). The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.  


The Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust.  The Fund consists of Investor Class shares. The Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.  


Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.


TYPES OF INVESTMENTS


The investment objective of the Fund and a description of its principal investment strategies are set forth under “Investment Objective, Principal Investment Strategies, Related Risks” in the Prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.  


The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest, strategies the Adviser may employ in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.  


Equity Securities  


Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity



145



securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.  


Common Stock


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.


Preferred Stock


The Fund may invest in preferred stock with no minimum credit rating. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the fixed income securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.


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 securities 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.


Convertible Securities


The Fund may invest in convertible securities with no minimum credit rating. Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of "usable" bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.


Depositary Receipts




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The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), which are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights.  


Warrants  


The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.


Foreign Securities


Investing in securities of foreign companies and countries involves certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in U.S. government securities and securities of domestic companies. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There also may be less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on  such investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries. Finally, the establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations. The Fund may also invest in exchange traded funds ("ETFs") and other investment companies that hold a portfolio of foreign securities.


To the extent the Fund’s currency exchange transactions do not fully protect the Fund against adverse changes in currency exchange rates, decreases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund will invest relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding decrease in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in those currencies (and possibly a corresponding increase in the amount of securities required to be liquidated to meet distribution requirements). Conversely, increases in the value of



147



currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund invests relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding increase in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets (and possibly a corresponding decrease in the amount of securities to be liquidated).


Forward Currency Contracts


The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts.  A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.  For example, the Fund might purchase a particular currency or enter into a forward currency contract to preserve the U.S. dollar price of securities it intends to or has contracted to purchase.  Alternatively, it might sell a particular currency on either a spot or forward basis to hedge against an anticipated decline in the dollar value of securities it intends to or has contracted to sell.  Although this strategy could minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, it could also limit any potential gain from an increase in the value of the currency.


Emerging Markets Securities


Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may  continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities  transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security. The Fund may also purchase ETFs and other closed-end funds that invest in emerging market securities.


Fixed Income Securities




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The Fund may invest in fixed income securities. Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in the Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity.  All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.


There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its fixed income securities may become impaired.


The corporate fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.


Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances


The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, which are considered to be short-term money market instruments.  




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Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity.

Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.  


Commercial Paper


The Fund may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations.  See Appendix B for more information on ratings assigned to commercial paper.


Information on Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes


The Fund may invest in fixed time deposits, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties.

The commercial paper obligations which the Fund may buy are unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”) permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund as lender, and the issuer, as borrower. It permits daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The Fund has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Fund’s Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer on demand within seven days.


Insured Bank Obligations


The Fund may invest in insured bank obligations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. The Fund may purchase



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bank obligations, which are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.   


Securities of Other Investment Companies  


The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies. The Fund’s investments in an underlying portfolio of Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the underlying funds.


Closed-End Investment Companies  


The Fund may invest its assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth below. The Fund may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any closed-end fund. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price.


Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.  


The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.  


The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the "market discount" of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.



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The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.  


Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.


Open-End Investment Companies  


The Fund may invest in shares of open-end investment companies. The Fund and any “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any underlying fund unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying funds, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.  Under certain circumstances an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.


Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying funds are made independently of the Fund and its Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the Adviser of the Fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.  




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Exchange Traded Funds


The Fund may invest in ETFs. ETFs are typically passively managed funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (UITs) that have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (NAV) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.


Master Limited Partnerships


The Fund may invest in publicly traded master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) that are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and listed on a major United States stock exchange, if the issuer meets the Fund’s investment criteria.  MLPs are businesses organized as limited partnerships which trade their proportionate shares of the partnership (units) on a public exchange.  MLPs are required to pay out most or all of their cash flow in distributions.  This pass through creates passive income or losses, along with dividend and investment income. The MLPs the Fund may purchase are comprised of a general partner (the “GP”) and multiple limited partners (the “LP Holders”). The GP is responsible for the operations and the maintenance of the partnership’s businesses, while the LP Holders assume economic risk up to their level of investment.  Typically, the GP has a 1% to 2% investment in the MLP, but can extract a higher percentage of the partnership’s profits as the MLP’s distributions increase.  This serves as an incentive to the GP to grow the partnership’s distributions.  Generally speaking, MLP investment returns are enhanced during periods of declining or low interest rates and tend to be negatively influenced when interest rates are rising.  As an income vehicle, the unit price can be influenced by general interest rate trends independent of specific underlying fundamentals.  In addition, most MLPs are fairly leveraged and typically carry a portion of a “floating” rate debt.  As such, a significant upward swing in interest rates would also drive interest expense higher.  Furthermore, most MLPs grow by acquisitions partly financed by debt, and higher interest rates could make it more difficult to make acquisitions.


Exchange Traded Notes


An ETN is a type of unsecured, unsubordinated debt security that differs from other types of bonds and notes because ETN returns are typically based upon the performance of a market index.  ETNs are publically traded on a U.S. securities exchange.  An ETN incurs certain expenses not incurred by its applicable index, and an investment in an ETN will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. The market value of an ETN share may differ from its NAV; the share may trade at a premium or discount to its NAV, which may be due to, among other things, differences in the supply and demand in the market for the share.  Although an ETN is a debt security, it is unlike a typical bond, in that there are no periodic interest payments and principal is not protected.  ETNs are



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subject to credit risk and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged.


High Yield Securities


The Fund may invest in high yield securities. High yield, high risk bonds are securities that are generally rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies (BB+ or lower by S&P and Ba1 or lower by Moody’s). Other terms used to describe such securities include "lower-rated bonds," "non-investment grade bonds," "below investment grade bonds," and "junk bonds." These securities are considered to be high-risk investments. The risks include the following:


Greater Risk of Loss


These securities are regarded as predominately speculative. There is a greater risk that issuers of lower-rated securities will default than issuers of higher-rated securities. Issuers of lower-rated securities generally are less creditworthy and may be highly indebted, financially distressed, or bankrupt. These issuers are more vulnerable to real or perceived economic changes, political changes or adverse industry developments. In addition, high yield securities are frequently subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. If an issuer fails to pay principal or interest, the Fund would experience a decrease in income and a decline in the market value of its investments.


Sensitivity to Interest Rate and Economic Changes


The income and market value of lower-rated securities may fluctuate more than higher-rated securities. Although non-investment grade securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than investment grade securities, non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to short-term corporate, economic and market developments. During periods of economic uncertainty and change, the market price of the investments in lower-rated securities may be volatile. The default rate for high yield bonds tends to be cyclical, with defaults rising in periods of economic downturn.


Valuation Difficulties


It is often more difficult to value lower-rated securities than higher-rated securities. If an issuer’s financial condition deteriorates, accurate financial and business information may be limited or unavailable. In addition, the lower-rated investments may be thinly traded and there may be no established secondary market. Because of the lack of market pricing and current information for investments in lower-rated securities, valuation of such investments is much more dependent on judgment than is the case with higher-rated securities.


Liquidity


There may be no established secondary or public market for investments in lower-rated securities. Such securities are frequently traded in markets that may be relatively less liquid than the market for higher-rated securities. In addition, relatively few institutional purchasers may hold a major portion of an issue of lower-rated securities at times. As a result, the Fund



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may be required to sell investments at substantial losses or retain them indefinitely when an issuer’s financial condition is deteriorating.


Credit Quality


Credit quality of non-investment grade securities can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security.


New Legislation


Future legislation may have a possible negative impact on the market for high yield, high risk bonds. As an example, in the late 1980’s, legislation required federally-insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments in high yield, high risk bonds. New legislation, if enacted, could have a material negative effect on the Fund’s investments in lower-rated securities.


High yield, high risk investments may include the following:


Straight fixed income securities


These include bonds and other debt obligations that bear a fixed or variable rate of interest payable at regular intervals and have a fixed or resettable maturity date. The particular terms of such securities vary and may include features such as call provisions and sinking funds.


Zero-coupon debt securities


These do not pay periodic interest but are issued at a discount from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire return equals the difference between their issue price and their maturity value.


Zero-fixed-coupon debt securities


These are zero-coupon debt securities that convert on a specified date to periodic interest-paying debt securities.


Pay-in-kind bonds


These are bonds which allow the issuer, at its option, to make current interest payments on the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds. These bonds are typically sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act "), usually to a relatively small number of institutional investors.


Convertible Securities


These are bonds or preferred stock that may be converted to common stock.




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Preferred Stock


These are stocks that generally pay a dividend at a specified rate and have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation.


Loan Participations and Assignments


These are participations in, or assignments of all or a portion of loans to corporations or to governments, including governments of less developed countries ("LDCs").


Securities issued in connection with Reorganizations and Corporate Restructurings


In connection with reorganizing or restructuring of an issuer, an issuer may issue common stock or other securities to holders of its fixed income securities. The Fund may hold such common stock and other securities even if it does not invest in such securities.


Distressed Securities


The Fund’s investment in distressed securities may involve a substantial degree of risk.  These instruments, which involve loans, loan participations, bonds, notes, non-performing and sub-performing mortgage loans typically are unrated, lower-rated, in default or close to default.  Many of these instruments are not publicly traded, and may become illiquid. The prices of such instruments may be extremely volatile. Securities of distressed companies are generally more likely to become worthless than the securities of more financially stable companies. Valuing such instruments may be difficult, and the Fund may lose all of its investment, or it may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than the Fund’s original investment. Issuers of distressed securities are typically in a weak financial condition and may default, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment.


Municipal Government Obligations


In general, municipal obligations are debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. Municipal obligations generally include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes. Certain types of municipal obligations are issued in whole or in part to obtain funding for privately operated facilities or projects. Municipal obligations include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, industrial development bonds, notes and municipal lease obligations. Municipal obligations also include additional obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax, that may become available in the future as long as the Board of the Fund determines that an investment in any such type of obligation is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives. Municipal obligations may be fully or partially backed by local government, the credit of a private issuer, current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or domestic or foreign entities providing credit support such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance.


Bonds and Notes




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General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of interest and principal. Revenue bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a project or facility or from the proceeds of a specified revenue source. Industrial development bonds are generally revenue bonds secured by payments from and the credit of private users. Municipal notes are issued to meet the short-term funding requirements of state, regional and local governments. Municipal notes include tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, construction loan notes, short-term discount notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, demand notes and similar instruments.


Municipal Lease Obligations


Municipal lease obligations may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase or a conditional sales contract. They are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment and facilities, such as vehicles, telecommunications and computer equipment and other capital assets. The Fund may invest in funds that purchase these lease obligations directly, or it may purchase participation interests in such lease obligations. States have different requirements for issuing municipal debt and issuing municipal leases. Municipal leases are generally subject to greater risks than general obligation or revenue bonds because they usually contain a "non-appropriation" clause, which provides that the issuer is not obligated to make payments on the obligation in future years unless funds have been appropriated for this purpose each year. Such non-appropriation clauses are required to avoid the municipal lease obligations from being treated as debt for state debt restriction purposes. Accordingly, such obligations are subject to "non-appropriation" risk. Municipal leases may be secured by the underlying capital asset and it may be difficult to dispose of any such asset in the event of non-appropriation or other default.


United States Government Obligations


The Fund may invest in United States Government Obligations. These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States Government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. The Fund may also invest in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS are special types of treasury bonds that were created in order to offer bond investors protection from inflation. The values of the TIPS are automatically adjusted to the inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If the CPI goes up by half a percent, the value of the bond (the TIPS) would also go up by half a percent. If the CPI falls, the value of the bond does not fall because the government guarantees that the original investment will stay the same. TIPS decline in value when real interest rates rise. However, in certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, TIPS may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar duration.


United States Government Agencies




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These consist of fixed income securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae" or "GNMA"), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac" or "FHLMC"), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae" or "FNMA") and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., Fannie Mae Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association). On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the "FHFA") announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.


Government–related guarantors


Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.


Freddie Mac was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks. Freddie Mac issues Participation Certificates (PCs), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from Freddie Mac’s national portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the



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guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.


Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.


Mortgage Pass-Through Securities


Interests in pools of mortgage pass-through securities differ from other forms of fixed income securities (which normally provide periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts and the payment of principal in a lump sum at maturity or on specified call dates). Instead, mortgage pass-through securities provide monthly payments consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a "pass-through" of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on the underlying residential mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Unscheduled payments of principal may be made if the underlying mortgage loans are repaid or refinanced or the underlying properties are foreclosed, thereby shortening the securities’ weighted average life. Some mortgage pass-through securities (such as securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae) are described as "modified pass-through securities." These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, on the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether the mortgagor actually makes the payment.


The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage pass-through securities is Ginnie Mae. Ginnie Mae is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by lending institutions approved by Ginnie Mae (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgage loans. These mortgage loans are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A "pool" or group of such mortgage loans is assembled and after being approved by Ginnie Mae, is offered to investors through securities dealers.


Government-related guarantors of mortgage pass-through securities (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government



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agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved sellers/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Mortgage pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.


Freddie Mac was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a U.S. government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned by stockholders. Freddie Mac issues Participation Certificates ("PCs "), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from Freddie Mac’s national portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.


Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage pass-through securities.


Resets


The interest rates paid on the Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities ("ARMs") in which the Fund may invest generally are readjusted or reset at intervals of one year or less to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. There are two main categories of indices: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost-of-funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury Note rates, the three-month Treasury Bill rate, the 180-day Treasury Bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury Note rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others tend to lag changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile.


Caps and Floors


The underlying mortgages that collateralize the ARMs in which the Fund may invest will frequently have caps and floors which limit the maximum amount by which the loan rate to the residential borrower may change up or down: (1) per reset or adjustment interval, and (2) over the life of the loan. Some residential mortgage loans restrict periodic adjustments by limiting changes in the borrower’s monthly principal and interest payments rather than limiting interest rate changes. These payment caps may result in negative amortization. The value of mortgage securities in which the Fund invests may be affected if market interest rates rise or fall faster and farther than the allowable caps or floors on the underlying residential mortgage loans. Additionally, even though the interest rates on the underlying residential mortgages are adjustable, amortization and prepayments may occur, thereby



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causing the effective maturities of the mortgage securities in which the Fund invests to be shorter than the maturities stated in the underlying mortgages.


Private Mortgage Pass-Through Securities


Private mortgage pass-through securities are structured similarly to the Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage pass-through securities and are issued by United States and foreign private issuers such as originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. These securities usually are backed by a pool of conventional fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage loans. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, such securities generally are structured with one or more types of credit enhancement.


Mortgage assets often consist of a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. There are usually fewer properties in a pool of assets backing commercial mortgage-backed securities than in a pool of assets backing residential mortgage-backed securities; hence they may be more sensitive to the performance of fewer mortgage assets. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, those securities may contain elements of credit support, which fall into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion. Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. 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 such approaches. The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets. Delinquencies or losses in excess of those anticipated could adversely affect the return on an investment in a security. The Fund will not pay any fees for credit support, although the existence of credit support may increase the price of a security.


Stripped Mortgage Securities


Stripped mortgage securities may be issued by federal agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.


Stripped mortgage securities usually are structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution of a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of stripped mortgage security will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or "IO" class), while the other class will receive all of the



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principal (the principal-only or "PO" class). PO classes generate income through the accretion of the deep discount at which such securities are purchased, and, while PO classes do not receive periodic payments of interest, they receive monthly payments associated with scheduled amortization and principal prepayment from the mortgage assets underlying the PO class. The yield to maturity on a PO or an IO class security is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets. A slower than expected rate of principal payments may have an adverse effect on a PO-class security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience slower than anticipated principal repayment, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on an IO-class security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities.


The Fund may purchase stripped mortgage securities for income, or for hedging purposes to protect the Fund’s portfolio against interest rate fluctuations. For example, since an IO class will tend to increase in value as interest rates rise, it may be utilized to hedge against a decrease in value of other fixed income securities in a rising interest rate environment.


Inverse Floaters


Inverse floaters constitute a class of mortgage-backed securities with a coupon rate that moves inversely to a designated index, such as LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) or 11th District Cost of Funds Index ("COFI"). Inverse floaters have coupon rates that typically change at a multiple of the changes of the relevant index rate. Any rise in the index rate (as a consequence of an increase in interest rates) causes a drop in the coupon rate on an inverse floater while any drop in the index rate causes an increase in the coupon rate of an inverse floater. In some circumstances, the coupon on an inverse floater could decrease to zero. In addition, like most other fixed income securities, the value of inverse floaters will decrease as interest rates increase and

their average lives will extend. Inverse floaters exhibit greater price volatility than the majority of mortgage-backed securities. In addition, some inverse floaters display extreme sensitivity to changes in prepayments. As a result, the yield to maturity of an inverse floater is sensitive not only to changes in interest rates but also to changes in prepayment rates on the related underlying mortgage assets. As described above, inverse floaters may be used alone or in tandem with interest-only stripped mortgage instruments.


Mortgage Dollar Rolls


The Fund may enter into mortgage dollar rolls with a bank or a broker-dealer. A mortgage dollar roll is a transaction in which a fund sells mortgage-related securities for immediate settlement and simultaneously purchases the same type of securities for forward settlement at a discount. While a fund begins accruing interest on the newly purchased securities from the purchase or trade date, it is able to invest the proceeds from the sale of its previously owned securities, which will be used to pay for the new securities, in money market investments until a future settlement date. The use of mortgage dollar rolls is a speculative technique involving leverage, and is considered to be a form of borrowing by the Fund.




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Political and Economic Factors


Individual foreign economies of certain countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments position.  The internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as stable as those of the United States.  Governments in certain foreign countries also continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest or regulation, in their respective economies.  Action by these governments could include restrictions on foreign investment, nationalization, expropriation of goods or imposition of taxes, and could have a significant effect on market prices of securities and payment of interest.  The economies of many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by the trade policies and economic conditions of their trading partners.  Enactment by these trading partners of protectionist trade legislation could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of such countries.


Synthetic Instruments


The Fund may invest in synthetic instruments, which are investments that have characteristics similar to the Fund’s direct investments, and may include equity swaps, equity linked notes and structured products.  An equity-linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock or a basket of stocks.  Upon the maturity of the note, generally the holder receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities.  The terms of an equity-linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate.  Equity-linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment objective and strategies.  The price of an equity-linked note is derived from the value of the underlying linked securities.  The level and type of risk involved in the purchase of an equity-linked note by the Fund is similar to the risk involved in the purchase of the underlying security.  Such notes therefore may be considered to have speculative elements.  However, equity-linked notes are also dependent on the individual credit of the issuer of the note, which may be a trust or other special purpose vehicle or finance subsidiary established by a major financial institution for the limited purpose of issuing the note.  Like other structured products, equity-linked notes are frequently secured by collateral consisting of a combination of debt or related equity securities to which payments under the notes are linked.  If so secured, the Fund would look to this underlying collateral for satisfaction of claims in the event that the issuer of an equity-linked note defaulted under the terms of the note.  Equity-linked notes are often privately placed and may not be rated, in which case the Fund will be more dependent on the ability of the Fund’s portfolio managers to evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer, the underlying security, any collateral features of the note, and the potential for loss due to market and other factors.  Ratings of issuers of equity-linked notes refer only to the creditworthiness of the issuer and strength of related collateral arrangements or other credit supports, and do not take into account, or attempt to rate, any potential risks of the underlying linked securities.  Depending upon the law of the jurisdiction in which an issuer is organized and the note is issued, in the event of default, the Fund may incur additional expenses in seeking recovery under an equity-linked note, and may have more limited methods of legal recourse in attempting to do so.  As with any investment, the Fund can lose the entire amount it has invested in an equity-linked note.  The secondary



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market for equity-linked notes may be limited.  The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse effect on the ability of the Fund to accurately value the equity-linked note in its portfolio, and may make disposal of such securities more difficult for the Fund.  The Fund’s use of synthetic instruments will generally be for the purpose of gaining exposure to specific markets or securities.  The principal risk of investments in synthetic instruments is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets.  Some synthetic instruments are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others.  While the Fund may invest in synthetic instruments, the Fund is restricted to investing no more than 15% of its total assets in securities (of any type) that are illiquid: that is, not readily marketable.


Securities Options


The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.


A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.


Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the AMEX Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.




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The Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.


If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.


Certain Risks Regarding Options


There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.




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Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, a fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.


The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.


There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.


Cover for Options


Positions Transactions using options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting ("covered") position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.


Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result,



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the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.


Options on Futures Contracts


The Fund may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.  


Dealer Options


The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.


Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.




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The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.


Spread Transactions


The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.


Repurchase Agreements  


The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the "underlying security") from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be "fully collateralized," in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.  

Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.


Swaps



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Swap Agreements


The Fund may enter into swap agreements.  Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.  Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.”  Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”).  Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term.  Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.  Accordingly, if a swap is entered into on a net basis, if the other party to a swap agreement defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to a swap agreement entered into on a net basis will be accrued daily and an amount of cash or liquid asset having an aggregate NAV at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in an account with the Fund’s custodian that satisfies the 1940 Act.  The Fund will also establish and maintain such accounts with respect to its total obligations under any swaps that are not entered into on a net basis.  Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.  Because they are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund illiquid investment limitations.  The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser or a Sub-Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.  The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.  The Fund may enter into a swap agreement in circumstances where the Adviser or a Sub-Adviser believes that it may be more cost effective or practical than buying the underlying securities or a futures contract or an option on such securities.  The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.  The counterparty will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks represented in the index, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks.  The Fund will agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks.  Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.  The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments that



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are traded in the OTC market.  The Adviser under the supervision of the Board, are responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions in swap agreements. The use of equity swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.


Credit Default Swaps


The Fund may enter into credit default swaps. In a credit default swap, one party makes a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a default by a third party, typically an emerging country, on its obligation. The Fund may use credit default swaps to provide a measure of protection against defaults of sovereign issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where the Fund owns or has exposure to the sovereign issuer) and may use credit default swaps to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default. In connection with these agreements, cash or liquid securities may be set aside as collateral by the Fund’s custodian in accordance with the terms of the swap agreement. The Fund earns interest on cash set aside as collateral. Swaps are marked to market daily based upon quotations from market makers and the change in value, if any, is recorded as unrealized gain or loss. These financial instruments are not actively traded on financial markets. The values assigned to these instruments are based upon the best available information and because of the uncertainty of the valuation, these values may differ significantly from the values that would have been realized had a ready market for these instruments existed, and the differences could be material. Payments received or made at the end of the measurement period are recorded as realized gain or loss. Entering into these agreements involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market, and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates.


In connection with writing credit default swaps, the Fund will segregate or ‘earmark’ cash or assets determined to be liquid by the Fund in accordance with procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, or enter into offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund). Such segregation or ‘earmarking’ will ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction and will limit any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio. Also, The Fund does not invest more than 25% of its assets in contracts with any one counterparty.


Futures Contracts


A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to



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as selling a contract or holding a short position. Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as "initial margin." The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.


If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund. These subsequent payments, called "variation margin," to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to the market." The Fund expects to earn interest income on any margin deposits. Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract. For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled "Custodian") will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.




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The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objective. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser or a Sub-Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.


Futures trading is speculative and futures prices are highly volatile. Price movements for futures contracts, for example, which may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time, are influenced by numerous factors that affect the securities markets, including: changing supply and demand relationships; government programs and policies; national and international political and economic events and changes in interest rates. Also, the success of many futures trading strategies that use "technical" factors in identifying price moves depends upon the occurrence in the future of price movements. Technical systems will not be profitable and may in fact produce losses if there are no market moves of the kind the system seeks to follow. Any factor that would make it more difficult to execute the trades identified, such as a reduction of liquidity, also would reduce profitability.


Futures trading is highly leveraged. The low margin deposits normally required in trading futures interests permit an extremely high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a futures interest may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. Like other leveraged investments, futures trading may result in losses in excess of the amount invested.


Futures contracts may be illiquid. Most U.S. futures exchanges impose daily limits regulating the maximum amount above or below the previous day’s settlement price which a futures contract price may fluctuate during a single day. During a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased to the limit point, it may be difficult, costly or impossible to liquidate a position. Futures prices in particular contracts have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. If this occurs, the Fund might be prevented from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions which could result in substantial losses. Those losses could significantly exceed the margin initially committed to the trades involved. In addition, even if prices have not moved the daily limit, or if there are no limits for the contracts traded by the Fund, the Fund may not be able to execute trades at favorable prices if little trading in the contracts is taking place. It is also possible that an exchange or the CFTC may suspend trading in a particular contract, order immediate settlement of a contract or order that trading to the liquidation of open positions only. The CFTC and U.S. exchanges may also impose speculative position limits which, if applicable to the Fund’s trading in futures contracts, could require liquidation of positions that could negatively impact profitability. Futures trading involves counterparty risk. Futures brokers must maintain the Fund’s assets (other than assets used to trade foreign futures or options on foreign markets) in a segregated account. If a futures broker goes bankrupt, the Fund could lose money as it may only be able to recover a pro-rata share of the property available for distribution to all of the broker’s customers. In addition, even if a futures broker adequately segregates the Fund’s assets, the Fund may still be subject to risk of loss of funds on deposit should another customer of the futures broker fail to satisfy deficiencies in such other customer’s account. In addition, trading may occur on foreign exchanges and



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other non-U.S. markets. Neither existing CFTC regulations nor regulations of any other U.S. governmental agency apply to transactions on foreign markets. The Fund, should it trade futures contracts, is at risk for fluctuations in the exchange rate between the currencies in which it trades and U.S. dollars. It also is possible that exchange controls could be imposed in the future. There is no restriction on how much of the Fund’s trading might be on foreign markets. In addition, if the Fund chooses to exchange a cash, forward or spot market position outside of regular trading hours for a comparable futures position, such transactions are subject to counterparty creditworthiness risk. The CFTC has permitted the futures exchanges to expand the types of over-the-counter positions that can be part of an exchange for physicals position.


Over-the-Counter Instruments


The trading of over-the-counter instruments subjects the Fund to a variety of risks including: (1) counterparty risk; (2) basis risk; (3) interest rate risk; (4) settlement risk; (5) legal risk; and (6) operational risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the Fund’s counterparties might default on their obligation to pay or perform generally on their obligations. The over-the-counter markets and some foreign markets are "principals’ markets." That means that performance of the contract is the responsibility only of the individual firm or member on the other side of the trade and not any exchange or clearing corporation. Such "counterparty risk" is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. Basis risk is the risk attributable to the movements in  the spread between the derivative contract price and the future price of the underlying instrument. Interest rate risk is the general risk associated with movements in interest rates. Settlement risk is the risk that a settlement in a transfer system does not take place as expected. Legal risk is the risk that a transaction proves unenforceable in law or because it has been inadequately documented. Operational risk is the risk of unexpected losses arising from deficiencies in a firm’s management information, support and control systems and procedures. Transactions in over-the-counter derivatives may involve other risks as well, as there is no exchange market on which to close out an open position. It may be impossible to liquidate an existing position, to assess the value of a position or to assess the exposure to risk.


When Issued, Forward Commitment and Delayed Settlement Purchases


The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous. The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the



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Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.


Regulatory Aspects of Derivative Use


The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “Commodity Pool Operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, the Adviser and the Fund are not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). However, the CFTC has adopted certain rule amendments that significantly affect the exclusion and might subject the Fund, the Adviser or any sub-adviser, to regulation by the CFTC. These amendments are not yet fully effective. When these amendments become effective on January 1, 2013, the Fund may consider steps, such as investment strategy implementation changes, in order to continue to qualify for the exclusion from CFTC regulation, or may determine to operate subject to CFTC regulation. If a Fund operates subject to CFTC regulation, it may incur additional expenses.


Risk of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives


It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment goals. For example, some legislative and regulatory proposals, such as those in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") that was passed into law in July 2010, would upon implementation impose limits on the maximum position that could be held by a single trader in certain contracts and would subject some derivatives transactions to new forms of regulation that could create barriers to some types of investment activity. Other provisions would require many swaps to be cleared and traded on an exchange, expand entity registration requirements, impose business conduct requirements on dealers that enter into swaps with a pension plan, endowment, retirement plan or government entity, and require banks to move some derivatives trading units to a non-guaranteed affiliate separate from the deposit-taking bank or divest them altogether. While many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act must be implemented through future rulemaking, and any regulatory or legislative activity may not necessarily have a direct, immediate effect upon the Fund, it is possible that, upon implementation of these measures or any future measures, they could potentially limit or completely restrict the ability of the Fund to use these instruments as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective.


Sub-Adviser Risks


If any Sub-Adviser manages more money in the future, including money raised in this offering, such additional funds could affect its performance or trading strategies. Also, the Sub-Advisers manage other accounts. This increases the competition for the same trades which the Fund makes. There is no assurance that the Fund’s trading will generate the same results as any other accounts managed by the Sub-Advisers.




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Structured Notes, Bonds and Debentures 


The Funds may invest in structured notes, bonds and debentures. Typically, the value of the principal and/or interest on these instruments is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indexes or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relevant change in two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. The terms of the structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in the loss of the Fund’s entire investment. The value of structured securities may move in the same or the opposite direction as the value of the Reference, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, the change in interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the change in the value of the Reference so that the security may be more or less volatile than the Reference, depending on the multiple. Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk and volatility than other types of debt obligations.


When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements


The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.


The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.


The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.




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The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.


Illiquid and Restricted Securities  


The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.  


Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.  


A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory, Inc.  


Under guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board, the Fund’s Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or



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equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.   


Rule 144A securities and Section 4(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.  


Lending Portfolio Securities


For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.  


Short Sales


The Adviser also anticipates that the Fund will employ "short selling" for both (1) investment purposes and (2) for defensive purposes as a hedging strategy.  For investment purposes, when the Adviser believes that particular index, company or sector is relatively overvalued, the Fund will sell a security short with the expectation that it can be repurchased at a lower price, thus generating a gain for the Fund.  For defensive purposes, when the Adviser believes that a security or group of securities in the Fund is susceptible to a decline in value, the Fund will sell a security short with the expectation any decline in value of the security sold short will serve to offset some of the decline in value suffered by the Fund’s portfolio of securities.  A short sale strategy is different than a long-only strategy because it consists of selling borrowed shares in the hope that they can be bought back later at a lower price.


The Fund may sell securities short involving the use of derivative instruments and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which a fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.  



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When the Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.  


If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.


To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales "against the box") will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). The Fund does not intend to enter into short sales (other than short sales "against the box") if immediately after such sales the aggregate of the value of all collateral plus the amount in such segregated account exceeds 50% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. This percentage may be varied by action of the Board of Trustees. A short sale is "against the box" to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.


Short sales create a risk that the Fund will be required to close the short position by buying the security at a time when the security has appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long.  Because a short position loses value as the security’s price increases, the loss on a short sale is theoretically unlimited.  


To the extent that the Fund uses short sales as a hedging technique, the Fund is subject to correlation risk. Specifically, the correlation between the security sold short and the hedged security may be imperfect, reducing the expected benefit to the Fund of a short sale, or there may be no correlation at all.  It is possible that the market value of the securities the Fund holds in long positions will decline at the same time that the market value of the securities the Fund has sold short increases, thereby increasing the Fund’s potential volatility.


In addition, any gain on a short sale is decreased, and any loss is increased, by the amount of any payments, such as lender fees, replacement of dividends or interest that the Fund may be required to make with respect to the borrowed securities.  Market factors may prevent the Fund from closing out a short position at the most desirable time or at a favorable price. The lender of the borrowed securities may require the Fund to return the securities on short notice, which may require the Fund to purchase the borrowed securities at an unfavorable price, resulting in a loss.  You should be aware that any strategy that includes selling securities short could suffer significant losses.  Short selling will also result



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in higher transaction costs (such as interest and dividends), which reduce the Fund’s return, and may result in higher taxes.


INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS


The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.


1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except:  (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made.


2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities.  This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.


3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.


4. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its net assets, calculated at the time of purchase and taken at market value, in securities of issuers in any one industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or repurchase agreements secured by U.S. government securities).


5. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate.  This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).


6. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments.  This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.


7. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except:  (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing nonpublicly



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offered fixed income securities.  For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.


THE FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS OF THE FUND. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS.


1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above.  Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.


2. Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings representing more than one third of its total assets are outstanding.  


3. Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.”  This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by a Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investment techniques.


4. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not hold 15% or more of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities.


If a restriction on the Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.


POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS



The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.


It is the Trust’s policy to:  (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not



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create conflicts between the interests of the Trust’s shareholders and those of the Trust’s affiliates.


The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period.  In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR and Form N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.


The Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg more frequently on a confidential basis.


Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q.  In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential.


· The Adviser and Sub-Advisers. Personnel of the Adviser and Sub-Advisers, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser and Sub-Advisers to provide their management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel and each Sub-Adviser’s personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.


· Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.


· Union Bank, N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.


· McGladrey LLP is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual financial statements and providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.   


· Dechert LLP. Dechert LLP is counsel to the Fund; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.


Additions to List of Approved Recipients.  The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above.  In such



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cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures.  The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.


There is no assurance that the Trust’s policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.


MANAGEMENT


The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust’s By-laws (the “Governing Documents”), which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request. The Board consists of four individuals, all of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (“Independent Trustees”). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including, but not limited to, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chief Compliance Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust’s purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.


Board Leadership Structure.   The Board is led by Mark Gersten, who has served as the Chairman and Lead Independent Director of the Board since the Trust was first registered with the SEC in 2012.   Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at Board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, and (c) execution and administration of Trust policies, including (i) setting the agendas for Board meetings and (ii) providing information to Board members in advance of each Board meeting and between Board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President (principal executive officer), are seen by our shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership.  The Trust believes that its Chairman/ Lead Independent Trustee, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its Funds and each shareholder.


Board Risk Oversight .  The Board of Trustees is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees with an Audit Committee with a separate chair.  The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk



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management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary.  The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting the risk within its area of responsibilities.  Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.


Trustee Qualifications.  Generally, the Fund believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills.  Mark Garbin has over 20 years of experience in corporate balance sheet and income statement risk management for large asset managers.  Mr. Garbin has extensive derivatives experience and has provided consulting services to alternative asset managers.  Mr. Garbin is a CFA Charterholder and holds advanced degrees in international business, negotiation and derivatives.  Mark Gersten has over 25 years of business experience in the investment management business with a focus on mutual funds and alternative funds.  He serves as a member of another mutual fund board outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his service to this board and extensive experience administering mutual funds.  Mr. Gersten is a certified public account and holds an MBA in accounting.  Neil Kaufman has 28 years of experience as a corporate and securities attorney and possesses a deep understanding of the securities industry in general and financial statements in particular.  Mr. Kaufman has previously served as the Chairman of a NASDAQ-listed technology company and the Chairman of the Banking & Securities Law committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.  Anita Krug has extensive experience as an attorney advising investment advisory firms and investment companies.  She also has extensive experience as a law professor whose scholarship focuses on investment advisers and investment companies.   The Fund does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that collective experience of each Trustee makes them well qualified.

 

Trustees and Officers.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust, together with information as to their principal business occupations during the past five years and other information, are shown below.   Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.


Independent Trustees


Name, Address,

Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with Registrant

Term and Length Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years



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Mark Garbin

Year of Birth: 1951

Trustee, Valuation Committee Chairman

Indefinite, Since 2012

Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2007); Managing Director, Rabobank International (2006-2007)

4

None

Mark D. Gersten

Year of Birth: 1950

Chairman, Trustee, Audit Committee Chairman

Indefinite, Since 2012

Senior Vice President – Global Fund Administration Mutual Funds & Alternative Funds, AllianceBernstein LP (since 1985)

4

Independent Trustee, Schroder Mutual Funds (since 2012)

Neil M. Kaufman

Year of Birth: 1960

Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012


Partner, Abrams Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Einiger, LLP (since 2011); Partner, Davidoff, Malito & Hutcher, LLP (2004-2010)

4

None

Anita K. Krug

Year of Birth: 1969

Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012

Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Law (since 2010); Partner, Howard Rice, P.C. (2002-2010)

4

None



Officers of the Trust


Name, Address,

Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with Registrant

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex*

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years



184



Andrew Rogers

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

President

Since Inception

Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); President and Manager, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); Formerly Manager,Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2006 – 2008); and President and Manager, GemCom LLC (2004 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

James P. Ash

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1976

Secretary

Since Inception

Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

James Colantino

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

Treasurer

Since Inception

Vice President from 2004 to Present; Senior Fund Administrator from 1999 to 2004, Gemini Fund Services, LLC.

N/A

N/A

William B. Kimme 450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1962

Chief Compliance Officer Since Inception

Senior Compliance Officer, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (September 2011 - present); Compliance Officer, Mick & Associates (August, 2009 - September 2011); Assistant Director, FINRA (January 2000 – August 2009).

N/A

N/A



Audit Committee.  The Board has an Audit Committee that consists solely of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust’s independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust’s financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors,



185



or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust’s independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor’s independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management’s responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls.  The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter.  During the past fiscal year, the Audit Committee held one meeting.    


Compensation of Directors.  The Trust pays each Independent Trustee a quarterly fee of $2,500.00, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings, to be paid at the end of each calendar quarter.   In addition, the Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00, the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00, and the Chairman of the Valuation Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00.   No “interested persons” who serve as a Trustee of the Trust will receive any compensation for their services as Trustee. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust. The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees are estimated to receive from the Trust during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.  The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, pension or retirement plan.


Name and Position

Aggregate Compensation From Trust*

Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees

Mark Garbin

$ 3,125.00

$3, 125.00

Mark Gersten

$3,750.00

$3,750.00

Neil Kaufman

$2,500.00

$2,500.00

Anita Krug

$2,500.00

$2,500.00


*The Trust anticipates having multiple series.  Trustees’ fees will be allocated equally to each Fund in the Trust.


Trustees’ Ownership of Shares in the Fund .  As of [______], the Trustees beneficially owned the following amounts in the Fund:




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Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies

Mark Garbin

None

None

Mark Gersten

None

None

Neil Kaufman

None

None

Anita Krug

None

None



Management Ownership


Because there were no shares outstanding as of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned 0% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.



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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS


A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.


As of [           ], 2012:


i.

no persons were “control” persons of the Fund.  This means that there were no persons (i) owning beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or (ii) that by acknowledgment or assertion by the controlled party or controlling party, were in control of the Fund;


ii.

no persons owned of record or were known by the Fund to beneficially own 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares; and


iii.

the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned less than one percent of the Fund’s outstanding shares.


INVESTMENT ADVISER


Investment Adviser and Advisory Agreement


Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC (“Adviser” or “ARIA”), located at 15 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA  01803, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s business affairs.


Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.  The Adviser shall act as the investment advisor to the Fund and, as such shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the  issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and  to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers.  The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and



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personnel for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on August 29, 2012.


The following table sets forth the annual management fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets:


FUND

ADVISORY FEE

Alternative Avenue Fund

1.95%


The Adviser provides investment advisory services, pays all Sub-Adviser fees and pays most of the Fund’s operating expenses (with certain exceptions) in return for a “unitary” advisory fee. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to 1.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Fund, not the Adviser, pays the following expenses: all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short and interest), and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Board of Trustees and officers with respect thereto.


The fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has agreed contractually to reimburse expenses, other than expenses relating to dividends or interest on securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses or extraordinary or non-recurring expenses, at least until February 28, 2014 such that net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed the percentages in the table below. Please see the section below entitled “Investment Adviser” for a definition of what are considered to be extraordinary or non-recurring expenses. Waiver/reimbursement is subject to possible recoupment from the applicable Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  No reimbursement amount will be paid to the Adviser in any fiscal quarter unless the Trust’s Board of Trustees has determined in advance that a reimbursement is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.  Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease a Fund’s expenses and increase its performance.


Fund

Class

Expense Cap

Minimum Duration

Alternative Avenue Fund

Investor

1.95%

February 28, 2014




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Expenses not expressly assumed by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Adviser.  Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses: all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short and interest), and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Board of Trustees and officers with respect thereto.


The Advisory Agreement will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of that Trust’s outstanding shares. The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.  


The Adviser has engaged Battenkill Capital Management, Inc. (“Battenkill”), Phineus Partners L.P. (“Phineus”), Kellner Management, LP (“Kellner”),  Sound Point Capital Management, LP (“Sound Point”), RockView Management, LLC (“RockView”), Highland Capital Management, LP ("Highland"), and Del Mar Asset Management, LP ("Del Mar ") as sub-advisers to the Fund.


Each Sub-Advisory Agreement shall continue in effect for two (2) years initially and then from year to year, provided it is approved at least annually by a vote of the majority of the Trustees, who are not parties to the agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Adviser is seeking an exemptive order from the SEC that would allow each Sub-Advisory Agreement to be terminated without penalty at any time by the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser on not more than 60 days written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act).


The Adviser provides investment management evaluation services by performing initial due diligence on each Sub-Adviser and thereafter monitoring the Sub-Advisers’ performance for compliance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, as well as adherence to its investment style. The Adviser also conducts performance evaluations through in-person, telephonic and written consultations. In evaluating the Sub-Advisers, the Adviser considers, among other factors: their level of expertise; relative performance and consistency of performance over a minimum period of time; level of adherence to investment discipline or philosophy; personnel, facilities and financial strength; and quality of service and client communications.


The Adviser has the responsibility for communicating performance expectations and evaluations to the Sub-Advisers and ultimately recommending to the Board of Trustees whether their sub-advisory agreements should be renewed, modified or terminated. The Adviser provides written reports to the Board of Trustees regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Trust has applied for an exemptive order with



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respect to the Fund that, if approved, will permit the Adviser, subject to certain conditions, to hire new Sub-Advisers or to continue the employment of existing Sub-Advisers after events that would otherwise cause an automatic termination of a sub-advisory agreement. This arrangement has been approved by the Board of Trustees and the Fund’s initial shareholder. Within 90 days of retaining a new Sub-Adviser, shareholders of the Fund will receive notification of the change.  On a quarterly basis, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Advisers on a pro-rated basis, an annual fee of the net assets of the Fund allocated to that Sub-Adviser by the Adviser, which the Adviser will pay out of the unitary fee paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. In determining the compensation structure for Sub-Advisers, Adviser employs the following general criteria: (i) the type of asset class managed by the Sub-Adviser; (ii) the current market rate; (iii) the Sub-Advisers’ standard compensation rate for similar programs; and (iv) the anticipated asset flow for the Fund. The Fund is not responsible for the payment of the sub-advisory fees. The Adviser is also responsible for conducting all operations of the Fund, except those operations contracted to the Sub-Advisers, the Custodian, the Administrator or the Fund’s Transfer Agent. Although the Sub-Advisers’ activities are subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees and the officers of the Trust, neither the Board of Trustees, the officers nor the Adviser evaluate the investment merits of the Sub-Advisers’ individual security selections. The Sub-Advisers have complete discretion to purchase, manage and sell portfolio securities for the portions of the Fund’s investment portfolio that they manage, subject to the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and limitations. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by several portfolio managers (each, a “Portfolio Manager”) as discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.


Codes of Ethics


The Trust, the Adviser, the sub-advisers and the Distributor each have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of the Trust. Under the code of ethics adopted by the Trust (the “Code”), the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.  


In addition, the Trust has adopted a separate code of ethics that applies only to the Trust’s executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Fund; iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and v) accountability for adherence to the Code.


Proxy Voting Policies


The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote, or cause to be



191



voted by the sub-advisers, proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser or sub-advisers to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s or sub-adviser’s Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser or sub-adviser  on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser or sub-adviser as involving a conflict of interest.


Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Adviser’s or sub-adviser’s interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser or sub-adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client’s directive using the recommendation of an independent third party.  If the third party’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser or sub-adviser will abstain from voting the securities held by that client’s account. A copy of the Adviser’s proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.


More information . Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available(1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-866-862-9686; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.





THE DISTRIBUTOR


Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Trust pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state’s securities laws and is a member of FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares are continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, will use its best efforts to distribute the Fund’s shares.


The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.




192



Fund

Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions

Compensation on Redemptions and Purchases

Brokerage Commissions

Other Compensation

Alternative Avenue Fund

$0

$0

$0

$0




PORTFOLIO MANAGERS


Jason Myers, the (“Portfolio Manager”) is responsible for overseeing the sub-adviser portfolio managers who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.  As of the date listed above each table, the portfolio manager and sub-adviser portfolio managers were responsible for the management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:  


Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC; Jason Myers; as of July 31, 2012


Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

0

$0

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

0

$0

0

$0

Other Accounts

0

$0

0

$0



Battenkill Capital Management Inc.; Richard E. Franzen; as of July 31, 2012





193



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

5

$61,000,00

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

1

$2,000,000

0

$0

Other Accounts

3

$15,000,000

0

$0



Del Mar Asset Management, L.P.; Peter Wisniewski; as of August 17, 2012



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

2

$10,000,00

2

$10,000,000

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

0

$0

0

$0

Other Accounts

0

$0

0

$0

 


Highland Capital Management, L.P.; Matthew Lemme; as of June 30, 2012



194



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

22

$2,897,186,000

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

32

$15,849,575,000

32

$15,849,575,000

Other Accounts

5

$647,023,000

4

$647,023,000



Kellner Management, LP; Christopher Pultz; as of July 31, 2012



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

1

$3,000,000

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

1

$55,000,000

1

$55,000,000

Other Accounts

1

$30,000,000

1

$30,000,000




195



Phineus Partners, L.P.; Michael Grant; as of March 31, 2012



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

3

$42,660,000

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

4

$129,660,000

4

$129,660,000

Other Accounts

0

$0

0

$0



RockView Management LLC; Kevin Schweitzer; as of July 31, 2012



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

0

$0

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

2

$55,200,000

2

$55,200,000

Other Accounts

2

$46,800,000

0

$0





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 Sound Point Capital Management, LP; Stephen Ketchum; as of July 31, 2012



Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

2

$47,000,000

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

2

$115,000,000

1

$66,000,000

Other Accounts

3

$236,000,000

1

$15,000,000


Conflicts of Interest


In general, when a Portfolio Manager has responsibility for managing more than one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities.  For instance, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or the Adviser or Sub-Adviser could receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. The procedures to address conflicts of interest, if any, are described below.


The Adviser or Sub-Adviser attempts to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security in which another client of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser has an ownership position.  The Adviser or Sub-Adviser has each adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner.  To the extent that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser seeks to purchase or sell the same security for multiple client accounts, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where it deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements.  When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order.  When a bunched order is only partially filled, the securities purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions.  Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.


Compensation


Adviser



197




Jason Myers - Adviser’s Portfolio Manager - For his management of the Fund, Mr. Myers’s compensation consists solely of a percentage of profits, if any, of the Adviser in proportion to his ownership interest in the Adviser.


Sub-Advisers


Battenkill Capital Management, Inc.


Richard Franzen. Mr. Franzen is paid a base salary.  In addition as a 50% equity owner of Battenkill, Mr. Franzen receives additional compensation in the form of his proportional share of net profits, if any, that Battenkill earns.


Del Mar Asset Management, L.P.


Peter Wisniewski.  For his services as portfolio manager, Mr. Wisniewski receives compensation in the form of a portion of net profits, if any, that Del Mar earns.  Mr. Wisniewski’s share of profits is determined by his share in the partnership.


Highland Capital Management, L.P.


Matthew Lemme.  Mr. Lemme is paid a base salary and also may be paid a discretionary bonus. However, total cash compensation is capped at a fixed level.  The discretionary bonus is based on performance of investments under management and contributions to Highland.


Kellner Management, LP


Chris Pultz. Mr. Pultz is paid a salary based upon peer salaries and his experience.  Mr. Pultz may also receive a bonus if certain investment performance goals are reached under a set formula.


Phineus Partners, L.P.


Michael Grant. Mr. Grant is paid salary and may also be paid a discretionary bonus.  The discretionary bonus, if any, is based upon the performance of the investments managed by Mr. Grant as well as the overall profitability of the Phineus Partners, L.P.


RockView Management, LLC


Kevin Schweitzer. Mr. Schweitzer is paid a base salary.  In addition as the sole equity owner of RockView, Mr. Schweitzer receives additional compensation in the form of net profits, if any, that RockView earns.


Sound Point Capital Management, LP


Stephen Ketchum.   Mr. Ketchum’s compensation is comprised of a modest base salary and distributions based on his equity ownership of the management company and GP.  Sound



198



Point broke even towards the end of 2011.  Mr. Ketchum has not taken any profits since inception; all profits were distributed amongst the employees.  In 2010 and 2011, Mr. Ketchum put additional funds into the bonus pool.  


Ownership of Securities


The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of [___].


Entity Name

Name of Portfolio Manager

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Alternative Road Investment Advisers

Jason Myers

None

Battenkill Capital Management, Inc.

Richard Franzen

None

Del Mar Asset Management, LP

Peter Wisniewski

None

Highland Capital Management, L.P.

Matthew Lemme

None

Kellner Management, LP

Christopher Pultz

None

Phineus Partners L.P.

Michael Grant

None

RockView Management LLC


Kevin Schweitzer

None

Sound Point Capital Management, LP

Stephen Ketchum

None




ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE



Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Fund are made by the portfolio managers, who are employees of the Adviser and sub-advisers. The Adviser is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to



199



the Fund, the Adviser or a sub-adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser or sub-advisers may determine.  


In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser or sub-adviser will take the following into consideration:

the best net price available;

the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker or dealer;  

the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and

the value of the expected contribution of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.


Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser or sub-adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage, research and other services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser or sub-adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser or sub-adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund’s, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.


PORTFOLIO TURNOVER


The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.  


OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS


Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services


Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 450 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board.  GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.


The Agreement became effective on August 29, 2012 and will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will continue in effect for successive



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twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board.  The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.


Under the Agreement, GFS performs administrative services, including:  (1) monitor the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitor Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) prepare and coordinate the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements; (4) prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) prepare and disseminate materials for and attend and participate in meetings of the Board; (6) determine income and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) review the Trust’s federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust’s independent public accountants; (8) prepare and maintain the Trust’s operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assist in and monitor the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinate the Trust’s audits and examinations by assisting each Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determine, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitate such registration or qualification; (12) monitor sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitor the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports; (15) prepare authorization for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assist each Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS); (18) perform other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.


For the administrative services rendered to the Fund by GFS, the Fund pays GFS a fee equal to the greater of a minimum fee of $30,000.000 for the first 36 months following the effective date of the Fund and a minimum fee of $40,000.000 thereafter, or 0.10% on the first $100 million of net assets, 0.08% on the next $150 million of net assets, 0.06% on the next $250 million of net assets, 0.04% on the next $500 million of net assets, and 0.03% on net assets greater than $1 billion. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


GFS also provides the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger



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reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.


For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement for the first 36 months following the effective date for the Fund, the Fund pays GFS an annual fee of $20,250.00; plus $4,500.00 for each additional share class; plus a bond fund fee of $4,500.00; plus a sub-advisory fee of $1,500.00; plus 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to $100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement after the first 36 months following the effective date for the Fund, the Fund pays GFS an annual fee of $27,000.00; plus $6,000.00 for each additional share class; plus a bond fund fee of $6,000.00; plus a sub-advisory fee of $6,000.00; plus 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to $100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.


For such services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS a fee equal to the greater of (i) a minimum fee of $13,500.00 per share class for the first 36 months following the effective date for the Fund and a minimum fee of $18,000.00 per share class thereafter, and (ii) $16.00 per open account and $2.00 per closed account. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of - pocket expenses.


Custodian


Union Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a Custody Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets. The Custodian’s principal place of business is 350 California Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.


Chief Compliance Officer




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Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust.


DESCRIPTION OF SHARES


Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.  


Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes. Matters such as ratification of the independent public accountants and election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.  


The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.


ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM


The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.  The Trust’s Secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.


Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reported suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.  


As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.   




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PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES



Calculation of Share Price


As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading "How Shares are Priced," the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.


For purposes of calculating the NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are available are stated at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the last bid price. Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference to other securities or indices. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. Exchange traded options, futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction.  


Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.  


Fund shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the "NYSE Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and do not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.  


In unusual circumstances, instead of valuing securities in the usual manner, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the



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Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.  


The Trust expects that the holidays upon which the Exchange will be closed are as follows: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  


Purchase of Shares


Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at net asset value per share computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined net asset value per share.  


Redemption of Shares  


The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder’s shares of the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "Redemptions" section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:  


(a) when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

(b) when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;  

(c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

(d) when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.  


In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination of the suspension.


Supporting documents in addition to those listed under “Redemptions” in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, Trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, Trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.  


TAX STATUS




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The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.  


The Fund intends to qualify and elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and intends to continue to so qualify, which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.


Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carry forward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss.  Capital loss carry forwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carry forwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.


The Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.  


To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holding so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.


If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.  



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The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.  


The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.  


Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shares of the Trust have been held by such shareholders.


A redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.   


Distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the amount of cash the shareholder could have received.  


All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.  


For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a 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) exceed certain threshold amounts.



Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.  


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Due to recent legislation, 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 purchased on or after January 1, 2012.  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 or some other specific identification method.  Unless you instruct otherwise, the Fund will use average cost as its default cost basis method, and will treat sales as first coming from shares purchased prior to January 1, 2012.  If average cost is used for the first sale of shares covered by these new rules, the shareholder may only use an alternative cost basis method for shares purchased prospectively.  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.


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 domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates).  Shareholders who are not U.S. persons should consult their tax advisers regarding U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of a Fund, including the likelihood that distributions to them would be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate under a tax treaty) and the possibility they may be subject to U.S. estate tax.


Effective January 1, 2014, the Fund will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2015) redemption proceeds 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.


Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements  


To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.


To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.  


Passive Foreign Investment Companies  



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Investment by the Fund in certain "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF election"), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.  


The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings "to the market" as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.  


Foreign Currency Transactions


The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.


Foreign Taxation


Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to "pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass through" for that year.  




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Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.  


Original Issue Discount and Pay-In-Kind Securities  


Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income, which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.  


Some of the fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as fixed income securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount ("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. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate fixed income securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  


Some of the fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) 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. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to fixed income securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.


Some fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of fixed income securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, 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. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to



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fixed income securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.  


The Fund that holds the foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.  


Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.  


A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.  


Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


McGladrey LLP, located at 555 17th Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year.  The firm provides services including (i) audit of annual financial statements, and (ii) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.  


LEGAL COUNSEL


Dechert LLP, One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300, San Francisco, California 94111 serves as the Trust’s legal counsel.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, has not produced financial statements. Once produced, you can obtain a copy of the financial statements contained in the Fund s Annual or Semi-Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-866-862-9686.





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APPENDIX A


PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES




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APPENDIX B

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A.

Long-Term Ratings


1.

Moody s Investors Service Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings

Moody s long-term obligation ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of fixed-income obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised.  Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Aaa

Obligations rated ‘Aaa’ are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa

Obligations rated ‘Aa’ are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A

Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa

Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk.  They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba

Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B

Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa

Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca

Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C

Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery or interest.



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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.


2.

Standard & Poor s Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings (including Preferred Stock


Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

Likelihood of payment capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default.  Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above.  (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

AAA

An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA

An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A

An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB

An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.




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Note:

Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB

An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC

An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC

An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

A C rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default.  Among others, the C rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock, or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.

D

An obligation rated D is in payment default.  The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.  The D rating also will be used upon filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Note:

Plus (+) or minus (-).  The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.



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NR

This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

3.

Fitch International Long-Term Credit Ratings


International Long-Term Credit Ratings (LTCR) may also be referred to as Long-Term Ratings.  When assigned to most issuers, it is used as a benchmark measure of probability of default and is formally described as an Issuer Default Rating (IDR).  The major exception is within Public Finance, where IDRs will not be assigned as market convention has always focused on timeliness and does not draw analytical distinctions between issuers and their underlying obligations.  When applied to issues or securities, the LTCR may be higher or lower than the issuer rating (IDR) to reflect relative differences in recovery expectations.

The following rating scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings:

Investment Grade

AAA

Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA

Very high credit quality.  AA ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A

High credit quality.  A ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity, may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB

Good credit quality.  BBB ratings indicate that there are currently expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.  This is the lowest investment grade category.

Speculative Grade

BB

Speculative.  BB ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or



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financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.  Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B

Highly speculative.  B ratings may indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains.  Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC


Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

CC

Default of some kind appears probable.

C

Default is imminent.

RD

Indicated an entity has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of obligations.

D

Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.  Default generally is defined as one of the following:

Failure of an obligor to make timely payment of principal and/or interest under contractual terms of any financial obligation;

The bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other winding-up or cessation of business of an obligor

The distressed or other coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period.

Issuers will be rated D upon default.  Defaulted and distressed obligations typically are rated along the continuum of C to B ratings categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Additionally, in structured finance transactions, where analysis indicates that an instrument is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full accordance with the terms of the obligation’s



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documentation during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default in accordance with the terms of the documentation is imminent, the obligation may be rated in the B or CCC-C categories.

Default is determined by reference to the terms of the obligations’ documentation.  Fitch will assign default ratings where it has reasonable determined that payment has not been made on a material obligation in accordance with the requirements of the obligation’s documentation, or where it believes that default ratings consistent with Fitch’s published definition of default are the most appropriate ratings to assign.

Note:

The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-Term rating category, to categories below CCC, or to Short-Term ratings other than F1.  (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)

B.

Preferred Stock Ratings


1.

Moody’s Investors Service


Aaa

An issue which is rated Aaa is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock.  This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stock.

Aa

An issue which is rated Aa is considered a high-grade preferred stock.  This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well-maintained in the foreseeable future.

A

An issue which is rated A is considered to be an upper-medium preferred stock.  While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the Aaa and Aa classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

Baa

An issue which is rated Baa is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured.  Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.

Ba

An issue which is rate Ba is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured.  Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods.  Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.



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B

An issue which is rated B generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment.  Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

An issue which is rated Caa is likely to be in arrears on dividend payments.  This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future status of payments.

Ca

An issues which is rated Ca is speculative in a high degree and is likely to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.

C

This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock.  Issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Note:

Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each rating classification.  The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

C.

Short Term Ratings

1.

Moody’s Investors Service


Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations.  Ratings assigned may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs, or to individual short-term debt instruments.  Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

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



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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.


Note:


Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.


2.

Standard & Poor’s


A-1


A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2


A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.


A-3


A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


B


A short-term obligation rated B is regard as having significant speculative characteristics.  Ratings of B-1, B-2, and B-3 may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the B category.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


B-1




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A short-term obligation rated B-1 is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


B-2


A short-term obligation rated B-2 is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


B-3


A short-term obligation rated B-3 is regard as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


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 commitment on the obligation.


D


A short-term obligation rated D is in payment default.  The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.  The D ratings also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition of the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.


Note:

Dual ratings .  Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure.  The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature.  The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, AAA/A-1+).  With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, SP-1+/A-1+).


3.

Fitch


The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings.  A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three



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years for U.S. public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years.  Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

F1


Highest credit quality.  Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.


F2


Good credit quality.  A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.


F3


Fair credit quality.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non investment grade.


B


Speculative.  Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.


C


High default risk.  Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.


D


Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.


Note:


The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-term rating category, to categories below CCC, or to Short-term ratings other than F1. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)



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Subject to Completion—Dated October 26, 2012

 

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.


BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND


A Series of Two Roads Shared Trust



STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Class A BELAX

Class C BELCX

Class I BELIX

Class R BELRX


[___], 2012




This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (the “Fund”) and dated [___], 2012, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting the Fund’s Transfer Agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-866-851-2525. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the Adviser’s website at www.BelvedereFunds.com. com.




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TABLE OF CONTENTS


THE FUND

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO

 

MANAGEMENT

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

TAX STATUS

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

APPENDIX A

 

 


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THE FUND


Belvedere Alternative Income Fund is a series of Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 8, 2012 (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”). The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.  


The Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust.  The Fund consists of Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R shares. The Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.  


Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.


TYPES OF INVESTMENTS


The investment objective of the Fund and a description of its principal investment strategies are set forth under “Investment Objective, Principal Investment Strategies, Related Risks” in the Prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.  


The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest, strategies the Adviser may employ in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.  


Equity Securities  


Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity



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securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.  


Common Stock


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.


Preferred Stock


The Fund may invest in preferred stock with no minimum credit rating. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the fixed income securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.


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 securities 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.


Convertible Securities


The Fund may invest in convertible securities with no minimum credit rating. Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of "usable" bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.


Depositary Receipts




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The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), which are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights.  


Warrants


The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.


Fixed Income Securities


Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in the Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity.  All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.


There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of



227



the fixed income securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its fixed income securities may become impaired.


The corporate fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.


Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances


The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, which are considered to be short-term money market instruments.  


Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity.   Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.  


Commercial Paper


The Fund may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations.  See Appendix B for more information on ratings assigned to commercial paper.


Information on Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes


The Fund may invest in fixed time deposits, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties.

The commercial paper obligations which the Fund may buy are unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”)



228



permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund as lender, and the issuer, as borrower. It permits daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The Fund has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Fund’s Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer on demand within seven days.


Insured Bank Obligations


The Fund may invest in insured bank obligations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. The Fund may purchase bank obligations, which are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.  


United States Government Obligations


The Fund may invest in United States Government Obligations. These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.  


United States Government Agency  


The Fund may invest in securities issued by United States Government Agencies. These consist of fixed income securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States Government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by



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the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).


Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-though securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.  


FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PC’s”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-though pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.


Securities of Other Investment Companies  


The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies. The Fund’s investments in an underlying portfolio of Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the underlying funds.


Closed-End Investment Companies  


The Fund may invest its assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth below. The Fund may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any closed-end fund.



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Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.  


The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.  


The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the "market discount" of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.


The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.  


Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.




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Open-End Investment Companies  


The Fund may invest in shares of open-end investment companies. The Fund and any “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any underlying fund unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying funds, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.  Under certain circumstances an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.


Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying funds are made independently of the Fund and its Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the Adviser of the Fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.  


Exchange Traded Funds


The Fund may invest in ETFs. ETFs are typically passively managed funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (UITs) that have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (NAV) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.


Securities Options


The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing



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Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.


A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.


Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the AMEX Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index.


Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.


The Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned



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instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.


If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.


Certain Risks Regarding Options


There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.


Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, a fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.




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The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.


There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.


Cover for Options Positions


Transactions using options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting ("covered") position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.


Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.


Options on Futures Contracts


The Fund may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin



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account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.  


Dealer Options


The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.


Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.


The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.


Spread Transactions


The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread



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or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.


Repurchase Agreements


The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the "underlying security") from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be "fully collateralized," in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.  

Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.


Trading in Futures Contracts


A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are incurred when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position.  


Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as "initial margin."



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The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.


If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.


These subsequent payments, called "variation margin," to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to the market." The Fund expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.


Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.  


For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.  


Regulatory Aspects of Derivative Use


In February 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) adopted certain regulatory changes that will subject the adviser of a registered investment company to registration with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) if the company is unable to meet certain trading and marketing limitations. These rules will become effective on January 1, 2013. In order to comply with these regulatory changes adopted by the CFTC, the Fund’s Adviser has registered as a CPO and intends to comply with any applicable



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reporting, disclosure or other regulatory requirements. Compliance with CFTC regulatory requirements will increase Fund expenses.  Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop.  A related CFTC proposal to harmonize applicable CFTC and SEC regulations could, if adopted, mitigate certain disclosure and operational burdens for the Adviser and the Fund. 


Structured Notes, Bonds and Debentures


The Funds may invest in structured notes, bonds and debentures. Typically, the value of the principal and/or interest on these instruments is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indexes or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relevant change in two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. The terms of the structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in the loss of the Fund’s entire investment. The value of structured securities may move in the same or the opposite direction as the value of the Reference, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, the change in interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the change in the value of the Reference so that the security may be more or less volatile than the Reference, depending on the multiple. Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk and volatility than other types of debt obligations.


When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements


The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.


The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.


The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the



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Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.


The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.


Illiquid and Restricted Securities


The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act ") and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.  


Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.  


A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory, Inc.  


Under guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board, the Fund’s Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is



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liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.   


Rule 144A securities and Section 4(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.  


Lending Portfolio Securities


For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.  


Short Sales


The Adviser also anticipates that the Fund will employ "short selling" for both (1) investment purposes and (2) for defensive purposes as a hedging strategy.  For investment purposes, when the Adviser believes that particular index, company or sector is relatively overvalued, the Fund will sell a security short with the expectation that it can be repurchased at a lower price, thus generating a gain for the Fund.  For defensive purposes, when the Adviser believes that a security or group of securities in the Fund is susceptible to a decline in value, the Fund will sell a security short with the expectation any decline in value of the security sold short will serve to offset some of the decline in value suffered by the Fund’s portfolio of securities.  A short sale strategy is different than a long-only strategy because it consists of selling borrowed shares in the hope that they can be bought back later at a lower price.




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The Fund may sell securities short involving the use of derivative instruments and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which a fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.  

When the Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.  


If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.


To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales "against the box") will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). The Fund does not intend to enter into short sales (other than short sales "against the box") if immediately after such sales the aggregate of the value of all collateral plus the amount in such segregated account exceeds 50% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. This percentage may be varied by action of the Board of Trustees. A short sale is "against the box" to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.


Short sales create a risk that the Fund will be required to close the short position by buying the security at a time when the security has appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long.  Because a short position loses value as the security’s price increases, the loss on a short sale is theoretically unlimited.  


To the extent that the Fund uses short sales as a hedging technique, the Fund is subject to correlation risk. Specifically, the correlation between the security sold short and the hedged security may be imperfect, reducing the expected benefit to the Fund of a short sale, or there may be no correlation at all.  It is possible that the market value of the securities the Fund holds in long positions will decline at the same time that the market value of the securities the Fund has sold short increases, thereby increasing the Fund’s potential volatility.


In addition, any gain on a short sale is decreased, and any loss is increased, by the amount of any payments, such as lender fees, replacement of dividends or interest that the Fund may be required to make with respect to the borrowed securities.  Market factors may prevent the Fund from closing out a short position at the most desirable time or at a



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favorable price. The lender of the borrowed securities may require the Fund to return the securities on short notice, which may require the Fund to purchase the borrowed securities at an unfavorable price, resulting in a loss.  You should be aware that any strategy that includes selling securities short could suffer significant losses.  Short selling will also result in higher transaction costs (such as interest and dividends), which reduce the Fund’s return, and may result in higher taxes.



INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS


The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.


1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except:  (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made.


2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities.  This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.


3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.


4. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its net assets, calculated at the time of purchase and taken at market value, in securities of issuers in any one industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or repurchase agreements secured by U.S. government securities).



5. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate.  This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).


6. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments.  This limitation does not preclude the Fund



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from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.


7. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except:  (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing nonpublicly offered fixed income securities.  For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.


THE FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS OF THE FUND. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS.


1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above.  Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.


2. Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings representing more than one third of its total assets are outstanding.  


3. Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.”  This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by a Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investment techniques.


4. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not hold 15% or more of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities.


If a restriction on the Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.


POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS



The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.



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It is the Trust’s policy to:  (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests of the Trust’s shareholders and those of the Trust’s affiliates.


The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period.  In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR and Form N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.


The Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg more frequently on a confidential basis.


Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q.  In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential.


· The Adviser. Personnel of the Adviser, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide their management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.


· Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.


· Union Bank, N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.


· McGladrey LLP is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual financial statements and providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.   


· Dechert LLP. Dechert LLP is counsel to the Fund; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.



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Additions to List of Approved Recipients.  The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above.  In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures.  The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.


There is no assurance that the Trust’s policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.


MANAGEMENT


The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust’s By-laws (the “Governing Documents”), which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request. The Board consists of four individuals, all of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (“Independent Trustees”). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including, but not limited to, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chief Compliance Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust’s purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.


Board Leadership Structure.   The Board is led by Mark Gersten, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since the Trust was first registered with the SEC in 2012.   Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at Board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, and (c) execution and administration of Trust policies, including (i) setting the agendas for Board meetings and (ii) providing information to Board members in advance of each Board meeting and between Board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President (principal executive officer), are seen by our shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership.  The Trust believes that its Chairman/ Lead Independent Trustee, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its Funds and each shareholder.



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Board Risk Oversight .  The Board of Trustees is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees with an Audit Committee with a separate chair.  The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary.  The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting the risk within its area of responsibilities.  Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.


Trustee Qualifications.  Generally, the Fund believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills.  Mark Garbin has over 20 years of experience in corporate balance sheet and income statement risk management for large asset managers.  Mr. Garbin has extensive derivatives experience and has provided consulting services to alternative asset managers.  Mr. Garbin is a CFA Charterholder and holds advanced degrees in international business, negotiation and derivatives.  Mark Gersten has over 25 years of business experience in the investment management business with a focus on mutual funds and alternative funds.  He serves as a member of another mutual fund board outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his service to this board and extensive experience administering mutual funds.  Mr. Gersten is a certified public account and holds an MBA in accounting.  Neil Kaufman has 28 years of experience as a corporate and securities attorney and possesses a deep understanding of the securities industry in general and financial statements in particular.  Mr. Kaufman has previously served as the Chairman of a NASDAQ-listed technology company and the Chairman of the Banking & Securities Law committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.  Anita Krug has extensive experience as an attorney advising investment advisory firms and investment companies.  She also has extensive experience as a law professor whose scholarship focuses on investment advisers and investment companies. The Fund does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that collective experience of each Trustee makes them well qualified.

 

Trustees and Officers.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust, together with information as to their principal business occupations during the past five years and other information, are shown below.   Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE  68130.



Independent Trustees




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Name, Address,

Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with Registrant

Term and Length Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years

Mark Garbin

Year of Birth: 1951

Trustee, Valuation Committee Chairman

Indefinite, Since 2012

Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2007); Managing Director, Rabobank International (2006-2007)

4

None

Mark D. Gersten

Year of Birth: 1950

Chairman, Trustee, Audit Committee Chairman

Indefinite, Since 2012

Senior Vice President – Global Fund Administration Mutual Funds & Alternative Funds, AllianceBernstein LP (since 1985)

4

Independent Trustee, Schroder Mutual Funds (since 2012)

Neil M. Kaufman

Year of Birth: 1960

Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012


Partner, Abrams Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Einiger, LLP (since 2011); Partner, Davidoff, Malito & Hutcher, LLP (2004-2010)

4

None

Anita K. Krug

Year of Birth: 1969

Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012

Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Law (since 2010); Partner, Howard Rice, P.C. (2002-2010)

4

None



Officers of the Trust

Name, Address,

Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with Registrant

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex*

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years



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Andrew Rogers

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

President

Since Inception

Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); President and Manager, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); Formerly Manager,Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2006 – 2008); and President and Manager, GemCom LLC (2004 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

James P. Ash

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1976

Secretary

Since Inception

Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

James Colantino

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

Treasurer

Since Inception

Vice President from 2004 to Present; Senior Fund Administrator from 1999 to 2004, Gemini Fund Services, LLC.

N/A

N/A

William B. Kimme 450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1962

Chief Compliance Officer Since Inception

Senior Compliance Officer, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (September 2011 - present); Compliance Officer, Mick & Associates (August, 2009 - September 2011); Assistant Director, FINRA (January 2000 – August 2009).

N/A

N/A


Audit Committee.  The Board has an Audit Committee that consists solely of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust’s independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust’s financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust’s independent auditors and



249



recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor’s independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management’s responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls.  The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter.  During the past fiscal year, the Audit Committee held one meeting.    


Compensation of Directors.  The Trust pays each Independent Trustee a quarterly fee of $2,500.00, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings, to be paid at the end of each calendar quarter.   In addition, the Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00, the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00, and the Chairman of the Valuation Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00.   No “interested persons” who serve as a Trustee of the Trust will receive any compensation for their services as Trustee. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust. The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees are estimated to receive from the Trust during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.  The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, pension or retirement plan.


Name and Position

Aggregate Compensation From Trust*

Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees

Mark Garbin

$3, 125.00

$3, 125.00

Mark Gersten

$3,750.00

$3,750.00

Neil Kaufman

$2,500.00

$2,500.00

Anita Krug

$2,500.00

$2,500.00


*The Trust anticipates having multiple series.  Trustees’ fees will be allocated equally to each Fund in the Trust.


Trustees’ Ownership of Shares in the Fund .  As of [______], the Trustees beneficially owned the following amounts in the Fund:




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Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies

Mark Garbin

None

None

Mark Gersten

None

None

Neil Kaufman

None

None

Anita Krug

None

None



Management Ownership


Because there were no shares outstanding as of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned 0% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.


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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS


A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.


As of [           ], 2012:


i.

no persons were “control” persons of the Fund.  This means that there were no persons (i) owning beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or (ii) that by acknowledgment or assertion by the controlled party or controlling party, were in control of the Fund;


ii.

no persons owned of record or were known by the Fund to beneficially own 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares; and


iii.

the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned less than one percent of the Fund’s outstanding shares.


INVESTMENT ADVISER


Investment Adviser and Advisory Agreement


Belvedere Asset Management, LLC (“Adviser” or “ Belvedere ”), located at 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 600, Newport Beach, CA  92660, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s business affairs.  The Adviser is a solely owned subsidiary of Belvedere Tigers, LLC, located at 175 Golden Hind Passage, Corte Madera, CA 94925.


Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.  The Adviser shall act as the investment advisor to the Fund and, as such shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the  issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and



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pay such brokers in return a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers.  The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on October 15, 2012.


The following table sets forth the annual management fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets:


FUND

ADVISORY FEE

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

1.95%


For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to 1.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. In addition to investment advisory fees, the Fund pays other expenses including costs incurred in connection with the maintenance of its securities law registration, printing and mailing prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information to shareholders, certain financial accounting services, taxes or governmental fees, custodial, transfer and shareholder servicing agent costs, expenses of outside counsel and independent accountants, preparation of shareholder reports and expenses of trustee and shareholders meetings.


The fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its management fee and to reimburse expenses, other than expenses relating to dividends or interest on securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses or extraordinary or non-recurring expenses until at least February 28, 2014, such that net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed the percentages in the table below. Please see the section below entitled “Investment Adviser” for a definition of what are considered to be extraordinary or non-recurring expenses. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease a Fund’s expenses and increase its performance.


Fund

Class

Expense Cap

Minimum Duration

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

A

3. 20 %

February 28, 2014

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

C

3.95 %

February 28, 2014

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

I

2.95 %

February 28, 2014

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

R

3.45%

February 28, 2014



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Expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Fund.  Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or Distributor (as defined under the section entitled (“The Distributor”) (c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled “Transfer Agent”), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the cost of share certificates representing shares of the Fund, (i) the cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (j) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (k) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees’ meetings (including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders and (l) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.


The Advisory Agreement will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of that Trust’s outstanding shares. The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.  


Codes of Ethics


The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor each have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of the Trust. Under the code of ethics adopted by the Trust (the “Code”), the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.  


In addition, the Trust has adopted a separate code of ethics that applies only to the Trust’s executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with,



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or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Fund; iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and v) accountability for adherence to the Code.


Proxy Voting Policies


The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote, or cause to be voted, proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.


Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Adviser’s interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client’s directive using the recommendation of an independent third party.  If the third party’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser w[ill abstain from voting the securities held by that client’s account. A copy of the Adviser’s proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.


More information . Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available(1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-866-851-2525; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.


THE DISTRIBUTOR


Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Trust pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state’s securities laws and is a member of FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares are continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, will use its best efforts to distribute the Fund’s shares.



 


The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.



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The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.


Fund

Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions

Compensation on Redemptions and Purchases

Brokerage Commissions

Other Compensation*

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

$0

$0

$0

$0

*The Distributor will receive 12b-1 fees from the Fund as described under the following section entitled “Rule 12b-1 Plan”.


Rule 12b-1 Plan


The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan and Agreement pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan") pursuant to which the Fund are authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distributor’s account maintenance services under this Plan, a distribution and shareholder servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% for Class A shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant class and up to 1.00% for Class C shares.  Such fees are to be paid by the Fund monthly, or at such other intervals as the Board shall determine. Such fees shall be based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Distributor. The Rule 12b-1 Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others (“Recipients”) to provide these services and paying compensation for these services. The Fund will bear its own costs of distribution with respect to its shares. The Distributor or other entities also receive the proceeds and contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant to the Plan.


The services to be provided by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund’ investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor with respect to the Fund.  



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The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.  


The initial term of the Plan is one year and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan (“Rule 12b-1 Trustees”) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust or the Fund by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund.


The Rule 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor’s compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class of a Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b- 1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on a Rule 12b-1 Plan. During the term of the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current non-interested Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of the Rule 12b-1 Plan, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.  


Any agreement related to the Rule 12b-1 Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the applicable Fund at any time upon sixty days’ written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.


PORTFOLIO MANAGER


Jonathan M. Hansen, the (“Portfolio Manager”) is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.  As of May 31, 2012, the Portfolio Manager was responsible for the management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:  




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Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

0

$0

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

1

$16,461,021

1

$16,461,021

Other Accounts

55

$26,974,804

55

$26,974,804


Conflicts of Interest


In addition to being a principal and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, Mr. Hansen is the president of and portfolio manager for Newport Private Capital, LLC (“Newport”), a firm that he founded in 2005. Newport is registered with the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator and commodity pool trader and is a member of the National Futures Association. Many of Newport’s clients participate in an investment program (i.e. the Optimum Income Program) which has investment objectives, policies and strategies that are substantially similar to the Fund. Other clients of the Adviser or Newport for which Mr. Hansen serves as the Portfolio Manager may have differing investment programs, objectives, policies and strategies. In general, when a Portfolio Manager has responsibility for managing more than one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. For instance, the Adviser or Newport may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or the Adviser or Newport could receive performance-based fees on certain accounts. The procedures to address conflicts of interest, if any, are described below.


The Adviser and Newport attempt to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, the Portfolio Manager may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security in which another client of the Adviser or Newport has an ownership position. The Adviser and Newport have each adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To the extent that the Portfolio Manager seeks to purchase or sell the same security for multiple client accounts, the Adviser and Newport may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where the Portfolio Manager deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order. When a bunched order is



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only partially filled, the securities purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions. Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.


Compensation


Under the Portfolio Management Agreement between the Adviser and Portfolio Manager, the Adviser pays the Portfolio Manager a specified percentage of the Management Fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser. The Portfolio Manager is responsible for paying his expenses related to performing his services to the Fund, including expenses related to maintaining the Portfolio Manager’s office, including rent and utilities, compensation of analysts and other staff assisting the Portfolio Manager and all expenses unrelated to servicing the Fund.

 

Additionally, the Portfolio Manager has an indirect ownership interest in the Adviser and he may receive compensation through his ownership interest to the extent that the Adviser distributes any profits to its owners or the value of his ownership interest increases.


Ownership of Securities


The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of [___].  


Name of Portfolio Manager

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Jonathan M. Hansen

None


ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE


Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Fund are made by the portfolio managers, who are employees of the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.  


In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:

the best net price available;

the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker or dealer;  

the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and

the value of the expected contribution of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.




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Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage, research and other services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund’s, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.


PORTFOLIO TURNOVER


The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.  


OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS


Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services


Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 450 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board.  GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.


The Agreement became effective on August 29, 2012 and will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board.  The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.  


Under the Agreement, GFS performs administrative services, including:  (1) monitor the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitor Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) prepare and coordinate



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the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements; (4) prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) prepare and disseminate materials for and attend and participate in meetings of the Board; (6) determine income and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) review the Trust’s federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust’s independent public accountants; (8) prepare and maintain the Trust’s operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assist in and monitor the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinate the Trust’s audits and examinations by assisting each Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determine, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitate such registration or qualification; (12) monitor sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitor the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports; (15) prepare authorization for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assist each Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS); (18) perform other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.


For the administrative services rendered to the Fund by GFS, the Fund pays GFS a fee equal to the greater of a minimum fee of $30,000.000 for the first 36 months following the effective date of the Fund and a minimum fee of $40,000.000 thereafter, or 0.10% on the first $100 million of net assets, 0.08% on the next $150 million of net assets, 0.06% on the next $250 million of net assets, 0.04% on the next $500 million of net assets, and 0.03% on net assets greater than $1 billion. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


GFS also provides the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.


For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement for the first 36 months following the effective date for the Fund, the Fund pays GFS an annual fee of $20,250.00; plus $4,500.00 for each additional share class; plus a bond fund fee of $4,500.00; plus a sub-advisory fee of $1,500.00; plus 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to



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$100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement after the first 36 months following the effective date for the Fund, the Fund pays GFS an annual fee of $27,000.00; plus $6,000.00 for each additional share class; plus a bond fund fee of $6,000.00; plus a sub-advisory fee of $6,000.00; plus 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to $100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.


For such services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS a fee equal to the greater of (i) a minimum fee of $13,500.00 per share class for the first 36 months following the effective date for the Fund and a minimum fee of $18,000.00 per share class thereafter, and (ii) $16.00 per open account and $2.00 per closed account. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


Custodian


Union Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a Custody Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets. The Custodian’s principal place of business is 350 California Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.


Chief Compliance Officer


Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust.


DESCRIPTION OF SHARES


Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.  



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Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes. Matters such as ratification of the independent public accountants and election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.  


The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.


ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM


The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.  The Trust’s Secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.


Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor, and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reported suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.  


As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.   


PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES


Calculation of Share Price


As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading "How Shares are Priced," the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.


For purposes of calculating the NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are available are stated at market value. Market value is generally determined on



263



the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the last bid price. Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference to other securities or indices. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. Exchange traded options, futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction.  


Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.  


Fund shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the "NYSE Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and do not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.  


In unusual circumstances, instead of valuing securities in the usual manner, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.  


The Trust expects that the holidays upon which the Exchange will be closed are as follows: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  


Purchase of Shares


Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at net asset value per share computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the



264



NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined net asset value per share.  


Redemption of Shares  


The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder’s shares of the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "Redemptions" section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:  


when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;  

when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.  


In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination of the suspension.


Supporting documents in addition to those listed under “Redemptions” in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, Trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, Trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.  


TAX STATUS


The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.  


The Fund intends to qualify and elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and intends to continue to so qualify, which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.



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Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carry forward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss.  Capital loss carry forwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carry forwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.


The Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.  


To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holding so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.


If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.  


The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of



266



the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.  


The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.  


Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shares of the Trust have been held by such shareholders.


A redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.   


Distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the amount of cash the shareholder could have received.  


All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.  


For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a 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) exceed certain threshold amounts.

 

Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.  


267



Due to recent legislation, 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 purchased on or after January 1, 2012.  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 or some other specific identification method.  Unless you instruct otherwise, the Fund will use average cost as its default cost basis method, and will treat sales as first coming from shares purchased prior to January 1, 2012.  If average cost is used for the first sale of shares covered by these new rules, the shareholder may only use an alternative cost basis method for shares purchased prospectively.  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.


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 domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates).  Shareholders who are not U.S. persons should consult their tax advisers regarding U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of a Fund, including the likelihood that distributions to them would be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate under a tax treaty) and the possibility they may be subject to U.S. estate tax.


Effective January 1, 2014, the Fund will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2015) redemption proceeds 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.


Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements  


To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.


To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.  


Passive Foreign Investment Companies  


Investment by the Fund in certain "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF election"), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.  


The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings "to the market" as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may


268



require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.  


Foreign Currency Transactions


The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.


Foreign Taxation


Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to "pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass through" for that year.  


Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.  


Original Issue Discount and Pay-In-Kind Securities  




269



Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income, which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.  


Some of the fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as fixed income securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount ("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. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate fixed income securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  

Some of the fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) 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. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to fixed income securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.


Some fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of fixed income securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, 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. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to fixed income securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.  


The Fund that holds the foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.  


Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.  




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A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.  


Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.





271



INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


McGladrey LLP, located at 555 17th Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year.  The firm provides services including (i) audit of annual financial statements, and (ii) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.  


LEGAL COUNSEL


Dechert LLP, One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300, San Francisco, California 94111 serves as the Trust’s legal counsel.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees of Two Roads Shared Trust and the Shareholder of Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (the Fund), a series of Two Roads Shared Trust as of October 22, 2012 and the related statement of operations for the period from June 8, 2012(date of organization) to October 22, 2012.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement are free of material misstatement.  The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 22, 2012 and the results of its operations for the period from June 8, 2012(date of organization) to October 22, 2012 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

/s/ McGladrey LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

October 26, 2012



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BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

October 22, 2012

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

100,000

 

Deferred Offering Costs

 

 

51,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

 

151,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

Payable for Deferred Offering Costs

 

 

51,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

 

 

51,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Composition of net assets:

 

 

Paid-in capital ($0 par value, unlimited shares authorized)

$

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A:

 

 

 

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per share

 

$

10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum offering price per share

 

 

 

(net asset value plus maximum sales charge of 5.75%)

$

10.61


 


Sees notes to financial statements.



273



BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Period from June 8, 2012(date of organization) to October 22, 2012

INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

Organizational Expenses

 

$

15,500

 

 

Less: Reimbursement from Advisor

 

 

(15,500)

 

 

 

 

 

NET EXPENSES

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INVESTMENT INCOME

 

$

-

 

         

NET INCOME

 

$

-

 





Sees notes to financial statements.

274



BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 22, 2012


(1)

ORGANIZATION

The Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Two Roads Shared Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a non-diversified, open-end management investment company.  The Trust’s Investment Advisor is Belvedere Asset Management, LLC (“Adviser” or “ Belvedere ”).

The Fund consists of Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R shares.  Class A shares are sold with a front-end sales charge of 5.75%.  Class A and Class C shares are sold with a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%.  A redemption fee of 2.00% is imposed on Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase.  Each class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund and classes are identical except for differences in their sales charge structures and ongoing service and distribution expenses.

The Fund seeks capital appreciation and capital preservation.

The Trust was formed as a statutory trust on June 8, 2012(date of organization) under the laws of the State of Delaware.   The Fund had no operations from that date to October 22, 2012, other than those relating to organizational matters and the registration of its shares under applicable securities laws.  The Advisor purchased the initial shares at $10.00 per share on October 22, 2012.

(2)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  The following is a summary of significant accounting policies used in preparing the financial statements.  

Organizational and Deferred Offering Costs

All costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its organization and offering have been paid by the Advisor and will be subject to recoupment as described in Note 3.  Organizational costs were charged to expenses as incurred.  Offering costs incurred by the Fund are treated as deferred charges until operations commence and thereafter will be amortized to paid in capital over a 12 month period using the straight line method.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions related to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.



275



BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 22, 2012


Federal Income Taxes

The Fund intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and, if so qualified, will not be liable for federal income taxes to the extent earnings are distributed to shareholders on a timely basis.

Indemnification

The Fund indemnifies its officers and trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from the performance of their duties to the Fund.  Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnities.  The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.  However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.

 (3)   INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND AFFILIATES

As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Advisor a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 1.95% of its average daily net assets.  

The Advisor, pursuant to an Expense Limitation Agreement (the “Agreement”) has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund until at least February 28, 2014, to ensure that total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and reimbursement (exclusive of any taxes, short selling expenses, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, indirect expenses, expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 3.20%, 3.95%, 2.95% and 3.45% of average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R shares, respectively.  This agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees on 60 days written notice to the Adviser .  For the period from June 8, 2012 to October 22, 2012, the Adviser waived $15,500 of organizational expenses for the Fund. 

On behalf of the Fund, the Trust has entered into agreements with Gemini Fund Services, LLC to provide administrative and fund accounting services and to act as transfer and shareholder services agent.  The Trust has also entered into a Global Custody Agreement with Union Bank, National Association to serve as Custodian and an Underwriting Agreement with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC to serve as the principal underwriter and distributor for the Trust.

276



BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 22, 2012


 (4)   DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

The Fund has adopted a “ Distribution Plan and Agreement ” under which the Fund pays a distribution and shareholder servicing fee to the Distributor and to other selected securities dealers and other financial industry professionals for providing ongoing broker-dealer services in respect of clients with whom they have distributed shares of the Fund.  Under the Distribution Plan and Agreement , the Fund may incur expenses on an annual basis equal to 0.25% for Class A shares, 1.00% for Class C shares and 0.50% for Class R shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant class.

(5)   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of the financial statements, and determined that no other material events or transactions would require recognition or disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements.






277



APPENDIX A


PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES





278



Appendix B

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A.

Long-Term Ratings


1.

Moody s Investors Service Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings

Moody s long-term obligation ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of fixed-income obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised.  Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Aaa

Obligations rated ‘Aaa’ are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa

Obligations rated ‘Aa’ are judged to be of high qualityand are subject to very low credit risk.

A

Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa

Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk.  They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba

Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B

Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa

Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca

Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C

Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery or interest.



279




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.


2.

Standard & Poor s Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings (including Preferred Stock

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

Likelihood of payment capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

• Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

• Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default.  Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above.  (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

AAA

An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA

An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A

An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB

An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.



280




Note:

Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB


An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC

An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC

An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

A C rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default.  Among others, the C rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock, or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.

D

An obligation rated D is in payment default.  The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.  The D rating also will be used upon filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.




281




Note:

Plus (+) or minus (-).  The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

NR

This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

3.

Fitch International Long-Term Credit Ratings

International Long-Term Credit Ratings (LTCR) may also be referred to as Long-Term Ratings.  When assigned to most issuers, it is used as a benchmark measure of probability of default and is formally described as an Issuer Default Rating (IDR).  The major exception is within Public Finance, where IDRs will not be assigned as market convention has always focused on timeliness and does not draw analytical distinctions between issuers and their underlying obligations.  When applied to issues or securities, the LTCR may be higher or lower than the issuer rating (IDR) to reflect relative differences in recovery expectations.

The following rating scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings:

Investment Grade

AAA

Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA

Very high credit quality.  AA ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A

High credit quality.  A ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity, may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB

Good credit quality.  BBB ratings indicate that there are currently expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.  This is the lowest investment grade category.



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Speculative Grade

BB

Speculative.  BB ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.  Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B

Highly speculative.  B ratings may indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains.  Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC


Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

CC

Default of some kind appears probable.

C

Default is imminent.

RD

Indicated an entity has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of obligations.

D

Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.  Default generally is defined as one of the following:

• Failure of an obligor to make timely payment of principal and/or interest under contractual terms of any financial obligation;

• The bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other winding-up or cessation of business of an obligor

• The distressed or other coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation.



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Default ratings are not assigned prospectively; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period.

Issuers will be rated D upon default.  Defaulted and distressed obligations typically are rated along the continuum of C to B ratings categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Additionally, in structured finance transactions, where analysis indicates that an instrument is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full accordance with the terms of the obligation’s documentation during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default in accordance with the terms of the documentation is imminent, the obligation may be rated in the B or CCC-C categories.

Default is determined by reference to the terms of the obligations’ documentation.  Fitch will assign default ratings where it has reasonable determined that payment has not been made on a material obligation in accordance with the requirements of the obligation’s documentation, or where it believes that default ratings consistent with Fitch’s published definition of default are the most appropriate ratings to assign.

Note:

The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-Term rating category, to categories below CCC, or to Short-Term ratings other than F1.  (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)

B.

Preferred Stock Ratings


1.

Moody’s Investors Service


Aaa

An issue which is rated Aaa is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock.  This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stock.

Aa

An issue which is rated Aa is considered a high-grade preferred stock.  This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well-maintained in the foreseeable future.

A

An issue which is rated A is considered to be an upper-medium preferred stock.  While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the Aaa and Aa classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

Baa



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An issue which is rated Baa is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured.  Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.

Ba

An issue which is rate Ba is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured.  Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods.  Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.

B

An issue which is rated B generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment.  Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

An issue which is rated Caa is likely to be in arrears on dividend payments.  This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future status of payments.

Ca

An issues which is rated Ca is speculative in a high degree and is likely to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.

C

This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock.  Issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Note:


Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each rating classification.  The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 3 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

C.

Short Term Ratings


1.

Moody’s Investors Service


Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations.  Ratings assigned may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs, or to individual short-term debt instruments.  Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:


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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.


Note:


Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.


2.

Standard & Poor’s


A-1


A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.


A-2


A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.


A-3




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A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


B


A short-term obligation rated B is regard as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of B-1, B-2, and B-3 may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the B category.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


B-1


A short-term obligation rated B-1 is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


B-2


A short-term obligation rated B-2 is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


B-3


A short-term obligation rated B-3 is regard as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


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 commitment on the obligation.


D


A short-term obligation rated D is in payment default.  The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.  The D ratings also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition of the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.



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Note:

Dual ratings .  Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure.  The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature.  The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, AAA/A-1+).  With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, SP-1+/A-1+).


3.

Fitch


The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings.  A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years.  Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

F1

Highest credit quality.  Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2


Good credit quality.  A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F3


Fair credit quality.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non investment grade.


B


Speculative.  Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.


C


High default risk.  Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

D


Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.



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Note:


The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-term rating category, to categories below CCC, or to Short-term ratings other than F1. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)




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Subject to Completion—Dated October 26, 2012

 

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

LJM PRESERVATION AND GROWTH FUND


LJM INCOME PLUS FUND


Series of Two Roads Shared Trust


STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

Class A   LJMAX

Class C   LJMCX

Class I   LJMIX


LJM Income Plus Fund

Class A   LJIAX

Class C   LJICX

Class I   LJIIX


[___], 2012



This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”) and dated [___], 2012, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting the Funds’ Transfer Agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-855-LJM-FUND. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the Adviser’s website at www.ljmfunds.com.




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TABLE OF CONTENTS


THE FUND

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO

 

MANAGEMENT

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

TAX STATUS

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

APPENDIX A

 



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THE FUNDS


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”) are series of Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 8, 2012 (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Each Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of each Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of each Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of each Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by its respective Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of each Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.  


Each Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust.  Each Fund consists of Class A, Class C and Class I shares. The investment objective, restrictions and policies of each Fund are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.  


Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.


TYPES OF INVESTMENTS


The investment objective of each Fund and a description of its principal investment strategies are set forth under “Investment Objective, Principal Investment Strategies, Related Risks” in the respective Fund’s Prospectus. The investment objective of each Fund is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.  


The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which each Fund may invest, strategies the Adviser may employ in pursuit of each Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.  


Equity Securities  


Equity securities in which each Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which



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individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.  


Common Stock


Each 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.


Preferred Stock


Each Fund may invest in preferred stock with no minimum credit rating. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the fixed income securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.


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 securities 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.


Convertible Securities


Each Fund may invest in convertible securities with no minimum credit rating. Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.






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Depositary Receipts


Each Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights.  


Warrants  


Each Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.


Fixed Income Securities


Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in a Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity.  All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.


There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other



294



constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its fixed income securities may become impaired.


The corporate fixed income securities in which each Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.


Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances


Each Fund may invest in certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, which are considered to be short-term money market instruments.  


Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.  


Commercial Paper


Each Fund may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations.  See Appendix B for more information on ratings assigned to commercial paper.


Information on Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes




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Each Fund may invest in fixed time deposits, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties.

The commercial paper obligations which each Fund may buy are unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”) permit each Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund as lender, and the issuer, as borrower. It permits daily changes in the amounts borrowed. Each Fund has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between a Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to each Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer on demand within seven days.


Insured Bank Obligations


Each Fund may invest in insured bank obligations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. Each Fund may purchase bank obligations, which are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.  


United States Government Obligations


Each Fund may invest in United States Government Obligations. These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.  


United States Government Agency  


Each Fund may invest in securities issued by United States Government Agencies. These consist of fixed income securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States Government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal



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Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).


Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-though securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.  


FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PC’s”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-though pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.


Securities of Other Investment Companies  


Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies. Each Fund’s investments in an underlying portfolio of Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the underlying funds.


Closed-End Investment Companies  




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Each Fund may invest its assets in “closed-end” investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth below. Each Fund may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any closed-end fund. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as “NASDAQ”) and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Trust), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.  


Each Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. Each Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. Each Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.  


The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the “market discount” of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.


Each Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by a Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by a Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.  


Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. A Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged



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may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.


Open-End Investment Companies  


Each Fund may invest in shares of open-end investment companies.  Each Fund and its respective “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any underlying fund unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. Accordingly, when a Fund’s affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying funds, that Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by a Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by that Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by a Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.  Under certain circumstances an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by a Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.


Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying funds are made independently of the Funds and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the Adviser. The result would be an indirect expense to the applicable Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.  


Exchange Traded Funds


Each Fund may invest in ETFs. ETFs are typically passively managed funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (UITs) that have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (NAV) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.


Securities Options



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Each Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.


A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.


Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the AMEX Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.


Each Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the applicable Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect



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a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.


If an option purchased by a Fund expires unexercised, that Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If a Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by a Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Fund will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by a Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and that Fund will realize a gain or loss.


Certain Risks Regarding Options


There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.


Successful use by a Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, a Fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, each Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and a Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.



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The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by a Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.


There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If a Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, that Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.


Cover for Options Positions


Transactions using options (other than options that a Fund has purchased) expose the applicable Fund to an obligation to another party. Neither Fund will enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. Each Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, each Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which a Fund writes or sells options.


Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of a Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.


Options on Futures Contracts


Each Fund may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be



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accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.  


Dealer Options


Each Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While a Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if a Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the applicable Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.


Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, a Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when a Fund writes a dealer option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While each Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the applicable Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the applicable Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by a Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to that Fund. For example, because the applicable Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, that Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair a Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.


The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. Each Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, each Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, each Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.


Spread Transactions




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Each Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives a Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that it does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to a Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect each Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.


Repurchase Agreements  


Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as a Fund) purchases a security (known as the “underlying security”) from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the applicable Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the applicable Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be “fully collateralized,” in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.  


Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the applicable Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the applicable Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the applicable Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.


Trading in Futures Contracts


A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are incurred when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position.  


Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by a Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract,



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and to maintain a Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, that Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as “initial margin.” The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.

If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the applicable Fund.


These subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” Each Fund expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.


Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the applicable Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the applicable Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the applicable Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the applicable Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that a Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If a Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.  


For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.  


Regulatory Aspects of Derivative Use


In February 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) adopted certain regulatory changes that will subject the adviser of a registered investment company to



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registration with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) if the company is unable to meet certain trading and marketing limitations. These rules will become effective on January 1, 2013. In order to comply with these regulatory changes adopted by the CFTC, the Fund’s Adviser has claimed the no-action relief offered by the CFTC to advisers of newly formed investment companies that allows them until December 31, 2012 to register as a CPO, if the recent changes to CFTC Rule 4.5 promulgated under the Commodities Exchange Act require them to do so.  The Fund’s Adviser intends to register as a CPO and intends to comply with any applicable reporting, disclosure or other regulatory requirements. Compliance with CFTC registration and regulatory requirements will increase Fund expenses.  Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop.  A related CFTC proposal to harmonize applicable CFTC and SEC regulations could, if adopted, mitigate certain disclosure and operational burdens for the Adviser and the Fund. 



Structured Notes, Bonds and Debentures



Each Fund may invest in structured notes, bonds and debentures. Typically, the value of the principal and/or interest on these instruments is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indexes or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relevant change in two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. The terms of the structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in the loss of the applicable Fund’s entire investment. The value of structured securities may move in the same or the opposite direction as the value of the Reference, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, the change in interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the change in the value of the Reference so that the security may be more or less volatile than the Reference, depending on the multiple. Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk and volatility than other types of debt obligations.


When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements


Each Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of a commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the applicable Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the applicable Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.


The Funds do not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of their respective investment objectives. Because each Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, each Fund’s



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liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event a Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.


Each Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the applicable Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When a Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the applicable Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.


The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of a Fund starting on the day a Fund agrees to purchase the securities. A Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.


Illiquid and Restricted Securities  


Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.  


Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. A Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The applicable Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.  


A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such



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securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory, Inc.  


Under guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.   


Rule 144A securities and Section 4(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the applicable Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.  


Lending Portfolio Securities


For the purpose of achieving income, each Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the applicable Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the applicable Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the applicable Fund.  


Short Sales


The Adviser also anticipates that each Fund will employ “short selling” for both (1) investment purposes and (2) for defensive purposes as a hedging strategy.  For investment purposes, when the Adviser believes that particular index, company or sector is relatively overvalued, the applicable Fund will sell a security short with the expectation that it can be



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repurchased at a lower price, thus generating a gain for the Fund.  For defensive purposes, when the Adviser believes that a security or group of securities in the applicable Fund is susceptible to a decline in value, that Fund will sell a security short with the expectation any decline in value of the security sold short will serve to offset some of the decline in value suffered by the Fund’s portfolio of securities.  A short sale strategy is different than a long-only strategy because it consists of selling borrowed shares in the hope that they can be bought back later at a lower price.


Each Fund may sell securities short involving the use of derivative instruments and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which a fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.  


When a Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. Each Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.  


If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time a Fund covers its short position, that Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, that Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.


To the extent a Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). The Funds do not intend to enter into short sales (other than short sales “against the box”) if immediately after such sales the aggregate of the value of all collateral plus the amount in such segregated account exceeds 50% of the value of the applicable Fund’s net assets. This percentage may be varied by action of the Board of Trustees. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent a Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.


Short sales create a risk that a Fund will be required to close the short position by buying the security at a time when the security has appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to that Fund. A short position in a security poses more risk than holding the same security long.  Because a short position loses value as the security’s price increases, the loss on a short sale is theoretically unlimited.  


To the extent that a Fund uses short sales as a hedging technique, that Fund is subject to correlation risk. Specifically, the correlation between the security sold short and the hedged security may be imperfect, reducing the expected benefit to the applicable Fund of a short



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sale, or there may be no correlation at all.  It is possible that the market value of the securities that a Fund holds in long positions will decline at the same time that the market value of the securities that Fund has sold short increases, thereby increasing that Fund’s potential volatility.


In addition, any gain on a short sale is decreased, and any loss is increased, by the amount of any payments, such as lender fees, replacement of dividends or interest that a Fund may be required to make with respect to the borrowed securities.  Market factors may prevent a Fund from closing out a short position at the most desirable time or at a favorable price. The lender of the borrowed securities may require the Fund to return the securities on short notice, which may require a Fund to purchase the borrowed securities at an unfavorable price, resulting in a loss.  You should be aware that any strategy that includes selling securities short could suffer significant losses.  Short selling will also result in higher transaction costs (such as interest and dividends), which reduce the applicable Fund’s return, and may result in higher taxes.


INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS


Each Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the applicable Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of a Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a Fund.


1. Borrowing Money. The Funds will not borrow money, except:  (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the applicable Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the applicable Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made.


2. Senior Securities. The Funds will not issue senior securities.  This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by a Fund, provided that the applicable Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.


3. Underwriting. The Funds will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), a Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.


4. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its net assets, calculated at the time of purchase and taken at market value, in securities of issuers in any one industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or repurchase agreements secured by U.S. government securities).




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5. Real Estate. The Funds will not purchase or sell real estate.  This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Funds from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).


6. Commodities. The Funds will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments.  This limitation does not preclude the Funds from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.


7. Loans. The Funds will not make loans to other persons, except:  (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing nonpublicly offered fixed income securities.  For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.


THE FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS OF THE FUNDS. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS.


1. Pledging. The Funds will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the respective Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above.  Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.


2. Borrowing. The Funds will not purchase any security while borrowings representing more than one third of the purchasing Fund’s total assets are outstanding.  


3. Margin Purchases. The Funds will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.”  This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by a Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investment techniques.


4. Illiquid Investments. The Funds will not hold 15% or more of their respective net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities.


If a restriction on a Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of such Fund’s assets invested in certain securities or



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other instruments, or change in average duration of such Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.


POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS


The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of both Funds’ shareholders.


It is the Trust’s policy to:  (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests of the Trust’s shareholders and those of the Trust’s affiliates.


Each Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period.  In addition, each Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR and Form N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.


Each Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg more frequently on a confidential basis.


Under limited circumstances, as described below, each Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q.  In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential.


· The Adviser. Personnel of the Adviser, including personnel responsible for managing each Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to their respective Fund portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide management, administrative, and investment services to the Funds. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.


· Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Funds; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Funds’ portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.




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· Union Bank, N.A. is custodian for the Funds; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Funds’ portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.


· McGladrey LLP is the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Funds’ portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Funds’ annual financial statements and providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.   


· Dechert LLP. Dechert LLP is counsel to the Funds; therefore, its personnel have access to the Funds’ portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.


Additions to List of Approved Recipients.  The Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above.  In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Funds, the Adviser or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about a Fund’s portfolio holdings.


Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures.  The Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Funds’ portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.


There is no assurance that the Trust’s policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.


MANAGEMENT


The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust’s By-laws (the “Governing Documents”), which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request. The Board consists of four individuals, all of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (“Independent Trustees”). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including, but not limited to, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chief Compliance Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust’s purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.




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Board Leadership Structure.   The Board is led by Mark Gersten, who has served as the Chairman and Lead Independent Director of the Board since the Trust was first registered with the SEC in 2012.   Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at Board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, and (c) execution and administration of Trust policies, including (i) setting the agendas for Board meetings and (ii) providing information to Board members in advance of each Board meeting and between Board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President (principal executive officer), are seen by our shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership.  The Trust believes that its Chairman/ Lead Independent Trustee, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its Funds and each shareholder.


Board Risk Oversight .  The Board of Trustees is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees with an Audit Committee with a separate chair.  The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary.  The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting the risk within its area of responsibilities.  Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.


Trustee Qualifications.  Generally, each Fund believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills.  Mark Garbin has over 20 years of experience in corporate balance sheet and income statement risk management for large asset managers.  Mr. Garbin has extensive derivatives experience and has provided consulting services to alternative asset managers.  Mr. Garbin is a CFA Charterholder and holds advanced degrees in international business, negotiation and derivatives.  Mark Gersten has over 25 years of business experience in the investment management business with a focus on mutual funds and alternative funds.  He serves as a member of another mutual fund board outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his service to this board and extensive experience administering mutual funds.  Mr. Gersten is a certified public account and holds an MBA in accounting.  Neil Kaufman has 28 years of experience as a corporate and securities attorney and possesses a deep understanding of the securities industry in general and financial statements in particular.  Mr. Kaufman has previously served as the Chairman of a NASDAQ-listed technology company and the Chairman of the Banking & Securities Law committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.  Anita Krug has extensive experience as an attorney advising investment advisory firms and investment companies.  She also has extensive experience as a law professor whose scholarship focuses on investment advisers and investment companies.  The Funds do not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that collective experience of each Trustee makes them well qualified.

 



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Trustees and Officers.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust, together with information as to their principal business occupations during the past five years and other information, are shown below.   Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska  68130.


Independent Trustees


Name, Address,

Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with Registrant

Term and Length Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years

Mark Garbin

Year of Birth: 1951

Trustee, Valuation Committee Chairman

Indefinite, Since 2012

Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2007); Managing Director, Rabobank International (2006-2007)

4

None

Mark D. Gersten

Year of Birth: 1950

Chairman, Trustee, Audit Committee Chairman

Indefinite, Since 2012

Senior Vice President – Global Fund Administration Mutual Funds & Alternative Funds, AllianceBernstein LP (since 1985)

4

Independent Trustee, Schroder Mutual Funds (since 2012)

Neil M. Kaufman

Year of Birth: 1960

Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012


Partner, Abrams Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Einiger, LLP (since 2011); Partner, Davidoff, Malito & Hutcher, LLP (2004-2010)

[___]

None

Anita K. Krug

Year of Birth: 1969

Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012

Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Law (since 2010); Partner, Howard Rice, P.C. (2002-2010)

[___]

None




Officers of the Trust



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Name, Address,

Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with Registrant

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex*

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years

Andrew Rogers

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

President

Since Inception

Chief Executive Officer, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); President and Manager, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 - 2012); Formerly Manager, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2006 – 2008); and President and Manager, GemCom LLC (2004 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

James P. Ash

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1976

Secretary

Since Inception

Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011).

N/A

N/A

James Colantino

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

Treasurer

Since Inception

Vice President from 2004 to Present; Senior Fund Administrator from 1999 to 2004, Gemini Fund Services, LLC.

N/A

N/A



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William B. Kimme

450 Wireless Blvd.

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1962

Chief Compliance Officer Since Inception

Senior Compliance Officer, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (September 2011 - present); Compliance Officer, Mick & Associates (August, 2009 - September 2011); Assistant Director, FINRA (January 2000 – August 2009).

N/A

N/A



Audit Committee.  The Board has an Audit Committee that consists solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust’s independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust’s financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust’s independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor’s independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management’s responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls.  The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter.  During the past fiscal year, the Audit Committee held one meeting.    


Compensation of Directors.  The Trust pays each Independent Trustee a quarterly fee of $2,500.00, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings, to be paid at the end of each calendar quarter.   In addition, the Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00, the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00, and the Chairman of the Valuation Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,500.00.   No “interested persons” who serve as a Trustee of the Trust will receive any compensation for their services as Trustee. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust. The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees are estimated to receive from the Trust during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.  The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, pension or retirement plan.






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Name and Position

Aggregate Compensation From Trust*

Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees

Mark Garbin

$3, 125.00

$3, 125.00

Mark Gersten

$3,750.00

$3,750.00

Neil Kaufman

$2,500.00

$2,500.00

Anita Krug

$2,500.00

$2,500.00


*The Trust anticipates having multiple series.  Trustees’ fees will be allocated equally to each Fund in the Trust.


Trustees’ Ownership of Shares in the Fund .  As of [______], the Trustees beneficially owned the following amounts in the Fund:


Name of Trustee

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies

Mark Garbin

None

None

Mark Gersten

None

None

Neil Kaufman

None

None

Anita Krug

None

None




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Management Ownership


Because there were no shares outstanding as of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned 0% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.



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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS


A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.


As of [           ], 2012:


i.

no persons were “control” persons of a Fund.  This means that there were no persons (i) owning beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund, or (ii) that by acknowledgment or assertion by the controlled party or controlling party, were in control of a Fund;


ii.

no persons owned of record or were known by a Fund to beneficially own 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares; and


iii.  

the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned less than one percent of each Fund’s outstanding shares.


INVESTMENT ADVISER


Investment Adviser and Advisory Agreement


LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (“Adviser” or “LJM”), located at One Financial Place, 440 S. La Salle Street, Suite 2301, Chicago, IL  60605, serves as investment adviser to each Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of each Fund’s business affairs.


Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees to invest the assets of each Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.  The Adviser shall act as the investment advisor to each Fund and, as such shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of each Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by a Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the  issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers.



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 The Adviser also provides each Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing each Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Funds or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on August 29, 2012.


The following table sets forth the annual management fee rate payable by each Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets:


FUND

TOTAL MANAGEMENT FEE

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

1.95%

LJM Income Plus Fund

1.95%


The fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its management fee and to reimburse expenses, other than expenses relating to dividends or interest on securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses or extraordinary or non-recurring expenses, at least until February 28, 2014 such that net annual fund operating expenses of each Fund do not exceed the percentages in the table below. Please see the section below entitled “Investment Adviser” for a definition of what are considered to be extraordinary or non-recurring expenses. Waiver/reimbursement is subject to possible recoupment from the applicable Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  No reimbursement amount will be paid to the Adviser in any fiscal quarter unless the Trust’s Board of Trustees has determined in advance that a reimbursement is in the best interest of each Fund and its shareholders.  Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease a Fund’s expenses and increase its performance.




Fund

Class

Expense Cap

Minimum Duration

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

A

2.45%

[___]

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

C

3.20%

[___]



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LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

I

2.20%

[___]

LJM Income Plus Fund

A

2.45%

[___]

LJM Income Plus Fund

C

3.20%

[___]

LJM Income Plus Fund

I

2.20%

[___]


Expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Funds.  Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, each Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or Distributor (as defined under the section entitled (“The Distributor”) (c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled “Transfer Agent”), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of each Fund and of pricing each Fund’s shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to each Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by each Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which each Fund may be a member, (h) the cost of share certificates representing shares of each Fund, (i) the cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (j) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of each Fund and of shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of each Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (k) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees’ meetings (including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders and (l) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of each Fund’s business.


The Advisory Agreement will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of that Trust’s outstanding shares. The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.  


Codes of Ethics




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The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor each have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of the Trust. Under the code of ethics adopted by the Trust (the “Code”), the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by a Fund.  


In addition, the Trust has adopted a separate code of ethics that applies only to the Trust’s executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by each Fund; iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and v) accountability for adherence to the Code.


Proxy Voting Policies


The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote, or cause to be voted, proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser on behalf of each Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.


Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Adviser’s interests and a Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client’s directive using the recommendation of an independent third party.  If the third party’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held by that client’s account. A copy of the Adviser’s proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.


More information . Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling either Fund at 1-855-LJM-FUND; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.


THE DISTRIBUTOR


Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Trust pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust (the “Underwriting



323



Agreement”). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state’s securities laws and is a member of FINRA. The offering of each Fund’s shares are continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of the Funds’ shares, will use its best efforts to distribute the Funds’ shares.


The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


Each Fund may terminate its respective Underwriting Agreement at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.


Fund

Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions

Compensation on Redemptions and Purchases

Brokerage Commissions

Other Compensation*

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

$0

$0

$0

$0

LJM Income Plus Fund

$0

$0

$0

$0

*The Distributor will receive 12b-1 fees from the Funds as described under the following section entitled “Rule 12b-1 Plan”.


Rule 12b-1 Plan


The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan and Agreement pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan") pursuant to which the Funds are authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distributor’s account maintenance services under this Plan, a distribution and shareholder servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% for Class A shares and up to 1.00% for Class C shares of each Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant class.  Such fees are to be paid by each Fund monthly, or at such other intervals as the Board shall determine. Such fees shall be based upon each Fund’s average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. Each Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Distributor. The Rule 12b-1 Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to the Funds’ shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others (“Recipients”) to provide these services and paying compensation for these services. Each Fund will bear its own costs of distribution with respect to its shares. The Distributor or other



324



entities also receive the proceeds and contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant to the Plan.


The services to be provided by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of the Funds’ shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Funds; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Funds and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Funds’ investment plans and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Funds as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor with respect to the Funds.  


The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.  


The initial term of the Plan is one year and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan (“Rule 12b-1 Trustees”) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust or a Fund by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the applicable Fund.


The Rule 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor’s compensation to be paid by each Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class of a Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b- 1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on a Rule 12b-1 Plan. During the term of the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current non-interested Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of the Rule 12b-1 Plan, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.  


Any agreement related to the Rule 12b-1 Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the applicable Fund at any time upon sixty days’ written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the applicable Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined



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in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.


PORTFOLIO MANAGERS


Anthony J. Caine and Anish Parvataneni (each a “Portfolio Manager,” and collectively, the “Portfolio Managers”) are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds.  As of August 15, 2012, the investment team was responsible for the management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Funds:  


Account Type

Investment Team

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

0

$0

0

$0

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

8

$220,482,825

8

$220,482,825

Other Accounts

43

$68,418,509

34

$44,385,449


Conflicts of Interest


In addition to being a principal and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, Anthony J. Caine is the Chairman and portfolio manager for LJM Partners, Ltd. (“LJM Partners”), a firm that he founded in 1998.


In addition to serving as a Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, Anish Parvataneni is the Director of Trading for LJM Partners, a position in which he has served since 2010.


LJM Partners is registered with the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor and is a member of the National Futures Association. Many of LJM Partners’ clients participate in a private investment program (i.e. the Preservation and Growth Strategy) which has investment objectives, policies and strategies that are substantially similar to the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund. Other clients of the Adviser or LJM Partners for which Mr. Caine serves as the Portfolio Manager may have differing investment programs, objectives, policies and strategies. In general, when a Portfolio Manager has responsibility for managing more than



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one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. For instance, the Adviser or LJM Partners may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or the Adviser or LJM Partners could receive performance-based fees on certain accounts. The procedures to address conflicts of interest, if any, are described below.


The Adviser and LJM Partners attempt to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, the Portfolio Manager may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security or other instrument in which another client of the Adviser or LJM Partners has an ownership position. The Adviser and LJM Partners have each adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To the extent that the Portfolio Manager seeks to purchase or sell the same security or other instrument for multiple client accounts, the Adviser and LJM Partners may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where the Portfolio Manager deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order. When a bunched order is only partially filled, the securities or other instruments purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions. Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.


Compensation


Anthony J. Caine - For his management of the Fund, Mr. Caine’s compensation consists solely of the profits, if any, of the Adviser.  Mr. Caine is the sole owner of the Adviser.


Anish Parvataneni - For his management of the Fund, Mr. Parvataneni’s compensation consists of a fixed annual salary (a “base salary”) and an annual discretionary bonus.  The base salary is determined based on (i) a review of compensation payable for a similar position across the investment management industry and (ii) an evaluation of Mr. Parvataneni’s overall performance and contributions to the Adviser.  The discretionary bonus is determined in accordance with (a) Mr. Parvataneni’s contributions to the Adviser, (b) the investment performance of the Funds under his management, and (c) the financial performance of the Adviser.


Ownership of Securities


The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Funds as of [___].  


Name of Portfolio Manager

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds



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Anthony J. Caine

None

Anish Parvataneni

None



ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE


Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Funds are made by the portfolio managers, who are employees of the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Funds to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to the Funds or the Adviser for the Funds’ use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.  


In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:

the best net price available;

the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker or dealer;  

the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and

the value of the expected contribution of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Funds on a continuing basis.


Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of a Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage, research and other services provided to the applicable Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than those of the Funds, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Funds.


PORTFOLIO TURNOVER


A Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the applicable Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.  




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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS


Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services


Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 450 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Funds pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Funds and subject to the supervision of the Board.  GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Funds. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.


The Agreement became effective on August 29, 2012 and will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Funds, and will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board.  The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.


Under the Agreement, GFS performs administrative services, including:  (1) monitor the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitor the Funds’ holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Funds’ registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) prepare and coordinate the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements; (4) prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) prepare and disseminate materials for and attend and participate in meetings of the Board; (6) determine income and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) review the Trust’s federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust’s independent public accountants; (8) prepare and maintain the Trust’s operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assist in and monitor the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinate the Trust’s audits and examinations by assisting each Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determine, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitate such registration or qualification; (12) monitor sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitor the calculation of performance data for each Fund; (14) prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports; (15) prepare authorization for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to



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investment companies; (17) upon request, assist each Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS); (18) perform other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.


For the administrative services rendered to the Funds by GFS, the Funds pay GFS a fee equal to the greater of a minimum fee of $30,000.000 per Fund for the first 36 months following the effective date of the Funds and a minimum fee of $40,000.000 per Fund thereafter, or 0.10% on the first $100 million of net assets, 0.08% on the next $150 million of net assets, 0.06% on the next $250 million of net assets, 0.04% on the next $500 million of net assets, and 0.03% on net assets greater than $1 billion. The Funds also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


GFS also provides the Funds with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Funds’ listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Funds; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Funds’ custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Funds.


For the fund accounting services rendered to the Funds under the Agreement for the first 36 months following the effective date for the Funds, the Fund pays GFS an annual fee of $20,250.00 per Fund; plus $4,500.00 for each additional share class; plus a bond fund fee of $4,500.00; plus a sub-advisory fee of $1,500.00; plus 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to $100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. The Funds also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


For the fund accounting services rendered to the Funds under the Agreement after the first 36 months following the effective date for the Funds, the Funds pays GFS an annual fee of $27,000.00 per Fund; plus $6,000.00 for each additional share class; plus a bond fund fee of $6,000.00; plus a sub-advisory fee of $6,000.00; plus 0.02% on net assets of $25 million to $100 million and 0.01% on net assets greater than $100 million. The Funds also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.


For such services rendered to the Funds under the Agreement, the Funds pay GFS a fee equal to the greater of (i) a minimum fee of $13,500.00 per share class for the first 36 months following the effective date for the Funds and a minimum fee of $18,000.00 per



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share class thereafter, and (ii) $16.00 per open account and $2.00 per closed account. The Funds also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.


Custodian


Union Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) serves as the custodian of the Funds’ assets pursuant to a Custody Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Funds. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Funds’ cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Funds’ investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Funds may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets. The Custodian’s principal place of business is 350 California Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.


Chief Compliance Officer


Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust.


DESCRIPTION OF SHARES


Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.  


Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes. Matters such as ratification of the independent public accountants and election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.  


The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Funds. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.


ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM


The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). To ensure



331



compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.  The Trust’s secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.


Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Funds’ Distributor, and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reported suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.  


As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.   


PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES


Calculation of Share Price


As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading "How Shares are Priced," the net asset value ("NAV") of each Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.


For purposes of calculating the NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are available are stated at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the last bid price. Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference to other securities or indices. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. Exchange traded options, futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction.  


Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of each Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S.



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dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.  


Each Fund’s shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the "NYSE Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Funds normally use pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and do not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to a Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.  


In unusual circumstances, instead of valuing securities in the usual manner, a Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.  


The Trust expects that the holidays upon which the Exchange will be closed are as follows: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  


Purchase of Shares


Orders for shares received by a Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at net asset value per share computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined net asset value per share.  


Redemption of Shares  


Each Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder’s shares of the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "Redemptions" section of the applicable Fund’s Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:  


when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;  

when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the applicable Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable



333



rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.  


In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination of the suspension.


Supporting documents in addition to those listed under “Redemptions” in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, Trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, Trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.  


TAX STATUS  


The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in a Fund.  


Each Fund intends to qualify and elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and intends to continue to so qualify, which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Funds should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of each Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.


Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carry forward of each Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss.  Capital loss carry forwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carry forwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.


Each Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the applicable Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.  



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To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, each Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holding so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the applicable Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the applicable Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the applicable Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.


If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the applicable Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.  


Each Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of each Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the applicable Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, each Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.  


The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.  


Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shares of the Trust have been held by such shareholders.


A redemption of a Fund’s shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.   


Distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the amount of cash that the shareholder could have received.  


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All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.  


For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a 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) exceed certain threshold amounts.


Under the Code, each Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if a Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.  


Due to recent legislation, 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 purchased on or after January 1, 2012.  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 or some other specific identification method.  Unless you instruct otherwise, the Fund will use average cost as its default cost basis method, and will treat sales as first coming from shares purchased prior to January 1, 2012.  If average cost is used for the first sale of shares covered by these new rules, the shareholder may only use an alternative cost basis method for shares purchased prospectively.  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.


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 domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates).  Shareholders who are not U.S. persons should consult their tax advisers regarding U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of a Fund, including the likelihood that distributions to them would be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate under a tax treaty) and the possibility they may be subject to U.S. estate tax.


Effective January 1, 2014, the Fund will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2015) redemption proceeds 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.


Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements  



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To the extent such investments are permissible for a Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the applicable Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.


To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the applicable Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the applicable Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the applicable Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.  


Passive Foreign Investment Companies  


Investment by a Fund in certain "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the affected Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF election"), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.  


The affected Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings "to the market" as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.  


Foreign Currency Transactions


The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and



337



similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.


Foreign Taxation


Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to "pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the applicable Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder of a Fund will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass through" for that year.  


Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the applicable Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the applicable Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.  


Original Issue Discount and Pay-In-Kind Securities  


Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income, which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.  




338



Some of the fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by a Fund may be treated as fixed income securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount ("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. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate fixed income securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  


Some of the fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the "accrued market discount" on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. A Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to fixed income securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.


Some fixed income securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by a Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of fixed income securities. Generally, the applicable Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, 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. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to fixed income securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.  


A Fund that holds the foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.  


Shareholders of the Funds may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Funds and on redemptions of the Funds’ shares.  


A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year each Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.  


Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



339




McGladrey LLP, located at 555 17th Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year.  The firm provides services including (i) audit of annual financial statements, and (ii) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.  


LEGAL COUNSEL


Dechert LLP, One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2300, San Francisco, California 94111 serves as the Trust’s legal counsel.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, has not produced financial statements. Once produced, you can obtain a copy of the financial statements contained in the Fund’s Annual or Semi-Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-855-LJM-FUND.



340



APPENDIX A


PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES



 



341



Appendix B

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A.

Long-Term Ratings

1.

Moody s Investors Service Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings

Moody s long-term obligation ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of fixed-income obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised.  Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Aaa

Obligations rated ‘Aaa’ are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa

Obligations rated ‘Aa’ are judged to be of high qualityand are subject to very low credit risk.

A

Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa

Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk.  They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba

Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B

Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa

Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca

Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C

Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery or interest.



342




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.  

2.

Standard & Poor s Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings (including Preferred Stock

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

Likelihood of payment capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

• Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

• Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default.  Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above.  (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

AAA

An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA

An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A

An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB

An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

Note:



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Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB


An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC

An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC

An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

A C rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default.  Among others, the C rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock, or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.

D

An obligation rated D is in payment default.  The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.  The D rating also will be used upon filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Note:

Plus (+) or minus (-).  The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.



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NR

This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

3.

Fitch International Long-Term Credit Ratings

International Long-Term Credit Ratings (LTCR) may also be referred to as Long-Term Ratings.  When assigned to most issuers, it is used as a benchmark measure of probability of default and is formally described as an Issuer Default Rating (IDR).  The major exception is within Public Finance, where IDRs will not be assigned as market convention has always focused on timeliness and does not draw analytical distinctions between issuers and their underlying obligations.  When applied to issues or securities, the LTCR may be higher or lower than the issuer rating (IDR) to reflect relative differences in recovery expectations.

The following rating scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings:

Investment Grade

AAA

Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA

Very high credit quality.  AA ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A

High credit quality.  A ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity, may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB

Good credit quality.  BBB ratings indicate that there are currently expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.  This is the lowest investment grade category.

Speculative Grade



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BB

Speculative.  BB ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.  Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B

Highly speculative.  B ratings may indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains.  Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC


Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

CC

Default of some kind appears probable.

C

Default is imminent.

RD

Indicated an entity has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of obligations.

D

Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.  Default generally is defined as one of the following:

• Failure of an obligor to make timely payment of principal and/or interest under contractual terms of any financial obligation;

• The bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other winding-up or cessation of business of an obligor

• The distressed or other coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period.



346



Issuers will be rated D upon default.  Defaulted and distressed obligations typically are rated along the continuum of C to B ratings categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Additionally, in structured finance transactions, where analysis indicates that an instrument is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full accordance with the terms of the obligation’s documentation during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default in accordance with the terms of the documentation is imminent, the obligation may be rated in the B or CCC-C categories.

Default is determined by reference to the terms of the obligations’ documentation.  Fitch will assign default ratings where it has reasonable determined that payment has not been made on a material obligation in accordance with the requirements of the obligation’s documentation, or where it believes that default ratings consistent with Fitch’s published definition of default are the most appropriate ratings to assign.

Note:

The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-Term rating category, to categories below CCC, or to Short-Term ratings other than F1.  (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)

B.

Preferred Stock Ratings


1.

Moody’s Investors Service


Aaa

An issue which is rated Aaa is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock.  This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stock.

Aa

An issue which is rated Aa is considered a high-grade preferred stock.  This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance the earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well-maintained in the foreseeable future.

A

An issue which is rated A is considered to be an upper-medium preferred stock.  While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the Aaa and Aa classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

Baa

An issue which is rated Baa is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured.  Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.



347



Ba

An issue which is rate Ba is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured.  Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods.  Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class.

B

An issue which is rated B generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment.  Assurance of dividend payments and maintenance of other terms of the issue over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

An issue which is rated Caa is likely to be in arrears on dividend payments.  This rating designation does not purport to indicate the future status of payments.

Ca

An issues which is rated Ca is speculative in a high degree and is likely to be in arrears on dividends with little likelihood of eventual payments.

C

This is the lowest rated class of preferred or preference stock.  Issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Note:


Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each rating classification.  The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 3 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

C.

Short Term Ratings


1.

Moody’s Investors Service


Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations.  Ratings assigned may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs, or to individual short-term debt instruments.  Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:


P-1



348



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.


Note:

Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.


2.

Standard & Poor’s


A-1


A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2


A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.


A-3


A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.



349




B


A short-term obligation rated B is regard as having significant speculative characteristics.  Ratings of B-1, B-2, and B-3 may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the B category.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.


B-1

A short-term obligation rated B-1 is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


B-2


A short-term obligation rated B-2 is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


B-3


A short-term obligation rated B-3 is regard as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.


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 commitment on the obligation.


D


A short-term obligation rated D is in payment default.  The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period.  The D ratings also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition of the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Note:

Dual ratings .  Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure.  The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the



350



demand feature.  The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, AAA/A-1+).  With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, SP-1+/A-1+).


3.

Fitch


The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings.  A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years.  Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

F1

Highest credit quality.  Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.


F2


Good credit quality.  A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.


F3

Fair credit quality.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non investment grade.


B


Speculative.  Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.


C


High default risk.  Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

D


Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.


Note:




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The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-term rating category, to categories below CCC, or to Short-term ratings other than F1. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)











352



TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


PART C

OTHER INFORMATION


Item 28.

 

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

 

(a)

(1)

Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 8, 2012 1

 

(2)

Certificate of Trust as filed with the State of Delaware on June 8, 2012 1

 

 

 

(b)

 

Registrant's By–Laws 1

 

 

 

(c)

 

Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – see relevant portions of Certificate of Trust and By-Laws.

 

 

 

(d)

(1)

Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(2)

Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Belvedere Asset Management, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(3)

Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd. is filed herewith.

 

(4)

Sub-advisory Agreement between Battenkill Capital Management Inc. and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf of the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(5)

Sub-advisory Agreement between Del Mar Asset Management, LP and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf of the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(6)

Form of Sub-advisory Agreement between Highland Capital Management, L.P. and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf of the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(7)

Form of Sub-advisory Agreement between Kellner Management, LP and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf of the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(8)

Sub-advisory Agreement between Phineus Partners, L.P. and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf of the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(9)

Sub-advisory Agreement between RockView Management, LLC and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(10)

Form of Sub-advisory Agreement between Sound Point Capital Management, LP and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, on behalf of the Alternative Avenue Fund, is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(e)

 

Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(f)

 

Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – None.

 

 

 

(g)

 

Custodial Agreement between the Registrant and Union Bank, N.A. is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(h)

(1)

Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(2)

Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Belvedere Asset Management, LLC, with respect to Belvedere Alternative Income Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(3)

Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd., with respect to LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(4)

Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(i)

 

Legal Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(j)

(1)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is filed herewith.



353



 

(2)

Powers of Attorney are filed herewith.

 

 

 

(k)

 

Omitted Financial Statements – None.

 

 

 

(l)

 

Subscription Agreement is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(m)

(1)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class A Shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund is filed herewith.

 

(2)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class C Shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund is filed herewith.

 

(3)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class R Shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund is filed herewith.

 

(4)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class A Shares of the LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(5)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class C Shares of the LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund, is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(n)

 

Rule 18f-3 Plan is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(o)

 

Reserved.

 

 

 

(p)

(1)

Code of Ethics for the Trust is filed herewith.

 

(2)

Code of Ethics for Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(3)

Code of Ethics for Belvedere Asset Management, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(4)

Code of Ethics for LJM Funds Management, Ltd. is filed herewith.

 

(5)

Code of Ethics for Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(6)

Code of Ethics for Battenkill Capital Management Inc. is filed herewith.

 

(7)

Code of Ethics for Del Mar Asset Management, LP is filed herewith.

 

(8)

Code of Ethics for Highland Capital Management, LP is filed herewith.

 

(9)

Code of Ethics for Kellner Management, LP is filed herewith.

 

(10)

Code of Ethics for Phineus Partners, LP is filed herewith.

 

(11)

Code of Ethics for RockView Management, LLC is filed herewith.

 

(12)

Code of Ethics for Sound Point Capital Management, LP is filed herewith.


1 Previously filed on June 28, 2012 in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.


Item 29. Control Persons. None.


Item 30. Indemnification.


Article VIII, Section 2(a) of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that to the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of Trustees and officers are permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act of 2002, the officers and Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission of:   any agent or employee of the Trust; any investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust; or with respect to each Trustee and officer, the act or omission of any other Trustee or officer, respectively.   The Trust, out of the Trust Property, is required to indemnify and hold harmless each and every officer and Trustee from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever arising out of or related to such officer’s or Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as an officer or Trustee of the Trust.   This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a person serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust whether or not such person is a Trustee or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted.   Nothing contained in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust indemnifies, holds harmless or protects any officer or Trustee from or against any liability to the Trust or any shareholder to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

354



Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or document whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust, the officers or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in such Person’s capacity as Trustee and/or as officer, and such Trustee or officer, as applicable, shall not be personally liable therefore, except as described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 2 of Article VIII.


Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Delaware law and the Agreement and Declaration of the Registrant or the By-Laws of the Registrant, 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 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 Trust 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


Section 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC (“ARIA”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1), provides for the indemnification of ARIA against certain losses.


Section 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Belvedere Asset Management, LLC (“BAM”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2), provides for the indemnification of BAM against certain losses.


Section 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (“LJM”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3), provides for the indemnification of LJM against certain losses.


The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (NLD), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls NLD within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which NLD, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading, (iii) the Registrant’s  failure to maintain an effective Registration statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand, or (iv)  the Registrant’s failure to provide NLD with advertising or sales materials to be filed with the FINRA on a timely basis.


The Fund Services Agreement with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (GFS) provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify and hold GFS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Registrant’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement, or which arise out of the Registrant’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Registrant’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement.


The Consulting Agreement with Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS) provides that the Registrant agree to indemnify and hold NLCS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement, or which arise out of the Trust’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Trust’s performance under or in connection with the Agreement.  NLCS shall not be liable for, and shall be entitled to rely upon, and may act upon information, records



355



and reports generated by the Trust, advice of the Trust, or of counsel for the Trust and upon statements of the Trust’s independent accountants, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such records and reports.



Item 31. Activities of Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser.


Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of each Adviser of each series of the Trust is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the section of the respective Prospectus captioned “Investment Adviser ” and to the section of the respective Statement of Additional Information captioned “Investment Advisory and Other Services.”   The information required by this Item 31 with respect to each director, officer or partner of each Adviser is incorporated by reference to the Adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).   Each Adviser’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, and may be requested by File No. as follows:


Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, the Adviser to Alternative Avenue Fund -- File No. 801-76879


Belvedere Asset Management, LLC, the Adviser to the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund -- File No.801-76961


LJM Funds Management, Ltd., the Adviser to the LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and the LJM Income Plus Fund -- File No. 801-76983


Battenkill Capital Management, Inc., a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-71439


Del Mar Asset Management, LP, a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-64890


Highland Capital Management, LP, a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-54874


Kellner Management, LP, a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-60864


Phineus Partners, LP, a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-71207


RockView Management, LLC, a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-73761


Sound Point Capital Management, LP, a sub-Adviser to the Alternative Avenue Fund – File No. 801-72515


Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

 

(a) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, the principal underwriter to the Trust also acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies: AdvisorOne Funds, AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds, Arrow Investments Trust, Compass EMP Funds Trust, Copeland Trust, Dominion Funds, Equinox Funds Trust, GL Beyond Income Fund, Miller Investment Trust, Nile Capital Investment Trust, North Country Funds, Northern Lights ETF Trust, Northern Lights Variable Trust, and Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust II, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, OCM Mutual Fund, Roge Partners Funds, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, The DMS Funds, The Multi-Strategy Growth & Income Fund, Total Income+ Real Estate Fund, Tributary Funds, Inc. and Vertical Capital Income Fund.


(b) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The principal business address of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the members and officers of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC:






356



Name

Positions and Offices

with Underwriter

Positions and Offices

with the Trust

W. Patrick Clarke

Manager

None

Brian Nielsen

Manager, President, Secretary

None

Daniel Applegarth

Treasurer

None

Mike Nielsen

Chief Compliance Officer and AML Compliance Officer

None


  (c) Not Applicable.


Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.


The following entities prepare, maintain and preserve the records required by Section 31 (a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for the Registrant.  These services are provided to the Registrant for such periods prescribed by the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act and such records are the property of the entity required to maintain and preserve such records and will be surrendered promptly on request.


1.

Union Bank, National Association, 350 California Street 6 th  Floor, San Francisco, California 94104 (records relating to its function as custodian)

2.

Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (records relating to its functions as administration, accounting and transfer agent and Registrant’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Minutes)

3.

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (records relating to its function as principal underwriter)

4.

Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC,15 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

5.

Belvedere Asset Management, LLC, located at 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 600, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

6.

LJM Funds Management, Ltd., One Financial Place, 440 S. La Salle Street, Suite 2301, Chicago, IL 60605 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)


Item 34. Management Services. Not Applicable.


Item 35. Undertakings.   Not Applicable.



357



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 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hauppauge, State of New York, on the 2 5th day of October, 2012.


Two Roads Shared Trust


By: _________________________

Andrew Rogers*

President and Principal Executive Officer




Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



Signature

Title

Date

Mark D. Gersten*

_________________________

Trustee & Chairman

October 26, 2012

Mark Garbin*

_________________________

Trustee

October 26, 2012

Neil M. Kaufman*

_________________________

Trustee

October 26, 2012

Anita K. Krug*

_________________________

Trustee

October 26, 2012

Andrew Rogers*

_________________________

President and Principal Executive Officer

October 26, 2012

James Colantino*

_________________________

Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer

October 26, 2012



*By:   /s/ James Ash

James Ash







358


Exhibit Index


EX-99

(d)(1)

Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(d)(2)

Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Belvedere Asset Management, LLC

EX-99

(d)(3)

Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

EX-99

(d)(4)

Sub-advisory Agreement between Battenkill Capital Management Inc. and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(d)(5)

Sub-advisory Agreement between Del Mar Asset Management, LP and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(d)(6)

Form of Sub-advisory Agreement between Highland Capital Management, L.P. and Alternative Road Investment Advisers

EX-99

(d)(7)

Form of Sub-advisory Agreement between Kellner Management, LP and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(d)(8)

Sub-advisory Agreement between Phineus Partners, L.P. and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(d)(9)

Sub-advisory Agreement between RockView Management, LLC and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(d)(10)

Form of Sub-advisory Agreement between Sound Point Capital Management, LP and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(e)

Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

EX-99

(g)

Form of Custodial Agreement between the Registrant and Union Bank, N.A

EX-99

(h)(1)

Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC is filed herewith.

EX-99

(h)(2)

Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Belvedere Asset Management, LLC, with respect to Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

EX-99

(h)(3)

Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd., with respect to LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund

EX-99

(h)(4)

Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services.

EX-99

(i)(1)

Legal Opinion and Consent

EX-99

(j)(1)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

EX-99

(j)(2)

Powers of Attorney

EX-99

(l)(1)

Subscription Agreement

EX-99

(m)(1)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class A Shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

EX-99

(m)(2)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class C Shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

EX-99

(m)(3)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class R Shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

EX-99

(m)(4)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class A Shares of the LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund

EX-99

(m)(5)

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to Class C Shares of the LJM Growth and Preservation Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund

EX-99

(n)(1)

Rule 18f-3 Plan

EX-99

(p)(1)

Code of Ethics for the Trust

EX-99

(p) (2)

Code of Ethics for Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

EX-99

(p) (3)

Code of Ethics for Belvedere Asset Management, LLC

EX-99

(p) (4)

Code of Ethics for LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

EX-99

(p) (5)

Code of Ethics for Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

EX-99

(p) (6)

Code of Ethics for Battenkill Capital Management Inc.

EX-99

(p) (7)

Code of Ethics for Del Mar Asset Management, LP

EX-99

(p) (8)

Code of Ethics for Highland Capital Management, LP

EX-99

(p) (9)

Code of Ethics for Kellner Management, LP



359







EX-99

(p) (10)

Code of Ethics for Phineus Partners, LP

EX-99

(p) (11)

Code of Ethics for RockView Management, LLC

EX-99

(p) (12)

Code of Ethics for Sound Point Capital Management, LP

 

 

 







INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Between

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

 and

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC



       AGREEMENT, made as of August 29, 2012 between Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), and Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (the "Adviser") located at 15 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA  01803.


RECITALS:


      WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act");


      WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, each having its own investment objective or objectives, policies and limitations;


      WHEREAS, the Trust offers shares in the series named on Appendix A hereto (such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 1.3, being herein referred to as a "Fund," and collectively as the "Funds");


      WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and


     WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render investment advisory services to the Trust with respect to each Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;


     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:


1. Services of the Adviser.


      1.1 Investment Advisory Services. The Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to each Fund and, as such, shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities hereunder, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of each Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective(s), policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by each Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the  issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and  to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission than may be charged by other brokers.





      The Trust hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, which is a member of a national securities exchange, to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Trust which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Trust hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).


      The Adviser shall carry out its duties with respect to each Fund's investments in accordance with applicable law and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in each Fund's then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.


      1.2 Administrative Services.   The Trust has engaged the services of an administrator.   The Adviser shall provide such additional administrative services as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees or officers of the Trust; provided, that the Adviser shall not have any obligation to provide under this Agreement any direct or indirect services to Trust shareholders, any services related to the distribution of Trust shares, or any other services which are the subject of a separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to the foregoing, in providing administrative services hereunder, the Adviser shall:


      1.2.1 Office Space, Equipment and Facilities.  Provide such office space, office equipment and office facilities as are adequate to fulfill the Adviser’s obligations hereunder.


      1.2.2 Personnel. Provide, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust, the services of individuals competent to perform the administrative functions which are not performed by employees or other agents engaged by the Trust or by the Adviser acting in some other capacity pursuant to a separate agreement or arrangement with the Trust.


      1.2.3 Agents. Assist the Trust in selecting and coordinating the activities of the other agents engaged by the Trust, including the Trust's shareholder servicing agent, custodian, administrator, independent auditors and legal counsel.


      1.2.4 Trustees and Officers. Authorize and permit the Adviser's directors, officers and employees who may be elected or appointed as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in such capacities, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust.


      1.2.5 Books and Records. Assure that all financial, accounting and other records required to be maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are maintained and preserved by it in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.


      1.2.6 Reports and Filings. Assist in the preparation of (but not pay for) all periodic reports by the Fund to its shareholders and all reports and filings required to maintain the registration and qualification of the Funds and Fund shares, or to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund , under federal and state securities and tax laws.


      1.3 Additional Series. In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series after the effectiveness of this Agreement ("Additional Series"), Appendix A to this Agreement may be amended to make such Additional Series subject to this Agreement upon the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the shareholder(s) of the Additional Series, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Trust or the Adviser may elect not to make any such series subject to this Agreement.



2





      1.4 Change in Management or Control. The Adviser shall provide at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Trust of any change in the ownership or management of the Adviser, or any  event or action that may constitute a change in “control,” as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Act .  The Adviser shall provide prompt notice of any change in the portfolio manager(s) responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds.


2. Expenses of the Funds .


      2.1 Expenses to be Paid by Adviser. The Adviser shall pay all operating expenses of the Fund, including the compensation and expenses of any employees of the Fund and any other persons rendering services to the Fund; clerical and shareholder service staff salaries; office space and other office expenses; fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company organizations; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; expenses of registering shares under federal and state securities laws, including expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of the Fund; insurance expenses; fees and expenses of the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder service agent, plan agent, administrator, accounting and pricing services agent and underwriter of the Fund; the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders, the cost of printing or preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information for delivery to the Fund’s current and prospective shareholders; the cost of printing or preparing stock certificates or other documents, statements or reports to shareholders; expenses of shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations; advertising, promotion and other expenses incurred directly or indirectly in connection with the sale or distribution of the Fund’s shares excluding expenses which the Fund is authorized to pay pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), fees and expenses of the non-interested person trustees, fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest; and all other operating expenses not specifically assumed by the Fund.


      2.2 Expenses to be Paid by the Fund.  The Fund shall pay all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short and interest), and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Trustees and officers with respect thereto.  The Adviser may obtain reimbursement from the Fund, at such time or times as the Adviser shall determine in its sole discretion, for any expenses advanced by the Adviser, which the Fund is obligated to pay, and such reimbursement shall not be considered part of the Adviser’s compensation pursuant to this Agreement.


3. Advisory Fee.


       As compensation for all services rendered, facilities provided and expenses paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, each Fund shall pay the Adviser on the last day of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, a fee calculated by applying a monthly rate, based on an annual percentage rate, to the Fund's average daily net assets for the month. The annual percentage rate applicable to each Fund is set forth in Appendix A to this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to a Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.


4. Proxy Voting.




3




      The Adviser will vote, or make arrangements to have voted, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of a Fund may be invested from time to time.  Such proxies will be voted in a manner that you deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with your proxy voting policy.  You agree to provide a copy of your proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.


5. Records.


      5.1 Tax Treatment. Both the Adviser and the Trust shall maintain, or arrange for others to maintain, the books and records of the Trust in such a manner that treats each Fund as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.


      5.2 Ownership. All records required to be maintained and preserved by the Trust pursuant to the provisions or rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 31(a) of the Act and maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are the property of the Trust and shall be surrendered by the Adviser promptly on request by the Trust; provided, that the Adviser may at its own expense make and retain copies of any such records.


6. Reports to Adviser.


      The Trust shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Adviser such copies of each Fund 's Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, financial statements, proxy statements, reports and other information relating to its business and affairs as the Adviser may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require in order to discharge its obligations under this Agreement.


7. Reports to the Trust.


      The Adviser shall prepare and furnish to the Trust such reports, statistical data and other information in such form and at such intervals as the Trust may reasonably request.


8. Code of Ethics.


      The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Act and will provide the Trust with a copy of the code and evidence of its adoption.  Within 45 days of the last calendar quarter of each year while this Agreement is in effect, the Adviser will provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust a written report that describes any issues arising under the code of ethics since the last report to the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and which certifies that the Adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent "access persons" (as that term is defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating the code.


9. Retention of Sub-Adviser.


      Subject to the Trust's obtaining the initial and periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the Act, the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers, at the Adviser's own cost and expense, for the purpose of managing the investments of the assets of one or more Funds of the Trust. Retention of one or more sub-advisers shall in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser shall, subject to Section 11 of this Agreement,



4




be responsible to the Trust for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser's duties hereunder.


10. Services to Other Clients.


      Nothing herein contained shall limit the freedom of the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser to render investment management and administrative services to other investment companies, to act as investment adviser or investment counselor to other persons, firms or corporations, or to engage in other business activities.


11. Limitation of Liability of Adviser and its Personnel.


      Neither the Adviser nor any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust at the direction or request of the Adviser in connection with the Adviser's discharge of its obligations hereunder shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with any matter to which this Agreement relates, and the Adviser shall not be responsible for any action of the Trustees of the Trust in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation of the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement;  PROVIDED, that nothing herein contained shall be construed (i) to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser's duties, or by reason of the Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) to protect any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser who is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability of the Trust or its shareholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office with the Trust.


12. Effect of Agreement.


      Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require to the Trust to take any action contrary to its Declaration of Trust or its By-Laws or any applicable law, regulation or order to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trustees of the Trust of their responsibility for and control of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust.


13. Term of Agreement.


      The term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date and year upon which the Fund listed on Appendix A commences investment operations, and unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year, subject to the termination provisions and all other terms and conditions hereof; PROVIDED, such continuance with respect to a Fund is approved at least annually by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Trustees of the Trust; PROVIDED, that in either event such continuance is also approved annually by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust, promptly upon its request, such information as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof.


14. Amendment or Assignment of Agreement.



5





      Any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing signed by the parties hereto; PROVIDED, that no such amendment shall be effective unless authorized (i) by resolution of the Trustees of the Trust, including the vote or written consent of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such amendment as required by applicable law. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment.


15. Termination of Agreement.


      This Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time by either party hereto, without the payment of any penalty, upon sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other party; PROVIDED, that in the case of termination by any Fund, such action shall have been authorized (i) by resolution of the Trust's Board of Trustees, including the vote or written consent of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, or (ii) by vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.


16. Use of Name.


      The Trust is named the Two Roads Shared Trust and each Fund may be identified, in part, by the name "Two Roads."


17. Declaration of Trust.


      The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of  shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, and its assets, and the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Trust. In addition, the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligations from the Trustees or any individual Trustee. The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of any Fund under the Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from those of any and all other Funds. The Adviser further understands and agrees that no Fund of the Trust shall be liable for any claims against any other Fund of the Trust and that the Adviser must look solely to the assets of the pertinent Fund of the Trust for the enforcement or satisfaction of any claims against the Trust with respect to that Fund.


18. Confidentiality.


      The Adviser agrees to treat all records and other information relating to the Trust and the securities holdings of the Funds as confidential and shall not disclose any such records or information to any other person unless (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved the disclosure or (ii) such disclosure is compelled by law.  In addition, the Adviser and the Adviser's officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund's portfolio holdings.  The Adviser agrees that, consistent with the Adviser's Code of Ethics, neither the Adviser nor the Adviser's officers, directors, members or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on nonpublic information about a Fund's portfolio holdings.


19. Jurisdiction.




6




       This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.


20. Interpretation and Definition of Terms.


         Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States courts, or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission validly issued pursuant to the Act. Specifically, the terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested persons," "assignment" and "affiliated person," as used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the Act. In addition, when the effect of a requirement of the Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified, interpreted or relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or of general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.


21. Captions.


         The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.


22. Execution in Counterparts.


         This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.



[ Signature Page Follows ]



7




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date and year first above written.




                                TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST




                                By: /s/ Andrew Rogers


                               Name: Andrew Rogers


                               Title: President




                               ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC



                               By: /s/ Jason Myers


                               Name: Jason Myers


                               Title: Principal





8








TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT


APPENDIX A


FUNDS OF THE TRUST



NAME OF FUND

ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE AS A % OF

AVERAGE NET ASSETS OF THE FUND


 Alternative Avenue Fund


 1.95 %

         



9



INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT Between

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

and

BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC




AGREEMENT, made as of August 29, 2012, as amended October 15, 2012 between Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), and Belvedere Asset Management, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (the "Adviser") located at 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 600, Newport Beach, CA 92660.


RECITALS:


WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act");


WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, each having its own investment objective or objectives, policies and limitations;


WHEREAS, the Trust offers shares in the series named on Appendix A hereto (such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 1.3, being herein referred to as a "Fund," and collectively as the "Funds");


WHEREAS, the Adviser is or soon will be registered as an investment adviser under the

Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and


WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render investment advisory services to the Trust with respect to each Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;


NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:


1. Services of the Adviser.


1.1 Investment Advisory Services. The Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to each Fund and, as such, shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities hereunder, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of each Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective(s), policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by each Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the  issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission than may be charged by other brokers.




The Trust hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Adviser or any sub- adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, which is a member of a national securities exchange, to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Trust which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-

2(T)  thereunder,  and  the  Trust  hereby  consents  to  the  retention  of  compensation  for  such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).


The Adviser shall carry out its duties with respect to each Fund's investments in accordance with applicable law and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in each Fund's then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.


1.2 Administrative Services.    The Trust has engaged the services of an administrator.  The Adviser shall provide such additional administrative services as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees or officers of the Trust; provided, that the Adviser shall not have any obligation to provide under this Agreement any direct or indirect services to Trust shareholders, any services related to the distribution of Trust shares, or any other services which are the subject of a separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to the foregoing, in providing administrative services hereunder, the Adviser shall:


1.2.1 Office Space, Equipment and Facilities.   Provide such office space, office equipment and office facilities as are adequate to fulfill the Adviser’s obligations hereunder.


1.2.2 Personnel. Provide, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust, the services of individuals competent to perform the administrative functions which are not performed by employees or other agents engaged by the Trust or by the Adviser acting in some other capacity pursuant to a separate agreement or arrangement with the Trust.


1.2.3 Agents. Assist the Trust in selecting and coordinating the activities of the other agents engaged by the Trust, including the Trust's shareholder servicing agent, custodian, administrator, independent auditors and legal counsel.


1.2.4 Trustees and Officers. Authorize and permit the Adviser's directors, officers and employees who may be elected or appointed as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in such capacities, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust.


1.2.5 Books and Records. Assure that all financial, accounting and other records required to be maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are maintained and preserved by it in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.


1.2.6 Reports and Filings. Assist in the preparation of (but not pay for) all periodic reports by the Fund to its shareholders and all reports and filings required to maintain the registration and qualification of the Funds and Fund shares, or to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund, under federal and state securities and tax laws.


1.3 Additional Series. In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series after the effectiveness of this Agreement ("Additional Series"), Appendix A to this Agreement may be amended to make such Additional Series subject to this Agreement upon the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the shareholder(s) of the Additional Series, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Trust or the Adviser may elect not to make any such series subject to this Agreement.







1.4 Change in Management or Control. The Adviser shall provide at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Trust of any change in the ownership or management of the Adviser, or any  event or action that may constitute a change in “control,” as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Act.  The Adviser shall provide prompt notice of any change in the portfolio manager(s) responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds.


2. Expenses of the Funds.


2.1 Expenses to be Paid by Adviser. The Adviser shall pay all salaries, expenses and fees of the officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors, members or employees of the Adviser.


In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of the Trust not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or any similar expense in the future; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to the  Funds under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.


2.2 Expenses to be Paid by the Fund.   Each Fund shall bear all expenses of its operation, except those specifically allocated to the Adviser under this Agreement or under any separate agreement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to any separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser, the expenses hereby allocated to the Fund, and not to the Adviser, include but are not limited to:


2.2.1 Custody. All charges of depositories, custodians, and other agents for the transfer, receipt, safekeeping, and servicing of the Fund's cash, securities, and other property.


2.2.2 Shareholder Servicing. All expenses of maintaining and servicing shareholder accounts, including but not limited to the charges of any shareholder servicing agent, dividend disbursing agent, transfer agent or other agent engaged by the Trust to service shareholder accounts.


2.2.3 Shareholder Reports. All expenses of preparing, setting in type, printing and distributing reports and other communications to shareholders.


2.2.4 Prospectuses. All expenses of preparing, converting to EDGAR format, filing with the Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  or  other  appropriate  regulatory  body,  setting  in  type, printing and mailing annual or more frequent revisions of the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and any supplements thereto and of supplying them to shareholders.


2.2.5 Pricing and Portfolio Valuation. All expenses of computing the Fund's net asset value per share, including any equipment or services obtained for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing the Fund's investment portfolio.


2.2.6 Communications. All charges for equipment or services used for communications between the Adviser or the Trust and any custodian, shareholder servicing agent, portfolio accounting services agent, or other agent engaged by the Trust.


2.2.7 Legal and Accounting Fees. All charges for services and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel and independent accountants.






2.2.8 Trustees' Fees and Expenses. All compensation of Trustees other than those affiliated with the Adviser, all expenses incurred in connection with such unaffiliated Trustees' services as Trustees, and all other expenses of meetings of the Trustees and committees of the Trustees.


2.2.9 Shareholder Meetings. All expenses incidental to holding meetings of shareholders, including the printing of notices and proxy materials, and proxy solicitations therefor.


2.2.10 Federal Registration Fees. All fees and expenses of registering and maintaining the registration  of  the  Fund  under  the  Act  and  the  registration  of  the  Fund's  shares  under  the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), including all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, converting to EDGAR format, setting in type, printing, and filing of any Registration Statement, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information under the 1933 Act or the Act, and any amendments or supplements that may be made from time to time.


2.2.11 State Registration Fees. All fees and expenses of taking required action to permit the offer and sale of the Fund's shares under securities laws of various states or jurisdictions, and of registration and qualification of the Fund under all other laws applicable to the Trust or its business activities (including registering the Trust as a broker-dealer, or any officer of the Trust or any person as agent or salesperson of the Trust in any state).


2.2.12 Confirmations. All expenses incurred in connection with the issue and transfer of Fund shares, including the expenses of confirming all share transactions.


2.2.13 Bonding and Insurance. All expenses of bond, liability, and other insurance coverage required by law or regulation or deemed advisable by the Trustees of the Trust, including, without limitation, such bond, liability and other insurance expenses that may from time to time be allocated to the Fund in a manner approved by its Trustees.


2.2.14 Brokerage Commissions. All brokers' commissions and other charges incident to the purchase, sale or lending of the Fund's portfolio securities.


2.2.15 Taxes. All taxes or governmental fees payable by or with respect to the  Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies, domestic or foreign, including stamp or other transfer taxes.


2.2.16 Trade Association Fees. All fees, dues and other expenses incurred in connection with the Trust's membership in any trade association or other investment organization.


2.2.18  Compliance  Fees.  All  charges  for  services  and  expenses  of  the  Trust's  Chief Compliance Officer.


2.2.19 Nonrecurring and Extraordinary Expenses. Such nonrecurring and extraordinary expenses as may arise including the costs of actions, suits, or proceedings to which the Trust is a party and the expenses the Trust may incur as a result of its legal obligation to provide indemnification to its officers, Trustees and agents.


3. Advisory Fee.


As compensation for all services rendered, facilities provided and expenses paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, each Fund shall pay the Adviser on the last day of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, a fee calculated by applying a monthly rate, based






on an annual percentage rate, to the Fund's average daily net assets for the month. The annual percentage rate applicable to each Fund is set forth in Appendix A to this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to a Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.


4. Proxy Voting.


The Adviser will vote, or make arrangements to have voted, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of a Fund may be invested from time to time. Such proxies will be voted in a manner that you deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with your proxy voting policy.  You agree to provide a copy of your proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.


5. Records.


5.1 Tax Treatment. Both the Adviser and the Trust shall maintain, or arrange for others to maintain, the books and records of the Trust in such a manner that treats each Fund as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.


5.2 Ownership. All records required to be maintained and preserved by the Trust pursuant to the provisions or rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 31(a) of the Act and maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are the property of the Trust and shall be surrendered by the Adviser promptly on request by the Trust; provided, that the Adviser may at its own expense make and retain copies of any such records.


6. Reports to Adviser.


The Trust shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Adviser such copies of each Fund's Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, financial statements, proxy statements, reports and other information relating to its business and affairs as the Adviser may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require in order to discharge its obligations under this Agreement.


7. Reports to the Trust.


The Adviser shall prepare and furnish to the Trust such reports, statistical data and other information in such form and at such intervals as the Trust may reasonably request.


8. Code of Ethics.


The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule17j-1 under the Act and will provide the Trust with a copy of the code and evidence of its adoption.  Within 45 days of the last calendar quarter of each year while this Agreement is in effect, the Adviser will provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust a written report that describes any issues arising under the code of ethics since the last report to the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and which certifies that the Adviser has adoptedprocedures reasonably necessary to prevent "access persons" (as that term is defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating the code.






9. Retention of Sub-Adviser.


Subject to the Trust's obtaining the initial and periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the Act, the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers, at the Adviser's own cost and expense, for the purpose of managing the investments of the assets of one or more Funds of the Trust. Retention of one or more sub-advisers shall in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser shall, subject to Section 11 of this Agreement, be responsible to the Trust for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser's duties hereunder.


10. Services to Other Clients.


Nothing herein contained shall limit the freedom of the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser to render investment management and administrative services to other investment companies, to act as investment adviser or investment counselor to other persons, firms or corporations, or to engage in other business activities.


11. Limitation of Liability of Adviser and its Personnel.


Neither the Adviser nor any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust at the direction or request of the Adviser in connection with the Adviser's discharge of its obligations hereunder shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with any matter to which this Agreement relates, and the Adviser shall not be responsible for any action of the Trustees of the Trust in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation of the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement;   PROVIDED, that nothing herein contained shall be construed (i) to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its  shareholders  to  which  the  Adviser  would  otherwise  be  subject  by  reason  of  willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser's duties, or by reason of the Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) to protect any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser who is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability of the Trust or its shareholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office with the Trust.


12. Effect of Agreement.


Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require to the Trust to take any action contrary to its Declaration of Trust or its By-Laws or any applicable law, regulation or order to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trustees of the Trust of their responsibility for and control of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust.


13. Term of Agreement.


The term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date and year upon which the Fund listed on Appendix A commences investment operations, and unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year, subject to the termination provisions and all other terms and conditions hereof; PROVIDED, such continuance with respect to a Fund is approved at least annually by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Trustees of the Trust; PROVIDED, that in






either event such continuance is also approved annually by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust, promptly upon its request, such information as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof.


14. Amendment or Assignment of Agreement.


Any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing signed by the parties hereto; PROVIDED, that no such amendment shall be effective unless authorized (i) by resolution of the Trustees of the Trust, including the vote or written consent of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such amendment as required by applicable law. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment.


15. Termination of Agreement.


This Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time by either party hereto, without the payment of any penalty, upon sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other party; PROVIDED, that in the case of termination by any Fund, such action shall have been authorized (i) by resolution of the Trust's Board of Trustees, including the vote or written consent of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, or (ii) by vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.


16. Use of Name.


The Trust is named the Two Roads Shared Trust and each Fund may be identified, in part, by the name "Two Roads."


17. Declaration of Trust.


The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of  shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, and its assets, and the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Trust. In addition, the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligations from the Trustees or any individual Trustee. The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of any Fund under the Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from those of any and all other Funds. The Adviser further understands and agrees that no Fund of the Trust shall be liable for any claims against any other Fund of the Trust and that the Adviser must look solely to the assets of the pertinent Fund of the Trust for the enforcement or satisfaction of any claims against the Trust with respect to that Fund.


18. Confidentiality.


The Adviser agrees to treat all records and other information relating to the Trust and the securities holdings of the Funds as confidential and shall not disclose any such records or information to any other person unless (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved the disclosure or (ii) such disclosure is compelled by law.  In addition, the Adviser and the Adviser's officers,  directors  and  employees  are  prohibited  from  receiving  compensation  or  other








portfolio holdings.  The Adviser agrees that, consistent with the Adviser's Code of Ethics, neither the Adviser nor the Adviser's officers, directors, members or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on nonpublic information about a Fund's portfolio holdings.


19. Jurisdiction.


This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.


20. Interpretation and Definition of Terms.


Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States  courts,  or,  in  the  absence  of  any  controlling  decision  of  any  such  court,  by  rules, regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission validly issued pursuant to the Act. Specifically, the terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested persons," "assignment" and "affiliated person," as used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the Act. In addition, when the effect of a requirement of the Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified, interpreted or relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or of general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.


21. Captions.


The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.


22. Execution in Counterparts.


This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.




[ Signature Page Follows ]








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date and year first above written.





              TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST





By: /s/ Andrew Rogers


Name: Andrew Rogers


Title: President





                                      BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC





By: /s/ Keith Pagan


Name: Keith Pagan


   Title: CEO/CIO













TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPENDIX A

FUNDS OF THE TRUST



NAME OF FUND

ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE AS A % OF

AVERAGE NET ASSETS OF THE FUND


Belvedere Alternative

Income Fund


The Fund will be charged an annual fee equal to 1.95% of the

Fund’s average daily net assets.


Calculation Method


The fee will be computed daily and payable monthly.






INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Between

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

 and

LJM FUNDS MANAGEMENT, LTD.



       AGREEMENT, made as of August 29, 2012 between Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), and LJM Funds Management, Ltd., an Illinois Corporation (the "Adviser") located at One Financial Place, 440 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2301, Chicago, IL  60605.


RECITALS:


      WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act");


      WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, each having its own investment objective or objectives, policies and limitations;


      WHEREAS, the Trust offers shares in the series named on Appendix A hereto (such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 1.3, being herein referred to as a "Fund," and collectively as the "Funds");


      WHEREAS, the Adviser is or soon will be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and


     WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render investment advisory services to the Trust with respect to each Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;


     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:


1. Services of the Adviser.


      1.1 Investment Advisory Services. The Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to each Fund and, as such, shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities hereunder, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of each Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective(s), policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by each Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the  issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and  to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission than may be charged by other brokers.


      The Trust hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, which is a member of a




national securities exchange, to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Trust which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Trust hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).


      The Adviser shall carry out its duties with respect to each Fund's investments in accordance with applicable law and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in each Fund's then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser.


      1.2 Administrative Services.   The Trust has engaged the services of an administrator.   The Adviser shall provide such additional administrative services as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees or officers of the Trust; provided, that the Adviser shall not have any obligation to provide under this Agreement any direct or indirect services to Trust shareholders, any services related to the distribution of Trust shares, or any other services which are the subject of a separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to the foregoing, in providing administrative services hereunder, the Adviser shall:


      1.2.1 Office Space, Equipment and Facilities.  Provide such office space, office equipment and office facilities as are adequate to fulfill the Adviser’s obligations hereunder.


      1.2.2 Personnel. Provide, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust, the services of individuals competent to perform the administrative functions which are not performed by employees or other agents engaged by the Trust or by the Adviser acting in some other capacity pursuant to a separate agreement or arrangement with the Trust.


      1.2.3 Agents. Assist the Trust in selecting and coordinating the activities of the other agents engaged by the Trust, including the Trust's shareholder servicing agent, custodian, administrator, independent auditors and legal counsel.


      1.2.4 Trustees and Officers. Authorize and permit the Adviser's directors, officers and employees who may be elected or appointed as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in such capacities, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust.


      1.2.5 Books and Records. Assure that all financial, accounting and other records required to be maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are maintained and preserved by it in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.


      1.2.6 Reports and Filings. Assist in the preparation of (but not pay for) all periodic reports by the Fund to its shareholders and all reports and filings required to maintain the registration and qualification of the Funds and Fund shares, or to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund , under federal and state securities and tax laws.


      1.3 Additional Series. In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series after the effectiveness of this Agreement ("Additional Series"), Appendix A to this Agreement may be amended to make such Additional Series subject to this Agreement upon the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the shareholder(s) of the Additional Series, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Trust or the Adviser may elect not to make any such series subject to this Agreement.




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      1.4 Change in Management or Control. The Adviser shall provide at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Trust of any change in the ownership or management of the Adviser, or any  event or action that may constitute a change in “control,” as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Act .  The Adviser shall provide prompt notice of any change in the portfolio manager(s) responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds.


2. Expenses of the Funds .


      2.1 Expenses to be Paid by Adviser. The Adviser shall pay all salaries, expenses and fees of the officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors , members or employees of the Adviser.


      In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of the Trust not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or any similar expense in the future; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to the Funds under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.


      2.2 Expenses to be Paid by the Fund.  Each Fund shall bear all expenses of its operation, except those specifically allocated to the Adviser under this Agreement or under any separate agreement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to any separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser, the expenses hereby allocated to the Fund , and not to the Adviser, include but are not limited to:


      2.2.1 Custody. All charges of depositories, custodians, and other agents for the transfer, receipt, safekeeping, and servicing of the Fund' s cash, securities, and other property.


      2.2.2 Shareholder Servicing. All expenses of maintaining and servicing shareholder accounts, including but not limited to the charges of any shareholder servicing agent, dividend disbursing agent, transfer agent or other agent engaged by the Trust to service shareholder accounts.


      2.2.3 Shareholder Reports. All expenses of preparing, setting in type, printing and distributing reports and other communications to shareholders.


      2.2.4 Prospectuses. All expenses of preparing, converting to EDGAR format, filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other appropriate regulatory body, setting in type, printing and mailing annual or more frequent revisions of the Fund 's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and any supplements thereto and of supplying them to shareholders.


      2.2.5 Pricing and Portfolio Valuation. All expenses of computing the Fund 's net asset value per share, including any equipment or services obtained for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing the Fund 's investment portfolio.


      2.2.6 Communications. All charges for equipment or services used for communications between the Adviser or the Trust and any custodian, shareholder servicing agent, portfolio accounting services agent, or other agent engaged by the Trust.


      2.2.7 Legal and Accounting Fees. All charges for services and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel and independent accountants.




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      2.2.8 Trustees' Fees and Expenses. All compensation of Trustees other than those affiliated with the Adviser, all expenses incurred in connection with such unaffiliated Trustees' services as Trustees, and all other expenses of meetings of the Trustees and committees of the Trustees.


      2.2.9 Shareholder Meetings. All expenses incidental to holding meetings of shareholders, including the printing of notices and proxy materials, and proxy solicitations therefor.


      2.2.10 Federal Registration Fees. All fees and expenses of registering and maintaining the registration of the Fund under the Act and the registration of the Fund 's shares under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), including all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, converting to EDGAR format, setting in type, printing, and filing of any Registration Statement, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information under the 1933 Act or the Act, and any amendments or supplements that may be made from time to time.


      2.2.11 State Registration Fees. All fees and expenses of taking required action to permit the offer and sale of the Fund 's shares under securities laws of various states or jurisdictions, and of registration and qualification of the Fund under all other laws applicable to the Trust or its business activities (including registering the Trust as a broker-dealer, or any officer of the Trust or any person as agent or salesperson of the Trust in any state).  


      2.2.12 Confirmations. All expenses incurred in connection with the issue and transfer of Fund shares, including the expenses of confirming all share transactions.


      2.2.13 Bonding and Insurance. All expenses of bond, liability, and other insurance coverage required by law or regulation or deemed advisable by the Trustees of the Trust, including, without limitation, such bond, liability and other insurance expenses that may from time to time be allocated to the Fund in a manner approved by its Trustees.


      2.2.14 Brokerage Commissions. All brokers' commissions and other charges incident to the purchase, sale or lending of the Fund 's portfolio securities.


      2.2.15 Taxes. All taxes or governmental fees payable by or with respect to the Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies, domestic or foreign, including stamp or other transfer taxes.


      2.2.16 Trade Association Fees. All fees, dues and other expenses incurred in connection with the Trust's membership in any trade association or other investment organization.


      2.2.18 Compliance Fees. All charges for services and expenses of the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer.


      2.2.19 Nonrecurring and Extraordinary Expenses. Such nonrecurring and extraordinary expenses as may arise including the costs of actions, suits, or proceedings to which the Trust is a party and the expenses the Trust may incur as a result of its legal obligation to provide indemnification to its officers, Trustees and agents.


3. Advisory Fee.


       As compensation for all services rendered, facilities provided and expenses paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, each Fund shall pay the Adviser on the last day of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, a fee calculated by applying a monthly rate, based



4




on an annual percentage rate, to the Fund's average daily net assets for the month. The annual percentage rate applicable to each Fund is set forth in Appendix A to this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to a Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.


4. Proxy Voting.


      The Adviser will vote, or make arrangements to have voted, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of a Fund may be invested from time to time.  Such proxies will be voted in a manner that you deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with your proxy voting policy.  You agree to provide a copy of your proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.


5. Records.


      5.1 Tax Treatment. Both the Adviser and the Trust shall maintain, or arrange for others to maintain, the books and records of the Trust in such a manner that treats each Fund as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.


      5.2 Ownership. All records required to be maintained and preserved by the Trust pursuant to the provisions or rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 31(a) of the Act and maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are the property of the Trust and shall be surrendered by the Adviser promptly on request by the Trust; provided, that the Adviser may at its own expense make and retain copies of any such records.


6. Reports to Adviser.


      The Trust shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Adviser such copies of each Fund 's Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, financial statements, proxy statements, reports and other information relating to its business and affairs as the Adviser may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require in order to discharge its obligations under this Agreement.


7. Reports to the Trust.


      The Adviser shall prepare and furnish to the Trust such reports, statistical data and other information in such form and at such intervals as the Trust may reasonably request.


8. Code of Ethics.


      The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Act and will provide the Trust with a copy of the code and evidence of its adoption.  Within 45 days of the last calendar quarter of each year while this Agreement is in effect, the Adviser will provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust a written report that describes any issues arising under the code of ethics since the last report to the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and which certifies that the Adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent "access persons" (as that term is defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating the code.




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9. Retention of Sub-Adviser.


      Subject to the Trust's obtaining the initial and periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the Act, the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers, at the Adviser's own cost and expense, for the purpose of managing the investments of the assets of one or more Funds of the Trust. Retention of one or more sub-advisers shall in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser shall, subject to Section 11 of this Agreement, be responsible to the Trust for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser's duties hereunder.


10. Services to Other Clients.


      Nothing herein contained shall limit the freedom of the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser to render investment management and administrative services to other investment companies, to act as investment adviser or investment counselor to other persons, firms or corporations, or to engage in other business activities.


11. Limitation of Liability of Adviser and its Personnel.


      Neither the Adviser nor any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust at the direction or request of the Adviser in connection with the Adviser's discharge of its obligations hereunder shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with any matter to which this Agreement relates, and the Adviser shall not be responsible for any action of the Trustees of the Trust in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation of the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement;  PROVIDED, that nothing herein contained shall be construed (i) to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser's duties, or by reason of the Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) to protect any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser who is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability of the Trust or its shareholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office with the Trust.


12. Effect of Agreement.


      Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require to the Trust to take any action contrary to its Declaration of Trust or its By-Laws or any applicable law, regulation or order to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trustees of the Trust of their responsibility for and control of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust.


13. Term of Agreement.


      The term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date and year upon which the Fund listed on Appendix A commences investment operations, and unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year, subject to the termination provisions and all other terms and conditions hereof; PROVIDED, such continuance with respect to a Fund is approved at least annually by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Trustees of the Trust; PROVIDED, that in



6




either event such continuance is also approved annually by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust, promptly upon its request, such information as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof.


14. Amendment or Assignment of Agreement.


      Any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing signed by the parties hereto; PROVIDED, that no such amendment shall be effective unless authorized (i) by resolution of the Trustees of the Trust, including the vote or written consent of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such amendment as required by applicable law. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment.


15. Termination of Agreement.


      This Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time by either party hereto, without the payment of any penalty, upon sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other party; PROVIDED, that in the case of termination by any Fund, such action shall have been authorized (i) by resolution of the Trust's Board of Trustees, including the vote or written consent of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, or (ii) by vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.


16. Use of Name.


      The Trust is named the Two Roads Shared Trust and each Fund may be identified, in part, by the name "Two Roads."


17. Declaration of Trust.


      The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of  shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, and its assets, and the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Trust. In addition, the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligations from the Trustees or any individual Trustee. The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of any Fund under the Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from those of any and all other Funds. The Adviser further understands and agrees that no Fund of the Trust shall be liable for any claims against any other Fund of the Trust and that the Adviser must look solely to the assets of the pertinent Fund of the Trust for the enforcement or satisfaction of any claims against the Trust with respect to that Fund.


18. Confidentiality.


      The Adviser agrees to treat all records and other information relating to the Trust and the securities holdings of the Funds as confidential and shall not disclose any such records or information to any other person unless (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved the disclosure or (ii) such disclosure is compelled by law.  In addition, the Adviser and the Adviser's officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other



7




consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund's portfolio holdings.  The Adviser agrees that, consistent with the Adviser's Code of Ethics, neither the Adviser nor the Adviser's officers, directors, members or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on nonpublic information about a Fund's portfolio holdings.


19. Jurisdiction.


       This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.


20. Interpretation and Definition of Terms.


        Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States courts, or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission validly issued pursuant to the Act. Specifically, the terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested persons," "assignment" and "affiliated person," as used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the Act. In addition, when the effect of a requirement of the Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified, interpreted or relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or of general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.


21. Captions.


         The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.


22. Execution in Counterparts.


         This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.



[ Signature Page Follows ]



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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date and year first above written.




                               TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST




                              By: /s/ Andrew Rogers


                               Name: Andrew Rogers


                               Title: President




                              LJM FUNDS MANAGEMENT, LTD.



                               By: /s/ J. Scott Sykora


                               Name: J. Scott Sykora


                               Title: President





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TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT


APPENDIX A


FUNDS OF THE TRUST



NAME OF FUND

ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE AS A % OF

AVERAGE NET ASSETS OF THE FUND


 LJM Preservation and Growth Fund


 1.95 %

LJM Income Plus Fund

1.95 %

         



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SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and BATTENKILL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Subadviser”) and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29 th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser, and Subadviser is willing to render such services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do mutually agree and promise as follows with respect to each Fund:

1.

Appointment as Subadviser .  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage a portion of the assets of the Fund as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser (the “Subadviser Assets”) subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust and subject to the terms of this Agreement; and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.  In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser to one or more other investment companies and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.

2.

Duties of Subadviser .

(a)

Investments .  The Subadviser is hereby authorized and directed and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth




in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.

(b)

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Governing Documents .  In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any act or omission of the Subadviser hereunder that the Adviser reasonably deems to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the Subadviser is only obligated to comply with this subsection (b) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.  

The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.



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The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and SAI, and the Subadviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes.  The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.

(c)

Voting of Proxies .  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser.  The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.  

The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.

(d)

Agent .  Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-­fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.

(e)

Brokerage .  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment,



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including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions.  The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Subadviser an amount of commission for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.

It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.  It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.



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(f)

Securities Transactions .  The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule 17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.

(g)

Books and Records .  The Subadviser shall maintain separate detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files.  The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.

(h)

Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser .  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.  The Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.

Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets as are reasonably required for the Trust or the Adviser to comply with their



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respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.

(i)

Custody Arrangements .  The Trust or the Adviser shall notify the Subadviser of the identities of its custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian may reasonably request in good faith relating to all transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser with all operational information necessary for the Subadviser to trade the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.

3.

Independent Contractor .  In the performance of its services hereunder, the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.

4.

Expenses .  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.  The Trust or the



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Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.

5.

Investment Analysis and Commentary .  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within 10 days after the end of each quarter.  In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser; provided however, that any such interim Investment Report will be due within 10 days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.  

6.

Compensation .  For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1.00% of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net assets.

The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

7.

Representations and Warranties of Subadviser .  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Subadviser is a corporation duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or shareholders, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and



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(d)

The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser .  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;

(d)

The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s Form ADV prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

(f)

The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.



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9.

Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information .  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 8 and 9, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material effects.

10.

Liability and Indemnification .

(a)

Liability .  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(b)

Indemnification .  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.  Unless otherwise obligated under applicable law, the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.

The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(c)

The Subadviser shall not be liable to the Adviser for acts of the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the



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Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.  

11.

Duration and Termination .

(a)

Duration .  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Sub-Adviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

(b)

Termination .  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:

(i)

By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;

(ii)

By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or

(iii)

By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.

This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

12.

Duties of the Adviser .  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.

13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser .

(a)

The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non-exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and



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services provided by the Subadviser to the Adviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.  The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the Fund that refer to any recognizable variant or any registered mark or logo or other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner.  Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.

(b)

Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.

14.

Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.  

15.

Confidentiality .  Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:

(a)

Authorized .  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;

(b)

Court or Regulatory Authority .  Disclosure of such information is expressly required or requested by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;

(c)

Publicly Known Without Breach .  Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;

(d)

Already Known .  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;



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(e)

Received From Third Party .  Such information was or is hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or

(f)

Independently Developed .  The party independently developed such information.

In addition, the Subadviser and its officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.  The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


16.

Notice .  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:

(a)

If to the Subadviser:

BATTENKILL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

34 South Main Street
Allentown, NJ 08501

Phone:  609-223-2669

Email: bvinci@alpinefundlp.com


(b)

If to the Adviser:

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com

 

17.

Jurisdiction .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.

18.

Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.



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19.

Certain Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.

20.

Captions .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.

21.

Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision or applicable law, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.

22.

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.


                             ADVISER

                            ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             By: /s/ Jason Myers

                             Name: Jason Myers

                             Title: Principal




                             SUB-ADVISER

                            BATTENKILL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.



                             By: /s/ Bruce Vinci

                             Name: Bruce Vinci

                             Title: Portfolio Manager





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SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29 th   day of August, 2012, by and between ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and DEL MAR ASSET MANAGEMENT LP (the “Sub- Adviser”), a partnership organized under the laws of Delaware and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).


WI TNESSETH:


WHEREAS,   the   Trust   is   registered   with   the   U.S.   Securities   and   Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);


WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29 th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund; and


WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and


WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser, and Subadviser is willing to render such services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.


NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  parties  do  mutually  agree  and  promise  as  follows  with respect to each Fund:


1.          Appointment as Subadviser.  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage all of the assets of the Fund as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser (the “Subadviser Assets”) subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Trust  and  subject  to  the  terms  of  this  Agreement;  and  the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.   In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser to one or more other investment companies and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.


2.

Duties of Subadviser.


(a)

Investments.

The  Subadviser  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth




in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.   The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.


(b)       Compliance with Applicable Laws and Governing Documents.  In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of

1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any  act  or  omission  of  the  Subadviser  hereunder  that  the  Adviser  reasonably  deems  to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the  Subadviser  is  only  obligated  to  comply  with  this  subsection  (b)  with  respect  to  the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.


The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.






The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of

30 days regarding any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and SAI, and the Subadviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes. The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.


(c)        Voting of Proxies.  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser. The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.


The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule

30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.


(d)        Agent.   Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-- fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.   The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.


(e)        Brokerage.  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment,






including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions. The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934)  to  the  Subadviser  an  amount  of  commission  for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.


It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.   It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.






(f)         Securities Transactions.   The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule

17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.


(g)        Books  and  Records.    The  Subadviser  shall  maintain  separate  detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files. The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.


(h)        Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser.  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.  The Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.


Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets  as  are  reasonably  required  for  the  Trust  or  the  Adviser  to  comply  with  their






respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the

1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.


(i)         Custody  Arrangements.     The  Trust  or  the  Adviser  shall  notify  the Subadviser of the identities of its custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian may reasonably request in good faith relating to all transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser with all operational information necessary for the Subadviser to trade the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.


3.          Independent  Contractor.    In  the  performance  of  its  services  hereunder,  the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.


4.          Expenses.  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.   The Trust or the






Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.


5.         Investment Analysis and Commentary.  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within 10 days after the end of each quarter.  In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon  by  the  Adviser  and  Subadviser; provided  however,  that  any  such  interim  Investment Report will be due within 10 days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.


6.          Compensation.    For  the  services  provided  pursuant  to  this  Agreement,  the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1% of the Subadviser Assets for the first twelve months after the subadviser begins managing assets.   After twelve months, the Subadviser will continue to be entitled to an annual fee equal to 1% of the Subadviser assets, provided the Subadviser is managing at least $50 Million in assets for the Adviser.  If the Subadviser is  managing  less  than  $50  Million  in  assets  at  the  twelve  month  mark  or  at  any  time thereafter, the Subadviser shall be entitled to an annual fee equal to 1.5% of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net assets.


The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.


7.          Representations and Warranties of Subadviser.  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:




Act;

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers


(b)       The Subadviser is a corporation duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;


(c)      The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or shareholders, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and






performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and


(d)       The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder,  and  the  information  contained  therein  is  accurate  and  complete  in  all  material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.


8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser.  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:




Act;

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers


(b)       The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and  carry  on  its  business  as  it  is  now  being  conducted  and  as  proposed  to  be  conducted hereunder;


(c)       The   execution,   delivery   and   performance   by   the   Adviser   of   this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;


(d)       The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder,  and  the  information  contained  therein  is  accurate  and  complete  in  all  material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;


(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s

Form ADV prior to the execution of this Agreement; and


(f)        The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the






Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.


9.         Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information.  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 7 and 8, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material effects.


10.

Liability and Indemnification.


(a)        Liability.  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.


(b)        Indemnification.  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal  and  state  securities  laws.    Unless  otherwise  obligated  under  applicable  law,  the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.


The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith,






gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.


(c)       The  Subadviser  shall  not  be  liable  to  the  Adviser  for  acts  of  the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.


11.

Duration and Termination.


(a)        Duration.  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Sub-Adviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


(b)       Termination.  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:


(i)        By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;


(ii)       By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or


(iii)     By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.


This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.


12.        Duties of the Adviser.  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.






13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser.


(a)       The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non- exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and services  provided  by  the  Subadviser  to  the  Adviser,  which  references  shall  not  differ  in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.   The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the  Fund  that  refer  to  any  recognizable  variant  or  any  registered  mark  or  logo  or  other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner. Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.


(b)       Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.


14.        Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.


15.        Confidentiality. Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:


(a)

Authorized.  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;


(b)        Court  or  Regulatory  Authority.     Disclosure  of  such  information  is expressly  required  or  requested  by  a  court  or  other  tribunal  of  competent  jurisdiction  or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;






(c)        Publicly Known Without Breach.   Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;


(d)        Already Known.  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;


(e)        Received  From  Third  Party.    Such  information  was  or  is  hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or




information.

(f)

Independently  Developed.

The  party  independently  developed  such


In  addition,  the  Subadviser  and  its  officers,  directors  and  employees  are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.   The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


16.        Notice.  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:


(a)

If to the Subadviser:


DEL MAR ASSET MANAGEMENT LP

711 Fifth Ave., 5 th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Phone:  212-328-7137

Email: jhwang@delmarasset.com


(b)

If to the Adviser:


ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com


17.

Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles






thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.


18.        Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.


19.        Certain Definitions.  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.


20.        Captions.  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.


21.        Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a  court  decision  or  applicable  law,  the  remainder  of  the  Agreement  shall  not  be  affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.


22.        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.









IN WITNESS  WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed  this Agreement  on the day and year first written above.




                             ADVISER

                            ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             By: /s/ Jason Myers

                             Name: Jason Myers

                             Title: Principal




                             SUB-ADVISER

                            DEL MAR ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.



                             By: /s/ Jeffery Hwang

                             Name: Jeffrey Hwang

                             Title: Chief Operating Officer







SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and HIGHLAND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. (the “Sub-Adviser”), a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29 th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser, and Subadviser is willing to render such services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do mutually agree and promise as follows with respect to each Fund:

1.

Appointment as Subadviser .  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage all of the assets of the Fund as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser (the “Subadviser Assets”) subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust and subject to the terms of this Agreement; and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.  In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser to one or more other investment companies and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.

2.

Duties of Subadviser .




(a)

Investments .  The Subadviser is hereby authorized and directed and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.

(b)

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Governing Documents .  In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any act or omission of the Subadviser hereunder that the Adviser reasonably deems to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the Subadviser is only obligated to comply with this subsection (b) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.  

The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted



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above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.

The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and SAI, and the Subadviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes.  The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.

(c)

Voting of Proxies .  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser.  The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.  

The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.

(d)

Agent .  Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-­fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.



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(e)

Brokerage .  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment, including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions.  The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Subadviser an amount of commission for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.

It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.  It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price



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paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.

(f)

Securities Transactions .  The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule 17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.

(g)

Books and Records .  The Subadviser shall maintain separate detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files.  The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.

(h)

Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser .  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.  The Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.



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Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets as are reasonably required for the Trust or the Adviser to comply with their respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.

(i)

Custody Arrangements .  The Trust or the Adviser shall notify the Subadviser of the identities of its custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian may reasonably request in good faith relating to all transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser with all operational information necessary for the Subadviser to trade the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.

3.

Independent Contractor .  In the performance of its services hereunder, the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.

4.

Expenses .  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of



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the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.  The Trust or the Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.

5.

Investment Analysis and Commentary .  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within 10 days after the end of each quarter.  In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser; provided however, that any such interim Investment Report will be due within 10 days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.  

6.

Compensation .  For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1.00% of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net assets.

The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

7.

Representations and Warranties of Subadviser .  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Subadviser is a corporation duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or shareholders, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the



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Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and

(d)

The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser .  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;

(d)

The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s Form ADV prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

(f)

The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment



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of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.

9.

Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information .  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 8 and 9, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material effects.

10.

Liability and Indemnification .

(a)

Liability .  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(b)

Indemnification .  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.  Unless otherwise obligated under applicable law, the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.

The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.



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(c)

The Subadviser shall not be liable to the Adviser for acts of the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.  

11.

Duration and Termination .

(a)

Duration .  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Sub-Adviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

(b)

Termination .  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:

(i)

By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;

(ii)

By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or

(iii)

By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.

This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

12.

Duties of the Adviser .  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.

13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser .



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(a)

The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non-exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and services provided by the Subadviser to the Adviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.  The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the Fund that refer to any recognizable variant or any registered mark or logo or other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner.  Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.

(b)

Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.

14.

Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.  

15.

Confidentiality .  Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:

(a)

Authorized .  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;

(b)

Court or Regulatory Authority .  Disclosure of such information is expressly required or requested by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;

(c)

Publicly Known Without Breach .  Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;



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(d)

Already Known .  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;

(e)

Received From Third Party .  Such information was or is hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or

(f)

Independently Developed .  The party independently developed such information.

In addition, the Subadviser and its officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.  The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


16.

Notice .  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:

(a)

If to the Subadviser:

HIGHLAND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700                     
Dallas, TX 75201

Phone: 972-419-4496

Email: steven.delarosa@pyxisAIS.com


(b)

If to the Adviser:

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com


17.

Jurisdiction .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.



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18.

Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

19.

Certain Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.

20.

Captions .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.

21.

Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision or applicable law, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.

22.

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.


ADVISER

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             By:__________________________________

                             Name: Jason Myers

                             Title: Principal




                             SUB-ADVISER

                            HIGHLAND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.



                             By:__________________________________

                             Name: Matthew Lemme

                             Title: Managing Director





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SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and KELLNER MANAGEMENT, LP (the “Sub-Adviser”), a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29 th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser, and Subadviser is willing to render such services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do mutually agree and promise as follows with respect to each Fund:

1.

Appointment as Subadviser .  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage all of the assets of the Fund as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser (the “Subadviser Assets”) subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust and subject to the terms of this Agreement; and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.  In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser to one or more other investment companies and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.

2.

Duties of Subadviser .

(a)

Investments .  The Subadviser is hereby authorized and directed and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth




in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.

(b)

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Governing Documents .  In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any act or omission of the Subadviser hereunder that the Adviser reasonably deems to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the Subadviser is only obligated to comply with this subsection (b) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.  

The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.



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The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and SAI, and the Subadviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes.  The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.

(c)

Voting of Proxies .  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser.  The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.  

The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.

(d)

Agent .  Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-­fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.

(e)

Brokerage .  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment,



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including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions.  The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Subadviser an amount of commission for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.

It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.  It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.



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(f)

Securities Transactions .  The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule 17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.

(g)

Books and Records .  The Subadviser shall maintain separate detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files.  The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.

(h)

Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser .  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.  The Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.

Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets as are reasonably required for the Trust or the Adviser to comply with their



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respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.

(i)

Custody Arrangements .  The Trust or the Adviser shall notify the Subadviser of the identities of its custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian may reasonably request in good faith relating to all transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser with all operational information necessary for the Subadviser to trade the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.

3.

Independent Contractor .  In the performance of its services hereunder, the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.

4.

Expenses .  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.  The Trust or the



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Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.

5.

Investment Analysis and Commentary .  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within 10 days after the end of each quarter.  In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser; provided however, that any such interim Investment Report will be due within 10 days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.  

6.

Compensation .  For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1.00% of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net assets.

The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

7.

Representations and Warranties of Subadviser .  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Subadviser is a corporation duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or shareholders, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and



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(d)

The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser .  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;

(d)

The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s Form ADV prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

(f)

The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.



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9.

Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information .  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 8 and 9, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material effects.

10.

Liability and Indemnification .

(a)

Liability .  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(b)

Indemnification .  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.  Unless otherwise obligated under applicable law, the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.

The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(c)

The Subadviser shall not be liable to the Adviser for acts of the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the



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Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.  

11.

Duration and Termination .

(a)

Duration .  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Sub-Adviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

(b)

Termination .  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:

(i)

By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;

(ii)

By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or

(iii)

By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.

This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

12.

Duties of the Adviser .  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.

13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser .

(a)

The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non-exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and



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services provided by the Subadviser to the Adviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.  The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the Fund that refer to any recognizable variant or any registered mark or logo or other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner.  Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.

(b)

Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.

14.

Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.  

15.

Confidentiality .  Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:

(a)

Authorized .  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;

(b)

Court or Regulatory Authority .  Disclosure of such information is expressly required or requested by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;

(c)

Publicly Known Without Breach .  Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;

(d)

Already Known .  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;



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(e)

Received From Third Party .  Such information was or is hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or

(f)

Independently Developed .  The party independently developed such information.

In addition, the Subadviser and its officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.  The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


16.

Notice .  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:

(a)

If to the Subadviser:

KELLNER MANAGEMENT, LP

900 Third Avenue, Suite 1000
New York, NY 10022

Phone: 917-224-2517

Email: bgravley@kellnerdileo.com


(b)

If to the Adviser:

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com


17.

Jurisdiction .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.

18.

Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.



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19.

Certain Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.

20.

Captions .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.

21.

Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision or applicable law, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.

22.

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.


ADVISER

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             By:__________________________________

                             Name: Jason Myers

                             Title: Principal




                             SUB-ADVISER

                            KELLNER MANAGEMENT, LP



                             By:__________________________________

                             Name: Christopher Pultz

                             Title: Portfolio Manager





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SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and PHINEUS PARTNERS, L.P. (the “Sub-Adviser”), a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29 th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser, and Subadviser is willing to render such services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do mutually agree and promise as follows with respect to each Fund:

1.

Appointment as Subadviser .  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage all of the assets of the Fund  as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser (the “Subadviser Assets”) subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust and subject to the terms of this Agreement; and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.  In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser to one or more other investment companies and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.

2.

Duties of Subadviser .

(a)

Investments .  The Subadviser is hereby authorized and directed and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth




in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.

(b)

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Governing Documents .  In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any act or omission of the Subadviser hereunder that the Adviser reasonably deems to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the Subadviser is only obligated to comply with this subsection (b) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.  

The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.



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The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and SAI, and the Subadviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes.  The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.

(c)

Voting of Proxies .  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser.  The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.  

The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.

(d)

Agent .  Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-­fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.

(e)

Brokerage .  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment,



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including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions.  The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Subadviser an amount of commission for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.

It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.  It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.



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(f)

Securities Transactions .  The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule 17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.

(g)

Books and Records .  The Subadviser shall maintain separate detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files.  The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.

(h)

Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser .  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.  The Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.

Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets as are reasonably required for the Trust or the Adviser to comply with their



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respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.

(i)

Custody Arrangements .  The Trust or the Adviser shall notify the Subadviser of the identities of its custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian may reasonably request in good faith relating to all transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser with all operational information necessary for the Subadviser to trade the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.

3.

Independent Contractor .  In the performance of its services hereunder, the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.

4.

Expenses .  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.  The Trust or the



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Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.

5.

Investment Analysis and Commentary .  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within 10 days after the end of each quarter.  In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser; provided however, that any such interim Investment Report will be due within 10 days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.  

6.

Compensation .  For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1.00% of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net assets.

The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

7.

Representations and Warranties of Subadviser .  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Subadviser is a corporation duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or shareholders, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and



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(d)

The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser .  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;

(d)

The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s Form ADV prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

(f)

The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.



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9.

Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information .  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 8 and 9, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material effects.

10.

Liability and Indemnification .

(a)

Liability .  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(b)

Indemnification .  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.  Unless otherwise obligated under applicable law, the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.

The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(c)

The Subadviser shall not be liable to the Adviser for acts of the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the



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Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.  

11.

Duration and Termination .

(a)

Duration .  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Sub-Adviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

(b)

Termination .  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:

(i)

By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;

(ii)

By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or

(iii)

By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.

This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

12.

Duties of the Adviser .  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.

13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser .

(a)

The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non-exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and



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services provided by the Subadviser to the Adviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.  The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the Fund that refer to any recognizable variant or any registered mark or logo or other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner.  Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.

(b)

Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.

14.

Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.  

15.

Confidentiality .  Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:

(a)

Authorized .  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;

(b)

Court or Regulatory Authority .  Disclosure of such information is expressly required or requested by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;

(c)

Publicly Known Without Breach .  Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;

(d)

Already Known .  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;



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(e)

Received From Third Party .  Such information was or is hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or

(f)

Independently Developed .  The party independently developed such information.

In addition, the Subadviser and its officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.  The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


16.

Notice .  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:

(a)

If to the Subadviser:

PHINEUS PARTNERS, L.P.

251 Post Street, Ste. 500
San Francisco, CA 94108

Phone: 415-677-0722  

Email: mgrant@phineus.net


(b)

If to the Adviser:

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com


17.

Jurisdiction .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.

18.

Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.



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19.

Certain Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.

20.

Captions .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.

21.

Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision or applicable law, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.

22.

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.


ADVISER

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             By: /s/ Jason Myers

                             Name: Jason Myers

                             Title: Principal




                             SUB-ADVISER

                            PHINEUS PARTNERS, L.P.



                             By: /s/ Michael Grant

                             Name: Michael Grant

                             Title: Portfolio Manager





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SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29th day of August, 2012, by and  between  Alternative  Road  Investment  Advisers,  LLC  (the  “Adviser”),  a  Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the  “Advisers  Act”),  and  Rockview  Management,  LLC,  a  limited  liability  company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Subadviser”) and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to The Alternative Avenue Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).


WI TNESSETH:


WHEREAS,   the   Trust   is   registered   with   the   U.S.   Securities   and   Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);


WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund.;


WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and


WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser from time to time (the “Subadviser Assets”), and Subadviser is willing  to  render  such  services  subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in  this Agreement,


NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  parties  do  mutually  agree  and  promise  as  follows  with respect to each Fund:


1.          Appointment as Subadviser.  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage the Subadviser Assets subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust and subject to the terms of this Agreement; and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.  In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser and/or subadviser to one or more other investment companies or vehicles and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.  The Adviser agrees that Subadviser and its affiliates may give advice and take action in the performance of its duties with respect to any of the Subadviser’s or its affiliate’s other clients which may differ from advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser and its affiliates, however, shall not provide investment advice to any assets of the Fund other than the Subadviser Assets.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require Subadviser or any of






its affiliates to purchase or sell for the Subadviser Assets of the Fund any security or investment which the Subadviser or any of its affiliates may purchase or sell for its or their own account or for the account of any other client.


2.

Duties of Subadviser.


(a)        Investments.    The  Subadviser  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.   The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.


(b)        Compliance  with  Applicable  Laws  and  Governing  Documents.    The Adviser has furnished to the Subadviser copies of each of the following documents, and agrees to furnish promptly any amendment or change thereto: the Trust’s Agreement Declaration of Trust, the Trust’s By-Laws, the Fund’s Prospectus, the Fund’s SAI and all material policies and procedures of the Trust that govern the Subadviser’s management of the Subadviser Assets under this Agreement. In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.   Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any act or omission of the Subadviser hereunder that the Adviser reasonably deems to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the

1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and  state  laws  and  regulations  and  the  Subadviser  is  only  obligated  to  comply  with  this subsection (b) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.






The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.


The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus  and  SAI,  and  the  Subadviser  shall,  in  the  performance  of  its  duties  and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes. The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.


(c)        Voting of Proxies.  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser. The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.


The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule

30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.






(d)        Agent.   Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-- fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.   The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.


(e)        Brokerage.  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment, including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions. The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934)  to  the  Subadviser  an  amount  of  commission  for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.


It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the






Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.   It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.


(f)         Securities Transactions.   The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Adviser agrees to identify to the Subadviser in writing any broker-dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser and all affiliated persons of any of the Trust, the Adviser and the Trust’s principal underwriter.


The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule

17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.


(g)        Books  and  Records.    The  Subadviser  shall  maintain  separate  detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files. The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.


(h)        Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser.  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.   The






Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.


Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets  as  are  reasonably  required  for  the  Trust  or  the  Adviser  to  comply  with  their respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the

1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.


(i)         Custody  Arrangements.     The  Trust  or  the  Adviser  shall  notify  the Subadviser of the identities of the Trust’s custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the  Trust’s  custodian  may  reasonably  request  in  good  faith  relating  to  all  transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser  with  all  operational  information  necessary  for  the  Subadviser  to  trade  the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.


(j)        The Adviser or the Trust will be responsible for handling any class actions or other lawsuits involving the Fund or securities held, or formerly held, in the Fund, provided that the Subadviser is not a party to the lawsuit.  Subadviser is not required to take any action or to render investment-related advice with respect to lawsuits involving the Fund, including those involving securities presently or formerly held in the Fund, or the issuers thereof, including actions involving bankruptcy.  In the case of notices of class action suits received by Subadviser involving issuers presently or formerly held in the Fund, Subadviser shall promptly forward such notices to the Adviser or the Trust and, with the consent of the Adviser and the Trust, may provide information about the Fund to third parties for purposes of participating in any settlements relating to such class actions.


3.          Independent  Contractor.    In  the  performance  of  its  services  hereunder,  the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.






4.          Expenses.  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.  The Trust or the Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.  If the Adviser has agreed or agrees to limit the operating expenses of the Fund, the Adviser shall also be solely responsible for any operating expenses of the Fund that exceed the agreed upon limit.  Nothing in this Agreement shall alter the allocation of expenses and costs agreed upon between the Fund and the Adviser in the Advisory Agreement or any other agreement to which they are parties.


5.         Investment Analysis and Commentary.  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within ten (10) days after the end of each quarter. In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon  by  the  Adviser  and  Subadviser; provided  however,  that  any  such  interim  Investment Report will be due within ten (10) days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.


6.         Compensation.  For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1% of the average daily net asset value of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net asset value.






The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.


7.

Representations and Warranties of Subadviser.  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:




Act;

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers


(b)       The Subadviser is a limited liability company duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;


(c)      The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or members, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and


(d)       The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder,  and  the  information  contained  therein  is  accurate  and  complete  in  all  material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.


8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser.  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:




Act;

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers


(b)       The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and  carry  on  its  business  as  it  is  now  being  conducted  and  as  proposed  to  be  conducted hereunder;






(c)       The   execution,   delivery   and   performance   by   the   Adviser   of   this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;


(d)       The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder,  and  the  information  contained  therein  is  accurate  and  complete  in  all  material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;


(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s

Form ADV, including Part 2 thereof, prior to the execution of this Agreement; and


(f)        The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.


9.         Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information.  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 7 and 8, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material respects.


10.

Liability and Indemnification.


(a)        Liability.  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, members, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability of the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser does not guarantee the future performance of the Subadviser Assets or any specific level of performance, the success of any investment decision or strategy that Subadviser may






use, or the success of Subadviser’s overall management of the Subadviser Assets. The Adviser understands that investment decisions made for the Subadviser Assets by the Subadviser are subject to various market, currency, economic, political and business risks, and that those investment decisions will not always be profitable.  Subadviser will manage only the Subadviser Assets and in making investment decisions for the Subadviser Assets, the Subadviser will not consider any other securities, cash or other investments owned by the Fund.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.


(b)        Indemnification.  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws, provided, however, that nothing herein shall require that the Adviser, its Affiliates or its Controlling Persons be indemnified for any such loss that resulted from the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, further provided that the Subadviser shall have been given written notice concerning any matter for which indemnification is claimed under this Section.  Unless otherwise obligated under applicable law, the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.


The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.


(c)       The  Subadviser  shall  not  be  liable  to  the  Adviser  for  acts  of  the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.


(d)       In no event will the Subadviser have any responsibility for any other portfolio of the Trust, for any portion of the Fund other than the Subadviser Assets or for the acts or omissions of any other subadviser to the Trust or Fund.  In particular, the Subadviser shall have no responsibility for the Subadviser Assets’ being in violation of any applicable law or regulation or investment policy or restriction applicable to the Fund as a whole or for the Fund’s






failing to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code, if the securities and other holdings of the Subadviser Assets managed by the Subadviser are such that such Subadviser Assets would not be in such violation or fail to so qualify if such Subadviser Assets were deemed a separate series of the Trust or separate “regulated investment company” under the Code,  unless  such  violation  was  due  to  the  Subadviser’s  failure  to  comply  with  written guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees or the Adviser and provided to the Subadviser.


11.

Duration and Termination.


(a)        Duration.  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Subadviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


(b)       Termination.  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:


(i)        By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;


(ii)       By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or


(iii)     By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.


This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.


12.        Duties of the Adviser.  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.


13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser.






(a)       The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non- exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and services  provided  by  the  Subadviser  to  the  Adviser,  which  references  shall  not  differ  in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.   The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the  Fund  that  refer  to  any  recognizable  variant  or  any  registered  mark  or  logo  or  other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner. Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.


(b)       Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.  For the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall not restrict the disclosure on Form ADV by the Subadviser of the Adviser, the Fund and such terms of this Agreement as may be required pursuant to Form ADV or as may be recommended by counsel.


(c)       It is understood that the name of each party to this Agreement, and any derivatives  thereof  or  any  recognizable  variant  or  any  registered  mark  or  logo  or  other proprietary designation associated therewith, is the valuable property of the party in question and its  affiliates,  and  that  each  other  party  has  the  right  to  use  such  names  pursuant  to  the relationship created by, and in accordance with the terms of, this Agreement only so long as this Agreement shall continue in effect. Upon termination of this Agreement, the parties shall forthwith cease to use the names of the other parties (or any recognizable variant or registered mark or logo or other proprietary designation associated therewith) as appropriate and to the extent that continued use is not required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.  The Adviser agrees that, notwithstanding the above, any reference to the Adviser in the Form ADV of the Subadviser may remain a part of the Subadviser’s Form ADV until the next annual update filed by the Subadviser following the termination of this Agreement, subject to compliance with applicable law.


14.        Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.






15.        Confidentiality. Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:


(a)

Authorized.  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;


(b)        Court  or  Regulatory  Authority.     Disclosure  of  such  information  is expressly  required  or  requested  by  a  court  or  other  tribunal  of  competent  jurisdiction  or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;


(c)        Publicly Known Without Breach.   Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;


(d)        Already Known.  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;


(e)        Received  From  Third  Party.    Such  information  was  or  is  hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or




information.

(f)

Independently  Developed.

The  party  independently  developed  such


In  addition,  the  Subadviser  and  its  officers,  directors  and  employees  are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.   The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


1.          Notice.  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:






(a)

If to the Subadviser:


ROCKVIEW MANAGEMENT, LLC Metro Center, One Station Place, 7th Floor Stamford, CT 06902







(b)

If to the Adviser:


ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com


2.          Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.


3.          Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.


4.          Certain Definitions.  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.


5.          Captions.  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.


6.          Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a  court  decision  or  applicable  law,  the  remainder  of  the  Agreement  shall  not  be  affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.


7.          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.




ADVISER

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             

By: /s/ Jason Myers

                           

Name: Jason Myers

                             

Title: Principal




                            

SUB-ADVISER

                            

ROCKVIEW MANAGEMENT, LLC

By: Zabak Capital, LLC, its managing member


                             

By: /s/ Kevin Schweitzer

                             

Name: Kevin Schweitzer

                             

Title: Managing Member


SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and SOUND POINT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP (the “Sub-Adviser”), a limited partnership organized under the laws of Delaware and also registered under the Advisers Act, with respect to ALTERNATIVE AVENUE FUND (the “Fund”), a series of the TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);

WHEREAS, the Adviser has, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust dated as of the 29 th day of August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”), been retained to act as investment adviser for the Fund;

WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that the Advisory Agreement permits the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain Subadviser to assist it in the provision of a continuous investment program for that portion of the Fund’s assets that the Adviser will assign to the Subadviser, and Subadviser is willing to render such services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do mutually agree and promise as follows with respect to each Fund:

1.

Appointment as Subadviser .  The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as investment adviser for and to manage all of the assets of the Fund as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser (the “Subadviser Assets”) subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust and subject to the terms of this Agreement; and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment.  In such capacity, the Subadviser shall be responsible for the investment management of the Subadviser Assets.  It is recognized that the Subadviser and certain of its affiliates may act as investment adviser to one or more other investment companies and other managed accounts and that the Adviser and the Trust do not object to such activities.

2.

Duties of Subadviser .




(a)

Investments .  The Subadviser is hereby authorized and directed and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“SAI”) as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented or amended from time to time and subject to the directions of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Subadviser Assets and to conduct a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser agrees to provide the Subadviser with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information concerning the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment and generally as to the conditions of the Fund’s or the Trust’s affairs.

(b)

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Governing Documents .  In the performance of its services under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, SAI and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect and, as soon as practical after the Trust, the Fund or the Adviser notifies the Subadviser thereof, as supplemented, amended and/or restated from time to time (referred to hereinafter as the “Declaration of Trust” and “By-Laws,” respectively) and with the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Adviser promptly shall notify the Subadviser as to any act or omission of the Subadviser hereunder that the Adviser reasonably deems to constitute or to be the basis of any noncompliance or nonconformance with any of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Prospectus and the SAI, the instructions and directions received in writing from the Adviser or the Trustees of the Trust, the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall remain responsible for ensuring the Fund’s and the Trust’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the Subadviser is only obligated to comply with this subsection (b) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser timely will provide the Subadviser with a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust to the extent they may affect the Fund or the services of the Subadviser, copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders, and any further materials or information which the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.  

The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to ensure that the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.  In this regard, the Adviser acknowledges that the Subadviser shall rely completely upon the Adviser’s determination of whether and to what extent the Fund is in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and that the Subadviser has no separate and independent responsibility to test the Fund for such compliance.  In connection with such compliance tests, the Adviser shall inform the Subadviser at least ten (10) business days prior to a calendar quarter end if the Subadviser Assets are out of compliance with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M.  If the Adviser notifies the Subadviser that the Subadviser Assets are not in compliance with such requirements noted



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above, the Subadviser will take prompt action to bring the Subadviser Assets back into compliance within the time permitted under the Code thereunder.

The Adviser will provide the Subadviser with reasonable advance notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and SAI, and the Subadviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Subadviser Assets consistent with such changes, provided that the Subadviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser.  In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Subadviser a copy of a modified Prospectus and SAI reflecting such changes.  The Adviser acknowledges and will ensure that the Prospectus and SAI will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Trust or the Fund, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and that the Subadviser shall have no liability in connection therewith, except as to the accuracy of material information furnished in writing by the Subadviser to the Trust or to the Adviser specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus and SAI.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to provide to the Adviser in a timely manner such information relating to the Subadviser and its relationship to, and actions for, the Trust as may be required to be contained in the Prospectus, SAI or in the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any amendments thereto.

(c)

Voting of Proxies .  The Adviser hereby delegates to the Subadviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in the Subadviser Assets and authorizes the Subadviser to delegate further such discretionary authority to a designee identified in a notice given to the Trust and the Adviser.  The Subadviser, including without limitation its designee, shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Subadviser Assets may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from, the Adviser, the Fund or the Trust or take any action with respect thereto.  

The Subadviser will establish a written procedure for proxy voting in compliance with current applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.  The Subadviser will provide the Adviser or its designee, a copy of such procedure and establish a process for the timely distribution of the Subadviser’s voting record with respect to the Fund’s securities and other information necessary for the Fund to complete information required by Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Form N-PX under the 1940 Act, and Form N-CSR under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, respectively.

(d)

Agent .  Subject to any other written instructions of the Adviser or the Trust, the Subadviser is hereby appointed the Adviser’s and the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-­fact for the limited purposes of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Subadviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in connection with its management of the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser and the Trust with copies of any such agreements executed on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust.



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(e)

Brokerage .  The Subadviser is authorized, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the plenary authority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, to establish and maintain accounts on behalf of the Fund with, and place orders for the investment and reinvestment, including without limitation purchase and sale of the Subadviser Assets with or through, such persons, brokers (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any broker affiliated with the Subadviser) or dealers (collectively “Brokers”) as Subadviser may elect and negotiate commissions to be paid on such transactions.  The Subadviser, however, is not required to obtain the consent of the Adviser or the Trust’s Board of Trustees prior to establishing any such brokerage account.  The Subadviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with Brokers selected by the Subadviser.  In the selection of such Brokers and the placing of such orders, the Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services, as provided below.  In using its reasonable efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the best interests of the Fund at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including price, the size of the transaction, the breadth and nature of the market for the security, the difficulty of the execution, the amount of the commission, if any, the timing of the transaction, market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the Broker involved, and the quality of service rendered by the Broker in other transactions.  The Subadviser shall not consider a Broker’s sale of Fund shares when selecting the Broker to execute trades.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Trust, the Fund nor the Adviser shall instruct the Subadviser to place orders with any particular Broker(s) with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, or as may be mutually agreed to by the Adviser and the Subadviser, the Subadviser is authorized but not obligated to cause, and shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused, the Fund to pay a Broker that provides brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Subadviser an amount of commission for effecting a Subadviser Assets investment transaction that is in excess of the amount of commission that another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such Broker viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibility of the Subadviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.

It is recognized that the services provided by such Brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with the Subadviser’s services to other clients.  On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution.  In such event, allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.  It is recognized that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price



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paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of by, the Fund with respect to the Subadviser Assets.

(f)

Securities Transactions .  The Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser will not purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund; provided, however, the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser may purchase securities or other instruments from or sell securities or other instruments to the Fund if such transaction is permissible under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The Subadviser, on its own behalf and with respect to its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act), agrees to observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all material respects with Rule 17j-1), as the same may be amended from time to time.  On at least an annual basis, the Subadviser will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which include (i) certifying to the Adviser and the Trust that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics with respect to the Subadviser Assets and (ii) identifying any violations which have occurred with respect to the Subadviser Assets.  The Subadviser will have also submitted its Code of Ethics for its initial approval by the Trust’s Board of Trustees no later than the date of execution of this agreement and subsequently within six months of any material change thereto.

(g)

Books and Records .  The Subadviser shall maintain separate detailed records as are required by applicable laws and regulations of all matters hereunder pertaining to the Subadviser Assets (the “Fund’s Records”), including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions.  The Subadviser acknowledges that the Fund’s Records are property of the Trust; except to the extent that the Subadviser is required to maintain the Fund’s Records under the Advisers Act or other applicable law and except that the Subadviser, at its own expense, is entitled to make and keep a copy of the Fund’s Records for its internal files.  The Fund’s Records shall be available to the Adviser or the Trust at any time upon reasonable request during normal business hours and shall be available for telecopying promptly to the Adviser during any day that the Fund is open for business as set forth in the Prospectus.

(h)

Information Concerning Subadviser Assets and Subadviser .  From time to time as the Adviser or the Trust reasonably may request in good faith, the Subadviser will furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on the Subadviser Assets, all in such reasonable detail as the parties may reasonably agree in good faith.  The Subadviser will also inform the Adviser in a timely manner of material changes in portfolio managers responsible for Subadviser Assets, any changes in the ownership or management of the Subadviser, or of material changes in the control of the Subadviser.  Upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request, the Subadviser will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Trust’s Board of Trustees to review the Subadviser Assets via telephone on a quarterly basis and on a less frequent basis as agreed upon by the parties in person.



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Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Subadviser will also provide such information or perform such additional acts with respect to the Subadviser Assets as are reasonably required for the Trust or the Adviser to comply with their respective obligations under applicable laws, including without limitation, the Code, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and the Securities Act, and any rule or regulation thereunder.

(i)

Custody Arrangements .  The Trust or the Adviser shall notify the Subadviser of the identities of its custodian banks and the custody arrangements therewith with respect to the Subadviser Assets and shall give the Subadviser written notice of any changes in such custodian banks or custody arrangements.  The Subadviser shall on each business day provide the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian such information as the Adviser and the Trust’s custodian may reasonably request in good faith relating to all transactions concerning the Subadviser Assets.  The Trust shall instruct its custodian banks to (A) carry out all investment instructions as may be directed by the Subadviser with respect to the Subadviser Assets (which instructions may be orally given if confirmed in writing); and (B) provide the Subadviser with all operational information necessary for the Subadviser to trade the Subadviser Assets on behalf of the Fund.  The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of the authorized custodian(s), unless such act or omission is required by and taken in reliance upon instructions given to the authorized custodian(s) by a representative of the Subadviser properly authorized (pursuant to written instruction by the Adviser) to give such instructions.

3.

Independent Contractor .  In the performance of its services hereunder, the Subadviser is and shall be an independent contractor and unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser.

4.

Expenses .  During the term of this Agreement, Subadviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall, at its sole expense, employ or associate itself with such persons as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution of its duties under this Agreement.  The Subadviser shall not be responsible for the Trust’s, the Fund’s or Adviser’s expenses, which shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith, expenses of holding or carrying Subadviser Assets, including, without limitation, expenses of dividends on stock borrowed to cover a short sale and interest, fees or other charges incurred in connection with leverage and related borrowings with respect to the Subadviser Assets, organizational and offering expenses (which include, but are not limited to, out-of-pocket expenses, but not overhead or employee costs of the Subadviser); expenses for legal, accounting and auditing services; taxes and governmental fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses, stock certificates and distribution of dividends; charges of the Fund’s custodians and sub-custodians, administrators and sub-administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for sale in the various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of



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the Fund’s portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees; salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings; insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.  The Trust or the Adviser, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Subadviser for any expenses of the Fund or the Adviser as may be reasonably incurred by such Subadviser on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser.  The Subadviser shall keep and supply to the Trust and the Adviser reasonable records of all such expenses.

5.

Investment Analysis and Commentary .  The Subadviser will provide quarterly performance analysis and market commentary (the “Investment Report”) during the term of this Agreement.  The Investment Reports are due within 10 days after the end of each quarter.  In addition, interim Investment Reports shall be issued at such times as may be mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser; provided however, that any such interim Investment Report will be due within 10 days of the end of the month in which such agreement is reached between the Adviser and Subadviser.  The subject of each Investment Report shall be mutually agreed upon.  The Adviser is freely able to publicly distribute the Investment Report.  

6.

Compensation .  For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Subadviser is entitled to an annual fee equal to 1.00% of the Subadviser Assets.  Such fee will be computed daily and paid no later than the seventh (7 th ) business day following the end of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, from the Adviser or the Trust, calculated at an annual rate based on the Subadviser Assets’ average daily net assets.

The method of determining the net asset value of the Subadviser Assets for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method of determining net asset value for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption price of the shares of the Trust as described in the Fund’s Prospectus and/or SAI.  If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to the Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

7.

Representations and Warranties of Subadviser .  The Subadviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:

(a)

The Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Subadviser is a corporation duly organized and properly registered and operating under the laws Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement are within the Subadviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of its directors or shareholders, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Subadviser for execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Subadviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the



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Subadviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Subadviser; and

(d)

The Form ADV of the Subadviser provided to the Adviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Subadviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

8.

Representations and Warranties of Adviser .  The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadviser as follows:

(a)

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;

(b)

The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereunder;

(c)

The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement are within the Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its directors, shareholders or managing unitholder, and no action by, or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a violation of, or a material default under, (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Adviser;

(d)

The Form ADV of the Adviser provided to the Subadviser and the Trust is a true and complete copy of the form, including that part or parts of the Form ADV filed with the SEC, that part or parts maintained in the records of the Adviser, and/or that part or parts provided or offered to clients, in each case as required under the Advisers Act and rules thereunder, and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(e)

The Adviser acknowledges that it received a copy of the Subadviser’s Form ADV prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

(f)

The Adviser and the Trust have duly entered into the Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Trust authorized the Adviser to delegate certain of its duties under the Advisory Agreement to other investment advisers, including without limitation, the appointment



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of a subadviser with respect to assets of the Fund, including without limitation the Adviser’s entering into and performing this Agreement.

9.

Survival of Representations and Warranties; Duty to Update Information .  All representations and warranties made by the Subadviser and the Adviser pursuant to the recitals above and Sections 8 and 9, respectively, shall survive for the duration of this Agreement and the parties hereto shall promptly notify each other in writing upon becoming aware that any of the foregoing representations and warranties are no longer true or accurate in all material effects.

10.

Liability and Indemnification .

(a)

Liability .  The Subadviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Subadviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Subadviser, each of its affiliates and all respective partners, officers, directors and employees (“Affiliates”) and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the Securities Act controls the Subadviser (“Controlling Persons”), if any, shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Adviser, the Trust or the Fund or any of the Fund’s shareholders, in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, including without limitation for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  The Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but otherwise (except as set forth in Section 11(c) below), in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder, the Adviser, any of its Affiliates and each of the Adviser’s Controlling Persons, if any, shall not be subject to any liability to the Subadviser, for any act or omission in the case of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of Subadviser Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall relieve the Adviser and the Subadviser from any of their obligations under applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.

(b)

Indemnification .  The Subadviser shall indemnify the Adviser, the Trust and the Fund, and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which the Adviser, the Trust and/or the Fund and their respective Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.  Unless otherwise obligated under applicable law, the Subadviser shall not be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of this Agreement.

The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadviser, its Affiliates and its Controlling Persons, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.



- 9 -






(c)

The Subadviser shall not be liable to the Adviser for acts of the Subadviser which result from acts of the Adviser, including, but not limited to, a failure of the Adviser to provide accurate and current information with respect to any records maintained by the Adviser, which records are not also maintained by or otherwise available to the Subadviser upon reasonable request.  

11.

Duration and Termination .

(a)

Duration .  Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall continue for an initial period of no more than two years following the date and year upon which the Sub-Adviser begins to manage Fund assets, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods with respect to the Fund, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or vote of the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

(b)

Termination .  Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to the Fund, without payment of any penalty:

(i)

By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or by the Adviser, in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadviser;

(ii)

By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or

(iii)

By the Subadviser upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.

This Agreement shall not be assigned (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

12.

Duties of the Adviser .  The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Subadviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Adviser to provide any funding or other support for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting investments in the Fund.

13.

Reference to Adviser and Subadviser .



- 10 -






(a)

The Subadviser grants, subject to the conditions below, the Adviser non-exclusive rights to use, display and promote trademarks of the Subadviser in conjunction with any activity associated with the Fund.  In addition, the Adviser may promote the identity of and services provided by the Subadviser to the Adviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials.  The Adviser shall protect the goodwill and reputation of the Subadviser in connection with marketing and promotion of the Fund.  The Adviser shall submit to the Subadviser for its review and approval all such public informational materials relating to the Fund that refer to any recognizable variant or any registered mark or logo or other proprietary designation of the Subadviser.  Approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Subadviser and notice of approval or disapproval will be provided in a timely manner.  Subsequent advertising or promotional materials having very substantially the same form as previously approved by the Subadviser may be used by the Adviser without obtaining the Subadviser’s consent unless such consent is withdrawn in writing by the Subadviser.

(b)

Neither the Subadviser nor any Affiliate or agent of Subadviser shall make reference to or use the name of the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, or any of their clients, except references concerning the identity of and services provided by the Adviser to the Fund or to the Subadviser, which references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus, SAI and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The Subadviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any Affiliate of the Subadviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation.

14.

Amendment .  This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the parties, provided that the terms of any material amendment shall be approved by: (a) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as required by the 1940 Act), and (b) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.  

15.

Confidentiality .  Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Trust and the Subadviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential and shall not disclose any and all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof; except to the extent:

(a)

Authorized .  The Adviser or the Trust has authorized such disclosure;

(b)

Court or Regulatory Authority .  Disclosure of such information is expressly required or requested by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction or applicable federal or state regulatory authorities;

(c)

Publicly Known Without Breach .  Such information becomes known to the general public without a breach of this Agreement or a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding such information;



- 11 -






(d)

Already Known .  Such information already was known by the party prior to the date hereof;

(e)

Received From Third Party .  Such information was or is hereafter rightfully received by the party from a third party (expressly excluding the Fund’s custodian, prime broker and administrator) without restriction on its disclosure and without breach of this Agreement or of a similar confidential disclosure agreement regarding them; or

(f)

Independently Developed .  The party independently developed such information.

In addition, the Subadviser and its officers, directors and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.  The Subadviser agrees, consistent with its Code of Ethics, that neither it nor its officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on non-public information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.


16.

Notice .  Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other parties, or transmitted by facsimile with acknowledgment of receipt, to the parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers, which may from time to time be changed by the parties by notice to the other party:

(a)

If to the Subadviser:

SOUND POINT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP

1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036

Phone: 212-895-2272

Email: sseelaus@soundpointcap.com


(b)

If to the Adviser:

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

15 New England Executive Park

Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781-791-5015

Email: jm@ariafundsllc.com


17.

Jurisdiction .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the 1940 Act.  In the case of any conflict, the 1940 Act shall control.



- 12 -






18.

Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

19.

Certain Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided herein, “interested person,” “affiliated person,” and assignment shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.

20.

Captions .  The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.

21.

Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision or applicable law, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected adversely and shall remain in full force and effect.

22.

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with all exhibits, attachments and appendices, contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.




- 13 -






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written above.


ADVISER

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC


                             By:__________________________________

                             Name: Jason Myers

                             Title: Principal




                             SUB-ADVISER

                            SOUND POINT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP



                             By:__________________________________

                             Name: Steven Ketchum

                             Title: Portfolio Manager





- 14 -







 

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



Between



TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


and

                                        

NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

 

 











Page 1 of 21





INDEX



1.

APPOINTMENT OF NLD AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

3

2.

NATURE OF DUTIES

4

3.

OFFERING OF SHARES

4

4.

LICENSED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FUNDS.

5

5.

REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES BY THE FUNDS

6

6.

DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF NLD

7

7.

DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST

9

8.

INDEMNIFICATION OF NLD BY THE TRUST

12

9.

INDEMNIFICATION OF THE TRUST BY NLD

14

10.

NOTIFICATION BY THE TRUST

15

11.

COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES

16

12.

SELECTED DEALER AND SELECTED AGENT AGREEMENTS

17

13.

CONFIDENTIALITY

17

14.

EFFECTIVENESS AND DURATION

18

15.

DISASTER RECOVERY

18

16.

DEFINITIONS

19

17.

MISCELLANEOUS

20

 

 

ATTACHED SCHEDULES


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE B




Page 2 of 21





UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT made the 29 th day of August 2012 by and between TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust, having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Trust”), and NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC , a Nebraska limited liability company having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (“NLD”).


WHEREAS , the Trust is offering shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) in separate investment portfolios as set forth on Schedule A , as may be amended from time to time (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), and each a series of the Trust; and


WHEREAS , the Trust is an open-end management investment company that will be registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS , NLD is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Securities Exchange Act"), as a broker-dealer and is engaged in the business of selling shares of registered investment companies either directly to purchasers or through other financial intermediaries; and


WHEREAS , the Trust desires that NLD offer, as principal underwriter, the Shares of the Funds to the public and NLD is willing to provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement in order to promote the growth of the Funds and facilitate the distribution of the Shares;


NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the Trust and NLD hereby agree as follows:


1.

APPOINTMENT OF NLD AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS


(a)

The Trust hereby appoints NLD, and NLD hereby agrees, to act as principal underwriter and distributor of the Shares of the Funds for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. In connection therewith, the Trust has delivered to NLD current copies of:


(i)

the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws (the “Organizational Documents”);





Page 3 of 21





(ii)

the Trust’s current Registration Statement;


(iii)

the Trust’s notification of registration under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC;


(iv)

the Trust’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented, the “Prospectus”); and


(v)

any current plan of distribution or similar document adopted by a Fund under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Plan”) and each current shareholder service plan or similar document adopted by a Fund (“Service Plan”).


(b)

The Trust shall promptly furnish NLD with:


(i)

all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing; and


(ii)

a copy of the resolution of the Board appointing NLD and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

2.

NATURE OF DUTIES


(a)

NLD shall act as distributor of the Funds except that the rights given under this Agreement to NLD shall not apply to: (i) Shares issued in connection with the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any other investment company or series or class thereof with a Fund or class thereof; (ii) the Trust’s acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of any other investment company or series or class thereof; (iii) the reinvestment in Shares by the Funds’ shareholders of dividends or other distributions; or (iv) any other offering by a Fund of securities to its shareholders (collectively "exempt transactions").


(b)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, NLD is and may in the future distribute shares of other investment companies including investment companies having investment objectives similar to those of the Funds. The Funds further understand that existing and future investors in the Funds may invest in shares of such other investment companies. The Funds agree that the services that NLD provides to such other investment companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its duties to the Funds under this Agreement.

 

3.

OFFERING OF SHARES


(a)

NLD shall have the right to buy from the Funds the Shares needed to fill unconditional orders for Shares of the Funds placed with NLD by investors or selected




Page 4 of 21





dealers or selected agents (each as defined in Section 12 hereof) acting as agent for their customers or on their own behalf. Alternatively, NLD may act as the Funds’ agent, to offer, and to solicit offers to subscribe to, Shares of a Fund.


(b)

The price that NLD shall pay for Shares purchased from the Funds shall be the NAV used in determining the public offering price on which the orders are based. Shares purchased by NLD are to be resold by NLD to investors at the respective public offering price(s), or to selected dealers or selected agents acting in accordance with the terms of selected dealer or selected agent agreements described in Section 12 of this Agreement. Each Fund will advise NLD of the NAV(s) each time that it is determined by the Fund, or its designated agent, and at such other times as NLD may reasonably request.


(c)

NLD will promptly forward all orders and subscriptions to the Funds or their designated agent.  All orders and all subscriptions shall be directed to the respective Fund for acceptance and shall not be binding until accepted by the Fund. Any order or subscription may be rejected by the Funds; provided, however, that the Funds will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse to accept or confirm orders or subscriptions for the purchase of Shares. The Funds or their designated agent will confirm orders and subscriptions upon their receipt, will make appropriate book entries and, upon receipt by the Funds or their designated agent of payment therefore, will issue such Shares in uncertificated form pursuant to the instructions of NLD. NLD agrees to cause such payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to the Funds or their designated agent.


(d)

Each Fund reserves the right to suspend the offering of Shares of such Fund at any time in the absolute discretion of the Board, and upon notice of such suspension NLD shall cease to offer Shares of such Fund specified in the notice.


(e)

No Shares shall be offered by either NLD or a Fund under any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by a Fund if and so long as the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the Securities Act, or if and so long as a current Prospectus, as required by Section 10(b) of the Securities Act, as amended, is not on file with the SEC; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph shall in any way limit a Fund’s obligation to repurchase Shares from any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's Organizational Documents or the Prospectus applicable to the Shares.

4.

LICENSED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FUNDS.





Page 5 of 21





At the request of the Trust, a Fund, a Fund’s sponsor, adviser or affiliate, NLD may license certain designated employees as “registered representatives” and maintain their licensed status in accordance with FINRA rules and regulations including the following:


(a)

Filing Form U-4’s and fingerprint submission and processing renewals and terminations;


(b)

Ongoing compliance updates and training;


(c)

Preparation of materials and training for compliance with FINRA continuing education requirements; and


(d)

Supervision of registered representatives.


NLD reserves the right in its sole discretion to refuse to register or maintain the registration for any individual and otherwise impose any requirements, fees or limitations on licensed persons.   

 

5.

REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES BY THE FUNDS


(a)

Any of the outstanding Shares of the Funds may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Funds agree to redeem or repurchase the Shares so tendered in accordance with their obligations as set forth in the Organizational Documents and the Prospectus relating to the Shares.


(b)

The Funds or their designated agent shall pay:


(i)

 the total amount of the redemption price consisting of the NAV less any applicable redemption fee to the redeeming shareholder or its agent, and


(ii)

except as may be otherwise required by FINRA Rules, any applicable deferred sales charges to NLD in accordance with NLD’s instructions on or before the fifth business day (or such other earlier business day as is customary in the investment company industry) subsequent to the Funds or their agent having received the notice of redemption in proper form.


(c)

Redemption of Shares or payment therefore may be suspended at times when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closings, when trading thereon is restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Funds of securities owned by the Funds is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Funds fairly to




Page 6 of 21





determine the value of the Funds’ net assets, or during any other period when the SEC so requires or permits.


6.

DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF NLD


(a)

NLD shall use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of Shares of the Funds upon the terms and conditions contained herein and in the then current Prospectus.  NLD shall devote reasonable time and effort to facilitate the distribution of Fund shares but shall not be obligated to sell any specific number of Shares.  The services of NLD to the Funds hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and nothing herein contained shall prevent NLD from entering into like arrangements with other investment companies so long as the performance of its obligations hereunder is not impaired thereby.


(b)

NLD will execute and deliver agreements with broker/dealers, financial institutions and other industry professionals based on forms of agreement approved from time to time by the Board with respect to Shares of the Funds, including but not limited to forms of sales support agreements and shareholder servicing agreements approved in connection with any distribution and/or servicing plan approved in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.


(c)

NLD shall be responsible for reviewing and providing advice and counsel on, and filing with the FINRA, all sales literature (e.g., advertisements, brochures and shareholder communications, including a Fund’s website) with respect to the Funds.  All costs associated with advertising filings shall be paid by the Funds.  NLD will forward all FINRA comments on marketing materials to the Trust for incorporation into such materials and the sole responsibility for incorporation of such comments shall remain with the Trust; provided, however, that the Trust shall provide all factual content, opinion, and other content for such materials and NLD shall not be responsible for the accuracy of the content of such materials, when used thereafter by the Trust or any person authorized by the Trust to use such material; nor shall NLD be responsible for the filing or content of any such materials used by third parties without the authorization of NLD; and provided further that NLD shall not be responsible for filing any materials that fall within the definition of advertising and sales literature if such materials are not provided to NLD in a form suitable for filing in a timely manner.  In addition, NLD will provide one or more persons, during normal business hours, to respond to telephone questions with respect to the Funds.


(d)

NLD will forward all sales related complaints concerning the Funds to the Trust.





Page 7 of 21





(e)

NLD will provide assistance in the preparation of quarterly board materials with regard to sales and other distribution related data reasonably requested by the Board of the Trust.  


(f)

All activities by NLD and its agents and employees as distributor of Shares shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act, and the FINRA Rules, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act by the SEC or any securities association registered under the Securities Exchange Act.


(g)

In selling Shares of the Funds, NLD shall use its best efforts in all material respects duly to conform with the requirements of all federal and state laws relating to the sale of the Shares.  Neither NLD, any selected dealer, any selected agent nor any other person is authorized by the Funds to give any information or to make any representations other than as is contained in the Funds’ Prospectus or any advertising materials or sales literature specifically approved in writing by the Funds or their agents.


(h)

NLD shall adopt and follow procedures for the confirmation of sales to investors and selected dealers or selected agents, the collection of amounts payable by investors and selected dealers or selected agents on such sales, and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of the FINRA.


(i)

NLD represents and warrants to the Trust that:


(i)

It is a limited liability company duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nebraska and it is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of Nebraska;


(ii)

It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Organization to enter into and perform this Agreement;


(iii)

All requisite actions have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;


(iv)

It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;


(v)

This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of NLD, enforceable against NLD in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws




Page 8 of 21





of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and


(vi)

It is registered under the Securities Exchange Act with the SEC as a broker-dealer, it is a member in good standing of the FINRA, it will abide by the FINRA Rules, and it will notify the Trust if its membership in the FINRA is terminated or suspended.


(vii)

Its selling agreements will require that selling agents comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws, regulations, rules and government guidance, including the reporting, record keeping and compliance requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA"), as amended by The International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002, Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act (the “PATRIOT Act"), its implementing regulations, and related SEC and self-regulatory organization (“SRO”) rules.


(j)

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, including the Schedules, to the contrary, NLD makes no warranty or representation as to the number of selected dealers or selected agents with which it has entered into agreements in accordance with Section 12 hereof, as to the availability of any Shares to be sold through any selected dealer, selected agent or other intermediary or as to any other matter not specifically set forth herein.

 

7.

DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST


(a)

The Trust shall furnish to NLD copies of all financial statements and other documents to be delivered to shareholders or investors at least two (2) Fund Business Days prior to such delivery and shall furnish NLD copies of all other financial statements, documents and other papers or information which NLD may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares. The Trust shall make available to NLD the number of copies of the Funds’ Prospectuses as NLD shall reasonably request.


(b)

The Trust shall take, from time to time, subject to the approval of the Board and any required approval of the shareholders of the Funds, all actions necessary to fix the number of authorized Shares (if such number is not unlimited) and to register the Shares under the Securities Act, to the end that there will be available for sale the number of Shares as reasonably may be expected to be sold pursuant to this Agreement.


(c)

The Trust will execute any and all documents, furnish any and all information and otherwise take all actions that may be reasonably necessary to register or qualify Shares for sale in such states as NLD may designate to the Funds and the Funds may approve, and the Funds shall pay all fees and other expenses incurred in




Page 9 of 21





connection with such registration or qualification; provided that NLD shall not be required to register as a broker-dealer or file a consent to service of process in any State and the Funds shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, investment company or association in any State. Any registration or qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Funds at any time in their discretion. NLD shall furnish such information and other material relating to its affairs and activities as the Funds require in connection with such registration or qualification.


(d)

The Trust represents and warrants to NLD that:


(i)

It is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware;


(ii)

It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Organizational Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;


(iii)

All proceedings required by the Organizational Documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform its duties under this Agreement;


(iv)

It is or will be and will continue to be an open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act;


(v)

All Shares, when issued, shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;


(vi)

This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;


(vii)

The performance by the Trust of its obligations hereunder does not and will not contravene any provision of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust;


(viii)

The Registration Statement is or will be effective and will remain effective with respect to all Shares of the Funds being offered for sale;


(ix)

The Registration Statement and Prospectus have been or will be, as the case may be, carefully prepared in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;





Page 10 of 21





(x)

The Registration Statement and Prospectus contain or will contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; all statements of fact contained or to be contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus are or will be true and correct at the time indicated or on the effective date as the case may be; and neither the Registration Statement nor any Prospectus, when they shall become effective or be authorized for use, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of Shares;


(xi)

It will from time to time file such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as, in the light of then-current and then-prospective developments, shall, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order to have the Registration Statement and Prospectus at all times contain all material facts required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of Shares ("Required Amendments");


(xii)

It shall not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus without giving NLD reasonable advance notice thereof; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Funds’ right to file at any time such amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Funds may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional;


(xiii)

All Shares of the Funds are properly registered in the states as required by applicable state laws;


(xiv)

Any amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus hereafter filed will, when it becomes effective, contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; all statements of fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus will, when it becomes effective, be true and correct at the time indicated or on the effective date as the case may be; and no such amendment, when it becomes effective, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of the Shares;


(xv)

In connection with any registered representatives maintained under this Agreement, the Trust agrees to cooperate with NLD and provide reports as necessary to maintain appropriate licensing and qualifications and report to NLD any complaints, arbitrations, litigation or any other material matter that may affect a registered representative’s registration status;





Page 11 of 21





(xvi)

It has adopted necessary procedures to comply with the BSA, as amended by the PATRIOT Act, its implementing regulations, and related SEC and SRO rules. Consistent with this requirement, the Trust shall ensure that the account opening forms utilized by the Funds contain the necessary customer information such as name, address, taxpayer identification and other information to verify the identity of such customers as well as provide proper notification to customers of such anti-money laundering program adopted by the Trust and/or its service providers; and


(xvii)

NLD may rely on and will be held harmless from relying on oral or written instructions it receives from an officer, agent, or legal counsel to the Trust.  

 

8.

INDEMNIFICATION OF NLD BY THE TRUST


(a)

The Trust authorizes NLD and any dealers with whom NLD has entered into dealer agreements to use the latest Prospectus in the form furnished by the Trust in connection with the sale of Shares.  The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold NLD, its several officers and managers, and any person who controls NLD within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which NLD, its officers and managers, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon:


(i)

any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus,


(ii)

the breach of any representations, warranties or obligations set forth herein,


(iii)

any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading,


(iv)

the Trust’s failure to maintain an effective Registration Statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand,


(v)

the Trust’s failure to provide NLD with advertising or sales materials to be filed with the FINRA on a timely basis or use of marketing materials that are false or misleading,





Page 12 of 21





(vi)

the Trust’s failure to properly register Fund Shares under applicable state laws, or


(vii)

all reasonable actions taken by NLD hereunder, including all actions resulting from NLD’s reliance on instructions received from an officer, agent or legal counsel of the Trust.


(b)

The Trust’s agreement to indemnify NLD, its officers or managers, and any such controlling person will not be deemed to cover any such claim, demand, liability or expense to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon:


(i)

any such untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon information furnished by NLD, its officers, managers or any such controlling person to the Funds or their representatives for use in the preparation thereof, or


(ii)

willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of NLD’s duties, or by reason of NLD’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement ("Disqualifying Conduct").  


(c)

The Trust’s agreement to indemnify NLD, its officers and managers, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the Trust’s being notified of any action brought against NLD, its officers or managers, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter, by facsimile or by telegram addressed to the Trust at the address set forth above within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served; provided, however, that the failure to notify the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust  from any liability which the Trust  may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of the Trust’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section.  


(d)

The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Trust and approved by NLD, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  If the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by NLD, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but in case the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, the Trust will reimburse NLD, its officers and managers, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.





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(e)

The Trust’s indemnification agreement contained in this Section and the Trust’s representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of NLD, its officers and managers, or any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to NLD’s benefit, to the benefit of its several officers and managers, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of any controlling persons and their successors. The Trust agrees promptly to notify NLD of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its officers or Board members in connection with the issue and sale of Shares.

 

9.

INDEMNIFICATION OF THE TRUST BY NLD


(a)

NLD agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its several officers and Board members, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Trust , its officers or Board members, or such controlling person results from such claims or demands:

(i)

arising out of or based upon statements or representations made by NLD which are unauthorized by the Trust or its agents in any sales literature or advertisements or any Disqualifying Conduct by NLD in connection with the offering and sale of any Shares, or


(ii)

arising out of or based upon any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by NLD to the Funds specifically for use in the Trust’s Registration Statement and used in the answers to any of the items of the Registration Statement or in the corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or shall arise out of or be based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by NLD to the Trust and required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such information not misleading.  


(b)

NLD’s agreement to indemnify the Trust, its officers and Trustees, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon NLD’s being notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers or Trustees, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter, by facsimile or by telegram addressed to NLD at its address set forth above within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served.





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(c)

The failure to notify NLD of any such action shall not relieve NLD from any liability which it may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of NLD’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section.


(d)

NLD will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by NLD and approved by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  If NLD elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by the Trust the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but in the case NLD does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, NLD will reimburse the Trust, the Trust’s officers and directors, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Trust or them.


NLD’s indemnification agreement contained in this Section and NLD’s representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by NLD or on behalf of NLD, its officers and managers, or any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the Trust’s benefit, to the benefit of the Trust’s officers and Trustees, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of any controlling persons and their successors. NLD agrees promptly to notify the Trust of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against NLD or any of its officers or managers in connection with the issue and sale of Shares.

 

10.

NOTIFICATION BY THE TRUST


(a)

The Trust agrees to advise NLD as soon as reasonably practical:


(i)

of any request by the SEC for amendments to the Registration Statement or any Prospectus then in effect;


(ii)

of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Prospectus then in effect or of the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose;


(iii)

of the happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus then in effect or which requires the making of a change in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading;





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(iv)

of all actions of the SEC with respect to any amendment to any Registration Statement or any Prospectus which may from time to time be filed with the SEC;


(v)

if a current Prospectus is not on file with the SEC; and


(vi)

of all advertising, sales materials and other communications with the public required to be filed with the FINRA. This obligation shall extend to all revisions of such communications.


For purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the Staff of the SEC shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the SEC.

 

11.

COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES


(a)

In consideration of NLD’s services hereunder, the Funds agree to pay, or cause the Funds’ adviser(s) to pay to NLD the fees set forth in Schedule B , attached hereto.  The monthly Service Fee set forth on Schedule B may be offset by any fees and charges collected and retained by NLD, for the applicable month, as set forth below:  


(i)

any applicable sales charge assessed upon investors in connection with the purchase of Shares;


(ii)

from the Funds, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge assessed upon investors in connection with the redemption of Shares;


(iii)

from the Funds, the distribution service fees with respect to the Shares of those classes as designated in Schedule A for which a Plan is effective (the "Distribution Fee"); and


(iv)

from the Funds, the shareholder service fees with respect to the Shares of those Classes as designated in Schedule A for which a Service Plan is effective (the "Shareholder Service Fee").

 

(b)

The Distribution Fee and Shareholder Service Fee, if any, shall be accrued daily by the Trust or class thereof and shall be paid monthly as promptly as possible after the last day of each calendar month, at the rate or in the amounts set forth in the Plan(s). The Trust grants and transfers to NLD a general lien and security interest in any and all securities and other assets of the Trust now or hereafter maintained in an account at the Trust’s custodian on behalf of the Trust to secure any Distribution Fees, Shareholder Service Fees, or other fees owed NLD by the Trust under this Agreement.  All fees set forth herein shall be due and payable upon receipt of invoice and shall be considered late if payment is not received by NLD within fifteen (15) days of the Trust’s




Page 16 of 21





receipt of the invoice.  Payments not received with fifteen (15) days may be assessed interest at the maximum amount permitted by law.  


(c)

The Trust shall be responsible and assumes the obligation for payment of all the expenses of the Trust, including fees and disbursements of its counsel and auditors, in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and Prospectus (including but not limited to the expense of setting in type the Registration Statement and Prospectus and printing sufficient quantities for internal compliance, regulatory purposes and for distribution to current shareholders).


The Trust shall bear the costs and expenses (i) of the registration of the Shares for sale under the Securities Act; (ii) of the registration or qualification of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the various States; (iii) if necessary or advisable in connection therewith, of qualifying the Funds, (but not NLD) as an issuer or as a broker or dealer, in such States as shall be selected by the Trust and NLD pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof; (iv) payable to each State for continuing registration or qualification therein until the Funds decide to discontinue registration or qualification pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof; and (v) payable for standard transmission costs,  including costs imposed by the National Securities Clearing Corporation.  NLD shall pay all expenses relating to NLD's broker-dealer qualification.


12.

SELECTED DEALER AND SELECTED AGENT AGREEMENTS


NLD shall have the right to enter into selected dealer agreements with securities dealers of its choice ("selected dealers") and selected agent agreements with depository institutions and other financial intermediaries of its choice ("selected agents") for the sale of Shares and to fix therein the portion of the sales charge, if any, that may be allocated to the selected dealers or selected agents; provided, that the Trust shall approve the forms of agreements with selected dealers or selected agents and shall review and approve the compensation set forth therein. A form selling agreement for the Funds will be provided by NLD.  Selected dealers and selected agents shall resell Shares of the Funds at the public offering price(s) set forth in the Prospectus relating to the Shares. Within the United States, NLD shall offer and sell Shares of the Funds only to selected dealers that are members in good standing of the FINRA.  

 

13.

CONFIDENTIALITY


NLD agrees to treat all records and other information related to the Trust as proprietary information of the Trust and, on behalf of itself and its employees, to keep confidential all such information, except that NLD may:





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(a)

Prepare or assist in the preparation of periodic reports to shareholders and regulatory bodies such as the SEC;


(b)

provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information regarding investment companies; and


(c)

release such other information as approved in writing by the Funds, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.


NLD may release any information regarding the Trust without the consent of the Trust if NLD reasonably believes that it may be exposed to civil or criminal legal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to release any information by duly constituted authorities or when so requested by the Trust. Each party agrees to comply with Regulation S-P under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.


14.

EFFECTIVENESS AND DURATION


(a)

This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and will continue for an initial two-year term and will continue thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Trust’s Board or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the Shares of the Trust, provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


(b)

This agreement is terminable, without penalty, on not less than sixty (60) days' notice, by the Board, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Trust, or by NLD.


(c)

This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment."


(d)

NLD agrees to notify the Trust immediately upon the event of NLD’s expulsion or suspension by the FINRA.  This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of NLD’s expulsion or suspension by the FINRA.

 

15.

DISASTER RECOVERY


 

NLD shall maintain disaster recovery procedures in effect making reasonable provisions for the storage and retrieval of information maintained in NLD’s possession.  




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16.

DEFINITIONS


As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:


(a)

The “Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Trust.


(b)

“Fund Business Day” means any day on which the NAV of Shares of each Fund is determined as stated in the then current Prospectus.


(c)

“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.


(d)

“FINRA Rules” means the Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Fair Practice of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") and any interpretations thereof.


(e)

“NAV” means the net asset value per Share of each Fund as determined by such Fund, or its designated agent, in accordance with and at the times indicated in the applicable Prospectus of such Fund on each Fund Business Day in accordance with the method set forth in the Prospectus and guidelines established by the Board.


(f)

“Public Offering Price” means the price per Share of each Fund at which NLD or selected dealers or selected agents may sell Shares to the public or to those persons eligible to invest in Shares as described in the Prospectus of such Fund, determined in accordance with such Prospectus under the Securities Act relating to such Shares.


(g)

“Prospectus” means the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Funds, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented.


(h)

“Registration Statement” means the Funds’ Registration Statement on Form N-1A and all amendments thereto filed with the SEC.


(i)

“SEC” means the U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission.


(j)

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


(k)

 “Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


(l)

“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.





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(m)

The terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested person" and "assignment" shall have the same meanings as such terms have in the 1940 Act.

 

17.

MISCELLANEOUS


(a)

No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both parties.


(b)

This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Nebraska.


(c)

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.


(d)

The parties may execute this Agreement or any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.


(e)

If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected by such determination, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.


(f)

In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other party resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.


(g)

NLD shall not be liable for any consequential, incidental, exemplary, punitive, special or indirect damages, whether or not the likelihood of such damages was known by NLD or its affiliates.  


(h)

Any controversy or claim arising out of, or related to, this Agreement, its termination or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration by three arbitrators (or by fewer arbitrator(s), if the parties subsequently agree to fewer) in the State of Nebraska, in accordance with the arbitration rules and procedures of the FINRA then in effect, and the arbitrators’ decision shall be binding and final, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.





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(i)

Section and paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.


(j)

All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been given when received, and shall be given to the following addresses (or such other addresses as to which notice is given):


To the Trust:

To NLD:


Two Roads Shared Trust

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

Attn: President

Attn: President

17605 Wright Street

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE  68130

Omaha, NE  68130


(k)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund of the Trust are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund and that no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise.


(l)

Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that they have full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated and that their signature will bind the party indicated to the terms hereof.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized persons, as of the day and year first above written.



TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC




By:  /s/ Andrew Rogers  

By:  /s/ Brian Nielsen


        Andrew Rogers

Brian Nielsen

        President

President





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UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Schedule A


Fund Name

Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Board Approval Date

Alternative Avenue Fund

Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

Battenkill Capital Management, Inc.

Del Mar Asset Management, LP

Highland Capital Management, L.P.

Kellner Capital LLC

Phineus Partners, L.P.

RockView Management, LLC

Sound Point Capital Management, LP

8/29/12

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

Belvedere Asset Management, LLC

N/A

8/29/12

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

N/A

8/29/12

LJM Income Plus Fund

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

N/A

8/29/12


 

[GTWOROADSCUSTODYAGREEMENT002.GIF]

 

 

GLOBAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT

For Foreign and Domestic Securities



This Custodian Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of August 29, 2012 by and between Two Roads Shared Trust ("Principal") and Union Bank, N.A. ("Custodian").


WHEREAS , the Custodian is a bank meeting the qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the Act to act as custodian of the portfolio securities and other assets of investment companies; and

WHEREAS , Principal wishes to retain the Custodian to act as custodian of its portfolio securities and other assets, and the Custodian has indicated its willingness to so act;

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:


1. DEFINITIONS   Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined as follows:

1.1. " Account" means, collectively, each account maintained by Custodian on behalf of Principal pursuant to Paragraph 4 of this Agreement.

1.2. "Act " means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") thereunder, including §270.17f-4, §270.17f-5 and §270.17f-7, all as may be amended from time to time.

1.3. “Board ” means the Board of Trustees or the Board of Directors of Principal.

1.4. “Depository ” means both any “securities depository” within the meaning of §270.17f-4 of the Act and any Eligible Securities Depository

1.5. "Eligible Foreign Custodian " means an entity that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the United States and that is a Qualified Foreign Bank, as defined in §270.17f-5(a)(5) of the Act.

1.6. "Eligible Securities Depository ", ("Depository", or collectively "Depositories") means a system for the central handling of securities as defined in §270.17f-7(b)(1) of the Act.

1.7. “Emerging Market ” means each market so identified in Appendix A attached hereto.

1.8. “Foreign Account ” means an Account in which Foreign Currencies or Securities are held by the Custodian for the benefit of clients whether in comingled accounts or accounts designated for each beneficial owner as is required under the regulatory jurisdiction where the Foreign Account is established.

1.9. “Foreign Assets ” has the meaning provided in §270.17f-5(a)(2) of the Act.

1.10. “Foreign Currency ” (“Currencies”) means any currency or any composite currency unit issued by a government or entity other than the United States Department of Treasury.

1.11. “Foreign Market ” means each market so identified in Appendix A attached hereto.

1.12. “Sub-Custodian ” means an entity, including an Eligible Foreign Custodian and Domestic Sub-Custodian, which Custodian retains to hold Securities.



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1.13. “Global Sub-Agent Network” (“Sub-Agent Network” or “Sub-Agents”) means any Sub-Custodian located in the United States (the “Domestic Sub-Custodian”),  and any sub-agents located in the countries and markets where Eligible Foreign Sub-Custodians and Eligible Foreign Depositories are maintained by Custodian or any Sub-Custodian located in the United States which utilizes a Sub-Agent Network on behalf of Custodian..

1.14. "Governing Documents " means, with respect to each of the portfolios, (i) the declaration of trust or other constituting document of the Principal of which the portfolio is a series or portfolio, (ii) the currently effective prospectus under the Securities Act, (ii) the most recent statement of additional information, and (iii) a certified copy of the Board approving the engagement of the Custodian to act as custodian of the Securities.

1.15. "Investment Manager " or “Manager” means an investment advisor or manager identified by Principal in a written notice to Custodian as having the authority to direct Custodian regarding the management, acquisition, or disposition of Securities.

1.16. “Monitoring System ” means the policies and procedures established by Custodian to fulfill its duties to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining Securities with a Sub-Custodian or Depository on a continuing basis, pursuant to this Agreement.

1.17. "Securities " means securities as defined in §2(a)(36) of the Act together with cash or any currency or other property of Principal and all income and proceeds of sale of such securities or other property of Principal that are held by Custodian in the Account.

1.18. Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2. APPOINTMENT

2.1. Principal hereby appoints the Custodian as the custodian of the Securities of each of its Portfolios.

2.2. Principal has provided the Custodian with a copy of its Governing Documents, and will provide the Custodian with a copy of amendments, supplements and modifications thereof from time to time.

2.3. The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as custodian of the Securities of Principal and agrees to perform the duties of such custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.1. Power to Enter Agreement.   Principal represents that, with respect to the Account, Principal is authorized to enter into this Agreement and to retain Custodian on the terms and conditions and for the purposes described herein.

3.2. Foreign Custody Manager.   The custodian agrees to serve as Principal’s “Foreign Custody Manager” as defined in Rule §270.17f-5(a)(3) of the Act, in respect of Principal’s Foreign Assets held from time to time by the Custodian with any Sub-Custodian that is an Eligible Foreign Custodian or with any Eligible Securities Depository.  

3.3. Custodian’s Sub-Agent Network.   Principal hereby acknowledges receiving appropriate notice of Custodian's selection of the use of those Eligible Foreign Custodians and Eligible Securities Depositories that are identified in Appendix A of this Agreement as amended from time to time.

4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT

Custodian shall open and maintain a separate Account or Accounts in the name of Principal and shall hold in such Account or Accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all Securities received by it from or for the Account of the Principal.  Custodian, in its sole discretion, may reasonably refuse to accept any property now or hereafter delivered to it for inclusion in the Account.  Principal shall be notified promptly of such refusal and any such property shall be immediately returned to Principal.  Custodian shall be under no duty to take any action hereunder on behalf of the Principal except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by Custodian and the Principal in a written amendment hereto.



© Union Bank, N.A. (2012_0701)  

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5. CUSTODY AND REGISTRATION

Custodian may (i) maintain possession of all or any portion of the Securities, including possession in a foreign branch or other office of Custodian; or (ii) retain, in accordance with this Paragraph 5 and Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, one or more Sub-Custodians to hold all or any portion of the Securities.  Custodian and any Sub-Custodian may, in accordance with this Paragraph 5 and Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, deposit definitive or book-entry Securities with one or more Depositories.

5.1. Identification of Securities.   Custodian shall ensure the Securities are at all times properly identified as being held for the appropriate Account.  Custodian shall segregate physically the Securities from other securities owned by Custodian.  Custodian shall not be required to segregate physically Securities held from other securities or property held by Custodian for third parties as custodian or other representative capacity, but Custodian shall maintain adequate records showing the true ownership of the Securities.

5.2. Use of Depositories and Sub-Custodians.   Custodian may, in its discretion, deposit any Securities which, under applicable law, are eligible to be so deposited in a Depository or Sub-Custodian account.  Securities and Foreign Currencies held by a Sub-Custodian or Depository will be held subject to the rules, terms and conditions of such securities markets or securities depositories.  If Custodian deposits Securities with a Sub-Custodian or Depository, Custodian shall maintain adequate records showing the identity and location of the Sub-Custodian or Depository, the Securities held by the Sub-Custodian or Depository and each account to which such Securities belong.  With respect to Securities that are held for Custodian or any Sub-Custodian at a Depository, as defined in of §270.17f-4 of the Act, Custodian shall satisfy or cause the Sub-Custodian to satisfy the requirements of §270.17f-4 of the Act.

5.3. Use of Nominees.   Custodian shall have the right to hold or cause to be held all Securities in the name of the Custodian, or for any Sub-Custodian or Depository, or in the name of a nominee of any of them as Custodian shall determine to be appropriate under the circumstances.

5.4. Foreign Currency Deposits.   The Custodian may in accordance with customary practices hold any currency in which any cash is denominated on deposit, and effect transaction relating thereto, through an account with an affiliate of Union Bank, or Sub-Custodian or Depository in the country where such currency is the lawful currency or in other countries where such currency may be lawfully held on deposit.

5.5. Transferability and Convertibility of Currency.   Custodian shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event, which may affect the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any currency in the countries where such Foreign Accounts are maintained and in no event shall Custodian be obligated to substitute another currency for a currency whose transferability, convertibility, or availability has been affected by such law, regulation or event.  To the extent that any such law, regulation or event imposes a cost or charge upon Custodian in relation to the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any such currency, such cost or charge shall be for the Account.

5.6. Delivery of Securities.   If Principal or Investment Manager directs Custodian to deliver assets, certificates or other physical evidence of ownership of Securities to any broker or other party, other than a Sub-Custodian or Depository employed by Custodian for purposes of maintaining the Account, Custodian’s sole responsibility shall be to exercise care and diligence in effecting the delivery as instructed by Principal or Manager.  Upon completion of the delivery, Custodian shall be discharged completely of any further liability or responsibility with respect to the safekeeping and custody of Securities so delivered.

5.7. Transferability of Securities.   Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement or as the parties may otherwise agree, Custodian shall ensure that (i) the Securities will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien, or claim of any kind in favor of Custodian or any Sub-Custodian or any person claiming through any of them except for Custodian's expenses relating to the Securities' safe custody or administration or other services made available under contractual agreements to Account by Custodian, and in the case of cash deposits at an Eligible Foreign Custodian, liens or rights in favor of the creditors of the Eligible Foreign Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws, and (ii) the beneficial ownership of the Securities will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration.



© Union Bank, N.A. (2012_0701)  

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5.8. Access to Account Records.   Principal or its designee, shall have access, upon reasonable prior notice to Custodian, during regular business hours to the books and records relating to the Accounts, or shall be given confirmation of the contents of the books and records, maintained by Custodian or any Sub-Custodian holding securities hereunder to verify the accuracy of such books and records.  Custodian shall notify Principal promptly of any applicable law or regulation in any country where Securities are held that would restrict such access or confirmation.

6. SELECTION AND MONITORING OF GLOBAL SUB-AGENT NETWORK

Upon written notice to Principal, as provided in Subparagraph 6.3 of this Agreement, Custodian may from time to time select one or more Domestic Sub-Custodians and Eligible Foreign Custodians and, subject to the provisions of Subparagraph 6.5, one or more Eligible Securities Depositories, to hold Securities hereunder.

6.1. Governing Sub-Agent Agreement .  Any relationship Custodian establishes with an Eligible Foreign Custodian with respect to Securities shall be governed by a written contract providing for the reasonable care of Securities based on the standards specified in section §270.17(f)-5(c)(1) of the Act, and including the provisions set forth in sections §270.17(f)-5(c)(2)(i)(A) through (F) of the Act, or provisions which Custodian determines provide the same or greater protection of Principal's Securities.

6.2. Sub-Agent Network Selection.

6.2.1. Foreign Sub-Custodian.  In selecting an Eligible Foreign Custodian on behalf of Custodian, the Domestic Sub-Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence and shall consider whether the Securities will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market, including (i) the Eligible Foreign Custodian's practices, procedures, and internal controls, including, but not limited to, the physical protections available for certificated securities (if applicable), the method of keeping custodial records, and the security and data protection practices; (ii) the Eligible Foreign Custodian's financial strength, general reputation and standing in the country in which it is located, its ability to provide efficiently the custodial services required, and the relative cost of such services; and, (iii) whether the Eligible Foreign Custodian has branch offices in the United States, or consents to service of process in the United States, in order to facilitate jurisdiction over and enforcement of judgments against it.

6.2.2. Securities Depository.  In selecting an Eligible Securities Depository, Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence, and diligence in evaluating the custody risks associated with maintaining Securities with the Eligible Securities Depository under Custodian's custody arrangements with any relevant Eligible Foreign Custodian and the Eligible Securities Depository.

6.3. Notices to Principal.   Custodian shall give written notice to Principal of the deposit of Securities with an Eligible Foreign Custodian or, directly or through an Eligible Foreign Sub-Custodian, with an Eligible Securities Depository.  The notice shall identify the Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository and shall include reasonably available information relied on by Custodian in making the selection.

6.4. Monitoring of Sub-Agent Network.   Custodian shall monitor under its Monitoring System the appropriateness of the continued custody or maintenance of Principal's Securities with each Domestic Sub-Custodian and their Global Network of Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository.

6.4.1. Custodian shall evaluate and determine at least annually the continued eligibility of its Domestic Sub-Custodian and each Eligible Foreign Custodian and Eligible Securities Depository approved by Principal to act as such hereunder.  In discharging this responsibility, Custodian shall (i) monitor on a continuing basis the services and reports provided by its Domestic Sub-Custodian for each of its Eligible Foreign Custodians or Eligible Securities Depositories; (ii) at least annually, obtain and review the periodic reports published by its Domestic Sub-Custodian confirming the Domestic Sub-Custodian’s review of the continued eligibility of each Foreign Sub-Custodian and Foreign Securities Depository;, and, (iii) review periodic reports related to the Domestic Sub-Custodian’s periodic physical inspections of the operations of each Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository as deemed appropriate.

6.4.2. Custodian shall provide to the Board annually and at such other times as the Board may reasonably request based on the circumstances of the Principal’s foreign custody arrangements, written reports notifying the Board of the placement of Securities of Principal with a particular Domestic Sub-Custodian or a particular foreign Eligible Foreign Custodian within a Foreign Market or an Emerging Market and of any material change in the arrangements (including any material changes



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in any contracts governing such arrangements or any material changes in the established practices or procedures of Depositories) with respect to Securities of the Principal held by the Eligible Foreign Custodian.

6.4.3. If Custodian determines that (i) any Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository no longer satisfies the applicable requirements described in Subparagraph 1.4 of this Agreement (in the case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian) or Subparagraph 1.5 of this Agreement (in the case of an Eligible Securities Depository); or, (ii) any Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository is otherwise no longer capable or qualified to perform the functions contemplated herein; or, (iii) any change in a contract with a Eligible Foreign Custodian or any change in established Eligible Securities Depository or market practices or procedures shall cause a custody arrangement to no longer meet the requirements of the Act, Custodian shall promptly give written notice thereof to Principal.  The notice shall either indicate Custodian's intention to transfer Securities held by the removed Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository to another Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository previously identified to Principal, or include a notice pursuant to Subparagraph 6.4 of this Agreement of Custodian's intention to deposit Securities with a new Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository, in either instance such transfer of Securities to be effected as soon as reasonably practical.

6.5. Compulsory Depositories.   Notwithstanding the foregoing sub-sections of this Paragraph 6 , Custodian shall have no responsibility for the selection or monitoring of any Eligible Securities Depository or Eligible Securities Depository’s agent (“Compulsory Depository”) (i) the use of which is mandated by law or regulation; (ii) because securities cannot be withdrawn from the depository; or (iii) because maintaining securities outside the securities depository is not consistent with prevailing market practices in the relevant market; provided however, that Custodian shall notify Principal if Principal has directed a trade in a market containing a Compulsory Depository, so Principal and Advisor shall have an opportunity to determine the appropriateness of investing in such market.  

6.6. Assessment of Custody Risk.   Principal and Custodian agree that, for purposes of this Paragraph 6 , Custodian’s determination of appropriateness shall only include custody risk, and shall not include any evaluation of “country risk” or systemic risk associated with the investment or holding of assets in a particular country or market, including, but not limited to (i) the use of Compulsory Depositories, (ii) the country’s or market's financial infrastructure, (iii) the country’s or market's prevailing custody and settlement practices, (iv) risk of nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions, (v) regulation of the banking or securities industries, (vi) currency controls, restrictions, devaluation or fluctuation, and (vii) country or market conditions which may affect the orderly execution of securities transactions or affect the value of the transactions.  Principal and Custodian further agree that the evaluation of any such country and systemic risks shall be solely the responsibility of Principal and the Investment Manager.

7. TRANSACTIONS

7.1. Instructions and Immediately Available Funds.   Principal, or where applicable, the Investment Manager, is responsible for ensuring that Custodian receives timely instructions and sufficient immediately available funds for all transactions by such time and date as conditions in the relevant market dictates.  As used herein, "sufficient immediately available funds" shall mean either (a) sufficient cash denominated in the currency of Principal's home jurisdiction to purchase the necessary foreign currency, or (b) sufficient applicable foreign currency, to settle the transaction.  If Custodian does not receive such timely instructions and/or immediately available funds, Custodian shall have no liability of any kind to any person, including Principal, for failing to effect settlement.  However, Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to effect settlement as soon as possible after receipt of appropriate instructions.  Unless otherwise specified by Principal or Manager, foreign exchange transactions will be processed according to the instructions in Appendix B.

7.2. Customary or Established Settlement Practices .  Principal and Manager acknowledge settlement of and payment for Securities received for and delivered from the Account may be made in accordance with the customary or established securities trading and securities processing practices in the market in which the transaction occurs.  Principal understands that when Custodian is instructed to deliver Foreign Securities or Foreign Currencies against payment, delivery of such Foreign Securities and Foreign Currencies and receipt of payment therefore may not be completed simultaneously.  Principal assumes full responsibility for all credit risks involved in connection with Custodian's delivery of Foreign Securities or Foreign Currencies pursuant to instructions of Principal or Manager.

7.3. Additions to and Withdrawals from Account.   Custodian shall make all additions and withdrawals of Securities to and from this Account only upon receipt of and pursuant to written instructions from Principal or Manager.



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7.4. Purchase or Sales.   Principal or Manager from time to time may instruct Custodian regarding the purchase or sale of Securities in accordance with this paragraph 7.4.  

7.5. Purchases.   Custodian shall settle purchases by charging the Account with the amount necessary to make the purchase and effecting payment to the seller or broker for the Securities.  Custodian shall have no liability of any kind to any person, including Principal, if Custodian effects payment on behalf of the Account, and the settler or broker specified by Manager fails to deliver the Securities purchased.  Custodian shall exercise such ordinary care and diligence as would be employed by a reasonably prudent custodian in examining and verifying the certificates or other indicia of ownership of the Securities purchased before accepting them, except with respect to assets described in Paragraph 7.7.

7.6. Sales.   Custodian shall settle sales by delivering certificates or other indicia of ownership of the Securities, and as instructed, shall receive cash for such sales.  Custodian shall have no liability of any kind to any person, including Principal, if Custodian exercises due diligence and delivers such certificates or indicia of ownership and the purchaser or broker fails to effect payment.

7.7. Depository Settlement.   If a purchase or sale is settled through a Sub-Custodian or Depository, Custodian shall exercise such ordinary care and diligence as would be employed by a reasonably prudent custodian in verifying proper consummation of the transaction by the Sub-Custodian or Depository.

7.8. Income and Principal.   Custodian or its designated Sub-Agents are authorized, as Principal's agent, to surrender against payment maturing obligations and obligations called for redemption, and to collect and receive payments of interest and principal, dividends, warrants, and other things of value in connection with Securities.  Absent written instructions from Principal or Manager, funds will remain in the currency of collection upon receipt of payment.

7.9. Foreign Currency Transactions.   At the direction of Principal or the Investment Manager, as the case may be, Custodian shall convert currency in the Account to other currencies through customary channels including, without limitation, Custodian or any of its affiliates or Sub-Custodian Network, as shall be necessary to effect any transaction directed by Principal or the Investment Manager.  If Principal or Investment Advisor gives Custodian standing instructions to execute foreign currency exchange transactions on Principal’s behalf such transactions will be performed in accordance with the FX Standing Instructions Defined Spread Service Level Document as amended from time to time.

7.10. Taxes. Custodian shall pay or cause to be paid from the Account all taxes and levies in the nature of taxes imposed on the Account or the Foreign Securities thereof by any country.  Custodian will use reasonable efforts to give the Principal or Manager, as the case may be, advance notice of the imposition of such taxes.  The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Principal or the Custodian as custodian of the Principal by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof or any foreign jurisdiction.  The sole responsibilities of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to effect the withholding of local taxes and related charges with regard to market entitlement/payment in accordance with local law and subject to local market practice or custom and to assist the Principal with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which such Principal as provided such information.  Except as specifically provided in this Agreement or otherwise agreed to in writing by the Custodian, the Custodian shall have no independent obligation to determine the tax obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Principal by any taxing authority or to obtain or provide information relating thereto, and shall have no obligation or liability with respect to such tax obligations.

7.11. Foreign Tax Reclamation.   Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to obtain refunds of taxes withheld on Foreign Securities or the income thereof that are available under applicable tax laws, treaties and regulations subject to Principal's provision of all documentation and certifications as required by U.S. and foreign tax authorities to establish the eligibility of Principal for tax reclamation under applicable law or treaty.  Principal hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian and its agents in respect to any liability arising from any under withholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of Principal, its successor and assignees, notwithstanding the termination of this agreement.  The Custodian is authorized to disclose any information required by any such tax or other governmental authority in relation to processing any claim for exemption from or reduction or refund of any taxes relating to the Principal’s transactions and holdings.



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7.12. Collection Obligations.  Custodian shall diligently collect income and principal of Securities which the Custodian has received actual notice in accordance with normal industry practices.  However, Custodian shall be under no obligation or duty to take any action to effect collection of any amount if the Securities upon which such amount is payable is in default, or if payment is refused after due demand.  Custodian shall notify Principal and Manager promptly of such default or refusal to pay.  Custodian shall have no duty to file or pursue any bankruptcy or class action claims with respect to Account, unless indemnified by Principal in manner and amount satisfactory to Custodian provided however, unless Principal directs otherwise, Custodian will use its best efforts to file claims in class actions and pay any recovery to account, net of Bank’s fees as disclosed in the fee schedule.


7.13. Capital Changes. Custodian may, without further instruction from Principal or Manager, exchange temporary certificates and may surrender and exchange Securities for other securities in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction in which the owner of the Securities is not given an option.  Custodian has no responsibility to effect any such exchange unless it has received notice of the event permitting or requiring such exchange r at the office of Custodian’s designated agents.  

7.14. Fractional Interest.   Custodian shall receive and retain all stock distributed by a corporation as a dividend, stock split, or otherwise and, in connection therewith, any  fractional shares unless otherwise instructed or without authorization to sell

7.15. Delivery of Instructions and Funds.   Instructions and Funds shall be directed to Custodian or Domestic Sub-Custodian, as applicable with respect to the foregoing.

8. CREDITS TO ACCOUNT

8.1. Payment.   Custodian may as a matter of bookkeeping convenience or by separate agreement with the Principal, credit the account with the proceeds from the sale, redemption or other disposition of Securities or interest or dividends or other distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt of final payment; therefore, all such credits shall be conditional until the Custodian’s actual receipt of final payment and may be reversed by Custodian to the extent that final payment is not received.  Payment with respect to a transaction will not be final until Custodian receives immediately available funds under which applicable local law; rule and/or practice are irreversible and not subject to any security interest, levy or other encumbrance, and which are specifically applicable to such transaction.  Principal acknowledges and agrees that any currency risk associated with such credits will be born by Principal.

8.2. Emerging Market Settlement Dates.   Notwithstanding the foregoing Paragraph 8.1, Principal understands and agrees that settlement of Securities transactions is available only on settlement date basis in certain Emerging Markets, which are identified in Appendix A, as amended from time to time.

8.2.1. Cash Deposits.  For Emerging Markets with restricted settlement conditions, cash of any currency deposited or delivered to the Account shall be available for use by Principal or Investment Manager only on the business day on which actual receipt of final payment and funds of good value are available to Sub-Custodian in the Account.

8.2.2. Securities.  For Emerging Markets with restricted settlement conditions, Securities deposited or delivered to the Account shall be available for use by Principal or Investment Manager only on the business day on which such Securities are held in the nominee name or are otherwise subject to the control of, and in a form for good delivery by, the Sub-Custodian.

9. OVERDRAFT AND INDEBTEDNESS

9.1. Advance Funds.   If Custodian advances funds to or for the benefit of Account in connection with the settlement of securities or currency transactions or other activity in the Account including overdrafts or other indebtedness incurred in connection with the settlement of securities transactions, maturity or income payments or funds transfers, Principal agrees to reimburse Custodian on demand the amount of the advance or overdraft and all related fees as established in Custodian's published fee schedule.  Principal will bear the risk from any currency valuation differences associated with Principal’s reimbursement obligations to Custodian.  Custodian shall also have the right to utilize any cash in the Account in order to obtain reimbursement hereunder and to setoff Custodian’s obligations with respect to any deposits or credit balances in the Account against any obligation of Principal hereunder.  

9.2. Repayment.   To the extent permissible by applicable law, in order to secure repayment of Account's obligations to Custodian hereunder, Principal hereby pledges and grants to Custodian a continuing lien and security interest in, and right



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of set-off against, all of Account’s right, title and interest in and to (a) all Accounts in Principal’s name and the Securities, money and other property  now or hereafter held in such Accounts (including proceeds thereof); (b) each Account in respect of which or for whose benefit the advance or overdraft relates and the Securities, money and other property now or hereafter held in such Accounts, including proceeds thereof.  In this regard, Custodian shall be entitled to all the rights and remedies of a pledgee and secured creditor under applicable laws, rules or regulations as then in effect.  Principal authorizes the Custodian, in the Custodian's sole discretion, at any time to charge any overdraft or indebtedness, together with interest due thereon, against any balance of account standing to the credit of the Principal on the Custodian's books.  In addition, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Principal’s Securities to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

10. CORPORATE ACTIONS, PROXIES AND LITERATURE

10.1. Corporate Actions.   Custodian shall notify Manager of the receipt of notices of redemptions, conversions, exchanges, calls, puts, subscription rights, and scrip certificates ("Corporate Action(s)").  Custodian need not monitor financial publications for notices of Corporate Actions and shall not be obligated to take any action unless actual notice has been received by Custodian at the offices of its Domestic Sub-Custodian.  Custodian's sole responsibility in this regard shall be to give such notices to Principal or Investment Manager, as the case may be, within a reasonable time after Custodian receives them.  Custodian has no responsibility to respond or otherwise act with respect to any such notice unless and until Custodian has received timely and appropriate instructions from Principal or Manager.  Principal or Manager is responsible to ensure all required documentation and funds are available to Custodian and its agents as required under the terms of the offer or by legal jurisdiction in order for Custodian and its agent to take action on behalf of Account.

10.2. Proxies.   Custodian shall forward all proxies and accompanying material actually received by Custodian’s  Domestic Sub-Custodian  that are issued by any company whose securities are held in the Account to Manager or Principal, as directed.  Principal and Manager acknowledge that proxy services are limited in foreign markets and Custodian’s sole responsibility with respect to such proxy materials will be to forward the proxy and accompanying material received by Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian  to Principal or Manager.  Custodian shall have no duty to translate or retain any material received unless required to do so by law.

10.3. Corporate Literature.  Custodian shall have no duty to forward or to retain any other corporate material received by Custodian for the Account unless required to do so by law.  Custodian shall have no duty to translate or retain any material received from its Global Sub-Agent Network unless required to do so by law.

10.4. Disclosure to Issuers of Securities.  Unless Principal directs Custodian in writing to the contrary, Principal agrees that Custodian or its Domestic Sub-Custodian or its Sub-Agents may disclose the name and address of the party with the authority to vote the proxies of the Securities held in this Account as well as the number of shares held, to any issuer of said Securities or its agents upon the written request of such issuer or agent in conformity with the provisions of the applicable law.  Principal acknowledges that Custodian or its Domestic Sub-Custodian or its Sub-Agents may be required under jurisdictional law to disclose to issuers beneficial owner information regardless of Principal’s instructions otherwise.

11. INSTRUCTIONS

11.1. Written.   All instructions from Principal or Manager with respect to the Accounts must be from an authorized person and, except those instructions described in Paragraph 7, shall be in writing, and shall continue in force until changed by subsequent instructions.  For purposes of this Paragraph 11, an authorized person means any of the persons duly authorized by the Board to give instructions on behalf of the Principal as set forth in a certificate along with any limitations on such Persons’ scope of authority, such certificate to be executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Principal, as the same may be revised from time to time.  Pending receipt of written authority, Custodian may in its absolute discretion at any time accept oral, faxed, wired and electronically transmitted instructions from Principal or Manager provided Custodian believes in good faith that the instructions are genuine.  If oral instructions are received, Principal or Manager, as the case may be, shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing or by facsimile or other means permitted hereunder.  Principal will hold Custodian harmless for the failure of Principal or Manager to send confirmation in writing, the failure of such confirmation to conform to the telephone instructions received or Custodian's failure to produce such confirmation at any subsequent time.

11.2. Reliance on Instructions.   Except as otherwise provided herein, all instructions shall be in writing, and shall continue in force until changed by subsequent instructions.  Pending receipt of written authority, Custodian may in its absolute discretion at any time accept oral, wired or electronically transmitted instructions from Principal or Manager provided



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Custodian believes in good faith that the instructions are genuine.  Further, Custodian may assume that any written or oral instructions received hereunder are consistent with the provisions of organizational documents of the Principal or of any vote, resolution or proceeding of the Principal’s board of directors of the Principal’s shareholders, unless and until Custodian receives written instructions to the contrary.

12. RIGHT TO RECEIVE ADVICE

12.1. Advice of the Principal .  If Custodian is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take under this Agreement, Custodian may request directions or advice, including oral instructions or written instructions, from the Principal.

12.2. Advice of Counsel.   If Custodian shall be in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, Custodian may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Principal, the Investment Manager or Custodian, at the option of Custodian).  Principal shall pay the reasonable cost of any counsel retained by Custodian with prior notice to Principal.

12.3. Conflicting Advice.   In the event of a conflict between directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions Custodian receives from the Principal, and the advice it receives from counsel, Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon and follow the advice of counsel.

12.4. Protection of Custodian.   Custodian shall be indemnified by Principal and without liability for any action Custodian takes or does not take in reliance upon directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions Custodian receives from or on behalf of the Principal, or from counsel and which Custodian believes, in good faith, to be consistent with those directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed so as to impose an obligation upon Custodian (i) to seek such directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions, or (ii) to act in accordance with such directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions.

13. ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING

13.1. Cost and Nominal Value.  Principal agrees to furnish Custodian with the income tax cost basis and dates of acquisition of all Securities held in the Account to be carried on its records.  If Principal does not furnish such information, Custodian shall carry the Securities at any such nominal value it determines, such value to be for bookkeeping purposes only.  All statements and reporting of any matters requiring this information will use this nominal value.  Custodian shall have no duty to verify the accuracy of the cost basis and dates of acquisition furnished by Principal.  Securities purchased in the Account shall be carried at cost.

13.2. Valuations.  To the extent that Custodian has agreed to provide pricing or other information services, Custodian is authorized to utilize any vendor (including brokers and dealers of Securities and pricing services embedded in Custodian's securities processing or accounting systems) reasonably believed by Custodian to be reliable to provide such information.  Principal understands that certain pricing information with respect to complex financial instruments including, without limitation, derivatives, may be based on calculated amounts rather than actual market transactions and may not reflect actual market values, and that the variance between such calculated amounts and actual market values may or may not be material.  Where pricing vendors used by Custodian do not provide information for Securities, Principal or authorized party may advise Custodian regarding the fair market value of, or provide other information with respect to, such held Securities.  If Principal or Manager does not provide such information, Custodian shall use the cost or nominal value for such Securities, solely for administrative convenience.  Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense incurred as a result of errors or omissions with respect to any pricing or other information utilized by Custodian hereunder and shall have no responsibility or duty to ascertain or authenticate the value of pricing applied to any such Security.

13.3. Activity Reports.   Custodian shall provide access to Principal and Manager and other persons authorized by Principal to access advices of securities transactions and other information regarding the Account by means of Custodian's online system.

13.4. Statements.   Custodian shall provide Principal and Manager Account statements and other reports periodically via paper delivery or electronically by means of the Custodian’s online system or as otherwise as agreed to by Principal and Custodian showing all income and principal transactions and cash positions, and a list of securities.  Principal may approve or disapprove any such statement within thirty (30) days of its receipt, and, if no written objections are received within the thirty (30) day period, such statement of Account shall be deemed approved.



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Principal acknowledges and agrees that if Custodian’s online system is selected, paper statements will be provided only upon request and that the Custodian’s online statements, trade confirms and related online communications satisfy all of Custodian’s existing legal and contractual obligations to provide statements, reports and confirmations with respect to the account.  Printed trade confirmations for trades effected by the Custodian will be available upon request and at no additional cost.  Principal and Manager may request printed trade confirmations for other securities transactions form the broker through which they direct such trades.

14. USE OF OTHER BANK SERVICES

14.1. HighMark Mutual Funds.   Principal or Manager may direct Custodian to invest available funds in the HighMark ® Funds mutual funds for cash management purposes; the HighMark Funds are advised by an affiliate of Custodian and Custodian may also act as custodian and provide other services to the Funds..  Principal or Manager shall designate the particular HighMark Fund that Principal or Manager deems appropriate for the Account.  Principal hereby acknowledges that Custodian will receive fees for such services in addition to those fees charged by Custodian as agent for the Principal's custody Account.  

14.2. Other Fund Investments.   Principal or Manager may invest in third party mutual funds, for which the Custodian or its affiliates may provide shareholder, recordkeeping or other services.  Principal hereby acknowledges that Custodian or its affiliates may receive fees for such services in addition to those fees charged by Custodian under this Agreement.

14.3. Foreign Exchange.   Custodian makes available to Principal or Manager foreign exchange services directly with Custodian or through Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian to convert currencies in conjunction with transactions in the Principal’s Account under direction provided in Appendix B, as amended from time to time.  Principal acknowledges that Custodian is the counterparty with respect to foreign exchange transactions provided under the Standing Instructions Defined Spread Service (Defined Spread Service) with Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian and are subject to Paragraph 9 of this Agreement.


14.3.1. Standing Instructions Defined Spread Service .  Foreign currency exchanges offered under the Defined Spread Service are directed to Union Bank’s Domestic Sub-Custodian or, for markets with currency restrictions, to the local market Sub-Agent.  Both services may be amended from time to time.   


14.3.2. Direct with Union Bank’s Global Capital Markets .  Principal or Manager may elect to have foreign currency exchanges provided under separate agreement with Union Bank’s Global Capital Markets and performed in accordance with Union Bank’s Foreign Exchange Agreement.


Principal acknowledges that (a) Principal or Manager  is not obligated to effect foreign currency exchange with Custodian or Custodian’s Domestic  Sub-Custodian, (b) Custodian will make available the relevant data so that Principal or Manager, as the case may be, can independently monitor foreign exchange activities, and (c)  Custodian will receive benefits for such foreign currency transactions as defined in Section 14.3.2 which are in addition to the compensation which Custodian receives for administering the Account.

14.4. Interest Bearing Deposits.  Principal or Manager may direct that assets of the Account be invested in deposits with Union Bank or   Domestic Sub-Custodian  as a sweep vehicle or other deposit held in Custodian’s name for the benefit of its clients.  Such deposits are covered by FDIC insurance up to the designated value in effect for each beneficial owner.

14.5. Other Transaction Services.   Principal or Manager may direct Custodian to utilize for the Account other services or facilities provided by Custodian, its subsidiaries or affiliates.  Such services may include, but are not be limited to the placing of orders for the purchase or sale of units or shares of any registered investment company, including such registered investment company to which Custodian, UnionBanCal Corporation, or their subsidiaries or affiliates, manage, provide investment advice, act as custodian or provide other services.

14.6. Credit Facilities.  Custodian may, in accordance with its commercial lending practices, enter into a credit facility with Principal for use with the operation of the Account.  Such credit facility will be agreed to under separate agreement and subject to the terms and conditions, therein.  Principal acknowledges that any such credit facility is subject to the lien provisions of Paragraph 9.2 of this Agreement.



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15. CUSTODIAN'S RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIABILITIES

15.1. Standard of Care.   In performing the responsibilities delegated to it under this Agreement, the Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence and shall not be liable for any damages arising out of the Custodian's performance of or failure to perform its duties under this Agreement except to the extent that damages arise directly out of the Custodian's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or otherwise from a material breach of the Custodian’s standard of care under this Agreement.

15.2. Investment Authority .  The parties intend that Custodian shall not be considered a fiduciary of the Account.  

15.3. Insurance and Force Majeure. Without limiting the generality of Paragraph 14.1 or of any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall not be liable so long as and to the extent that it exercises reasonable care, for any defect in the title, validity or genuineness of any Security or in the evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.  In addition, Custodian (i) shall not be required to maintain any special insurance for the benefit of Principal, and (ii) shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, damage, expense, failure to perform or delay caused by accidents, strikes, fire, flood, war, riot, electrical or mechanical or communication line or facility failures, acts of third parties (including without limitation any messenger, telephone or delivery service), acts of God, war, government action, civil commotion, fire, earthquake, or other casualty or disaster or any other cause or causes which are beyond Custodian’s reasonable control. However, Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to replace Securities lost or damaged due to such causes with securities of the same class and issue with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto.  Custodian shall not be liable to Principal for any loss which shall occur as the result of the failure of a Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care with respect to the safekeeping of assets.

15.4. Legal Proceedings

15.4.1. Custodian shall not be required to appear in or defend any legal proceedings with respect to the Account or the Securities unless Custodian has been indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction against loss and expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees).   

15.4.2. With respect to legal proceedings Custodian may consult with counsel acceptable to it after written notification to Principal concerning its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith on the advice of such counsel.

15.4.3. To the extent permissible by law or regulation and upon Principal’s request, the Principal shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim for any loss, damage or claim suffered by Principal, in each case to the extent that the Custodian fails to pursue any such claim or Principal is not made whole in respect of such loss, damage or claim.

16. INDEMNITIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

16.1. In addition to the indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement, Principal agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Custodian and its affiliates providing services under this Agreement, including their respective officers, directors, agents and employees from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements and liabilities ("Claims") arising directly or indirectly from any action or omission to act which Custodian takes in connection with the provision of services to Principal. Neither Custodian, nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) caused by Custodian’s or its affiliates' own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of Custodian's or its affiliates' activities under this Agreement.  The provisions of this Paragraph 15 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

16.2. In all cases, Custodian’s liability under this Agreement shall be limited to the resulting direct loss, if any, incurred by Principal.  Under no circumstances shall Custodian be liable for any incidental, consequential, indirect, punitive, or special damage which Principal may incur or suffer in connection with this Agreement.

17. COMPENSATION AND OTHER CHARGES

17.1. Compensation.   Principal shall pay Custodian compensation for its services hereunder as specified in Appendix C and as amended from time to time.  Fees shall accrue and be taken in arrears as specified on the active fee schedule and charged to the Account unless Principal has requested that it be billed directly.  However, any fees not paid within 60 days of billing will be charged to the Account.



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17.2. Expenses.   Principal shall reimburse Custodian by debiting the Account for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and processing costs incurred by Custodian and Global Sub-Custodian Network in the administration of the Account including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees incurred by Custodian pursuant to Subparagraph 12.2 of this Agreement.

18. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

18.1. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time by a written instrument signed by the parties or by Custodian immediately if required by applicable law or upon thirty (30) days written notice to Principal.

18.2. Termination.   Custodian may terminate this Agreement immediately if Custodian, in its sole discretion, determines that (i) Principal failed to strictly comply with any provision of this Agreement; (ii) any representation, warranty or covenant of the other party in this Agreement is false or misleading.  Any such termination shall not constitute a waiver of any other rights that the Custodian may have under this Agreement.

In addition, either party may terminate this Agreement and the Account upon 90 days' written notice.  Upon such termination, Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities, less any amounts due and owing to Custodian under this Agreement, to a successor custodian designated by Principal or, if a successor custodian has not accepted an appointment by the effective date of termination of the Account, to Principal.  Upon completion of such delivery Custodian shall be discharged of any further liability or responsibility with respect to the Securities so delivered.  In the event that Securities or other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of Principal to provide proper instructions, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.  In the event that no proper instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in the Act of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all Securities held by the Custodian on behalf of Principal and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto held by it under this Agreement on behalf of Principal, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Securities held in an Account. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.  All expenses associated with the transfer of custody hereunder upon termination hereof shall be borne by the Principal (except as may be specifically agreed in writing by the parties in relation to special arrangements).

19. SUCCESSORS

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors in interest.  This Agreement may not be assigned by either party, nor may the duties of either party hereunder be delegated, without the prior written consent of the other party.

20. GOVERNING LAW

The validity, construction, and administration of this Agreement shall be governed by the applicable laws of the United States from time to time in force and effect and, to the extent not preempted by such laws of the United States, by the laws of the State of California from time to time in force and effect.  Any action or proceeding to enforce, interpret or adjudicate the rights and responsibilities of the parties hereunder shall be commenced in the State or Federal courts located in the State of California.

21. NOTICES

Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be signed and in writing and shall be deemed as having been duly given on the date of service, if served personally on the party to whom notice is to be given, or on the fifth (5) day after mailing, if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given and properly addressed as follows:

If to Principal :

Name: Two Roads Shared Trust

Street Address: 450 Wireless Blvd.



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City, State, Zip: Hauppague, NY 11788

Attn: Andrew Rogers

Telephone: (631) 470-2600

Facsimile:                                                           

 

If to Custodian :

Union Bank, N.A.

Institutional Custody Services

350 California Street, 6th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104

Attn: Margaret Bond, Vice President

Facsimile: Email:  ITCS Funds 1@unionbank.com or margaret.bond@unionbank.com

This agreement and any amendment, notice or other document required to be signed and in writing under this Agreement may be delivered by personal service or U.S first class mail postage prepaid or via fax, email with an imaged or scanned attachment (such as a .PDF), or similar electronic transmission with electronic signature through Union Bank’s online secure messaging service pursuant to security protocols established and agreed by the parties, unless otherwise specified herein.   Signatures delivered via fax, email, or similar electronic transmission shall be effective as original signatures in binding the parties and shall be effective upon receipt.

Periodic communications related to foreign currencies and global market updates will be available to authorized parties through Union Bank’s online secure messaging service.

22. CONFIDENTIALITY

All non-public information and advice furnished by either party to the other shall be treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties unless required by law, except that Union Bank may disclose (a) the identity of Client as a client or client reference of Union Bank; (b) any information to any government regulator of Union Bank or the Affiliated Entities.

23. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Agreement shall be effective as of the date appearing below, and shall supersede any prior or existing agreements between the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof.  

24. COUNTERPARTS

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement and all exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any reasonable means.  The parties hereto each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

25. MISCELLANEOUS

Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.  This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.  The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

BY PRINCIPAL: Two Roads Shared Trust

ACCEPTED:  Union Bank, N.A.

 

By: /s/ Andrew Rogers

By: /s/ Margaret Bond

Name and Title: Andrew Rogers, President

Name and Title: Margaret Bond,Vice President



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Date: 10/03/2012

Date: 10/16/2012

 

 

By:      

By: /s/ Theresa A. Moore

Name and Title:      

Name and Title: Theresa A. Moore,Vice President

Date:      

Date: 10/16/2012

 

 





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FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT


between



TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


 and





[H1GFSSERVICINGAGREEMENT002.GIF]










INDEX


1.

APPOINTMENT AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

1

2.

DUTIES OF GFS

2

3.

FEES AND EXPENSES

3

4.

STANDARD OF CARE, INDEMNIFICATION AND RELIANCE

4

5.

LIMITATION OF SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

6

6.

EXPENSES ASSUMED BY THE TRUST

6

7.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

7

8.

CONFIDENTIALITY

8

9.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

8

10.

ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND CLASSES

9

11.

ASSIGNMENT AND SUBCONTRACTING

9

12.

EFFECTIVE DATE, TERM AND TERMINATION

 

13.

 LIAISON WITH ACCOUNTANTS/ATTORNEYS

10

14.

MISCELLANEOUS

11

APPENDIX I

14

APPENDIX II

16

APPENDIX III

18

APPENDIX IV

 

 

 







TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT


T HIS FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) effective as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the "Trust") and GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (“GFS”).  This Agreement replaces and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements between the parties hereto for the services described below.


WHEREAS , the Trust is an open-end management investment company registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS , the Trust is authorized to issue shares (“Shares”) in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and


WHEREAS , the Trust offers shares in the series as set forth on Appendix IV attached hereto (each such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10 , being herein referred to as a “Fund,” and collectively as the “Funds”); and


WHEREAS , the Trust desires that GFS perform the services selected on Appendix IV (collectively the “Services”) for the Funds and GFS is willing to provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;


NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein, the Trust and GFS hereby agree as follows:


1.

APPOINTMENT AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS


(a)

The Trust, on behalf of each Fund listed in Appendix IV attached hereto, hereby appoints GFS to provide the Services to the Trust as selected in Appendix IV attached hereto, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.  GFS accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth in return for the compensation as provided in Section 3 and Appendix IV of this Agreement.  A description of all the services offered by GFS is set forth on Appendices I – III .  


(b)

In connection therewith the Trust has delivered to GFS copies of:


(i)

the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, and Bylaws (collectively, the "Organizational Documents");


(ii)

the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A and all amendments thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended  (the "Securities Act"), and the 1940 Act (the "Registration Statement");










(iii)

the Trust’s notification of registration under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC;


(iv)

the Trust's current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for each Fund (collectively, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented, the "Prospectus");


(v)

each Fund’s current plan of distribution adopted by the Trust under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan");


(vi)

each Fund’s investment advisory agreement;


(vii)

each Fund’s underwriting agreement;


(viii)

contact information for each Fund’s service providers, including but not limited to, the Fund’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent, independent auditors, legal counsel, underwriter and chief compliance officer; and


(ix)

procedures adopted by the Trust in accordance with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act with respect to affiliated transactions.


(c)

The Trust shall promptly furnish GFS with all amendments of or supplements to the items listed in Section 1(b) above, and shall deliver to GFS a copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") appointing GFS and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement.  


2.

DUTIES OF GFS


GFS’s duties with respect to Fund Accounting, Fund Administration and Transfer Agency services are detailed in Appendices I, II and III to this Agreement.   


(a)

In order for GFS to perform the Services, the Trust (i) shall cause all service providers to the Funds of the Trust to furnish any and all information to GFS, and assist GFS as may be required and (ii) shall ensure that GFS has access to all records and documents maintained by the Trust or any service provider to the Trust or a Fund of the Trust.


(b)

GFS shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.


(c)

Whenever, in the course of performing its duties under this Agreement, GFS determines, on the basis of information supplied to GFS by the Trust, that a violation of applicable law has occurred, or that, to its knowledge, a possible violation of applicable law may have occurred, or with the passage of time could occur, GFS shall promptly notify the Trust and its legal counsel of such violation.



3.

FEES AND EXPENSES










(a)

Fees.   As compensation for the Services provided by GFS to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, agrees to pay GFS the fees set forth in Appendix IV attached hereto.  Fees will begin to accrue for each Fund on the latter of the date of this Agreement or the date GFS begins providing services to a Fund.  For the purpose of determining fees calculated as a function of a Fund’s assets, the value of the Fund’s assets and net assets shall be computed as required by its currently effective Prospectus, generally accepted accounting principles, and resolutions of the Board.  GFS will render, after the close of each month in which services have been furnished, a statement reflecting all of the charges for such month.  Services provided for partial months shall be subject to pro ration.


(b)

Expenses.  GFS will bear its own expenses, in connection with the performance of the Services under this Agreement, except as provided herein or as agreed to by the parties.  In addition to the fees paid under Section 3(a) , the Trust agrees to reimburse GFS for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by GFS to perform the Services or otherwise incurred by GFS at the request or with the consent of the Trust .  For reports, analyses and services requested in writing by the Trust and provided by GFS, not in the ordinary course, GFS shall charge hourly fees specified in Appendix IV attached hereto.


(c)

Fee Changes .  On each anniversary date of this Agreement (determined from the “Effective Date” for each Fund as set forth on Appendix IV), the base and/or minimum fees enumerated in Appendix IV attached hereto, may be increased by the change in the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast region (the “CPI”) for the twelve-month period ending with the month preceding such annual anniversary date.  Any CPI increases not charged in any given year may be included in prospective CPI fee increases in future years.  GFS Agrees to provide the Board prior written notice of any CPI increase.


(d)

Due Date .  All fees contemplated under Section 3(a) above and reimbursement for all expenses contemplated under Section 3(b) above are due and payable within ten (10) days of receipt of an invoice provided by GFS.  Any fees or reimbursements due hereunder not received by its due date may be assessed interest at the maximum amount permitted by law.


(e)

Books and Records.   The accounts, books, records and other documents (the “Records”) maintained by GFS shall be the property of the Funds, and shall be surrendered to the Funds, at the expense of the Funds, promptly upon request by the Funds in the form in which such Records have been maintained or preserved, provided that all service fees and expenses charged by GFS in the performance of its duties hereunder have been fully paid to the satisfaction of GFS.  GFS agrees to maintain a back up set of Records of the Funds (which back-up set shall be updated on at least a weekly basis) at a location other than that where the original Records are stored.  GFS shall assist the Funds’ independent auditors, or, upon approval of the Funds, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the Funds’ Records.  GFS shall preserve the Records, as they are required to be maintained and preserved by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act .

(f)

De-Conversion Fees.  Upon termination of this Agreement , GFS will charge a “De-Conversion” fee to compensate GFS for provid ing to the Fund’s new service providers, all material records, history and data maintained by GFS in a generally accepted format









under this Agreement .   The amount of the De-Conversion fees are specified in Appendix IV attached hereto.  In addition, GFS reserves the right to charge for out-of-pocket expenses associated with the De-Conversion, as specified in Section 12(d) of this Agreement.

(g)

Post-Engagement Audit Support Fees .  After a De-Conversion, GFS is often called upon to provide support to a Fund’s service provider and assist with a Fund’s audit.  Services provided by GFS to accommodate a Fund’s request following termination of this Agreement shall be subject to GFS’s standard hourly rates existing at the time of the request.  The Fund agrees to compensate GFS, at GFS’s standard hourly rates, for accommodating a Fund’s request following termination of this Agreement.


4.

STANDARD OF CARE, INDEMNIFICATION AND RELIANCE


(a)

Indemnification of GFS .  The Trust shall, on behalf of each applicable Fund, indemnify and hold GFS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable attorney or consultant fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, breach of any representation or warranty made by the Trust contained in this Agreement, or which arise out of the Trust’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Trust’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement.  The Trust shall hold GFS harmless and GFS shall not be liable for and shall be entitled to rely upon and may act upon information, advice, records , reports and requests generated by the Funds, the Fund’s legal counsel and the Fund’s independent accountants .   GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to this Agreement .  


(b)

Indemnification of the Trust . GFS shall indemnify and hold the Trust and each applicable Fund harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable attorney or consultant fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to GFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, breach of any representation or warranty made by GFS contained in this Agreement or which arise out of GFS’s lack of good faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or reckless disregard of its duties with respect to GFS’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement.


(c)

Reliance .  Except to the extent that GFS may be liable pursuant to Sections 4(a) and 4(b) above, GFS shall not be liable for any action taken or failure to act in good faith in reliance upon:


(i)

advice of the Trust , its officers, independent auditors or counsel to the Trust ;


(ii)

any oral instruction which it receives and which it reasonably believes in good faith was transmitted by the person or persons authorized by the Board to give such oral instruction pursuant to the parties’ standard operating practices;


(iii)

any written instruction or certified copy of any resolution of the Board, and GFS may rely upon the genuineness of any such document, copy or facsimile thereof reasonably believed in good faith by GFS to have been validly executed;










(iv)

any signature, instruction, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, statement, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or other document reasonably believed in good faith by GFS to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the Trust or other proper party or parties;


(v)

any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided to GFS or its agents or subcontractors furnished (pursuant to procedures mutually agreed to by GFS and the Trust’s service providers) by machine readable input, data entry, email, facsimile or other similar means authorized by the Trust;


(vi)

any authorization, instruction, approval, item or set of data, or information of any kind transmitted to GFS in person or by telephone, email, facsimile or other electronic means, furnished and reasonably believed by GFS to be genuine and to have been given by the proper person or persons.  GFS shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust.



GFS shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack of authority of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution, signature, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument which GFS reasonably believes in good faith to be genuine.


At any time, GFS may apply to any officer of the Trust for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel to the Trust with respect to any matter arising in connection with the routine services to be performed by GFS under this Agreement, and GFS and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in reasonable reliance upon such instructions or upon the advice of such counsel.  GFS agrees to consult first with a Fund’s adviser before engaging in any non-routine legal consultation that may result in additional legal costs to the Fund.  


(d)

Errors of Others .  GFS shall not be liable for the errors of other service providers to the Trust , including the errors of pricing services (other than to pursue all reasonable claims against the pricing service based on the pricing services' standard contracts entered into by GFS) and errors in information provided by an investment adviser (including prices and pricing formulas and the untimely transmission of trade information) or custodian to the Trust ; except or unless any GFS action or inaction is a direct cause of the error.


(e)

Reliance on Electronic Instructions. If the Trust has the ability to originate electronic instructions to GFS in order to (i) effect the transfer or movement of cash or Shares or (ii) transmit Shareholder information or other information, then in such event GFS shall be entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with security procedures established and agreed upon by GFS and the Fund’s investment adviser.










(f)

Notification of Claims. In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the other party. The party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the other party’s prior written consent.


(g)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, GFS’s maximum liability to a Fund arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether arising in contract, tort (including, without limitation, negligence) or otherwise, shall not exceed the direct loss to such Fund.  IN NO EVENT SHALL GFS BE LIABLE FOR TRADING LOSSES, LOST REVENUES, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE OR GFS WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE PREMISED UPON THE LIMITATION STATED IN THIS SECTION.

 

5.

LIMITATION OF SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY


The Board and the shareholders of each Fund (the “Shareholders”) shall not be liable for any obligations of the Trust or of the Funds under this Agreement, and GFS agrees that, in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund (or Funds) to which GFS’s rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or claims, and not to the Board or the Shareholders of the Funds.  It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, Shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust personally, but bind only the Trust property of the Trust, as provided in the Organizational Documents of the Trust.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Board of the Trust and signed by the officers of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by the Board and Shareholders nor such execution and delivery by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the property of the Trust as provided in its Organizational Documents.  A copy of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

 

6.

EXPENSES ASSUMED BY THE TRUST


Except as otherwise specifically stated in this Agreement, GFS shall pay all expenses incurred by it in performing the Services under this Agreement.  Each Fund of the Trust will bear out-of-pocket expenses incurred by GFS under this Agreement and all other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund (other than those borne by the investment adviser to the Fund) including, but not limited to:










(a)

taxes;

(b)

interest;

(c)

brokerage fees and commissions, if any;

(d)

fees for Trustees who are not officers, directors, partners, employees or holders of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the investment adviser or GFS;

(e)

Securities and Exchange Commission fees (including EDGAR filing fees);

(f)

state blue sky registration or qualification fees;

(g)

advisory fees;

(h)

charges of custodians;

(i)

transfer and dividend disbursing agents' fees;

(j)

insurance premiums;

(k)

outside auditing and legal expenses;

(l)

costs of maintaining Trust existence;

(m)

costs attributable to shareholder services, including without limitation telephone and personnel expenses;

(n)

costs of preparing and printing prospectuses for regulatory purposes;

(o)

costs of shareholders' reports, Trust meetings and related expenses;

(p)

Trust legal fees; and

(q)

any extraordinary expenses.

 

7.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


(a)

Representations of GFS.   GFS represents and warrants to the Trust that:


(i)

it is a limited liability company duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nebraska;


(ii)

it is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;


(iii)

it has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and


(iv)

it is registered as a transfer agent under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall continue to be registered throughout the remainder of this Agreement.


(b)

Representations of the Trust.  The Trust represents and warrants to GFS that:

        

(i)

it is a trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;


(ii)

it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Organizational Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

        

(iii)

all proceedings required by said Organizational Documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;










(iv)

it is an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act and will operate in conformance with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder during the term of this Agreement;


(v)

a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is or will be effective and will continue to remain effective, and appropriate state securities law filings as required, have been or will be made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale; and


(vi)

the Trust’s Organizational Documents and each Fund’s Registration Statement and Prospectus are true and accurate and will remain true and accurate at all times during the term of this Agreement in conformance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

8.

CONFIDENTIALITY


GFS and the Trust agree that all books, records, information, and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except that GFS may:


(a)

prepare or assist in the preparation of periodic reports to shareholders and regulatory bodies such as the SEC;


(b)

provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information regarding investment companies; and


(c)

release such information as permitted or required by law or approved in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where GFS may be exposed to civil or criminal liability or proceedings for failure to release the information, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities or when so requested by the Trust and the Advisers.


Except as provided above, in accordance with Title 17, Chapter II, part 248 of the Code of Federal Regulations (17 CFR 248.1 – 248.30) (“Reg S-P”), GFS will not directly, or indirectly through an affiliate, disclose any non-public personal information as defined in Reg S-P, received from a Fund to any person that is not affiliated with the Fund or with GFS and provided that any such information disclosed to an affiliate of GFS shall be under the same limitations on non-disclosure.


Both parties agree to communicate sensitive information via secured communication channels (i.e. encrypted format).  

 

9.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION


(a)

Proprietary Information of GFS . The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals maintained by GFS on databases under the control and









ownership of GFS or a third party constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, “GFS Proprietary Information”) of substantial value to GFS or the third party. The Trust agrees to treat all GFS Proprietary Information as proprietary to GFS and further agrees that it shall not divulge any GFS Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided under this Agreement.


(b)

Proprietary Information of the Trust . GFS acknowledges that the Shareholder list and all information related to shareholders furnished to GFS by the Trust or by a shareholder in connection with this Agreement (collectively, “Customer Data”) all information regarding the Trust portfolios, arrangements with brokerage firms, compensation paid to or by the Trust, trading strategies and all such related information (collectively, “Trust Proprietary Information”) constitute proprietary information of substantial value to the Trust. In no event shall GFS Proprietary Information be deemed Trust Proprietary Information or Customer Data. GFS agrees to treat all Trust Proprietary Information and Customer Data as proprietary to the Trust and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Trust Proprietary Information or Customer Data to any person or organization except as may be provided under this Agreement or as may be directed by the Trust or as may be duly requested by regulatory authorities.


(c)

Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section 9.  The obligations of this section shall survive any earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

10.

ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND CLASSES


In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares or one or more classes of Shares after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such series of Shares or classes of Shares, as the case may be, shall become Funds and classes under this Agreement with necessary changes made to Appendix IV ; however, either GFS or the Trust may elect not to make any such series or classes subject to this Agreement.


11.

ASSIGNMENT AND SUBCONTRACTING


This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the prior written consent of GFS. GFS may subcontract any or all of its responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement to one or more companies, trusts, firms, individuals or associations, which may or may not be affiliated persons of GFS and which agree to comply with the terms of this Agreement; provided , however, that any such subcontracting shall not relieve GFS of its responsibilities hereunder.  GFS may pay such persons for their services, but no such payment will increase fees due from the Trust hereunder.




12.

EFFECTIVE DATE, TERM AND TERMINATION










(a)

    Effective Date .  This Agreement shall become effective on the date first above written and the effective date with respect to each Fund is set forth on the applicable Appendix IV attached hereto.


(b)

    Term .  This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of three (3) years from the applicable Fund(s) effective date and shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board.  


(c)

    Termination .  This Agreement can be terminated at any time after the end of the first year upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice by either party.  Upon termination of this Agreement, GFS shall have no further obligation to provide Services to the terminating Fund(s) and all outstanding payments due from such Fund(s) under this Agreement shall become immediately due and payable to GFS, including any unpaid fees earned through the date of termination of this Agreement.  In the event of termination, GFS agrees that it will cooperate to facilitate the smooth transition of services and to minimize disruption to a Fund and its shareholders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may terminate this agreement upon thirty (30) days’ written notice in the event of a breach.  The parties have a right to attempt to cure a breach within the thirty-day notice period.  If the breach is not cured within said period, then the parties hereto will submit to arbitration, in accordance with Section 14(g) , below. In any event, this Agreement can be terminated at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice if the Board makes a determination to liquidate the Fund.  


(d)

    Reimbursement of GFS’s Expenses .  If this Agreement is terminated with respect to a Fund or Funds, GFS shall be entitled to collect from the Fund or Funds, in addition to the compensation described under Section 3 of this Agreement, the amount of all of GFS’s reasonable labor charges and cash disbursements for services in connection with GFS’s activities in effecting such termination, including without limitation, the labor costs and expenses associated with the de-conversion of the Trust’s records of each Fund from its computer systems, and the delivery to the Trust and/or its designees of the Trust’s property, records, instruments and documents, or any copies thereof.  Subsequent to such termination, for a reasonable fee, GFS will provide the Trust with reasonable access to all Trust documents or records, if any, remaining in its possession.  


(e)

    Survival of Certain Obligations .  The obligations of Sections 3, 4, 8, 9, 12 and 13 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.


13.

LIAISON WITH ACCOUNTANTS/ATTORNEYS/BOARD


(a)      GFS shall act as liaison with each Fund’s independent public accountants and shall provide account analyses, fiscal year summaries, and other audit-related schedules with respect to each Fund.  GFS shall take reasonable actions in the performance of its duties under this Agreement to ensure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion, as required by the Fund.










(b)

GFS shall act as liaison with each Fund’s legal counsel and shall take reasonable actions to ensure that necessary Fund information is made available to the Fund’s legal counsel.  


(c)

GFS shall take reasonable actions to provide to the Board any materials or information relating to the services provided by GFS to the Trust necessary to enable the Board to perform its functions.

 

14.

MISCELLANEOUS


(a)

Amendments .  This Agreement may not be amended, or any provision hereof waived, except in writing signed by the party against which the enforcement of such amendment or waiver is sought.


(b)

Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.


(c)

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.


(d)

C ounterparts .  The parties may execute this Agreement on any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.


(e)

Severability .  If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected by such determination, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.


(f)

Force Majeure.  Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform if the failure results from a cause beyond its control, including, without limitation, fire, electrical, mechanical, or equipment breakdowns, delays by third party vendors and/or communications carriers, civil disturbances or disorders, terrorist acts, strikes, acts of governmental authority or new governmental restrictions, or acts of God.

(g)

Arbitration.   The parties understand and agree that, to the extent permitted by law, all claims arising out of this Agreement will be resolved through final and binding arbitration pursuant to the terms hereof.  In this regard, the parties acknowledge and agree that: (i) such arbitration will be final and binding on the parties; (ii) the parties are hereby waiving their rights to seek remedies in court, including the right to a jury trial; (iii) pre-arbitration discovery is generally more limited than and different from discovery conducted in connection with litigation; (iv) the arbitrator's award is not required to include factual findings or legal reasoning; and (v) a party's right to appeal or seek modification of rulings by the arbitrator will be strictly limited.


Such arbitration will be conducted in New York according to the securities arbitration rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association.  Both parties understand that the other party may initiate arbitration by serving or mailing a written notice to the other party









hereto by certified mail, return receipt requested.  Any award the arbitration panel makes will be final, and judgment on it may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

This arbitration provision shall be enforced and interpreted exclusively in accordance with applicable Federal law, including the Federal Arbitration Act. Any costs, fees, or taxes involved in enforcing the award shall be fully assessed against and paid by the party resisting enforcement of said award.  The prevailing party shall also be entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement.  No person shall bring a putative or certified class action to arbitration, nor seek to enforce any pre-dispute arbitration agreement against any person who has initiated in court a putative class action who is a member of a putative class action until:

·

The class certification is denied;

·

The class is decertified; or

·

The person is excluded from the class by the court.


Such forbearance to enforce an agreement to arbitrate shall not constitute a waiver of any rights under this Agreement except to the extent stated herein.


(h)

Headings .  Section and paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.


(i)

Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or by overnight, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile to each party at the address set forth below or at such new address designated by such party by notice given pursuant to this Section.


To the Trust:

To GFS:

Attn: Legal Counsel

Kevin Wolf  

Two Roads Shared Trust

President

17605 Wright Street

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

Omaha, NE  68130

450 Wireless Boulevard

 

Hauppauge, NY 11788

 

Telephone: (631) 470-2600

 

KevinW@geminifund.com


With a copy to:

With a copy to:

 

 

Aisha J. Hunt

Brian Nielsen, Esq.

Cole-Frieman Mallon & Hunt LLP

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

One Sansome Street, Suite 1895

17605 Wright Street

San Francisco, CA  94104

Omaha, Nebraska 68130












(j)

Safekeeping . GFS shall establish and maintain facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Trust for the safekeeping and control of records maintained by GFS under this Agreement including the preparation and use of check forms, facsimile, email or other electronic signature imprinting devices.


(k)

Distinction of Funds .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund of the Trust are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund and that no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise.


(l)

Representation of Signatories .  Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that they have full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated and that their signature will bind the party indicated to the terms hereof.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized persons, effective as of the day and year first above written.




TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC

 


By:  

/s/ Andrew Rogers                                  

 By:             /s/ Kevin Wolf

Andrew B. Rogers

            Kevin Wolf

President

            President



Attest:

 


By:  

/s/ James Ash        

James P. Ash

 

Secretary









APPENDIX I

Fund Accounting Services


With respect to each Fund electing Fund Accounting Services, GFS shall provide the following services subject to, and in compliance with, the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trust’s Registration Statement, the Trust’s Organizational Documents, applicable laws and regulations, and resolutions and policies established by the Trust’s Board:


1)

Timely calculate the net asset value per share with the frequency prescribed in each Fund's then-current Prospectus, transmit the Fund's net asset value to NASDAQ, and communicate such net asset value to the Trust and its transfer agent;


2)

Calculate each item of income, expense, deduction, credit, gain and loss, if any, as required by the Trust and in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), SEC Regulation S-X (or any successor regulation) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor laws)(the "Code");


3)

Prepare and maintain on behalf of the Trust, books and records of each Fund, as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and as such rule or any successor rule, may be amended from time to time, that are applicable to the fulfillment of GFS’s Fund Accounting Services, as well as any other documents necessary or advisable for compliance with applicable regulations as may be mutually agreed to between the Trust and GFS.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, GFS will prepare and maintain the following records upon receipt of information in proper form from the Fund or its authorized agents:

 

a.

Cash receipts journal

b.

Cash disbursements journal

c.

Dividend record

d.

Purchase and sales - portfolio securities journals

e.

Subscription and redemption journals

f.

Security ledgers

g.

Broker ledger

h.

General ledger

i.

Daily expense accruals

j.

Daily income accruals

k.

Securities and monies borrowed or loaned and collateral therefore

l.

Foreign currency journals

m.

Trial balances


4)

Make such adjustments over such periods as the Trust’s administrator deems necessary, and communicates to GFS in writing, to reflect over-accruals or under-accruals of estimated expenses or income;


5)

Provide the Trust and, each investment adviser serving as an investment adviser for a Fund with daily portfolio valuation, net asset value calculation and other standard operational reports as requested from time to time;


6)

Provide all raw data available from its mutual fund accounting system for the Fund’s investment adviser or the administrator to assist in preparation of the following:









a.

Semi-annual financial statements;

b.

Semi-annual form N-SAR and annual tax returns;

c.

Financial data necessary to update form N-1A; and

d.

Annual proxy statement.


7)

Provide facilities to accommodate an audit by each Fund’s independent accountants and, upon approval of the Trust, any audits or examinations conducted by the SEC or any other governmental or quasi-governmental entities with jurisdiction;


8)

Transmit to and receive from each Fund's transfer agent appropriate data on a daily basis and daily reconcile Shares outstanding and other data with the transfer agent;


9)

Periodically reconcile all appropriate data with each Fund's custodian; and


10)

Perform such other record keeping, reporting and other tasks as may be specified from time to time in the procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to mutually acceptable timelines and compensation agreements.


Fund Accounting Records.


Maintenance of and Access to Records . GFS shall maintain records relating to its services, such as journals, ledger accounts and other records, as are required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and, specifically, Rule 31a-1 thereunder.  The books and records pertaining to the Trust that are in possession of GFS shall be the property of the Trust. The Trust, or the Trust's authorized representatives, shall have access to such books and records at all times during GFS’s normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such books and records shall be provided promptly by GFS to the Trust or the Trust's authorized representatives.  In the event the Trust designates a successor that assumes any of GFS’s obligations hereunder, GFS shall, at the expense and direction of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records and other data established or maintained by GFS under this Agreement.


Inspection of Records .  In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the records of the Trust maintained by GFS, GFS will endeavor to notify the Trust and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to such inspection. GFS shall abide by the Trust's instructions for granting or denying the inspection; provided, however, that GFS may grant the inspection without instructions from the Trust if GFS is advised to disclose by its legal counsel.


All out-of-pocket expenses will be billed as set forth on Appendix IV.  GFS may from time to time adopt new procedures, or modify existing procedures, in order to carry out its Fund Accounting Services.  Any modification of the Fund Accounting Services provided by GFS as set forth in this Appendix I shall be delivered to the Trust in writing.  









APPENDIX II

Fund Administrative Services


With respect to each Fund electing Fund Administrative Services, GFS shall provide the following services subject to, and in compliance with the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trust’s Registration Statement, the Trust’s Organizational Documents, applicable laws and regulations, and resolutions and policies established by the Trust’s Board:


1)

    Monitor the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others, including its custodian, transfer agent, fund accountant and dividend disbursing agent as well as legal, auditing, shareholder servicing and other services performed for the Trust;


2)

    Monitor Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, SEC statutes, rules, regulations and policies and pursuant to advice from the Fund’s independent public accountants and Trust counsel, monitor Fund holdings for compliance with IRS taxation limitations and restrictions and applicable Federal Accounting Standards Board rules, statements and interpretations; provide periodic compliance reports to each investment adviser or sub-adviser to the Trust, and assist the Trust, the Adviser and each sub-adviser to the Trust (collectively referred to as “Advisers”) in preparation of periodic compliance reports to the Trust, as applicable;


3)

   Prepare and coordinate the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements;


4)

    Prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses agreed upon by the Trust and GFS from time to time;


5)

    In consultation with legal counsel to the Trust, the investment adviser, officers of the Trust and other relevant parties, prepare and disseminate materials for meetings of the Board, including agendas and selected financial information as agreed upon by the Trust and GFS from time to time; attend and participate in Board meetings to the extent requested by the Board;


6)

    Determine income and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements, to be reviewed by the Trust's independent public accountants;


7)

    Review the Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants;


8)

    Prepare and maintain the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund in order to calculate its daily net asset value;


9)

    In consultation with legal counsel for the Trust, assist in and monitor the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of the following:

a.

periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, including but not limited to annual reports and semi-annual reports;

b.

notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2;

c.

proxy materials; and

d.

reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX.










10)

Coordinate the Trust's audits and examinations by:

a.

assisting each Fund’s independent public accountants, or, upon approval of the Trust, any regulatory body, in any requested review of a Fund’s accounts and records;

b.

providing appropriate financial schedules (as requested by a Fund’s independent public accountants or SEC examiners); and

c.

providing office facilities as may be required.


11)

Determine, after consultation with legal counsel for the Trust and the Fund’s investment adviser, the jurisdictions in which Shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale; facilitate, register, or prepare applicable notice or other filings with respect to, the Shares with the various state and territories of the United States and other securities commissions, provided that all fees for the registration of Shares or for qualifying or continuing the qualification of the Trust shall be paid by the Trust;


12)

Monitor sales of Shares and ensure that the Shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC;


13)

Monitor the calculation of performance data for dissemination to information  services covering the investment company industry, for sales literature of the Trust and other appropriate purposes;


14)

Prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports, including Fund budgets, expense reports, pro-forma financial statements, expense and profit/loss projections and fee waiver/expense reimbursement projections on a periodic basis;


15)

Prepare authorization for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust;


16)

Provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies;


17)

Upon request, assist each Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS);


18)

Perform other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request pursuant to mutually acceptable timelines and compensation agreements.


All out-of-pocket expenses will be billed as set forth on Appendix IV.  GFS may from time to time adopt new procedures, or modify existing procedures, in order to carry out its Fund Administrative Services.  Any modification of the Fund Administrative Services provided by GFS as set forth in this Appendix II shall be delivered to the Trust in writing.  








APPENDIX III

Transfer Agency Services


With respect to each Fund electing Transfer Agency Services, GFS shall provide the following services subject to, and in compliance with the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trust’s Registration Statement, the Trust’s Organizational Documents, Bylaws, applicable laws and regulations, and resolutions and policies established by the Trust’s Board:


1)

Provide the services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plans (including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program) that are customary for open-end management investment companies including:


a.

maintaining all Shareholder accounts;

b.

preparing Shareholder meeting lists;

c.

preparing and certifying direct Shareholder lists in conjunction with proxy solicitations;

d.

preparing periodic mailing of year-end tax and statement information;

e.

mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses to current Shareholders;

f.

withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts;

g.

preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required by federal authorities with respect to distributions for Shareholders;

h.

preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts; and

i.

providing account information in response to inquiries from Shareholders.


2)

     Receiving for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and promptly delivering payment and appropriate documentation therefore to the Custodian of the Fund authorized by the Board (the “Custodian”); or, in the case of a Fund operating in a master-feeder or fund of funds structure, to the transfer agent or interest-holder record keeper for the master portfolios in which the Fund invests;


3)

Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account;


4)

 Receiving for acceptance, redemption requests and redemption directions and delivering the appropriate documentation therefore to the Custodian or, in the case of a Fund operating in a master-feeder or fund of funds structure, to the transfer agent or interest-holder record keeper for the master portfolios in which the Fund invests;


5)

 As and when the Fund receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, paying over or cause to be paid over the redemption proceeds as required by the Prospectus pursuant to which the redeemed Shares were offered and as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;


6)

Effecting transfers of Shares upon receipt of appropriate instructions from Shareholders;










7)

Monitoring and making appropriate filings with respect to the escheatment laws of the various states and territories of the United States;


8)

Preparing and transmitting to Shareholders (or crediting the appropriate Shareholder accounts) payments for all distributions and dividends declared by the Trust with respect to Shares of each Fund;


9)

Receiving from Shareholders and/or debiting Shareholder accounts for sales commissions, including contingent deferred, deferred and other sales charges, and service fees ( i.e., wire redemption charges) and prepare and transmit payments to underwriters, selected dealers and others for commissions and service fees received and provide necessary tracking reports to the Fund’s and/or the Fund’s principal underwriter;


10)

Recording the issuance of shares of a Fund and maintaining pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number of shares of the Fund which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund, issued and outstanding; and  


11)

Providing the Trust on a regular basis with each Fund’s total number of shares that are authorized and issued and outstanding.


Issuance of Shares .


GFS, in its capacity as transfer agent, shall make original issues of Shares of each Fund in accordance with the Fund’s Prospectus, only upon receipt of:


a.

instructions requesting the issuance,

b.

a copy of a resolution of the Board authorizing the issuance,

c.

necessary funds for the payment of any original issue tax applicable to such Shares, and

d.

an opinion of the Trust’s legal counsel as to the legality and validity of the issuance, which opinion may provide that it is contingent upon the filing by the Trust of an appropriate notice with the SEC, as required by Section 24 of the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder. If such opinion is contingent upon a filing under Section 24 of the 1940 Act, the Trust shall indemnify GFS for any liability arising from the failure of the Trust to comply with such section or the rules thereunder.


The responsibility of GFS for each Fund’s state registration status is solely limited to the reporting of transactions to the Trust, and GFS shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund, its distributor or other agent.


Transfer of Shares .


Transfers of Shares of each Fund shall be registered on the Shareholder records maintained by GFS. In registering transfers of Shares, GFS may rely upon the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Nebraska or any other statutes that, in the opinion of GFS’s legal counsel, protect GFS and the Trust from liability arising from:



a.

not requiring complete documentation;









b.

registering a transfer without an adverse claim inquiry;

c.

delaying registration for purposes of such inquiry; or

d.

refusing registration whenever an adverse claim requires such refusal.


As transfer agent, GFS will be responsible for delivery to the transferor and transferee of such documentation as is required by the Uniform Commercial Code.


Purchase Orders.


Shares shall be issued in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus after GFS or its agent receives either:

a.

an instruction directing investment in a Fund, a check (other than a third party check) or a wire or other electronic payment in the amount designated in the instruction and in the case of an initial purchase, a completed account application; or

b.

the information required for purchases pursuant to a selected dealer agreement, processing organization agreement, or a similar contract with a financial intermediary.


Distribution Eligibility.


Shares issued in a Fund after receipt of a completed purchase order shall be eligible to receive distributions of the Fund at the time specified in the prospectus pursuant to which the Shares are offered.


Determination of Federal Funds .


Shareholder payments shall be considered “Federal Funds” no later than on the day indicated below unless other times are noted in the Prospectus:


a.

for a wire received, at the time of the receipt of the wire;

b.

for a check drawn on a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, on the second Fund Business Day following receipt of the check; and

c.

for a check drawn on an institution that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, at such time as GFS is credited with Federal Funds with respect to that check.


Lost Shareholders .


GFS shall perform such services as are required in order to comply with Rules 17a-24 and 17Ad-17 (the “Lost Shareholder Rules”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, but not limited to, those set forth below.  GFS may, in its sole discretion, use the services of a third party to perform some of or all such services.


a.

documentation of search policies and procedures;

b.

execution of required searches;

c.

tracking results and maintaining data sufficient to comply with the Lost Shareholder Rules; and

d.

preparation and submission of data required under the Lost Shareholder Rules.

Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) Delegation.










The Trust hereby delegates to GFS certain AML duties under this Agreement, as permitted by law and in accordance with the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Policies and Procedures as may be amended from time to time.  Such duties delegated to GFS include procedures reasonably designed to prevent and detect money laundering activities and to ensure that each Fund can have a reasonable belief that it knows the identity of each person or entity opening an account with the Fund.  GFS’s procedures will include, as appropriate, procedures to assist the Fund(s) to:

·

detect and report suspicious activities;

·

comply with “know your customer” requirements;

·

monitor high-risk accounts; and

·

maintain required records.

GFS shall provide for proper supervision and training of its personnel.  With respect to assisting the Trust with its Customer Identification Program (“CIP”) designed to ensure the identity of any person opening a new account with a Fund (a “Customer”), GFS will assist the Fund(s) through the use of the following:

·

risk-based procedures to verify the identity of each Customer to the extent reasonable and practicable, such that the Fund may have a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of each Customer;

·

before opening an account, obtain a Customer’s name, date of birth (for an individual), address, and identification number 1 ;

·

procedures to verify the identity of a Customer within a reasonable time after the account is opened;

·

procedures for maintenance of records relating to Customer identification and supporting the verification; and

·

procedures to determine whether the Customer’s name appears on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations issued by any federal government agency and designated as such by the Department of the Treasury in consultation with the federal functional regulators, within a reasonable period of time after the account is opened.

For purposes of verifying the identity of a Customer, GFS may rely on documents, so long as, based on that information, GFS can form a reasonable belief that it knows the identity of the Customer, including:

·

an individual’s unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard, (such as a driver’s license or passport); or

·

documents showing the existence of an entity, such as articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license, a partnership agreement, or trust instrument.

To the extent that the Customer’s identity cannot be verified by relying on documents, other methods may be used by GFS, including, (i) contacting a Customer; (ii) independently verifying the Customer’s identity through the comparison of information provided by the Customer with information obtained from a consumer reporting agency, public database, or other source; (iii) checking references with other financial institutions; and (iv) obtaining a financial statement.

1 An identification number may be, a taxpayer identification number, passport number and country of issuance, alien identification card number, or number and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.









In the event that GFS is not able to verify the identity of a Customer sufficiently that it can form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of a Customer, then GFS may, as appropriate:

·

not open an account for the Customer;

·

apply limited terms under which a Customer may use an account until the Customer’s identity is verified;

·

close an account, after attempts to verify a Customer’s identity have failed; or

·

assist the Fund in filing a Suspicious Activity Report in accordance with applicable law and regulation, regarding the Customer.

Each Fund represents and agrees that it will provide Customers with adequate notice that the Fund is requesting information to verify their identities.  The notice will be included in the application or the prospectus, or a document accompanying the application or prospectus provided it is reasonably designed to ensure that the customer views or otherwise receives the notice before opening the account.

 In consideration of the performance of the duties by GFS pursuant to this Section, the Trust agrees to pay GFS for the reasonable administrative expenses that may be associated with such additional duties.


Anti-Identity Theft Delegation.


To the extent that a Fund has covered accounts that allow redemption proceeds to go to third parties, GFS will assume Anti-Identity Theft monitoring duties for the Fund under this Agreement, pursuant to legal requirements. Any out of pocket expenses occurred in this regard are due and payable by the Fund.


Rule 22c-2 Compliance.


Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act requires that a fund’s principal underwriter or transfer agent enter into a shareholder information agreement with any financial intermediary or its agent where, through itself or its agent, purchases or redeems shares directly from a fund, its principal underwriter or transfer agent, or through a registered clearing agency.  Each Fund shall ensure that its principal underwriter enters into such agreements, which permits GFS as transfer agent to request information from such financial intermediaries to insure that the Trust’s procedures are being followed with respect to market timing and, where applicable, early redemption fees.  The Trust’s procedures in this regard would trigger the information requests, under certain conditions, with respect to said financial intermediaries’ omnibus accounts in the respective Fund.  


Processing through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”).


GFS will: (i) process accounts through Networking and the purchase, redemption, transfer and exchange of shares in such accounts through Fund/SERV (Networking and Fund/SERV being programs operated by the NSCC on behalf of NSCC’s participants, including the Trust), in accordance with, instructions transmitted to and received by GFS by transmission from NSCC on behalf of broker-dealers and banks which have been established by, or in accordance with the instructions of authorized persons, as hereinafter defined on the dealer file maintained by GFS; (ii) issue instructions to each Fund’s Custodian for the settlement of transactions between the Fund and NSCC (acting on behalf of its broker-dealer and bank participants); (iii) provide account and transaction information from the affected Trust’s records on









an appropriate computer system in accordance with NSCC’s Networking and Fund/SERV rules for those broker-dealers; and (iv) maintain Shareholder accounts through Networking.


Transfer Agency Records.


GFS shall maintain the following shareholder account information:


·

name, address and United States Tax Identification or Social Security number;

·

number of Shares held and number of Shares for which certificates, if any, have been issued, including certificate numbers and denominations;

·

historical information regarding the account of each Shareholder, including dividends and distributions paid and the date and price for all transactions on a Shareholder’s account;

·

any stop or restraining order placed against a Shareholder’s account;

·

any correspondence relating to the current maintenance of a Shareholder’s account;

·

information with respect to withholdings; and

·

any information required in order for GFS to perform any calculations by this Agreement.



All out-of-pocket expenses will be billed as set forth on Appendix IV.  GFS may from time to time adopt new procedures, or modify existing procedures, in order to carry out its Transfer Agency Services.  Any modification of the Transfer Agency Services provided by GFS as set forth in this Appendix III shall be delivered to the Trust in writing.

 


 

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION

AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC



THIS OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of the 29th day of August, 2012, as amended October 15, 2012, by and between TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (the “Fund”) a series of the Trust, and the Advisor of the Fund, Belvedere Asset Management, Ltd. (the “Advisor”).


RECITALS:


WHEREAS , the Advisor renders advice and services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and provisions of an Investment Management Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor dated as of the 29 th day of  August, 2012, as amended October 15, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”); and


WHEREAS , each Fund is responsible for, and has assumed the obligation for, payment of certain expenses pursuant to the Advisory Agreement that have not been assumed by the Advisor; and


WHEREAS , the Advisor desires to limit each Fund’s Operating Expenses (as that term is defined in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement) pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and the Trust (on behalf of the Fund) desires to allow the Advisor to implement those limits; and


WHEREAS , as a condition to the continuation of its contractual relationship with the Advisor, the Trust has required that Advisor grant to the Trust a continuing security interest in and to a designated account of the Advisor established with Gemini Fund Services, LLC, Transfer Agent to the Funds, or its successor and assigns (the “Securities Intermediary”), for so long a Fund’s assets remain below $10 million;


NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the covenants and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually agree as follows:


1. Limit on Operating Expenses . The Advisor hereby agrees to limit each Fund’s current Operating Expenses to an annual rate, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the month, to the amounts listed in Appendix A (the “Annual Limit”). In the event that the current Operating Expenses of a Fund, as accrued each month, exceed its Annual Limit, the Advisor will pay to the Fund, on a monthly basis, the excess expense within the first ten days of



 

 

 

-1 -



the month following the month in which such Operating Expenses were incurred (each payment, a “Fund Reimbursement Payment”).


2. Definition . For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Operating Expenses” with respect to each Fund is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund and including the Advisor’s investment advisory or management fee detailed in the Advisory Agreement, any Rule 12b-l fees and other expenses described in the Advisory Agreement, but does not include: (i) any front-end or contingent deferred loads; (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses; (iii) borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); (iv) taxes; and (v) extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)).


3. Reimbursement of Fees and Expenses . The Advisor retains its right to receive in future years on a rolling three year basis, reimbursement of any Fund Reimbursement Payments paid by the Advisor pursuant to this Agreement, if such reimbursement can be achieved within the Operating Expense Limitations listed in Appendix A .


4. Collateral Account and Security Interest .  At any time when a Fund’s assets are below $10 million, the Advisor, for value received, hereby pledges, assigns, sets over and grants to the Trust a continuing security interest in and to an account to be established and maintained by the Advisor with the Securities Intermediary and designated as a collateral account (the “Collateral Account”), including any replacement account established with any successor, together with all dividends, interest, stock-splits, distributions, profits and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof and any and all other rights as may now or hereafter derive or accrue therefrom (collectively, the “Collateral”) to secure the payment of any required Fund Reimbursement Payment or Liquidation Expenses (as defined in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement).  For so long as this Agreement is in effect, any transfers or conveyances of Collateral to any party shall require the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), except as specified in Section 7(a)(ii) of this Agreement, below.  In addition, the Trust will not issue entitlement orders, redeem or otherwise take any action with respect to the Collateral or Collateral Account unless a Collateral Event (defined below under Section 5 of this Agreement) has occurred or is continuing.


5. Collateral Event .  In the event that either (a) the Advisor does not make the Fund Reimbursement Payment due in connection with a particular calendar month by the tenth day of the following calendar month or (b) the Board enacts a resolution calling for the liquidation of a Fund (either (a) or (b), a “Collateral Event”), then, in either event, the Board shall have absolute discretion to redeem any shares or other Collateral held in the Collateral Account and utilize the proceeds from such redemptions or such other Collateral to make any required Fund Reimbursement Payment, or to cover any costs or expenses which the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, estimates will be required in connection with the liquidation of the Fund (the “Liquidation Expenses”).  Pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, upon authorization from the Board, but subject to the provisions of the Control Agreement, no further



 

 

 

-2 -



instructions shall be required from the Advisor for the Securities Intermediary to transfer any Collateral from the Collateral Account to the Fund.  The Advisor acknowledges that in the event the Collateral available in the Collateral Account is insufficient to cover the full cost of any Fund Reimbursement Payment or Liquidation Expenses, the Fund shall retain the right to receive from the Advisor any costs in excess of the value of the Collateral.   


6. Control Agreement; Appointment of Attorney-in-Fact .  The Advisor agrees to execute and deliver to the Board, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board, a Control Agreement by, between and among the Trust, the Advisor and the Securities Intermediary (the “Control Agreement”) pursuant to and consistent with Section 8-106(c) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, which shall terminate when the Collateral Account is no longer required under this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing, for so long as the Collateral Account is required under the Agreement,  the Advisor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Trust, through any officer thereof, with full power of substitution, as Advisor's true and lawful Attorney-in-Fact, with full irrevocable power and authority in place and stead of the Advisor and in the name of the Advisor or in the Trust's own name, from time to time, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate actions and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which the Board deems necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Agreement, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trust shall have the right and power following any Collateral Event to receive, endorse and collect all checks and other orders for the payment of money made payable to the Advisor representing any interest payment, dividend, or other distribution payable in respect of or to the Collateral, or any part thereof, and to give full discharge for the same.  So long as a Collateral Event has occurred and is continuing, the Board, in its discretion, may direct the Advisor or Advisor's agent to transfer the Collateral in certificated or uncertificated form into the name and account of the Trust or its designee.  


7. Covenants .  So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, the Advisor represents and covenants as follows:


(a)

No later than 120 days after each Fund becomes operational, the Advisor shall invest at least $30,000 in the Collateral Account, unless the Fund’s assets have reached $10 million by that time (in which case no Collateral Account is required until Fund assets fall below $10 million for more than 30 days).  Once the Collateral Account is established: (i) the Advisor will maintain at least $30,000 in said account, such that additional amounts will be deposited by the Advisor where Fund outflows or negative Fund performance reduce the Collateral Account below $30,000 for a period of more than thirty days; (ii) when each Fund reaches $10 million or more in net assets, the Advisor may withdraw all assets from said account, less the minimum amount required to maintain the account open; and (iii) the Advisor hereby agrees to deposit and maintain $30,000 in the Collateral Account within 30 days of Fund assets falling below $10 million, where assets



 

 

 

-3 -



have not risen above $10 million at the end of that 30-day period.   The Collateral Account may be closed completely upon each Fund assets reaching $20 million.


(b)

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Advisor agrees not to challenge any action taken by the Board or the Trust in executing the terms of this Agreement; provided that the action does not constitute willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties of the Board under this Agreement, the Advisory Agreement, or to Fund shareholders.   


(c)

The Trust will not issue entitlement orders, redeem or otherwise take any action with respect to the Collateral or Collateral Account unless a Collateral Event (defined above under Section 5 of this Agreement) has occurred or is continuing.


8. Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date first above written and shall remain in effect for at least one year following the date on which the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) declares the Trust’s and Funds’ registration statement effective, unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraph 9 of this Agreement.  Upon mutual written consent of the Advisor and the Trust, the Agreement shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust.


9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board, on behalf of a Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Advisor. This Agreement may not be terminated by the Advisor without the consent of the Board.  This Agreement and the Control Agreement will automatically terminate, with respect to a Fund listed in Appendix A if the Advisory Agreement for the Fund is terminated and the Fund continues to operate under the management of a new investment adviser, with such termination effective upon the effective date of the Advisory Agreement’s termination for the Fund.


10. Assignment . This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party.


11. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.


12. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.





 

 

 

-4 -




(Signature Page follows)




IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first above written.



TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

Belvedere Asset Management, LLC  

on behalf of Belvedere Alternative Income  Fund

 

 

 


By: /s/ Andrew Rogers

By: /s/ Keith Pagan

Name: Andrew Rogers

Name: Keith Pagan

Title: President

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 





 

 

 

-5 -





Appendix A


Fund

 Operating Expense Limit



Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

Class A Shares

3.20%

 

Class C Shares

3.95%

Class I Shares

2.95%

Class R Shares

3.45%



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     







 

 

 

-6 -


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION

AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


LJM FUNDS MANAGEMENT, LTD.



THIS OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of the 29 th day of August, 2012, by and between TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund (the “Funds”) each a series of the Trust, and the Advisor of the Fund, LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (the “Advisor”).


RECITALS:


WHEREAS , the Advisor renders advice and services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and provisions of an Investment Management Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor dated as of the 29 th day of  August, 2012 (the “Advisory Agreement”); and


WHEREAS , the Funds are responsible for, and have assumed the obligation for, payment of certain expenses pursuant to the Advisory Agreement that have not been assumed by the Advisor; and


WHEREAS , the Advisor desires to limit each Funds’ Operating Expenses (as that term is defined in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement) pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and the Trust (on behalf of the Funds) desires to allow the Advisor to implement those limits; and


WHEREAS , as a condition to the continuation of its contractual relationship with the Advisor, the Trust has required that Advisor grant to the Trust a continuing security interest in and to a designated account of the Advisor established with Gemini Fund Services, LLC, Transfer Agent to the Funds, or its successor and assigns (the “Securities Intermediary”), for so long a Fund’s assets remain below $10 million;


NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the covenants and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually agree as follows:


1. Limit on Operating Expenses . The Advisor hereby agrees to limit each Funds’ current Operating Expenses to an annual rate, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the month, to the amounts listed in Appendix A (the “Annual Limit”). In the event that the current Operating Expenses of the Funds, as accrued each month, exceed its Annual Limit, the Advisor will pay to the Funds, on a monthly basis, the excess expense within the first ten



 

 

 

-1 -



days of the month following the month in which such Operating Expenses were incurred (each payment, a “Fund Reimbursement Payment”).


2. Definition . For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Operating Expenses” with respect to the Funds is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund and including the Advisor’s investment advisory or management fee detailed in the Advisory Agreement, any Rule 12b-l fees and other expenses described in the Advisory Agreement, but does not include: (i) any front-end or contingent deferred loads; (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses; (iii) borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); (iv) taxes; and (v) extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)).


3. Reimbursement of Fees and Expenses . The Advisor retains its right to receive in future years on a rolling three year basis, reimbursement of any Fund Reimbursement Payments paid by the Advisor pursuant to this Agreement, if such reimbursement can be achieved within the Operating Expense Limitations listed in Appendix A .


4. Collateral Account and Security Interest .  At any time when the Funds’ assets are below $10 million, the Advisor, for value received, hereby pledges, assigns, sets over and grants to the Trust a continuing security interest in and to an account to be established and maintained by the Advisor with the Securities Intermediary and designated as a collateral account (the “Collateral Account”), including any replacement account established with any successor, together with all dividends, interest, stock-splits, distributions, profits and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof and any and all other rights as may now or hereafter derive or accrue therefrom (collectively, the “Collateral”) to secure the payment of any required Fund Reimbursement Payment or Liquidation Expenses (as defined in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement).  For so long as this Agreement is in effect, any transfers or conveyances of Collateral to any party shall require the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”), except as specified in Section 7(a)(ii) of this Agreement, below.  In addition, the Trust will not issue entitlement orders, redeem or otherwise take any action with respect to the Collateral or Collateral Account unless a Collateral Event (defined below under Section 5 of this Agreement) has occurred or is continuing.


5. Collateral Event .  In the event that either (a) the Advisor does not make the Fund Reimbursement Payment due in connection with a particular calendar month by the tenth day of the following calendar month or (b) the Board enacts a resolution calling for the liquidation of a Fund (either (a) or (b), a “Collateral Event”), then, in either event, the Board shall have absolute discretion to redeem any shares or other Collateral held in the Collateral Account and utilize the proceeds from such redemptions or such other Collateral to make any required Fund Reimbursement Payment, or to cover any costs or expenses which the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, estimates will be required in connection with the liquidation of the Fund (the “Liquidation Expenses”).  Pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, upon authorization from the Board, but subject to the provisions of the Control Agreement, no further



 

 

 

-2 -



instructions shall be required from the Advisor for the Securities Intermediary to transfer any Collateral from the Collateral Account to the Fund.  The Advisor acknowledges that in the event the Collateral available in the Collateral Account is insufficient to cover the full cost of any Fund Reimbursement Payment or Liquidation Expenses, the Fund shall retain the right to receive from the Advisor any costs in excess of the value of the Collateral.   


6. Control Agreement; Appointment of Attorney-in-Fact .  The Advisor agrees to execute and deliver to the Board, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board, a Control Agreement by, between and among the Trust, the Advisor and the Securities Intermediary (the “Control Agreement”) pursuant to and consistent with Section 8-106(c) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, which shall terminate when the Collateral Account is no longer required under this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing, for so long as the Collateral Account in required under the Agreement,  the Advisor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Trust, through any officer thereof, with full power of substitution, as Advisor's true and lawful Attorney-in-Fact, with full irrevocable power and authority in place and stead of the Advisor and in the name of the Advisor or in the Trust's own name, from time to time, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate actions and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which the Board deems necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Agreement, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trust shall have the right and power following any Collateral Event to receive, endorse and collect all checks and other orders for the payment of money made payable to the Advisor representing any interest payment, dividend, or other distribution payable in respect of or to the Collateral, or any part thereof, and to give full discharge for the same.  So long as a Collateral Event has occurred and is continuing, the Board, in its discretion, may direct the Advisor or Advisor's agent to transfer the Collateral in certificated or uncertificated form into the name and account of the Trust or its designee.  


7. Covenants .  So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, the Advisor represents and covenants as follows:


(a)

No later than 120 days after each Fund becomes operational, the Advisor shall invest at least $30,000 in the Collateral Account, unless the Fund’s assets have reached $10 million by that time (in which case no Collateral Account is required until Fund assets fall below $10 million for more than 30 days).  Once the Collateral Account is established: (i) the Advisor will maintain at least $30,000 in said account, such that additional amounts will be deposited by the Advisor where Fund outflows or negative Fund performance reduce the Collateral Account below $30,000 for a period of more than thirty days; (ii) when each Fund reaches $10 million or more in net assets, the Advisor may withdraw all assets from said account, less the minimum amount required to maintain the account open; and (iii) the Advisor hereby agrees to deposit and maintain $30,000 in the Collateral Account within 30 days of Fund assets falling below $10 million, where assets



 

 

 

-3 -



have not risen above $10 million at the end of that 30-day period.   The Collateral Account may be closed completely upon each Fund assets reaching $20 million.


(b)

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Advisor agrees not to challenge any action taken by the Board or the Trust in executing the terms of this Agreement; provided that the action does not constitute willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties of the Board under this Agreement, the Advisory Agreement, or to Fund shareholders.   


(c)

The Trust will not issue entitlement orders, redeem or otherwise take any action with respect to the Collateral or Collateral Account unless a Collateral Event (defined above under Section 5 of this Agreement) has occurred or is continuing.


8. Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date first above written and shall remain in effect for at least one year following the date on which the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) declares the Trust’s and Funds’ registration statement effective, unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraph 9 of this Agreement.  Upon mutual written consent of the Advisor and the Trust, the Agreement shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust.


9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board, on behalf of the Funds, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Advisor. This Agreement may not be terminated by the Advisor without the consent of the Board.  This Agreement and the Control Agreement will automatically terminate, with respect to the Funds listed in Appendix A if the Advisory Agreement for the Funds is terminated and the Funds continue to operate under the management of a new investment adviser, with such termination effective upon the effective date of the Advisory Agreement’s termination for the Funds.


10. Assignment . This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party.


11. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.


12. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.




 

 

 

-4 -





(Signature Page follows)



IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first above written.



TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.  

on behalf of LJM Preservation and Growth Income  Fund and LJM Income Fund

 

 

 


By: /s/ Andrew Rogers          

By: /s/ J. Scott Sykora          

Name: Andrew Rogers

Name: J. Scott Sykora

Title: President

Title:   President





 

 

 

-5 -





Appendix A


Fund

 Operating Expense Limit



LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

Class A Shares

2.45%

 

Class C Shares

3.20%

Class I Shares

2.20%


LJM Income Plus Fund

Class A Shares

2.45%

 

Class C Shares

3.20%

Class I Shares

2.20%



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     







 

 

 

-6 -


 

 

[H5NLCCCOAGREEMENT001.JPG]

 

 

CONSULTING AGREEMENT


This Consulting Agreement (the “Agreement”) is effective August 29, 2012 between NORTHERN LIGHTS COMPLIANCE SERVICES, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company located at 450 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788 (“NLCS”) and TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST, a to-be registered investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Trust”), on behalf of each portfolio listed on the attached Appendix A , as may be amended from time to time (each a “Fund” and collectively “Funds”).  


I.   SCOPE OF SERVICES


NLCS will provide compliance services to the Trust as set forth herein and assist  the Trust in complying with the Federal Securities Laws (defined by Rule 38a-1) and meeting its responsibilities as outlined by Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).


Phase I - Risk Management and Policies and Procedures Review


As part of the risk management and policies and procedures review, NLCS will perform the services listed below.


a.

Evaluation of Internal Control Structure


1.

Conduct interviews with certain employees throughout the business lines of the Trust that are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Trust in relation to compliance with the Federal Securities Laws by the Trust and each investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, and transfer agent of the Trust (collectively the “Service Providers”).


2.

Assess from the interviews the operational risks and compliance with stated policies and procedures of the Trust and its Service Providers.


3.

Review internal audit and other reports maintained by the Trust and, to the extent practicable, its Service Providers, related to compliance with the Federal Securities Laws.




4.

Review any written policies and procedures provided pursuant to Item b below to assess the appropriateness of such documents with respect to compliance with the Federal Securities Laws by the Trust and its Service Providers.


b.

Policies and Procedures


Conduct a detailed review and assessment of the Trust's policies and procedures pertaining to compliance with the Federal Securities Laws.  This review will cover among other things, policies and procedures relating to:


·

Pricing of portfolio securities and Fund shares, with a focus on the following items within the pricing policies and procedures:


a)

Monitoring for circumstances that may necessitate the use of fair value prices;

b)

Establishing criteria for determining when market quotations are no longer reliable for a particular portfolio security;

c)

Providing a methodology or methodologies by which the Funds determine the current fair value of the portfolio securities; and

d)

Reviewing the appropriateness and accuracy of the methodology used in valuing securities, including making any necessary adjustments.


·

Processing of Fund shares, with a focus on the following items:


a)

Segregation of investor orders received before the Funds price their shares from those that were received after the Funds price their shares; and

b)

Methodology used by the Funds to protect themselves and their shareholders against late trading.


·

Identification of affiliated persons to ensure that any transactions with affiliated persons are executed in compliance with the 1940 Act.


·

Protection of nonpublic information, including:


a)

Prohibitions against trading portfolio securities on the basis of information acquired by analysts or portfolio managers employed by the Trust or its Service Providers;

b)

Disclosure to third parties of material information about the Funds’ portfolios, trading strategies, or pending transactions; and

c)

Purchase or sale of Fund shares by the Trust or its Service Providers’ personnel based on material, nonpublic information about the Funds’



portfolios.


·

Compliance with fund governance requirements, including the procedures to guard against:


a)

Improperly constituted Board of Trustees (the “Board”);

b)

Failure of the Board to properly consider matters entrusted to it; and

c)

Failure of the Board to request and consider information required by the 1940 Act from the Trust and its Service Providers.


·

The excessive short-term trading of mutual fund shares that may be harmful to the Funds, including a focus on the following areas:


a)

Consistency of policies and procedures with the Funds’ disclosed policies regarding market timing;

b)

Monitoring of shareholder trades or flows of money in and out of the Funds in order to detect market timing activity;  

c)

Enforcement of the Funds’ policies regarding market timing;

d)

Prevention of short-term trading waivers that would harm the Funds or their shareholders or subordinate the interests of the Funds or their shareholders to those of the Trust or any other affiliated person or associated person of the Trust; and

e)

Reporting to the Fund's Board regarding all waivers granted, so that the Board can determine whether the waivers were proper.


·

Document retention and business continuity.  


In addition, NLCS shall conduct a review of the policies and procedures of the Trust’s Service Providers, as they relate to the Trust’s compliance with the Federal Securities Laws.


Investment Adviser Review


The review of the policies and procedures of each Fund’s investment adviser shall cover, among other things, to the extent applicable to the Trust:


a)

Portfolio management processes, including allocation of investment opportunities among clients and consistency of portfolios with clients' investment objectives, disclosures by the Trust, and applicable regulatory restrictions;

b)

Trading practices, including procedures by which the Trust satisfies its best execution obligation, uses client brokerage to obtain research and




other services ("soft dollar arrangements"), and allocates aggregated trades among clients;

c)

Proprietary trading of the Trust and personal trading activities of supervised persons;

d)

The accuracy of disclosures made to investors, clients, and regulators, including account statements and advertisements;

e)

Safeguarding of client assets from conversion or inappropriate use by advisory personnel;

f)

The accurate creation of required records and their maintenance in a manner that secures them from unauthorized alteration or use and protects them from untimely destruction;

g)

Marketing of advisory services, including the use of solicitors;

h)

Processes to value client holdings and assess fees based on those valuations;

i )

Safeguards for the privacy protection of client records and information; and

j)

Business continuity plans.


It is understood that the Chief Compliance Officer of each Fund’s investment adviser is primarily responsible for compliance by such organization with Rule 206(4)-7 under The Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and for overseeing, with respect to the portfolios they advise, each of the foregoing items.


Underwriter Review


The review of the policies and procedures of each Fund’s underwriter shall cover, among other things, to the extent applicable to the Trust:


a)

The accuracy of disclosures made to investors, clients, and regulators, including account statements and advertisements;

b)

The accurate creation of required records and their maintenance in a manner that secures them from unauthorized alteration or use and protects them from untimely destruction;

c)

Proprietary trading of the Trust and personal trading activities of supervised persons;

d)

The Fund’s selling agreement process;

e)

Payments of 12b-1 fees to selling brokers;

f)

Anti-money laundering policies and procedures;

g)

Advertising review process, submission of materials to FINRA and the maintenance of advertising review records; and

h)

Business continuity plans.






Fund Administrator, Fund Accounting and Fund Transfer Agent Review


The review of the policies and procedures of each Fund’s administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent shall cover, among other things, to the extent applicable to the Trust:


a)

The accuracy of disclosures made to investors, clients, and regulators, including account statements and advertisements;

b)

Maintenance of Fund records including board materials and correspondence with regulators;

c)

Proprietary trading of the Trust and personal trading activities of supervised persons;

d)

Processes to ensure timely filing of Fund reports;

e)

Auditors comments noted in SSAE 16 reports;

f)

Anti-money laundering policies and procedures; and

g)

Business continuity plans.


As part of its review, NLCS may rely on summaries, reviews or statements prepared by the chief compliance officers of a Service Provider or a third party.  


Each Service Provider is responsible for proper developments and implementation of its policies and procedures.  Although NLCS performs a review of each Service Provider’s policies, procedures and standard business practices, NLCS is not responsible and cannot ensure that all necessary policies are adopted and implemented by such Service Provider.  


Phase II - Amending and Drafting of Policies and Procedures


Based on the analysis performed under Phase I of the engagement, NLCS will conduct any additional research that is necessary in order to ensure that the current practices of the Trust are in compliance with the Federal Securities Laws and relevant rules promulgated thereunder. Additionally, NLCS will recommend amendments and draft policies and procedures for the areas identified in Phase I, including amending the policies and procedures as they pertain to:


a.

Consistency with regulatory expectations of risk based policies and procedures;


b.

Maintaining compliance with SEC regulations, under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act; and


c.

Consistency within the structure, organization, and format of the policies and procedures.




Any amendments to the policies and procedures drafted by NLCS will be based on industry best practices and regulatory pronouncements. Upon completion of Phase II, the Trust will have customized policies and procedures that are designed to assist the Trust in complying with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.  These procedures will be compiled in a manual that also will describe the overall implementation of the Trust’s Compliance Program (the “Compliance Program Manual”).  This Compliance Program Manual will serve as the Trust’s primary policy and procedures manual and will include summaries of the compliance policies and procedures of each of the Fund’s Service Providers.


Phase III – Ongoing Monitoring and Board Reporting


Once the Trust’s Compliance Program Manual is complete, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will present it to the Board for approval.  


Thereafter, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will create any appropriate records and monitor the Trust’s Compliance Program for effectiveness, including ongoing dialogue with key compliance personnel at the Trust’s Service Providers.   


The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will conduct an annual review to assess compliance with the Trust’s Compliance Program and its overall effectiveness, and will prepare a written report to the Trust’s Board annually, within sixty calendar days of the completion of the annual review, that addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Fund and its Service Providers, any material changes made to those policies and procedures since the date of the last report, and any material changes to the policies and procedures recommended as a result of the annual review, and each “Material Compliance Matter” as defined in Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act.


II. STAFFING AND TIMING


Under the terms of this Agreement, NLCS will provide the services of William Kimme , who shall be appointed by the Board as the Chief Compliance Officer for the Trust and each Fund.  In addition, NLCS will provide support staff to Mr. Kimme to assist him in all aspects of his duties under this Agreement.  Mr. Kimme will lead the engagement and will have overall supervisory responsibility for the ongoing obligations hereunder. A brief biography for Mr. Kimme is included in Appendix C to this Agreement.


The timeline for this engagement, although subject to change, will be as follows:



ON-SITE


The on-site portion will consist primarily of reviewing the policies and procedures



identified in Phase I above as well as interviews of the relevant personnel throughout the different business lines of the Trust.


Visits to Service Providers of the Trust will include:


1)

On-site visit to each Fund’s administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent.

2)

On-site visit to each Fund’s principal underwriter.

3)

On-site visit to each Fund’s investment adviser.

4)

Visits to each of the foregoing Service Providers will include consultation with the Chief Compliance Officer of the respective Service Provider.

 

OFF-SITE


The off-site portion of this engagement will consist of NLCS devoting significant time reviewing notes from its visits with the Service Providers, continuing follow-up and communication with necessary Service Provider personnel, Trust officers, legal advisors, etc. and preparing any amendments and drafting new policies and procedures as may be required under Phase II.


III. PAYMENT


In consideration of the timely and satisfactory performance of the services indicated above, NLCS shall be compensated as indicated in the attached Appendix B . The payment of all fees and the reimbursement of all Out of Pocket Expenses shall be due and payable within thirty (30) days of receipt of an invoice from NLCS (the “Due Date”).  Interest may accrue, at the maximum amount permitted by law, on any invoice balance that remains unpaid after its Due Date.


IV. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR


NLCS shall act as an independent contractor and not as an agent of the Trust and NLCS shall make no representation as an agent of the Trust, except that the Chief Compliance Officer shall act as an appointed officer of the Trust and shall be empowered with full responsibility and authority to develop and enforce appropriate policies and procedures for the Trust.  


NLCS does not offer legal or accounting services and does not purport to replace the services provided by legal counsel or that of a certified public accountant. If contracts are provided, they will be forms only and the provision of such contracts does not constitute and should not be deemed to be legal advice. The representatives of NLCS are experts, and as such will make every reasonable effort to provide the services described in this Agreement. However, there is no guarantee that work performed by NLCS will be favorably received by any regulatory agency.




Though NLCS's work may involve analysis of accounting and financial records, at no time will work performed by NLCS be deemed to be an audit of the Trust in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or otherwise, nor will any work performed by NLCS consist of a review of the internal controls of the Trust.


V. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION


NLCS recognizes that the Trust may be subject to the provisions of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation S-P, or other privacy rules promulgated under the Gramm -Leach-Bliley Act (the "GLBA").  In carrying out its consulting duties, NLCS will acquire information of a confidential nature relating to the Trust's business activities and its clients.   NLCS hereby agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Trust’s information in accordance with GLBA and shall not use, publish, or otherwise disclose any information pertaining to the Trust, a Fund or its Service Providers unless required by law or in response to regulatory inquiries.   


VI. STANDARD OF CARE, INDEMNIFICATION AND RELIANCE


a.

Indemnification of NLCS .  The Trust shall on behalf of each Fund, indemnify and hold NLCS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liabilities arising out of or attributable to: (i) the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, (ii) the Trust’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Trust’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement, or (iii) all reasonable actions taken by NLCS hereunder in good faith without gross negligence, willful misconduct or reckless disregard of its duties .  NLCS shall not be liable for, and shall be entitled to rely upon, and may act upon information, records and reports generated by the Trust, advice of the Trust, or of counsel for the Trust and upon statements of the Trust’s independent accountants, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such records and reports or advice, provided that such action is not, to the knowledge of NLCS, in violation of applicable federal or state laws or regulations, and provided further that such action is taken without gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or reckless disregard of its duties.  The Trust shall hold NLCS harmless in regard to any liability incurred by reason of the inaccuracy of such information provided by the Trust or its other Service Providers or for any action reasonably taken or omitted in good faith reliance on such information.


b.

Indemnification of the Trust . NLCS shall indemnify and hold the Trust and each Fund harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges,




reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liabilities arising out of or attributable to NLCS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, or which arise out of NLCS’s lack of good faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its obligations or willful misconduct with respect to NLCS’ performance under or in connection with this Agreement.


c.

Reliance .  Except to the extent that NLCS may be liable pursuant to this Section VI, NLCS shall not be liable for any action taken or failure to act in good faith in reliance upon:


i.

advice of the Trust or of counsel to the Trust;

ii.

any written instruction or certified copy of any resolution of the Board, and NLCS may rely upon the genuineness of any such document, copy or facsimile thereof reasonably believed in good faith by NLCS to have been validly executed;

iii.

any signature, instruction, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, statement, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or other document reasonably believed in good faith by NLCS to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the Trust or other proper party or parties; or

iv.

reasonable actions taken by NLCS based on information provided by other Service Providers to the Trust, absent manifest error.


NLCS shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack of authority of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution, signature, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument which NLCS reasonably believes in good faith to be genuine.


d.

Errors of Others .  NLCS shall not be liable for the errors of other Service Providers to the Trust, and errors in information provided by an investment adviser or custodian to the Trust.


e.

Limitation of Shareholder and Board Liability .  The Trustees of the Trust and the shareholders of the Funds shall not be liable for any obligations of the Trust or of the Funds under this Agreement, and NLCS agrees that, in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund to which NLCS’s rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or claims, and not to the Trustees of the Trust or the shareholders of such Fund.  It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust personally, but bind only the property of the Trust, as provided in the Declaration of Trust.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been




authorized by the Board of the Trust and signed by the officers of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Board and shareholders nor such execution and delivery by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the property of the Trust as provided in its Declaration of Trust.  A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware.


f.

In the event that NLCS is requested, pursuant to subpoena or other legal process, to provide testimony or produce its documents relating to its engagement under this Agreement, in judicial or administrative proceedings to which NLCS is not a party, NLCS shall promptly notify the Trust and shall be reimbursed by the Trust at the then current standard billing rates for NLCS's professional time and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred responding to such request.


Notwithstanding the indemnification provisions above, to the extent that the Chief Compliance Officer incurs any liability in connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, he shall be covered under the Directors and Officers Errors and Omissions insurance policy of the Trust, in accordance with the terms therein and the deductible shall be covered by the Trust.  


VII. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT


The following conditions must be met within a reasonable amount of time following the execution of this Agreement:


a.

The investment adviser for each Fund will officially appoint a Chief Compliance Officer pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Advisers Act"), to fulfill all required duties thereunder.


b.

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer shall be covered under the Trust’s Directors and Officers Errors and Omissions Insurance as an officer of the Trust.


c.

NLCS will maintain an Errors and Omissions Insurance policy.


VIII. WARRANTY


NLCS warrants that it is under no obligation to any other entity that in any way is in conflict with this Agreement and that it is free to enter into this Agreement.





IX. EFFECTIVE DATE, TERM AND TERMINATION


a.

Effective Date and Term .  This Agreement shall become effective on the date first above written and shall continue for a period of one (1) year (the “Initial Term”).  This Agreement shall automatically continue for successive one year periods (a “Renewal Term”) subject to approval of the Board of the Trust, including approval by a majority of the Independent Trustees.


b.

Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated (i) at the end of the Initial Term (or Renewal Term) by either party by providing at least ninety (90) days written notice prior to the commencement of a Renewal Term, (ii) in accordance with Section X as a result of the removal of the Chief Compliance Officer, or (iii) upon written notice of a material breach, provided that a party shall have 30 days to remedy any such material breach.  In the event of termination, NLCS agrees that it will cooperate in the smooth transition of services and to minimize disruption to the Trust and its shareholders.  


c.

Fees Resulting from Termination.   Except in the event of a termination (i) by the Trust due to an uncured material breach by NLCS or (ii) pursuant to Section X(b) or X(d), the Trust shall pay NLCS all compensation and fees owing through the Initial Term, or any Renewal Term, as applicable, on the date of termination or the date that the provision of services cease, whichever is later.  For a termination (i) by the Trust due to an uncured material breach by NLCS or (ii) pursuant to Section X(b) or X(d), the Trust shall pay NLCS all compensation and fees owing through the date of termination or the date that the provision of services ceases, whichever is later.  


d.

Reimbursement of NLCS’s Expenses .  In addition to the fees owing in accordance with subsection (c), if this Agreement is terminated for any reason with respect to a Fund or Funds, NLCS shall be entitled to collect from the Trust the amount of all of NLCS’s reasonable labor charges and cash disbursements for services in connection with NLCS’s activities in effecting such termination, including without limitation, the labor costs and expenses associated with delivery of any compliance records of each such Fund from its computer systems, and the delivery to the Trust and/or its designees of related records, instruments and documents, or any copies thereof.  


X. EXCEPTIONS RESULTING FROM BOARD ACTION


a.

Termination .  If the Board dismisses the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, this Agreement will either end immediately (subject to the provisions of Section IX) or, at the discretion of both parties, NLCS may present an alternative Chief Compliance Officer for Board consideration and approval to continue the Chief



Compliance Officer duties set forth under this Agreement.  


b.

Prevention of Termination .  If NLCS wishes to dismiss the Chief Compliance Officer under the terms of NLCS’s arrangement with the Chief Compliance Officer, NLCS will present its plan of action to the Board prior to taking such action.  Under such circumstances NLCS may, at its own discretion, offer to present another Chief Compliance Officer candidate to the Board that would work through NLCS.  If the Board approves the new Chief Compliance Officer, the contract would continue as amended to reflect the new Chief Compliance Officer.  If, the Board chooses to engage its own Chief Compliance Officer as a result of NLCS dismissing the Chief Compliance Officer under this Agreement, the contract with NLCS would end, and the Trust would pay NLCS only for fees and Out of Pocket Expenses accrued up to the point in time when the Board’s new Chief Compliance Officer officially assumes responsibility.  


c.

Change in Compensation .  If the Board decides to increase the Chief Compliance Officer’s compensation or provide a bonus to the Chief Compliance Officer, then the fees paid to NLCS by the Trust will increase proportionately for any amounts it deems due to the Chief Compliance Officer above the amounts due to NLCS under this Agreement.  Any attempt by the Board to reduce the salary of the Chief Compliance Officer would be contrary to the terms of this Agreement.


d.

Resignation by Chief Compliance Officer .  If the Chief Compliance Officer voluntarily resigns, at the discretion of both parties, NLCS may present an alternative Chief Compliance Officer for Board consideration and approval to continue Chief Compliance Officer duties under this Agreement.  If the Board chooses to end its relationship with NLCS as a result of such voluntary resignation by the Chief Compliance Officer, this Agreement would end, and the Trust would pay NLCS only for fees and Out of Pocket Expenses accrued up to the point in time when the Board’s new Chief Compliance Officer officially assumes responsibility.  NLCS will make every effort to assist the Board in a smooth transition during this period.


XI. MISCELLANEOUS


a.

Amendments .  No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both parties hereto.


b.

Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.


c.

Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject




matter hereof whether oral or written.  


d.

C ounterparts .  The parties may execute this Agreement on any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.


e.

Severability .  If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected by such determination, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.


f.

Force Majeure.  Neither party shall be liable to the other for failure to perform if the failure results from a cause beyond its control, including, without limitation, fire, electrical, mechanical, or equipment breakdowns, delays by third party vendors and/or communications carriers, civil disturbances or disorders, terrorist acts, strikes, acts of governmental authority or new governmental restrictions, or acts of God.


g.

Headings .  Section and paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.


h.

Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or by overnight, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to each party at the address set forth below or at such new address designated by such party by notice given.  


To the Trust:

To NLCS:

Andrew Rogers

Michael J. Wagner

President

President

Two Roads Shared Trust

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street

450 Wireless Boulevard

Omaha, NE 68130

Hauppauge, NY 11788

 

(631) 470-2604

 

Michael.Wagner@NLCompliance.com


With a copy to:


Aisha J. Hunt

Cole-Frieman Mallon & Hunt LLP

One Sansome Street, Suite 1895

San Francisco, CA  94104






 

Tel.: (415) 762-2854

 


i.

Distinction of Funds .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund of the Trust are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund and that no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise.


j.

Representation of Signatories .  Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that they have full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated and that their signature will bind the party indicated to the terms hereof.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized persons, as of the day and year first above written.



 TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST



            /s/ Andrew Rogers

By:  

Andrew Rogers

President


NORTHERN LIGHTS COMPLIANCE

SERVICES, LLC

 

           /s/ Michael J. Wagner

By:  

Michael J. Wagner

President






APPENDIX A

List of Funds

As of August 29, 2012

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST


Fund Name

Adviser

Sub-Adviser

Approval Date

Alternative Avenue Fund

Alternative Road Investment Advisers, LLC

Battenkill Capital Management, Inc.

Del Mar Asset Management, LP

Highland Capital Management, L.P.

Kellner Capital LLC

Phineus Partners L.P.

RockView Management, LLC

Sound Point Capital Management, LP

August 29, 2012

Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

Belvedere Asset Management, LLC

N/A

August 29, 2012

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

N/A

August 29, 2012

LJM Income Plus Fund

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

N/A

August 29, 2012





[I1OPINIONOFCOUNSEL002.GIF]

One Maritime Plaza

Suite 2300

San Francisco, CA 94111-3513

+1 415 262 4500 Main

+1 415 262 4555 Fax

www.dechert.com

 


 

October 26, 2012


Two Roads Shared Trust

4020 South 147 th Street

Omaha, Nebraska  68137


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:


This opinion is given in connection with the filing by Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust”), of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (“Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (“1933 Act”) and Amendment No. 2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) relating to an indefinite amount of shares of beneficial interest of the Alternative Avenue Fund, Belvedere Alternative Income Fund, LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund, each a separate series of the Trust (each a “Fund,” and collectively the “Funds”). The shares of beneficial interest of the Funds are hereinafter referred to as the “Shares.”


We have examined the following Trust documents: (1) the Trust’s Declaration of Trust; (2) the Trust’s By-Laws; (3) each of the registration statement filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); (4) pertinent provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware; and (5) such other Trust records, certificates, documents and statutes that we have deemed relevant in order to render the opinions expressed herein.


Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that:


1.

The Trust is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and


2.

The Shares to be offered for sale by the Trust, when issued in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.


This letter expresses our opinion as to the Delaware statutory trust law governing matters such as the due organization of the Trust and the authorization and issuance of the Shares, but does not extend to the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the State of Delaware or to federal securities or other laws.


The opinions expressed herein are solely for your benefit and may not be relied on in any manner or for any purpose by any other person. We express no opinion as to any other matter other than as expressly set forth above and no other opinion is intended or may be inferred herefrom. The opinions expressed herein are given as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation and hereby disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change after the date of this opinion pertaining to any matter referred to herein.


We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Dechert LLP as counsel to the Registrant in the Fund’s Registration Statement and in any revised or amended versions thereof, until such time as we revoke such consent. In giving such consent, however, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.


Very truly yours,



Dechert LLP









Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm



We consent to the use in this Pre-effective Amendment to Registration Statement (No. 333-182417) on Form N-1A of Two Roads Shared Trust of our report dated October 26, 2012, relating to our audit of the financial statements of Belvedere Alternative Income Fund, appearing in the Statement of Additional Information, which is part of this Registration Statement.

We also consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" and "Financial Statements" in such Prospectus.


/s/ McGladrey LLP

Denver, Colorado

October 26, 2012




POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Andrew Rogers, Kevin Wolf and James Ash his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for his in his name, place and stead, to sign any and all Registration Statements applicable to Two Roads Shared Trust Funds and any amendments or supplements thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



Signature

Title

Date



/s/ Mark Garbin

Trustee

August 29, 2012

Mark Garbin






POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Andrew Rogers, Kevin Wolf and James Ash his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for his in his name, place and stead, to sign any and all Registration Statements applicable to Two Roads Shared Trust Funds and any amendments or supplements thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



Signature

Title

Date



/s/ Mark Gersten

Chairman of the Board

August 29, 2012

Mark Gersten

and Trustee






POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Andrew Rogers, Kevin Wolf and James Ash his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for his in his name, place and stead, to sign any and all Registration Statements applicable to Two Roads Shared Trust Funds and any amendments or supplements thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



Signature

Title

Date



/s/ Neil Kaufman

Trustee

August 30, 2012

Neil Kaufman






POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Andrew Rogers, Kevin Wolf and James Ash her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for her in her name, place and stead, to sign any and all Registration Statements applicable to Two Roads Shared Trust Funds and any amendments or supplements thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



Signature

Title

Date



/s/ Anita Krug

Trustee

August 29, 2012

Anita Krug






SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FUND AND THE INVESTOR


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST LETTER OF INVESTMENT INTENT


October 19, 2012




To the Board of Trustees of Two Roads Shared Trust:


The undersigned (the "Purchaser") hereby subscribes to purchase a beneficial interest ("Interest") in the Two Roads Shared Trust, in the amount of $100,000.00 for 10,000 shares of the Belvedere Alternative Income Fund at net asset value of $10.00 per share, in consideration for which the Purchaser agrees to transfer to you upon demand cash in the amount of $100,000.00.


The Purchaser agrees that the Interest is being purchased for investment purposes only and with no present intention of reselling or redeeming said Interest.





Gemini Fund Services, LLC



By : /s/ Andrew Rogers

Name: Andrew Rogers

Title: President






















TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

ON BEHALF OF ITS SERIES


BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND


CLASS A MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN

PURSUANT TO RULE 12 b-1


Adopted August 29, 2012


WHEREAS, Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of its separate series, Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (“Fund”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the “Shares”), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares; and


WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, and the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the “Qualified Trustees”), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit each series listed on Exhibit A (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”);


NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for the Class A Shares of each Fund, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, on the following terms and conditions:


1.

Distribution Activities .  Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities related to the distribution of Class A Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following (the "Distribution Activities"):  (a) payments, including incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Class A Shares, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Class A Shares, or that hold Class A Shares for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or provide shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders; (b) payments made to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Fund’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Fund, processing shareholder transactions, and providing such other








shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request; (c) expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Class A Shares; (d) costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (e) costs of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (f) costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (g) costs of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (h) costs of implementing and operating this Plan.  The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities related to the distribution of Class A Shares, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.


2.

Annual Fee .  Each Fund may incur expenses for Distribution Activities at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares of the Fund.  Expenses reimbursed to the Fund's adviser pursuant to this Plan are in addition to fees paid by the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement.


3.

Term and Termination .

 

(a)

This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A (which may be amended) upon:  (i) execution of an exhibit adopting this Plan; and (ii) the first issuance of Class A shares of the Fund.


(b)

Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both:  (i) the Trustees of the Trust; and (ii) the Qualified Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


(c)

This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class A Shares of the Funds; and Exhibit A shall be amended accordingly.  If this Plan is terminated with respect to a Fund, the Fund will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred after the date of termination.


4.

Amendments .  All material amendments to this Plan must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 3(b) hereof.  In addition, this Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Section 2 hereof unless such amendment is approved by a vote of the majority of the








outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class A Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.


5.

Selection and Nomination of Trustees .  While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.


6.

Quarterly Reports .  The Treasurer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.


7.

Recordkeeping .  The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 6 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.


8.

Limitation of Liability .  A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the Trustees, the shareholders of the Trust individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.









Exhibit A


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

CLASS A MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN


The Class A Master Distribution Plan has been adopted with respect to the following Funds:


BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND












TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

ON BEHALF OF


BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

CLASS C MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN

PURSUANT TO RULE 12 b-1


Adopted August 29, 2012


WHEREAS, Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its series Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (“Fund”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the “Shares”), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares; and


WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, and the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the “Qualified Trustees”), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit each series listed on Exhibit A (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”);


NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for the Class C Shares of each Fund, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, on the following terms and conditions:


1.

Distribution Activities .  Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities related to the distribution of Class C  Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following (the "Distribution Activities"):  (a) payments, including incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Class C Shares, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Class C Shares; (b)  expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Class C Shares; (c) costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (d) costs of formulating and implementing  marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (e) costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (f) costs of obtaining such



 

 

 






information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (g) costs of implementing and operating this Plan.  The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities related to the distribution of Class C Shares, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.


2.

Fees .


(a)

Annual Fees .  Each Fund may incur expenses for Distribution Activities an annual rate of up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares of the Fund.


(b)

Service Fees .  In addition to the payments provided for in Section 2 and in order to further enhance the distribution of the Fund’s Class C Shares, each Fund may incur expenses of up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares of the Fund for payments made to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that:  (a) hold Class C Shares for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or provide shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders; or (b) render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trust’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Trust, processing shareholder transactions, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request.  If FINRA adopts a definition of  “service fees” for purposes of Section 26(d) of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD (or any successor to such rule) that differs from the definition of service fees hereunder, the definition of service fees hereunder shall be automatically amended, without further action of the parties, to conform to such FINRA definition.


(c)

Expenses reimbursed to the Fund's Adviser pursuant to this Plan are in addition to fees paid by the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement


3.

Term and Termination .


(a)

This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A (which may be amended) upon:  (i) execution of an exhibit adopting this Plan; and (ii) the first issuance of Class C Shares of the Fund.


(b)

Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both:  (i) the Trustees of the Trust and; and (ii) the Qualified Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.









(c)

This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class C Shares of the Fund; and Exhibit A shall be amended accordingly.  If this Plan is terminated with respect to a Fund, the Fund will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred after the date of termination.


5.

Amendments .  All material amendments to this Plan must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 4(b) hereof.  In addition, this Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof unless such amendment is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class C Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.


6.

Selection and Nomination of Trustees .  While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.


7.

Quarterly Reports .  The Treasurer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.


8.

Recordkeeping .  The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 7 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.


9.

Limitation of Liability .  A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the Trustees, the shareholders of the Trust individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.





















Exhibit A


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

CLASS C MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN


The Class C Master Distribution Plan has been adopted with respect to the following Funds:


Belvedere Alternative Income Fund






 








TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

ON BEHALF OF


BELVEDERE ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

CLASS R MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN

PURSUANT TO RULE 12 b-1


WHEREAS, Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its series Belvedere Alternative Income Fund (“Fund”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the “Shares”), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares; and


WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, and the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the “Qualified Trustees”), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit each series listed on Exhibit A (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”);


NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for the Class R Shares of each Fund, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, on the following terms and conditions:


1.

Distribution Activities .  Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities related to the distribution of Class R  Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following (the "Distribution Activities"):  (a) payments, including incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Class R Shares, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Class R Shares, or that hold Class R Shares for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or provide shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders; (b) payments made to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Fund’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Fund, processing shareholder transactions, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request; (c) expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Class R Shares; (d) costs of



 

 

 






preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (e) costs of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (f) costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (g) costs of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (h) costs of implementing and operating this Plan.  The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities related to the distribution of Class R Shares, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.


2.

Fees .


(a)

Annual Fees .  Each Fund may incur expenses for Distribution Activities at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class R Shares of the Fund.


(b)

Service Fees .  In addition to the payments provided for in Section 2 and in order to further enhance the distribution of the Fund’s Class R Shares, each Fund may incur expenses of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class R Shares of the Fund for payments made to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that:  (a) hold Class R Shares for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or provide shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders; or (b) render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trust’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Trust, processing shareholder transactions, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request.  If FINRA adopts a definition of “service fees” for purposes of Section 26(d) of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD (or any successor to such rule) that differs from the definition of service fees hereunder, the definition of service fees hereunder shall be automatically amended, without further action of the parties, to conform to such FINRA definition.


(c)

Expenses reimbursed to the Fund's Adviser pursuant to this Plan are in addition to fees paid by the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement.


3.

Term and Termination .


(a)

This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A (which may be amended) upon:  (i) execution of an exhibit adopting this Plan; and (ii) the first issuance of Class R Shares of the Fund.









(b)

Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both:  (i) the Trustees of the Trust and; and (ii) the Qualified Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


(c)

This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class R Shares of the Fund; and Exhibit A shall be amended accordingly.  If this Plan is terminated with respect to a Fund, the Fund will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred after the date of termination.


5.

Amendments .  All material amendments to this Plan must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 4(b) hereof.  In addition, this Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof unless such amendment is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class R Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.


6.

Selection and Nomination of Trustees .  While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.


7.

Quarterly Reports .  The Treasurer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.


8.

Recordkeeping .  The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 7 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.


9.

Limitation of Liability .  A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the Trustees, the shareholders of the Trust individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.










Exhibit A


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

CLASS R MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN


The Class R Master Distribution Plan has been adopted with respect to the following Funds:


Belvedere Alternative Income Fund






 








TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

ON BEHALF OF ITS SERIES

LJM PRESERVATION AN D GROWTH FUND

LJM INCOME PLUS FUND


CLASS A MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN

PURSUANT TO RULE 12 b-1


Adopted August 29, 2012


WHEREAS, Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of its separate series, LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund (each a “Fund”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the “Shares”), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares; and


WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, and the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the “Qualified Trustees”), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit each series listed on Exhibit A (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”);


NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for the Class A Shares of each Fund, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, on the following terms and conditions:


1.

Distribution Activities .  Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities related to the distribution of Class A Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following (the "Distribution Activities"):  (a) payments, including incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Class A Shares, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Class A Shares, or that hold Class A Shares for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or provide shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders; (b) payments made to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Fund’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Fund, processing shareholder transactions, and providing such other








shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request; (c) expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Class A Shares; (d) costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (e) costs of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (f) costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (g) costs of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (h) costs of implementing and operating this Plan.  The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities related to the distribution of Class A Shares, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.


2.

Annual Fee .  Each Fund may incur expenses for Distribution Activities at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A shares of the Fund.  Expenses reimbursed to the Fund's adviser pursuant to this Plan are in addition to fees paid by the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement.


3.

Term and Termination .

 

(a)

This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A (which may be amended) upon:  (i) execution of an exhibit adopting this Plan; and (ii) the first issuance of Class A shares of the Fund.


(b)

Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both:  (i) the Trustees of the Trust; and (ii) the Qualified Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.


(c)

This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class A Shares of the Funds; and Exhibit A shall be amended accordingly.  If this Plan is terminated with respect to a Fund, the Fund will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred after the date of termination.


4.

Amendments .  All material amendments to this Plan must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 3(b) hereof.  In addition, this Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Section 2 hereof unless such amendment is approved by a vote of the majority of the








outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class A Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.


5.

Selection and Nomination of Trustees .  While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.


6.

Quarterly Reports .  The Treasurer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.


7.

Recordkeeping .  The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 6 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.


8.

Limitation of Liability .  A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the Trustees, the shareholders of the Trust individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.









Exhibit A


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

CLASS A MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN


The Class A Master Distribution Plan has been adopted with respect to the following Funds:


LJM PRESERVATION AN D GROWTH FUND

LJM INCOME PLUS FUND










 

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

ON BEHALF OF ITS SERIES

LJM PRESERVATION AN D GROWTH FUND

LJM INCOME PLUS FUND


CLASS C MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN

PURSUANT TO RULE 12 b-1


Adopted August 29, 2012


WHEREAS, Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of its separate series, LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Income Plus Fund (each a “Fund”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and


WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the “Shares”), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares; and


WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, and the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the “Qualified Trustees”), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit each series listed on Exhibit A (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”);


NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for the Class C Shares of each Fund, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, on the following terms and conditions:


1.

Distribution Activities .  Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities related to the distribution of Class C  Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following (the "Distribution Activities"):  (a) payments, including incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Class C Shares, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Class C Shares; (b)  expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Class C Shares; (c) costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (d) costs of formulating and implementing  marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (e) costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (f) costs of obtaining such






information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (g) costs of implementing and operating this Plan.  The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities related to the distribution of Class C Shares, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.


2.

Fees .


(a)

Annual Fees .  Each Fund may incur expenses for Distribution Activities an annual rate of up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares of the Fund.


(b)

Service Fees .  In addition to the payments provided for in Section 2 and in order to further enhance the distribution of the Fund’s Class C Shares, each Fund may incur expenses of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares of the Fund for payments made to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that:  (a) hold Class C Shares for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or provide shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders; or (b) render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trust’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Trust, processing shareholder transactions, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request.  If FINRA adopts a definition of  “service fees” for purposes of Section 26(d) of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD (or any successor to such rule) that differs from the definition of service fees hereunder, the definition of service fees hereunder shall be automatically amended, without further action of the parties, to conform to such FINRA definition.


(c)

Expenses reimbursed to the Fund's Adviser pursuant to this Plan are in addition to fees paid by the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement


3.

Term and Termination .


(a)

This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A (which may be amended) upon:  (i) execution of an exhibit adopting this Plan; and (ii) the first issuance of Class C Shares of the Fund.


(b)

Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both:  (i) the Trustees of the Trust and; and (ii) the Qualified Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.





(c)

This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class C Shares of the Fund; and Exhibit A shall be amended accordingly.  If this Plan is terminated with respect to a Fund, the Fund will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred after the date of termination.


5.

Amendments .  All material amendments to this Plan must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 4(b) hereof.  In addition, this Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof unless such amendment is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Class C Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.


6.

Selection and Nomination of Trustees .  While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.


7.

Quarterly Reports .  The Treasurer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.


8.

Recordkeeping .  The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 7 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.


9.

Limitation of Liability .  A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the Trustees, the shareholders of the Trust individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.

















Exhibit A


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

ON BEHALF OF ITS SERIES

CLASS C MASTER DISTRIBUTION PLAN


The Class C Master Distribution Plan has been adopted with respect to the following Funds:


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

LJM Income Plus Fund






 




TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST RULE

18f-3 MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN



This Multiple Class Plan (the “Plan”) is adopted in accordance with Rule 18f-3 (the “Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), by Two Roads Shared Trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of each series of the Trust that has multiple classes of shares (each a “Fund”).  A majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act), having determined that the Plan is in the best interests of the shareholders of each class of each Fund and the shareholders of the Trust as a whole, have approved the Plan.


The provisions of the Plan are:


1.

General Description of Classes.   Each class of shares of a Fund shall represent interests in the same portfolio of investments of such Fund, shall have no exchange privileges or conversion features within that Fund unless an exchange or conversion feature is described in the Fund’s Prospectus, and shall be identical in all respects, except that, as provided for in such Fund’s Prospectus, each class shall differ with respect to:   (i) Rule 12b-1 Plans that may be adopted with respect to the class; (ii) distribution and related services and expenses; (iii) differences relating to sales loads, purchase minimums, eligible investors and exchange privileges; and (iv) the designation of each class of shares.  The classes of shares designated by each Fund are set forth in Exhibit A .


2.

Allocation of Income and Class Expenses.


a.

Each class of shares shall have the same rights, preferences, voting powers, restrictions and limitations, except as follows:


(i)       expenses related to the distribution of a class of shares or to the services  provided  to  shareholders of a  class  of  shares  shall  be borne solely by such class;


(ii)       the following expenses attributable to the shares of a particular class will be borne solely by the class to which they are attributable:


(a)    asset-based  distribution,  account  maintenance  and shareholder service fees;


(b)       extraordinary  non-recurring  expenses  including  litigation and other legal expenses relating to a particular class; and


(c)       such  other  expenses  as  the  Trustees  determine  were incurred by a specific class and are appropriately paid by that class.




(iii)      Income,  realized  and  unrealized  capital  gains  and  losses,  and expenses that are not allocated to a specific class pursuant to this Section 2, shall be allocated to each class of a Fund on the basis of the net asset value of that class in relation to the net asset value of the Fund.


b.

Investment advisory fees, custodial fees, and other expenses relating to the management of a Fund’s assets shall not be allocated on a class-specific basis.


3.

Voting Rights. Each class of shares will have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters that exclusively affect such class and separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class.


4.

Dividends/Distributions.  Each Fund pays out as dividends substantially all of its net investment income (which comes from dividends and interest it receives from its investments) and net realized short-term and long-term capital gains as described in each Fund’s Prospectus.  All dividends and/or distributions will be paid in the form of additional shares of the class of shares of the Fund to which the dividends and/or distributions relate, unless the shareholder elects to receive cash.  Dividends paid by each Fund are calculated in the same manner and at the same time with respect to each class.


5.

Exchanges.    Shares  of  a  Fund  may  be  exchanged  without  payment  of  any exchange fee for shares of another Fund of the same class at their respective net asset values, provided said Funds are advised by the same adviser.


6.

Class Designation.  Subject to the approval by the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may alter the nomenclature for the designations of one or more of its classes of shares.


7.

Additional Information.  This Plan is qualified by and subject to the terms of each Fund’s then current Prospectus for the applicable class of shares of the Fund; provided, however, that none of the terms set forth in any such Prospectus shall be inconsistent with the terms of this Plan.  Each Fund’s Prospectus contains additional information about each class of shares of such Fund and any multiple class structure of such Fund.


8.

Effective Date.  This Plan will become effective as of the date and year when any Fund of the Trust commences operations, provided that this Plan shall not become effective with respect to a Fund or a class of shares of a Fund unless first approved by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Act).  This Plan may be terminated or amended at any time with respect to a Fund or a class of shares thereof by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Act).


9.

Miscellaneous.   Any reference in this Plan to information in a Fund’s Prospectus shall mean information in such Fund’s Prospectus, as the same may be amended or




supplemented  from  time  to  time,  or  in  such  Fund’s  Statement  of  Additional

Information, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.










IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this Multi-Class Plan as of the 15th day of October, 2012.


TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST





By: /s/ Andrew Rogers


Andrew Rogers, President




APPENDIX A


Funds and Classes as of October 15, 2012





Fund

Classes


Alternative Avenue Fund

Investor Class


Belvedere Alternative Income Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class R


LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I


LJM Income Plus Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I



TWO ROAD TRUST

CODE OF ETHICS


Two Roads Trust (the “Trust”) and each of its series (the “Funds”) has adopted this Code of Ethics (the “Code”) in order to set forth guidelines and procedures that promote ethical practices and conduct by all of its Access Persons and to ensure that all Access Persons comply with the federal securities laws.  Although this Code contains a number of specific standards and policies, there are four key principles embodied throughout the Code:


1.

The interests of the funds must always be paramount.   Access Persons have a legal, fiduciary duty to place the interests of the Funds ahead of their own.  In any decision relating to their personal investments, Access Persons must scrupulously avoid serving their own interests ahead of those of Trust.


2.

Access Persons may not take advantage of their relationship with the Funds.  Access Persons should avoid any situation (unusual investment opportunities, perquisites and accepting gifts of more than token value from persons seeking to do business with the Funds) that might compromise, or call into question, the exercise of their fully independent judgment in the interests of the Funds.


3.

All Personal Securities Transactions should avoid any actual, potential, or apparent conflicts of interest.   Although all Personal Securities Transactions by Access Persons must be conducted in a manner consistent with this Code, the Code itself is based on the premise that Access Persons owe a fiduciary duty to the Funds, and should avoid any activity that creates an actual, potential, or apparent conflict of interest. This includes executing transactions through or for the benefit of a third party when the transaction is not in keeping with the general principles of this Code.


Access Persons must adhere to these general principles as well as comply with the specific provisions of this Code. Technical compliance with the Code and its procedures will not automatically prevent scrutiny of trades that show a pattern of abuse of an individual’s fiduciary duty to the Funds.


4.

Access Persons must comply with all applicable laws.   In both work-related and personal activities, Access Persons must comply with all applicable laws, including the federal securities laws.


Any violations of this Code should be reported promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.  Failure to do so will be deemed a violation of the Code.






DEFINITIONS


“Access Person” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and shall include:

1.

all officers and trustees (or persons occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) of the Funds;

2.

all officers and trustees (or persons occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) of the Advisers with respect to its corresponding series of the Trust

3.

any employee of the Trust or the Advisers (or of any company controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Trust or the Advisers) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Funds, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchase or sale; and

4.

any other natural person controlling, controlled by or  under common control with the Trust or the Advisers who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Funds with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Funds.


“Beneficial Ownership” means in general and subject to the specific provisions of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, having or sharing, directly or indirectly, through any contract arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, a direct or indirect “pecuniary interest” in the security.


“Chief Compliance Officer” means the Code of Ethics Compliance Officer of the Trust with respect to Trustees and officers of the Trust, or the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisers with respect to Advisers personnel.


“Code” means this Code of Ethics.


“Covered Security” means any Security, except (i) direct obligations of the U.S. Government, (ii) bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, (iii) shares issued by a non-Trust open-end mutual Fund and (iv) shares issued by a non-Trust unit investment trust that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end investment companies.


Decision Making Access Person” means any Access Person who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding recommendations on the purchase or sale of a security by the Funds, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales. Decision Makers typically are Advisers personnel.


“Funds” means series of the Trust.





“Immediate family” means an individual’s spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law and should include adoptive relationships.  For purposes of determining whether an Access Person has an “indirect pecuniary interest” in securities, only ownership by “immediate family” members sharing the same household as the Access Person will be presumed to be an “indirect pecuniary interest” of the Access Person, absent special circumstances.


“Independent Trustees” means those Trustees of the Trust that would not be deemed an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19)(A) of the 1940 Act.


“Indirect Pecuniary Interest” includes, but is not limited to: (a) securities held by members of the person’s Immediate Family sharing the same household (which ownership interest may be rebutted); (b) a general partner’s proportionate interest in Fund securities held by a general or limited partnership; (c) a person’s right to dividends that is separated or separable from the underlying securities (otherwise, a right to dividends alone will not constitute a pecuniary interest in securities); (d) a person’s interest in securities held by a Trust; (e) a person’s right to acquire securities through the exercise or conversion of any derivative security, whether or not presently exercisable; and (f) a performance-related fee, other than an asset based fee, received by any broker, dealer, bank, insurance company, investment company, investment manager, Trustee, or person or entity performing a similar function, with certain exceptions.


“Pecuniary Interest” means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in securities.


“Personal Securities Transaction” means any transaction in a Covered Security in which an Access Person has a direct or indirect Pecuniary Interest.


“Purchase or Sale of a Security” includes the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Security. A Security shall be deemed “being considered for Purchase or Sale” for the Trust when a recommendation to purchase or sell has been made and communicated by a Decision Making Access Person, and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.  These recommendations are placed on the “Restricted List” until they are no longer being considered for Purchase or Sale, or until the Security has been purchased or sold.


“Restricted List” means the list of securities maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee in which trading by Access Persons is generally prohibited.


“Security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-Trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or subscription, transferable share, ETF share, investment contract, voting-Trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, or, in general, an interest or instrument commonly known as “security”, or any certificate or interest or participation in temporary or interim certificate for,




receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase (including options) any of the foregoing.


“Advisers” mean the Advisers to the Trust.


“Trust” mean Northern Lights ETF Trust.


PROHIBITED ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES


A.

No Access Person shall purchase or sell directly or indirectly, any Covered Security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership and which he or she knows or should have known at the time of such purchase or sale;


(1)

is being considered for purchase or sale by a Fund, or


(2)

is being purchased or sold by a Fund.


B.

Decision-Making Access Persons may not participate in any initial public offering of Covered Securities in any account over which they exercise Beneficial Ownership.  All other Access Persons must obtain prior written authorization from the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee prior to such participation;


C.

No Access Person may purchase a Covered Security in which by reason of such transaction they acquire Beneficial Ownership in a private placement of a Security, without prior written authorization of the acquisition by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee;


D.

Access Persons may not accept any fee, commission, gift, or services, other than de minimus gifts, from any single person or entity that does business with or on behalf of the Trust;


E.

Decision-Making Access Persons may not serve on the board of directors of a publicly traded company without prior authorization from the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee based upon a determination that such service would be consistent with the interests of the Trust.  If such service is authorized, procedures will then be put in place to isolate such Decision-Making Access Persons serving as directors of outside entities from those making investment decisions on behalf of the Trust.


Advanced notice should be given so that the Trust or Advisers may take such action concerning the conflict as deemed appropriate by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.


F.

Decision-Making Access Person may not execute a Personal Securities Transaction involving a Covered Security without authorization of the Chief Compliance Officer or such persons who may be designated by the Chief Compliance Officer from time to time provided it is permitted under the Adviser’s Code of Ethics. The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee may restrict purchases of Covered Securities pursuant to the Adviser’s Code of Ethics.





G.

It shall be a violation of this Code for any Access Person, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of any Covered Security held or to be acquired by a Fund:


(1)

to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Trust;

(2)

to make to the Trust any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state to the Trust a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

(3)

to engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Trust; or

(4)

to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Trust.


EXEMPTED TRANSACTIONS


The provisions described above under the heading Prohibited Actions and Activities and the preclearance procedures under the heading Preclearance of Personal Securities Transactions do not apply to:


·

Purchases or Sales of Securities effected in any account in which an Access Person has no Beneficial Ownership;


·

Purchases or Sales of Securities which are non-volitional on the part the Access Person (for example, the receipt of stock dividends);


·

Purchase of Securities made as part of automatic dividend reinvestment plans;


·

Purchases of Securities made as part of an employee benefit plan involving the periodic purchase of company stock or mutual Funds; and


·

Purchases of Securities effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sale of such rights so acquired.


PRECLEARANCE OF PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS


All Decision-Making Access Persons wishing to engage in a Personal Securities Transaction involving, as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or a Limited Offering must obtain prior authorization of any such Personal Securities Transaction from the Chief Compliance Officer or such person or persons that the Chief Compliance Officer may from time to time designate to make such authorizations. Personal Securities Transactions by the Chief Compliance Officer shall require prior authorization from the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Trust (unless such person is also the Chief Compliance Officer), who shall perform the review and approval functions relating to reports and trading by the Chief Compliance




Officer. The Trust shall adopt the appropriate forms and procedures for implementing this Code of Ethics.


Any authorization so provided is effective until the close of business on the fifth trading day after the authorization is granted. In the event that an order for the Personal Securities Transaction involving IPO or Limited Offering is not placed within that time period, a new authorization must be obtained. If the order for the transaction is placed but not executed within that time period, no new authorization is required unless the person placing the order originally amends the order in any manner.  Authorization for “good until canceled” orders is effective unless the order conflicts with a Trust order.


If a Decision Making Access Person wishing to effect a Personal Securities Transaction learns, while the order is pending, that the same Security is being considered for Purchase or Sale by a Fund, he or she should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.


REPORTING AND MONITORING


The Chief Compliance Officer or such person or persons that the Chief Compliance Officer may from time to time designate shall monitor all personal trading activity of all Access Persons pursuant to the procedures established under this Code.


An Access Person need not make an Initial Holdings, Quarterly Transaction Report, or Annual Holdings Report under this Code of Ethics if all of the information required in such reports would duplicate information (1) contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Trust, the Adviser, or NorthStar Financial Services, LLC with respect to the Access Person in the time period required by this Code of Ethics, (2) contained in similar reports filed with the Adviser, or NorthStar Financial Services, LLC with respect to the Access Person in the time period required by this Code of Ethics, or (3) required to be recorded under Rule 204-2(a)(12) under the Investment Adviser Act of 1940, as amended.


Disclosure of Personal Brokerage Accounts


Within ten days of the commencement of employment or at the commencement of a relationship with the Trust, all Access Persons, except Independent Trustees, are required to submit to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee a report stating the names and account numbers of all of their personal brokerage accounts, brokerage accounts of members of their Immediate Family, and any brokerage accounts which they control or in which they or an Immediate Family member has Beneficial Ownership.  Such report must contain the date on which it is submitted and the information in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to that date.  In addition, if a new brokerage account is opened during the course of the year, the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee must be notified immediately.  


The information required by the above paragraph must be provided to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee on an annual basis, and the report of such should be submitted with the annual holdings reports described below.





Each of these accounts is required to furnish duplicate confirmations and statements to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. These statements and confirms for each series of the Trust may be sent to the Advisers.


Initial Holdings Report


Within ten days of becoming an Access Person (and with information that is current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date that the report was submitted), each Access Person, except Independent Trustees must submit a holdings report that must contain, at a minimum, the title and type of Security, and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership.  This report must state the date on which it is submitted.


Annual Holdings Reports


All Access Persons, except Independent Trustees, must supply the information that is required in the initial holdings report on an annual basis, and such information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date that the report was submitted.  Such reports must state the date on which they are submitted.


Quarterly Transaction Reports


All Access Persons shall report to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee the following information with respect to transactions in a Covered Security in which such person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the Covered Security:


·

The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and the principal amount of each Covered Security;

·

The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);

·

The price of the Covered Security at which the transaction was effected; and

·

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected.

·

The date the Access Person Submits the Report.


Reports pursuant to this section of this Code shall be made no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report relates was effected, and shall include a certification that the reporting person has reported all Personal Securities Transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of this Code. Confirmations and Brokerage Statements sent directly to each Adviser’s address noted above is an acceptable form of a quarterly transaction report.


An Independent Trustee need only make a quarterly transaction report if he or she, at the time of the transaction, knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Trustee,




should have known that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or following the date of the transaction by the Independent Trustee, the Covered Security was purchased or sold by a Fund or was considered for purchase or sale by a Fund.


An Access Person of the Trust who is also an Access Person of the Trust's principal underwriter or any of its affiliates which provide services to the Trust or an Access Person of a Fund's investment adviser or sub-adviser may submit reports required by this Section on forms prescribed by the Code of Ethics of such principal underwriter, investment adviser, or sub-adviser, provided that such forms contain substantially the same information as called for in the forms required by this Section and comply with the requirements of Rule 17j-1(d)(1).


ENFORCEMENTS AND PENALTIES


The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee shall review the transaction information supplied by Access Persons.  If a transaction appears to be a violation of this Code, the transaction will be reported to the Trust Board of Trustees.


Upon being informed of a violation of this Code, the Trust Board of Trustees may impose sanctions as it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, a letter of censure or suspension, termination of the employment of the violator, or a request for disgorgement of any profits received from a securities transaction effected in violation of this Code.  The Trust shall impose sanctions in accordance with the principle that no Access Person may profit at the expense of its clients. Any losses are the responsibility of the violator. Any profits realized on personal securities transactions in violation of the Code must be disgorged in a manner directed by the Board of Trustees.


Annually, the Chief Compliance Officer at a regular meeting of the Board shall make a report on Personal Securities Transactions by Access Person. The report submitted to the board shall:


·

Summarize existing procedures concerning Personal Securities investing and any changes in the procedures made during the prior year;

·

Identify any violations of this Code and any significant remedial action taken during the prior year; and;

·

Identify any recommended changes in existing restrictions or procedures based upon the experience under the Code, evolving industry practices or developments in applicable laws and regulations.


ACKNOWLEDGMENT


The Trust must provide all Access Persons with a copy of this Code.  Upon receipt of this Code, all Access Persons must do the following:


All new Access Persons must read the Code, complete all relevant forms supplied by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee (including a written acknowledgement of their receipt of the Code), and schedule a meeting with the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee to discuss the provisions herein within two calendar weeks of employment.





Existing Access Persons who did not receive this Code upon hire, for whatever reason, must read the Code, complete all relevant forms supplied by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee (including a written acknowledgement of their receipt of the Code), and schedule a meeting with the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee to discuss the provisions herein at the earliest possible time, but no later than the end of the current quarter.


All Access Persons must certify on an annual basis that they have read and understood the Code.





a RIA

ALTERNATIVE ROAD INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC

Code of Ethics













[Updated August 10, 2012]





Code of Ethics Statement

Background


In accordance with Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and  Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,  has adopted a code of ethics to:


Ø

Set forth standards of conduct expected of advisory personnel (including compliance with federal securities laws);

Ø

Safeguard material non-public information about client transactions; and

Ø

Require “access persons” to report their personal securities transactions. In addition, the activities of an investment adviser and its personnel must comply with the broad antifraud provisions of Section 206 of the Advisers Act.


Introduction


As an investment adviser firm, we have an overarching fiduciary duty to our clients.  They deserve our undivided loyalty and effort, and their interests come first.  We have an obligation to uphold that fiduciary duty and see that our personnel do not take inappropriate advantage of their positions and the access to information that comes with their positions.


  holds their directors, officers, and employees accountable for adhering to and advocating the following general standards to the best of their knowledge and ability:


Ø

Always place the interest of the clients first and never benefit at the expense of advisory clients;

Ø

Always act in an honest and ethical manner, including in connection with, and the handling and avoidance of, actual or potential conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

Ø

Always maintain the confidentiality of information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of clients;

Ø

Fully comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of federal, state and local governments and other applicable regulatory agencies; and

Ø

Proactively promote ethical and honest behavior with  including, without limitation, the prompt reporting of violations of, and being accountable for adherence to, this Code of Ethics.


Failure to comply with ’s Code of Ethics or retaliation against a person for reporting a violation of the Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.


Prohibited Purchases and Sales


Insider Trading


 Illegal insider trading refers generally to buying or selling a security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence, while in possession of material, nonpublic information about the security.  The SEC defines material by saying “Information is material if ‘there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable shareholder would consider it important’ in making an investment decision.”  Information is nonpublic if it has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally.

Exempted Transactions

The prohibitions of this section of this Code of Ethics shall NOT apply to:


Ø

Purchases or sales affected in any account over which the access person has no direct or indirect influence or control.

Ø

Purchases which are part of an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

Ø

Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of rights so acquired.

Ø

Acquisition of securities through stock dividends, dividend reinvestments, stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, and other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities.

Ø

Open end investment company shares other than shares of investment companies advised by the firm or its affiliates or sub-advised by the firm.

Ø

Certain closed-end index funds

Ø

Unit investment trusts

Ø

Exchange traded funds that are based on a broad-based securities index

Ø

Futures and options on currencies or on a broad-based securities index


  strictly prohibits trading personally or on the behalf of others, directly or indirectly, based on the use of material, non-public or confidential information.   additionally prohibits the communicating of material non-public information to others in violation of the law. Employees who are aware of the misuse of material nonpublic information should report such to the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO).  This policy applies to all of ’s employees and associated persons without exception.


Please note that SEC’s position that the term “material nonpublic information” relates not only to issuers but also to the adviser’s securities recommendations and client securities holdings and transactions.


I.

What is Non-public Information?


Non-public information is information that is not generally available to the investing public. Information is public if it is generally available through the media or disclosed in public documents such as corporate filings with the SEC. If it is disclosed in a national business or financial wire service (such as Dow Jones or Bloomberg), in a national news service (such as AP or Reuters), in a newspaper, magazine, on the television, on the radio or in a publicly disseminated disclosure document (such as a proxy statement, quarterly or annual report, or prospectus), consider the information to be public. If the information is not available in the general media or in a public filing, consider the information to be non-public. If you are uncertain as to whether material information is non-public, you must notify the CCO who will consult with outside counsel


While Supervised Persons must be especially alert to sensitive information, you may consider information directly from a company representative to be public information unless you know or have reason to believe that such information is not generally available to the investing public. In addition, information you receive from company representatives during a conference call that is open to the investment community is public.  The disclosure of this type of information is covered by SEC Regulation FD.  Please contact the CCO if you have any questions with regard to this Regulation.


ARIA Supervised Persons working on a venture capital, private equity or other private securities transaction who receive information from a company representative regarding the transaction should treat the information as non-public. The termination or conclusion of the negotiations in many instances will not change the status of that information.


II.

What is Material Information?


There is no statutory definition of material information.  Information an investor would find useful in deciding whether or when to buy or sell a security is generally material. In most instances, any non-public information that, if announced, could affect the price of the security should be considered to be material information. If you are not sure whether non-public information is material, you must notify the CCO who will consult with Outside Counsel.


III.

Material information Examples


1.

Material information may be about the issuer itself:   For example:  


a)

information about a company’s earnings or dividends, (such as whether they will be increasing or decreasing);

b)

any merger, acquisition, tender offer, joint venture or similar transaction involving the company;

c)

information about a company’s physical assets (e.g., an oil discovery, or an environmental problem);

d)

information about a company’s Personnel (such as a valuable employee leaving or becoming seriously ill); or

e)

Information about a company’s financial status (e.g., any plans or other developments concerning financial restructuring or the issuance or redemption of, or any payments on, any securities).


1.

Information may be material that is not directly about a company, if the information is relevant to that company or its products, business, or assets.  For example:


a)

Information that a company’s primary supplier is going to increase dramatically the prices it charges; or

b)

information that a competitor has just developed a product that may cause sales of a company’s products to decrease.

1.

Material information may include information about ARIA’s portfolio management activities.


You should treat as material, any information that ARIA is considering whether to buy or sell a publicly traded security of a company or is going to make a trade or has just made a trade of that security.



Personal Securities Transactions


EMPLOYEE PERSONAL SECURITIES MONITORING


·

Definitions

 

Covered Security ” shall include any type of equity, including any rights, warrants, derivatives, convertibles, options, puts, calls, straddles, shares of closed-end mutual funds, shares of open end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by ARIA, or in general, any interest or investment commonly known as an equity security, plus debt securities with maturities greater than one year issued by corporation entities whose equity may be purchased by ARIA.  


“Non-Covered Security ” shall include shares of open-ended mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by ARIA, direct obligations of the US government, municipal debt, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, which have a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”).


Managed Portfolios ” shall include any client portfolio of ARIA subject to an Investment Management Agreement or similar agreement between ARIA and a client.


“Outside Account” shall include any Supervised Person’s Covered Securities account.


·

Brokerage/Advisory Accounts


Supervised Persons are required to maintain all discretionary or non-discretionary securities or commodities accounts with an approved broker-dealer, unless prior written permission to maintain account(s) outside of the approved broker-dealer list has been granted by the CCO.  This includes any account over which the Supervised Person has the power to exercise investment control, including but not limited to accounts in which the Supervised Person has a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest.


Outside Accounts are permitted subject to the prior written consent of the CCO or designee.  If an Outside Account is approved, the Supervised Person must instruct their broker to send duplicate statements and confirmations to the CCO or designee.  


Upon joining the firm, a Supervised Person shall within 30 days from the date of employment:


1.

close any Outside Accounts for which written approval has not been granted;


2.

transfer existing accounts, or to open a new account, under ARIA’s agreement to a person to be determined by the Supervised Person and ARIA;


3.

provide copies of all brokerage transaction statements for their first month of employment with ARIA to the CCO or designee.

·

Transaction Pre-clearance and transaction restrictions


A.

1.

Short sales of Covered Securities are not permitted.

2.

Day trading is not permitted.

3.

All Supervised Persons’ securities transactions in Covered Securities are subject to pre-clearance.


Exceptions to the above policy will only be made in limited circumstances, for example:


B.

1.

Documented financial hardship

2.

If the Supervised Person received securities through an inheritance and on a one time basis wishes to sell all or some of the securities

3.

The Supervised Person simultaneously wishes to sell more than ten securities and invest the proceeds in a Fund managed by ARIA on the next NAV dealing date.

4.

Within the first 30 days of the hire date of a new employee.

5.

There are currently no exceptions for Supervised Persons who are not Access Persons.


Access Persons with discretionary authority over Managed Portfolios are encouraged to invest in Funds managed by ARIA. Furthermore, any Access Person must obtain prior approval before acquiring securities in an initial public offering or limited offering.


To pre-clear a trade, Supervised Persons must send an email to the CCO or designee.  The email must contain the following terms of the trade:


·

Buy or Sell


·

Security


Pre-clearance is valid only for the day of approval.  If the trade is not executed on the approved date, the pre-clearance process must be repeated prior to execution on the day the transaction is to be effected.  Upon approval it is the responsibility of the Supervised Person to enter the approved trades with an approved broker-dealer.


Initial Public Offerings (IPO’s)

Except in a transaction exempted by the “Exempted Transactions” section of this Code of Ethics, no access person or other employee may acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership in any securities in an Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) without first obtaining approval from the CCO.  Any acquisition by an access person or employee in an IPO following CCO approval shall be recorded on the appropriate firm personal trading log or other designated reporting document and placed in employees file or CCO designated compliance file.


Limited or Private Offerings


Except in a transaction exempted by the “Exempted Transactions” section of this Code of Ethics, no access person or other employee may acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership in any securities in a Limited or Private Offering without first obtaining approval from the CCO. The Adviser’s CCO must obtain approval from his Supervisor.  

If authorized, investment personnel are required to disclose that investment when they play a part in any client’s subsequent consideration of an investment in the issuer.


Reporting Requirements


Access Persons

1.

Initial Holdings and Quarterly Transaction Reporting

  

New Employees must disclose a listing of all Covered Securities beneficially owned no later than 10 days after becoming a new employee of ARIA on Exhibit A attached to this Code. The information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of hire.


All Access Persons must submit brokerage statements or a list of transactions to the CCO or designee which reports every gift of a security, IPO, private placement, and Covered Security transaction in which they participated during the calendar quarter no later than 30 days after the end of that quarter on Exhibit B attached to this Code.  


If a list of transaction is provided the following information must be included:


i.

The name of the security, the date of the transaction, the interest rate and maturity (if applicable), the number of shares, and the principal amount;

ii.

The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or other type of acquisition or disposition);

iii.

The price at which the transaction was effected;

iv.

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank through which the transaction was effected;


The CCO will conduct periodic reviews of Supervised Persons’ personal securities transactions for compliance with this Code.


1.

Annual Holdings Report


No later than January 31st, annually,  Access Persons shall deliver to the CCO or designee a listing of all Covered Securities beneficially owned that are current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted and an attestation that the listing is complete on Exhibit A.

The report shall include the following:

a.

The title and type of security, the ticker or CUSIP  and the principal amount of all securities in which the Supervised Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;

b.

The name of any broker, dealer, or bank with whom the Supervised Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Supervised Person; and

c.

The date the report is submitted.

d.

Brokerage statements for December 31 are deemed to have all the requisite information.

The CCO or designee will review all Annual Holdings Reports in an effort to monitor potential conflicts of interest and to assess the Supervised Person’s fulfillment of their quarterly reporting obligations.  

Holdings and transaction reports are not required with respect to Covered Securities held in accounts over which the Supervised Person has no direct or indirect influence or control, or with respect to transactions effected pursuant to automatic investment plans.

Limited Access Persons


1.

Quarterly Transaction Reporting

  

All Limited Access Persons must submit brokerage statements or a list of transactions to the CCO or designee which reports every Covered Security transaction in which they participated during the calendar quarter no later than 30 days after the end of that quarter on Exhibit B.  


All Access Persons are required to disclose any new account(s) opened during a given quarter on the next quarterly report.  The quarterly report must contain the following new account information:


i.

The name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account;

ii.

The date the account was established; and

iii.

The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.


 

If a list of transaction is provided the following information must be included:


iv.

The name of the security, the date of the transaction, the interest rate and maturity (if applicable), the number of shares, and the principal amount;

v.

The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or other type of acquisition or disposition);

vi.

The price at which the transaction was effected;

vii.

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank through which the transaction was effected;


The CCO will conduct periodic reviews of Limited Access Persons’ personal securities transactions for compliance with this Code.


1.

Annual Holdings Report


No later than January 31st, annually,  Limited Access Persons shall deliver to the CCO or designee a listing of all Covered Securities beneficially owned that are current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted on Exhibit A and an attestation that the listing is complete.

The report shall include the following:

a.

The title and type of security, the ticker or CUSIP, the number of shares, and the principal amount of all securities in which the Limited Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;

b.

The name of any broker, dealer, or bank with whom the Limited Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Limited Access Person; and

c.

The date the report is submitted.

d.

Brokerage statements for December 31 are deemed to have all the requisite information.

The CCO or designee will review all Annual Holdings Reports in an effort to monitor potential conflicts of interest and to assess the Limited Access Person’s fulfillment of their quarterly reporting obligations.

Holdings and transaction reports are not required with respect to Covered Securities held in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control, or with respect to transactions effected pursuant to automatic investment plans.



Miscellaneous Restrictions


Margin Accounts

Investment personnel are prohibited from purchasing securities on margin, unless pre-cleared by the CCO.


Blackout Periods


From time to time, representatives of   may buy or sell securities for themselves at or around the same time as clients. This may provide an opportunity for representatives of   to buy or sell securities before or after recommending securities to clients resulting in representatives profiting off the recommendations they provide to clients. Such transactions may create a conflict of interest.    will always transact client’s transactions before its own when similar securities are being bought or sold.


Short-Term Trading

Securities held in client accounts may not be purchased and sold, or sold and repurchased, within 30 calendar days by investment personnel.  The CCO may, for good cause shown, permit a short-term trade, but shall record the reasons and grant of permission with the records of the Code. Further the Adviser will review all short-term trading in the Fund by investors that buy and sell shares of the fund within a 90 day period.


Gifts and Entertainment

Supervised persons should not accept inappropriate gifts, favors, entertainment, special accommodations, or other things of material value that could influence their decision-making or make them feel beholden to a person or firm. Similarly, supervised persons should not offer gifts, favors, entertainment or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making a client feel beholden to the firm or the supervised person.


No supervised person may receive any gift, service, or other thing of more than de minimis value of from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of the adviser. No supervised person may give or offer any gift of more than de minimis value to existing clients, prospective clients, or any entity that does business with or on behalf of the adviser without written pre-approval by the CCO.  The annual receipt of gifts from the same source valued at $100.00 or less shall be considered de minimis. Additionally, the receipt of an occasional dinner, a ticket to a sporting event or the theater, or comparable entertainment also shall be considered to be of de minimis value if the person or entity providing the entertainment is present.  All gifts, given and received, will be recorded in a log to be signed by the supervised person and the CCO and kept in the supervised persons file.


No supervised person may give or accept cash gifts or cash equivalents to or from a client, prospective client, or any entity that does business with or on behalf of the adviser.


Bribes and kickbacks are criminal acts, strictly prohibited by law. Supervised persons must not offer, give, solicit or receive any form of bribe or kickback


Confidentiality


Supervised persons shall respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of their work and shall not disclose such information, except when they are authorized or legally obliged to disclose the information. They may not use confidential information acquired in the course of their work for their personal advantage.  Supervised persons must keep all information about clients (including former clients) in strict confidence, including the client’s identity (unless the client consents), the client’s financial circumstances, the client’s security holdings, and advice furnished to the client by the firm.


Service on Board of Directors


Supervised persons shall not serve on the board of directors of publicly traded companies absent prior authorization by the CCO. Any such approval may only be made if it is determined that such board service will be consistent with the interests of the clients and of , and that such person serving as a director will be isolated from those making investment decisions with respect to such company by appropriate procedures.  A director of a private company may be required to resign, either immediately or at the end of the current term, if the company goes public during his or her term as director.


Related Party Activities


The Adviser and its employee, Jason Myers, have no related parties.


Conflicts of Interest


  has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty, and good faith to act in the best interest of its clients. All supervised persons must refrain from engaging in any activity or having a personal interest that presents a “conflict of interest.” A conflict of interest may arise if your personal interest interferes, or appears to interfere, with the interests of   or its clients.  A conflict of interest can arise whenever you take action or have an interest that makes it difficult for you to perform your duties and responsibilities for  honestly, objectively and effectively.


While it is impossible to describe all of the possible circumstances under which a conflict of interest may arise, listed below are situations that most likely could result in a conflict of interest and that are prohibited under this Code of Ethics:


Ø

Access persons may not favor the interest of one client over another client (e.g., larger accounts over smaller accounts, accounts compensated by performance fees over accounts not so compensated, accounts in which employees have made material personal investments, accounts of close friends or relatives of supervised persons). This kind of favoritism would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty; and

Ø

Access persons are prohibited from using knowledge about pending or currently considered securities transactions for clients to profit personally, directly or indirectly, as a result of such transactions, including by purchasing or selling such securities.


Access persons are prohibited from recommending, implementing or considering any securities transaction for a client without having disclosed any material beneficial ownership, business or personal relationship, or other material interest in the issuer or its affiliates, to the CCO. If the CCO deems the disclosed interest to present a material conflict, the investment personnel may not participate in any decision-making process regarding the securities of that issuer. Currently the Adviser and its personnel do not have any material beneficial ownership nor relationship with issuers or affiliates.


I.

“Front-running” and “Scalping”


Trading while in possession of information concerning ARIA’s trades or ARIA’s subadvisers trades is called front-running or scalping, and is prohibited by ARIA’s insider trading rules, and may also violate federal law. The terms “front-running” and “scalping” are sometimes used interchangeably in industry literature and by the SEC.


Front-running is making a trade in the same direction as ARIA or ARIA’s subadvisers just before ARIA or its subadvisers makes its trade, for example, buying a security just before ARIA buys that security, or selling just before ARIA sells that security.


Scalping is making a trade in the opposite direction just after ARIA’s trade or ARIA’s subadvisers trade, for example, selling just after ARIA stops buying such security or buying a security just after ARIA stops selling such security.   Scalping allows Supervised Persons the opportunity to profit from temporary artificially inflated/deflated prices caused by ARIA’s or ARIA’s subadvisers transactions.


Compliance Procedures


Compliance with Laws and Regulations

All supervised persons of   must comply with all applicable state, local and federal securities laws.  Specifically, supervised persons are not permitted, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a security held or to be acquired by a client:


Ø

To defraud such client in any manner;

Ø

To mislead such client, including making any statement that omits material facts;

Ø

To engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such client;

Ø

To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to such client; or

Ø

To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation.


Market Manipulation Policy

A.

Overview

It is essential that no personnel of the Firm engage in any activity the purpose of which is to interfere with the integrity of the marketplace.  Among other things, intentionally manipulating the market, as discussed below, is a violation of the federal securities laws and of the Firm’s policies and standards of conduct.


B.

Policy


Firm personnel may not engage in any deceptive practice intended to manipulate the market in an issuer’s publicly-traded securities.  Examples of such practices are provided below under “ Legal Background .”  


C.

Legal Background


The term “manipulation” generally refers to any intentional or deliberate act or practice in the marketplace that is intended to mislead investors by artificially controlling or affecting the price of a security traded in such marketplace.  For example, manipulation may involve efforts to stimulate artificially the public demand for a stock or to create the false appearance of actual trading activity.  Practices that may be intended to mislead investors by artificially affecting market activity and thus may constitute manipulative acts include, but are not limited to:


·

portfolio pumping (submitting orders to purchase securities held by a client near the close of trading on the last day of a period for which the client’s performance will be reported (e.g., quarter-end));

·

window dressing (adding or eliminating securities holdings of a client on or around the date for which the client’s holdings will be reported solely in order to make the client’s holdings appear more favorable to the client or the client’s investors ( e.g ., by eliminating a poorly performing holding or acquiring a security that has performed well));

·

marking the close (executing securities transactions at or near the close with a purpose of inflating the day’s price);

·

wash sales (selling a security at a loss and purchasing the same or a substantially similar security soon afterwards);

·

front running (transacting in a security for one’s own account while taking advantage of advance knowledge of a client’s pending transactions);

·

spreading false rumors;

·

disseminating false information into the marketplace that could reasonably be expected to cause the price of a security to increase or decrease;

·

matched orders (buying a security with a low turnover and subsequently placing contemporaneous buy and sell orders for the security for substantially the same number of securities at substantially the same time and at substantially the same price, with the aim of conveying an appearance of renewed interest in the security);

·

runs (also known as pumping and dumping);

·

corners; and

·

abusive squeezes (control of a large and dominating security position in a market in order deliberately to increase the price of the security).

The rules against market manipulation do not mean that merely trying to acquire or to dispose of stock for investment purposes and incidentally affecting the price is unlawful.  It is permissible for trading to have a corollary effect upon the price of a security as an ancillary consequence of buying or selling that security, so long as the investor’s purpose is not to create an artificial impression about the demand for, or supply of, the security.  Further, certain of the practices described above may in certain instances be made in connection with legitimate business purposes and in such instances would not constitute market manipulation.  Personnel with any questions whether any transaction may constitute market manipulation should contact the CCO immediately.


The SEC and the federal courts have emphasized that manipulation, in essence, interferes with the free forces of supply and demand, and, thus, the integrity of the market.  As the SEC stated in a 1977 case:


Investors and prospective investors … are … entitled to assume that the prices that they pay and receive are determined by the unimpeded interaction of real supply and demand so that those prices are the collective marketplace judgments that they purport to be.  Manipulations frustrate these expectations.  They substitute fiction for fact….  The vice is that the market has been distorted and made into a stage-managed performance.

The most cited anti-manipulative provisions of the federal securities laws are Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.  Section 10(b) makes it unlawful to use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of such rules and regulations as the SEC may prescribe.  The various rules promulgated by the SEC under Section 10(b) define specific activities as manipulative or deceptive acts or practices.  Rule 10b-5, however, sometimes referred to as the “anti-manipulation” rule, sets forth the general prohibition on fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative devices.  The prohibitions against manipulative and deceptive acts under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 apply to all securities, not just those registered on a national stock exchange.  The SEC and the federal courts have established that pure manipulation – that is, merely undertaking acts to raise or lower the price of a security – constitutes a “manipulative or deceptive device” and a “scheme to defraud.”


Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is also a general antifraud provision and applies to manipulation in the over-the-counter market.  Section 17(a) proscribes material misrepresentations or omissions, any scheme, device or artifice to defraud, or any fraudulent or deceitful transaction, practice or course of business, in the offer or sale of securities.


Section 9(a) of the Exchange Act specifically prohibits various manipulative practices.  For example, Section 9(a)(1) prohibits the use of “wash sales” and “matched orders” for the purpose of creating a false or misleading appearance of active trading in any security registered on a national exchange.  Section 9(a)(2) prohibits manipulation of prices by any person, acting alone or with others, who for the purpose of inducing others to buy or sell a particular security, effects a series of transactions in the security which creates actual or apparent active trading in the security or causes a rise or decline in the price of the security.  Section 9(a)(3) prevents brokers, dealers and others from circulating or disseminating information about a security to the effect that the price of the security will or is likely to rise or fall for the purpose of raising or lowering the price of the security.


Rule 10b-21 under the Exchange Act makes it unlawful to submit an order to sell a security if the person submitting the order deceives a broker-dealer, a participant of a registered clearing agency or a purchaser regarding his or her intention or ability to deliver the security by the settlement date and to then fail to deliver the security by the settlement date.  Among other things, Rule 10b-21 targets short sellers who deceive broker-dealers about their source of borrowable shares for purposes of complying with the “locate” requirement of Rule 203(b)(1) of Regulation SHO.  Rule 10b-21 also applies to sellers who misrepresent to their broker-dealers that they own the shares being sold.


Personal Securities Transactions Procedures and Reporting

A.

Pre-Clearance


For any activity where it is indicated in the Code of Ethics that pre-clearance is required, the following procedure must be followed:


1.

Pre-clearance requests must be submitted on Exhibit C by the requesting supervised person to the CCO in writing or email.  The request must describe in detail what is being requested and any relevant information about the proposed activity.

2.

The CCO will respond in writing or email to the request as quickly as is practical, either giving an approval or declination of the request, or requesting additional information for clarification.

3.

Pre-clearance authorizations expire 48 hours after the approval, unless otherwise noted by the CCO on the written authorization response.

4.

Records of all pre-clearance requests and responses will be maintained by the CCO for monitoring purposes and ensuring the Code of Ethics is followed.


A.

Pre-Clearance Exemptions

The pre-clearance requirements of this section of this Code of Ethics shall not apply to:


1.

Purchases or sales affected in any account over which the access person has no direct or indirect influence or control.

2.

Purchases which are part of an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

3.

Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of rights so acquired.

4.

Acquisition of covered securities through stock dividends, dividend reinvestments, stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, and other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities.

5.

Open end investment company shares other than shares of investment companies advised by the firm or its affiliates or sub-advised by the firm

6.

Certain closed-end index funds.

7.

Unit investment trusts.

8.

Exchange traded funds that are based on a broad-based securities index.

9.

Futures and options on currencies or on a broad-based securities index.


A.

Reporting Requirements


1.

Holdings Reports

Every access person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the person becomes an access person and annually thereafter, file an initial holdings report on Exhibit A containing the following information:


a.

The title, exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, type of security, number of shares and principal amount of each Reportable Security in which the access person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person becomes an access person;

b.

The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the access person maintained an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the access person; and

c.

The date that the report is submitted by the access person.


1.

Quarterly Reports

Every access person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the end of calendar quarter, file transaction reports on Exhibit B containing the following information:


a.

For each transaction involving a Reportable Security in which the access person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, the access person must provide the date of the transaction, the title, exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, type of security, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), number of shares and principal amount of each involved in the transaction;

b.

The nature of the transaction (e.g. purchase, sale)

c.

The price of the security at which the transaction was effected

d.

The name of any broker, dealer or bank with or through the transaction was effected; and

e.

The date that the report is submitted by the access person.


1.

Annual Reports

Every access person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the end of calendar year, file transaction reports (with current information as of a date no more than 45 days before the report is submitted) on Exhibit A containing the following information:


a.

For each transaction involving a Reportable Security in which the access person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, the access person must provide the date of the transaction, the title, exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, type of security, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), number of shares and principal amount of each involved in the transaction;

b.

The nature of the transaction (e.g. purchase, sale)

c.

The price of the security at which the transaction was effected

d.

The name of any broker, dealer or bank with or through the transaction was effected; and

e.

The date that the report is submitted by the access person.



Access persons may use duplicate brokerage confirmations and account statements in lieu of submitting quarterly transaction reports, provided that all of the required information is contained in those confirmations and statements.


1.

Reporting Exemptions

The reporting requirements of this section of this Code of Ethics shall not apply to:


a.

Any report with respect to securities over which the access person has no direct or indirect influence or control.

b.

Transaction reports with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

c.

Transaction reports if the report would contain duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements that the firm holds in its records so long as the firm receives the confirmations or statements no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter.

d.

Any transaction or holding report if the firm has only one access person, so long as the firm maintains records of the information otherwise required to be reported under the rule.


1.

Report Confidentiality

All holdings and transaction reports will be held strictly confidential, except to the extent necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of the code or to comply with requests for information from government agencies.


2.


Certification of Compliance


Initial Certification

The firm is required to provide all supervised persons with a copy of this Code. All supervised persons are to certify in writing that they have: (a) received a copy of this Code; (b) read and understand all provisions of this Code; and (c) agreed to comply with the terms of this Code.

 

Acknowledgement of Amendments

The firm must provide supervised persons with any amendments to this Code (attached hereto) and supervised persons must submit a written acknowledgement that they have received, read, and understood the amendments to this Code.


Annual Certification

All supervised persons must annually certify that they have read, understood, and complied with this Code of Ethics and that the supervised person has made all of the reports required by this code and has not engaged in any prohibited conduct.


The CCO shall maintain records of these certifications of compliance.


Reporting Violations


All supervised persons must report violations of the firm’s Code of Ethics promptly to the CCO.  If the CCO is involved in the violation or is unreachable, supervised persons may report directly to the Supervisor.  All reports of violations will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly and appropriately.  Persons may report violations of the Code of Ethics on an anonymous basis.  Examples of violations that must be reported are (but are not limited to):


Ø

Noncompliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations;

Ø

Fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the firm’s business;

Ø

Material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, clients records or reports; or

Ø

Activity that is harmful to clients, including fund shareholders; and deviations from required controls and procedures that safeguard clients and the firm.


No retribution will be taken against a person for reporting, in good faith, a violation or suspected violation of this Code of Ethics.


Retaliation against an individual who reports a violation is prohibited and constitutes a further violation of the code.


Compliance Officer Duties


Training and Education


CCO shall be responsible for training and educating supervised persons regarding this Code.  Training will occur periodically as needed and all supervised persons are required to attend any training sessions or read any applicable materials.


Recordkeeping


CCO shall ensure that  maintains the following records in a readily accessible place:


Ø

A copy of each code of ethics that has been in effect at any time during the past five years;

Ø

A record of any violation of the code and any action taken as a result of such violation for five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred;

Ø

A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the code and amendments for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was a supervised person.  These records must be kept for five years after the individual ceases to be a supervised person of the firm;

Ø

Holdings and transactions reports made pursuant to the code, including any brokerage confirmation and account statements made in lieu of these reports;

Ø

A list of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, access persons;

Ø

A record of any decision and supporting reasons for approving the acquisition of securities by access persons in initial public offerings and limited offerings for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which approval was granted; and

Ø

A record of any decisions that grant employees or access persons a waiver from or exception to the code.


Annual Review


CCO shall review at least annually the adequacy of this Code of Ethics and the effectiveness of its implementation.


Annual Reporting to Fund Board of Directors


At least annually the CCO shall create and furnish a report to the Fund’s board of directors describing any issues arising under the code of ethics or procedures since the last report to the board of directors, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and that certifies that Adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating this Code of Ethics.  


Sanctions


Any violations discovered by or reported to the CCO shall be reviewed and investigated promptly, and reported through the CCO to the Supervisor. Such report shall include the corrective action taken and any recommendation for disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the CCO.  Such recommendation shall be based on, among other things, the severity of the infraction, whether it is a first or repeat offense, and whether it is part of a pattern of disregard for the letter and intent of this Code of Ethics.  Upon recommendation of the CCO, the Supervisor may impose such sanctions for violation of this Code of Ethics as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to:


Ø

letter of censure;

Ø

Suspension or termination of employment;

Ø

Reversal of a securities trade at the violator’s expense and risk, including disgorgement of any profit; and

Ø

In serious cases, referral to law enforcement or regulatory authorities.


Definitions


1.

Access Person ” includes any supervised person who has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any fund the adviser or its control affiliates manage; or is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.  All of the firm’s directors, officers, and partners are presumed to be access persons.

2.

Act ” means Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

3.

Adviser ” means .

4.

Advisory Person ” includes any director, officer, general partner, employee or natural person in a control relationship to the Fund or the Adviser who obtains information concerning the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund, whose job function is to make recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales, or who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund concerning the purchase of sale of Covered Securities.

5.

Control ” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company.

6.

A “ Covered Security” is “being considered for purchase or sale” when a recommendation to purchase or sell the Covered Security has been made and communicated and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.

7.

Beneficial ownership ” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a security for purposes as such Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

8.

CCO ” means Chief Compliance Officer per rule 206(4)-7 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

9.

Conflict of Interest ”: for the purposes of this Code of Ethics, a “conflict of interest” will be deemed to be present when an individual’s private interest interferes in anyway, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Adviser as a whole.

10.

Covered Security ” means any stock, bond, future, investment contract or any other instrument that is considered a “security” under the Act. Additionally, it includes options on securities, on indexes, and on currencies; all kinds of limited partnerships; foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds; and private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs.

11.

Covered Security ” does not include direct obligations of the U.S. government; bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements; shares issued by money market funds; shares of open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by the Adviser; and shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are funds advised or sub-advised by the Adviser.

12.

Initial Public Offering ” means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

13.

Investment personnel ” means: (i) any employee of the  Adviser or of any company in a control relationship to the Adviser who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities for clients.

14.

 “ Limited Offering ” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) thereof or pursuant to Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 thereunder.

15.

Purchase or sale of a Covered Security ” includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered Security.

16.

" Reportable security " is as defined by Rule 204A-1 of the Act. For more clarification, please see this no-action letter, which spells out the Code of Ethics requirements in layman's terms: http://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/noaction/ncs113005.htm.

17.

Supervised Persons ” means directors, officers, and partners of the adviser (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions); employees of the adviser; and any other person who provides advice on behalf of the adviser and is subject to the adviser’s supervision and control.





CODE OF ETHICS


Acknowledgment

I have received the Code of Ethics (the “ Code ”) of the Firm and have read it and understand it.

I understand that I am responsible for complying with the policies and procedures in the Code.  I understand that any violation of such policies and procedures may lead to sanctions, including dismissal.


Printed Name


 



Signature

 

Date







Exhibit A

INITIAL, ANNUAL AND UPDATED SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES HOLDINGS

  

«EmployeeName»

 This report shall include the information below of each security holding in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial interest, including holdings by a spouse, minor children, trusts, foundations, and any account for which trading authority has been delegated to you, other than authority to trade for a Fund in or a client of ARIA. In lieu of listing each security position below, you may instead attach copies of brokerage statements, sign below and return Schedule E and brokerage statements to the CCO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name of Account

  

Security Name

  

Security Name, Ticker and
Type

(Preferred, Common)
Bond Name and CUSIP –
Include interest rate/
maturity date

  

Shares/
Principal Amount

  

Broker-Dealer or Bank

  

Dividend
Reinvestment
(“Yes” or “No”)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

To the best of my knowledge I have disclosed all of my securities holdings.

  ¨

I have no securities holdings to report.

¨

I have attached statements containing all my personal securities holdings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Year End)

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B


 

  

SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT

  

COMPLIANCE REPORT:

  

«EmployeeName»

 This report of personal Securities Transactions pursuant to Rule 204-2(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or Rule 17j-1(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 must be completed and submitted to the CCO not later than 10 days after the end of each month. Refer to the Code for further instructions.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade

Date

 

Name of

Account *

 

Buy, Sell

Or Other

 

Security Name, Ticker and Type
(Preferred, Common) Bond
Name and CUSIP – Include
interest rate and maturity date

 

Market Cap

over $1billion/

$400 million for
non-U.S. issuer

(yes/no)

 

Quantity

 

Price

 

Principal

Amount

 

Broker-Dealer

or Bank

 

Pre-Cleared thru

Compliance Dept.

(Date or N/A)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*

For any new account opened during the month, show the date the account was established.

  ¨

I had no personal Securities Transactions during the preceding month that were required to be reported on Schedule D.

  The report or recording of any Transaction above shall not be construed as an admission that I have any direct or indirect ownership in the Securities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Month Ending)


Exhibit C

INITIAL, ANNUAL AND UPDATED SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES HOLDINGS

  

«EmployeeName»

 

This report shall include the information below of each security holding in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial interest, including holdings by a spouse, minor children, trusts, foundations, and any account for which trading authority has been delegated to you, other than authority to trade for a Fund in or a client of ARIA. In lieu of listing each security position below, you may instead attach copies of brokerage statements, sign below and return Schedule E and brokerage statements to the CCO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name of Account

  

Security Name

  

Security Name, Ticker and
Type

(Preferred, Common)
Bond Name and CUSIP –
Include interest rate/
maturity date

  

Shares/
Principal Amount

  

Broker-Dealer or Bank

  

Dividend
Reinvestment
(“Yes” or “No”)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

To the best of my knowledge I have disclosed all of my securities holdings.

  ¨

I have no securities holdings to report.

  ¨

I have attached statements containing all my personal securities holdings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Year End)





[P3BAMCOE001.JPG]

BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC












CODE OF ETHICS












August 2012









BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) has been adopted by Belvedere Asset Management, LLC (the “Firm”).  Currently the Firm serves as investment manager to registered and unregistered funds (the “Funds”).  This Code sets forth the Firm’s policies and procedures regarding its duty of loyalty to clients.  

The Code is designed to comply with all federal securities laws including all of the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act.  This Code has been adopted for the purpose of instructing all employees, officers, and directors of the Firm in their ethical obligations and to provide rules for their personal securities transactions.  All such persons owe a fiduciary duty to the Firm’s clients.  A fiduciary duty means a duty of loyalty, fairness and good faith towards the clients, and the obligation to adhere not only to the specific provisions of this Code but to the general principles that guide the Code.  These general principles are:

·

The duty at all times to place the interests of clients and the Funds first;

·

The requirement that all personal securities transactions be conducted in a manner consistent with the Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of any individual’s position of trust and responsibility;

·

The requirement that all personal securities transactions also comply with the Firm’s Insider Trading, Material Non-Public Information and Market Manipulation Policy;

·

The fundamental standard that such employees, officers, and directors should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions or of their relationship with clients;

·

The requirement that personal trading activities of the employees, officers, and directors of the Firm be conducted with the highest regard for these general principles in order to avoid any possible conflict of interest, any appearance of a conflict, or activities that could lead to disciplinary action. This includes executing transactions through or for the benefit of a third party when the transaction is not in keeping with the general principles of this Code.  

·

The requirement that Firm personnel report conflicts between their personal interest and the interests of the Funds to the Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”);

·

All Firm personnel have a duty to promptly report to the CCO any contravention of these policies regarding personal trading accounts that comes to their attention and to cooperate in any investigation relating to possible breaches of these policies.  Any breach of these policies may result in disciplinary action.

·

The CCO will review the Code at least annually and make amendments as necessary.  The CCO must provide a copy of the Code to each person covered by the Code.

·

All Firm personnel must familiarize themselves with the Code and acknowledge receipt of the Code at least annually by returning the Acknowledgement attached hereto.

·

All persons covered by the Coe must comply with applicable U.S. federal securities laws at all times.









BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



DEFINITIONS


Access Persons : include (i) all officers, directors, and Employees of Firm; and (ii) all retired officers who have access to information about investments of a Firm advised Fund.

Beneficial Interest :  ownership or any benefits of ownership, including the opportunity to directly or indirectly profit or otherwise obtain financial benefits from any interest in a security.

Chief Compliance Officer :  Keith Pagan

Employee Account :  each account in which an Employee or a member of his or her family has any direct or indirect Beneficial Interest or over which such person exercises control or influence, including, but not limited to, any joint account, partnership, corporation, trust or estate.  An Employee’s family members include the Employee’s spouse, minor children, any person living in the home of the Employee and any relative of the Employee (including in-laws) to whose support an Employee directly or indirectly contributes.

Employees :  the employees, officers and directors of the Firm.  The CCO will maintain a current list of all Employees.

Exempt Transactions :  transactions which are 1) effected in an amount or in a manner over which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control, 2) pursuant to an automatic investment plan, 3) in connection with the exercise or sale of rights to purchase additional securities from an issuer and granted by such issuer pro-rata to all holders of a class of its securities, 4) in connection with the call by the issuer of a preferred stock or bond, 5) pursuant to the exercise by a second party of a put or call option, 6) closing transactions no more than five business days prior to the expiration of a related put or call option, 7) inconsequential to any Fund because the transaction is very unlikely to affect a highly liquid market or because the security is clearly not related economically to any securities that a Fund may purchase or sell.

Excepted Securities : : (i) securities that are direct obligations of the U.S. Government; (ii) CDs, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and (iii) shares of registered open-end investment companies (except shares of a Firm advised Fund).

Securities :  any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security,” or any certificate or interest or participation in temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase (including options) any of the foregoing; except for the following:  1) securities issued by the government of the United States, 2) bankers’ acceptances, 3) bank certificates of deposit, 4) commercial paper, 5) high quality short-term debt







BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



instruments, including repurchase agreements, and 5) shares of unaffiliated registered open-end investment companies.

Transaction :  the purchase or sale, or any action to accomplish the purchase or sale, of a Security for an Employee Account.  The term Transaction does not include transactions executed by the Firm for the benefit of unaffiliated persons, such as investment advisory and brokerage clients.



GENERAL CODE CONCEPTS


A. CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE


You are reminded that compliance with the letter and intent of the Code is essential to your continued affiliation with the Firm. Any violation of the Code, including engaging in a prohibited transaction or failing to file required reports, may result in disciplinary action, and, when appropriate, termination of employment.


A.

COVERED PERSONS, ACCOUNTS, SECURITIES AND TRANSACTIONS


1.

Who is Covered by the Code?


The Code covers all Access Persons. The Code works by prohibiting some transactions and requiring pre-clearance and reporting of most others.

 

2.

What Accounts and Transactions Are Covered?


The Code covers all of your personal securities accounts and transactions. It also covers all securities and accounts in which you have Beneficial Interest or any direct or indirect influence or control.  A transaction by or for the account of your spouse or any other family member living in your home is considered to be the same as a transaction by you.  Also, a transaction for any account in which you have any economic is generally considered the same as a transaction by you.  For example, if you invest in a corporation or other entity that invests in securities, that entity’s securities transactions are considered yours, if you control the entity or have or share control over its investments ( e.g. , investment clubs).  In a similar way, securities transactions of a trust or foundation in which you have an economic interest and of which you are a trustee, settlor, or beneficiary are considered yours if you have voting or investment control of its assets.  If it is not clear whether a particular account or transaction is covered, you must ask the CCO for guidance.


3.

What Securities Are Not Covered by the Code?


You do not need to pre-clear or report transactions in Excepted Securities, in other words: (i) securities that are direct obligations of the U.S. Government; (ii) CDs, bankers’ acceptances,







BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and (iii) shares of registered open-end investment companies.


4.

What Transactions Are Prohibited by the Code?


A. Front-running: Trading Ahead of a Fund or Client


You cannot front-run any trade of a Fund or client. The term “front-run” means trading on the basis of non-public market information regarding a contemplated transaction by a Fund or client, whether or not your trade and the Fund’s or client’s trade take place in the same market. Thus, you may not (i) purchase a security if you intend, or know of the Firm’s intention, to purchase that security or a related security on behalf of a Fund or client, or (ii) sell a security if you intend, or know the Firm’s intention, to sell that security or a related security on behalf of a Fund or client. In addition to other penalties that might apply, you will be expected to give up any profits on front-running transactions to the Firm for the benefit of the affected Funds or other clients.


B. Scalping .


You cannot purchase a security with the intention of recommending that the security be purchased for a Fund in a manner that results in a profit for you.


C. Trading Parallel to a Fund or Client


You cannot buy a security if you know that the same or a related security is being bought by a Fund or client, or sell a security if you know that the same or a related security is being sold by a Fund or client.


D. Trading Against a Fund or Client


You cannot (i) buy a security if you know that a Fund or client is selling the same or a related security, or has sold the security within the 15-day period before the Transaction or (ii) sell a security if you know that a Fund or client is buying the same or a related security, or has bought the security within the 15-day period before the Transaction. In addition to other penalties that might apply, you will be expected to give up any profits you make from trading against a Fund or a client to the Firm for the benefit of the affected Funds or clients.


E. Use of Proprietary Information


You cannot buy or sell any security if you have information obtained in the course of your employment with the Firm concerning the security which you have not reported to the CCO.








BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



F. Securities Sold in an Initial Public Offerings and Limited Offerings


You cannot buy securities in any initial public offering, or a secondary offering by an issuer or transact in options unless you get prior approval of the CCO.


G. Short-Term Trading


You cannot engage in short-term trading ( e.g. , purchase and sale of the same (or equivalent)) security within sixty (60) calendar days unless you get prior approval of the CCO. Transactions will be matched with any opposite transactions within the most recent 60 calendar days.

 

I. Short-Selling


You are prohibited from selling any security that you do not own or otherwise engage in “short-selling” activities unless you get prior approval of the CCO.


J. Hedge Funds and Investment Clubs


Investing in hedge funds or investment clubs is prohibited unless you get prior approval of the CCO.


C. PRE-CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

Access Persons are required to obtain pre-clearance for all personal securities transactions from the CCO except for transactions in Excepted Securities.

Generally, the purchase of a specific Security will not be approved if the Security is under active consideration, if it has been on the buy list for less than 7 days, or if there is an active purchase program ongoing. Generally, the sale of a specific Security will not be permitted if it is held in any Fund accounts and is currently being considered for sale, or is in the process of being sold or trimmed.  

The pre-approval process and restrictions will help to insure that: (i) our clients have first access to our investment ideas; (ii) the Security in question is not under active consideration; and (iii) a buy or sell program is not underway.

 

1.

How long does the pre-clearance last?

A pre-clearance is good for 24 hours unless same day execution is required as noted on Schedule C.  Additionally, a clearance may be extended in special circumstances.

2.

What form do I use to pre-clear a trade?

 







BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



You must fill in the pre-approval form (Schedule C) and give it to the CCO who will review the Transaction(s) to check whether the Firm is engaged in a buy or sell program or if the Security is being actively considered for purchase or sale.


D. PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS


1.

Private Placements/Limited Offerings/Limited Partnerships/Short Sales/Commodities/ Options/Hedge Funds/Investment Clubs


An Firm Employee may not purchase limited partnership interests, securities in a private placement/limited offering, futures, options, hedge funds, short sales and commodities contracts and engage in investment clubs unless he/she receives prior approval of the CCO.  Under normal circumstances, investments with short-term investment horizons are discouraged.

2.

Initial Public Offerings

A Firm Employee may not purchase any security in an initial public offering. This restriction ensures that a Firm Employee does not cause a violation of applicable broker-dealer rules relating to new issues.


3.

Short Term Trading


A Firm Employee may not profit from the purchase and sale of the same (or equivalent) security within sixty (60) calendar days, with the exception of high quality short-term debt instruments. Transactions will be matched with any opposite transaction within the most recent 60 calendar days. This restriction does not apply to trading within a shorter period to avoid losses if you do not violate any other provisions of this Code. If you violate this section you will be expected to give up all profits from these short-term trading transactions to the Firm for the benefit of the affected Funds or other clients. If the Firm cannot determine which Fund(s) or client(s) were affected, the proceeds will be donated to a charity chosen by the Firm.


E. SPECIFIC RULES ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE


This Code’s procedures, standards, and restrictions do not and cannot address each potential conflict of interest. Rather, they attempt to prevent some of the more common types of problems. Ethics and faithful discharge of our fiduciary duties require adherence to the spirit of this Code and activities other than personal securities transactions could involve conflicts of interest. If there is any doubt about a transaction for a reportable account or for an employee's personal account, the CCO should be consulted.


F. ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES








BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



As a matter of policy and the terms of each Employee’s employment, the following types of activities are strictly prohibited:

 

1.

Using any device, scheme or artifice to defraud, or engaging in any act, practice, or course of conduct that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon, any client or prospective client or any party to any securities transaction in which the Firm or any Fund or client is a participant;

2.

Making any untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state to any person a material fact necessary in order to make the statements the Firm has made to such person, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

3.

Engaging in any act, practice, or course of business that is fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative, particularly with respect to a Fund; and

4.

Causing the Firm, acting as principal for its own account or for any account in which the Firm or any person associated with the Firm, to make an investment in violation of any applicable law, rule or regulation of a governmental agency.

G. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS


Access Persons shall immediately report any employment of relatives (a spouse; parent; grandparent; natural or adopted child; aunt or uncle; and brother or sister (including step and adoptive relationships)) by any brokerage firm.

  

If an investment opportunity is brought to an Access Person in his/her capacity as an employee of the Firm, the Access Person must consult with the CCO before entering into the Transaction to confirm that the Firm does not wish to take advantage of the opportunity.

H. RESTRICTIONS ON SERVING AS FIDUCIARY/DIRECTOR

Access Persons shall not accept appointments as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, investment advisor, partner, director, or other fiduciary without prior approval of the CCO. Appointment as a fiduciary for a relative is exempt from this requirement, although such appointment should be promptly reported. In addition, this prohibition does not apply to service as a trustee or director of a charitable organization.


I. PROHIBITION ON OTHER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST


No Access Person shall engage in any Transaction whether or not specified in this Code in which he/she has a financial interest adverse to the Firm or the Funds, or which has the appearance of creating a conflict of interest with the Firm or the Funds or the gaining of a financial benefit to the Access Person or an Employee Account by virtue of his/her relationship with the Firm.


J. DUTIES OF CONFIDENTIALITY








BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



The Firm and its Employees may receive confidential information from their clients, issuers of securities, or other third parties. Such confidential information may include, among other things, (i) proprietary information that is not “material” or (ii) information that could be embarrassing for the Funds, the Firm, issuer or third party if disclosed. Even information that appears commonplace, such as the name of a client, issuer or third party may, either alone or when coupled with other available information, constitute proprietary, sensitive or confidential information. Therefore, all information that an Employee obtains through the Firm should be considered confidential unless that information is specifically available to the public.

Procedures Regarding Use and Treatment of Confidential Information.

No Personal Use . All confidential information, whatever the source, may be used only in the discharge of the Employee’s duties with the Firm. Confidential information may not be used for any personal purpose, including the purchase or sale of securities.

Treatment of Confidential Information . The Firm encourages each Employee to be aware of, and sensitive to, the treatment of confidential information. Each Employee is encouraged not to discuss such information unless necessary as part of his or her duties and responsibilities with the Firm, and to remove confidential information from conference rooms, reception areas or other areas where third parties may inadvertently see it. Under no circumstances may confidential information be shared with any person, including any spouse or other family member, who is not an Employee.

K. REPORTING


1.

Background and Conflicts of Interest

 

A.

Importance of Reporting .

 

Compliance with the following personal Securities Transaction reporting procedures is essential to enable us to meet our responsibilities to the Firm and to comply with regulatory requirements. Access Persons are expected to comply with both the letter and spirit of these requirements.


B.

Certification of Compliance


Upon employment and annually thereafter by January 30 of each year, each Employee must certify that he or she has read and understands this Code, that he or she recognizes that this Code applies to him or her, and that he or she has complied with all of the rules and requirements of this Code that apply to him or her.


C.

Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership of a Security When Making Recommendations

 

If you have any beneficial ownership in a security and you recommend to the Firm that the security be considered for purchase or sale by a Fund or client you must disclose your Beneficial







BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



Interest to the CCO in writing before or simultaneously with the recommendation. The disclosure of ownership should be part of the initial communication but need not be repeated in the case of continuing communications directed to a specific person.


D.

Exceptions


Where the CCO determines that strict compliance with certain of the specific rules would be detrimental to the Firm’s interests or the limitations on an Employee’s legitimate interests that would result would not be justified by resulting protection of the Firm’s and Funds’ interests, he or she may approve particular transactions or types of transactions that do not comply with all particulars of such rules. He or she will specify the limits and basis for each such exception.

2.

Securities Pre-Clearance – Schedule A


All trades except those in Excepted Securities by Access Persons must be pre-cleared by the CCO.  Pre-clearance requests should be submitted using Schedule A.


3.

Monthly Securities Transactions Reports – Schedule B

 

Each Access Person shall file with the CCO not later than ten (10) days after the end of each month the information below on the form attached as Schedule D: ( Reminder : a “Security” does not include direct obligations of the U.S. Government, CD’s, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, and shares of registered open-end investment companies.)

 

 

1)

The date of the Transaction, Security name/type/ticker symbol (Common, Bond – interest rate and maturity date), and the amount;

 

 

2)

The name of the account in which the Transaction was completed;

 

 

3)

The nature of the Transaction;

 

 

4)

Market cap of the security;

 

 

5)

The price at which the Transaction was effected; and,

 

 

6)

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through whom the Transaction was effected (if the Access Person established a new account during the month include the date the account was established).


4.

Initial and Annual Securities Holdings Reports – Schedule C

 







BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS



An Access Person must file an initial holding report on Schedule C within ten days of being employed by the Firm and annually thereafter a holding report dated December 31 by January 30. Initial and annual reports on Schedule C must include a brokerage or custodian statement issued by a broker/dealer or bank.

 

5.

Dividend Reinvestment Plans

 

If an Access Person participates in a dividend reinvestment plan for a Security, shares issued under the plan should be reported annually on Schedule C in lieu of Schedule B. Shares issued under the cash purchase option should be pre-cleared (if required) and reported each month on Schedule B.


L. Retention of Reports and Other Records


The CCO will maintain at the Firm’s principal office for at least five years a confidential (subject to inspection by regulatory authorities) record of each reported violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation. The CCO will also cause to be maintained in appropriate places all other records relating to this Code that are required to be maintained by Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENT

The Firm’s Recordkeeping Policies and Procedures contain certain requirements with respect to the Firm’s Code of Ethics.  Firm personnel should refer to the Recordkeeping Policies and Procedures for additional guidance and information.

RESPONSIBILITY

The CCO and CFO shall have the responsibilities set forth above.

ADOPTED : August 29, 2012








BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
(“BELVEDERE ASSET MANAGEMENT” OR THE “FIRM”)


CODE OF ETHICS




Acknowledgment

I have received the Code of Ethics (the “ Code ”) of the Firm and have read it and understand it.

I understand that I am responsible for complying with the policies and procedures in the Code.  I understand that any violation of such policies and procedures may lead to sanctions, including dismissal.


Printed Name

 


Signature

 

Date














Schedule A


SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS PRECLEARANCE FORM


Employee Name _________________________

Date ___________________


Name of Account ________________________


Purchase,

Sale,

or Gift

  

Security

  

Price

  

Market

Cap.

  

Tax

Loss

  

Checked
Trading
Activity

  

Same Day
Execution
Required

  

Approved

  

Comments

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 



 

Signed

  

 

 

Date

 

 

 

Time

 

 

 

  

CCO

 

 

 

(Approval expires 24 hours from this date and time, unless same day execution is required)






Belvedere Asset Management, LLC Fund Compliance Manual

-13-






Schedule B

SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT

  

COMPLIANCE REPORT:

  

«EmployeeName»

 

This report of personal Securities Transactions pursuant to Rule 204-2(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or Rule 17j-1(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 must be completed and submitted to the CCO not later than 10 days after the end of each month. Refer to the Code for further instructions.

Trade

Date

 

Name of

Account *

 

Buy, Sell

Or Other

 

Security Name, Ticker and Type
(Preferred, Common) Bond
Name and CUSIP – Include
interest rate and maturity date

 

Market Cap

over $1billion/

$400 million for
non-U.S. issuer

(yes/no)

 

Quantity

 

Price

 

Principal

Amount

 

Broker-Dealer

or Bank

 

Pre-Cleared thru

Compliance Dept.

(Date or N/A)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*

For any new account opened during the month, show the date the account was established.

 

¨

I had no personal Securities Transactions during the preceding month that were required to be reported on Schedule D.

 

The report or recording of any Transaction above shall not be construed as an admission that I have any direct or indirect ownership in the Securities.

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Month Ending)





Belvedere Asset Management, LLC Fund Compliance Manual

-14-






Schedule C

INITIAL, ANNUAL AND UPDATED SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES HOLDINGS

  

«EmployeeName»

 

This report shall include the information below of each security holding in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial interest, including holdings by a spouse, minor children, trusts, foundations, and any account for which trading authority has been delegated to you, other than authority to trade for a Fund in or a client of the Firm. In lieu of listing each security position below, you may instead attach copies of brokerage statements, sign below and return Schedule E and brokerage statements to the CCO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name of Account

  

Security Name

  

Security Name, Ticker and
Type

(Preferred, Common)
Bond Name and CUSIP –
Include interest rate/
maturity date

  

Shares/
Principal Amount

  

Broker-Dealer or Bank

  

Dividend
Reinvestment
(“Yes” or “No”)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

To the best of my knowledge I have disclosed all of my securities holdings.

 

¨

I have no securities holdings to report.

 

¨

I have attached statements containing all my personal securities holdings.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Year Ended)






Belvedere Asset Management, LLC Fund Compliance Manual

-15-


 

LJM Funds Management, Ltd.

CODE OF ETHICS

Adopted: July 11, 2012

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) and Insider Trading Policy have been adopted by LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (“LJMFM”).  Currently LJMFM serves as investment manager to registered funds and in the future LJMFM may also serve as an investment manager to other pooled investment vehicles (collectively, the “Funds”).  This Code sets forth LJMFM’s policies and procedures regarding its duty of loyalty to Clients.  The Code is designed to comply with all federal securities laws including all of the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act.  This Code has been adopted for the purpose of instructing all employees, officers, and directors of LJMFM in their ethical obligations and to provide rules for their personal securities transactions.  All such persons owe a fiduciary duty to the LJMFM’s clients.  A fiduciary duty means a duty of loyalty, fairness and good faith towards the clients, and the obligation to adhere not only to the specific provisions of this Code but to the general principles that guide the Code.  These general principles are:

·

The duty at all times to place the interests of clients and the Funds first;

·

The requirement that all personal securities transactions be conducted in a manner consistent with the Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of any individual’s position of trust and responsibility;

·

The requirement that all personal securities transactions also comply with the LJMFM Insider Trading Policy;

·

The fundamental standard that such employees, officers, and directors should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions or of their relationship with clients;

·

The requirement that personal trading activities of the employees, officers, and directors of LJMFM be conducted with the highest regard for these general principles in order to avoid any possible conflict of interest, any appearance of a conflict, or activities that could lead to disciplinary action. This includes executing transactions through or for the benefit of a third party when the transaction is not in keeping with the general principles of this Code.  

·

The requirement that LJMFM personnel report conflicts between their personal interest and the interests of the Funds to the Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”);

·

All LJMFM personnel have a duty to promptly report to the CCO any contravention of these policies regarding personal trading accounts that comes to their attention and to cooperate in any investigation relating to possible breaches of these policies.  Any breach of these policies may result in disciplinary action.

·

The CCO will review the Code at least annually and make amendments as necessary.  The CCO must provide a copy of the Code to each person covered by the Code.

·

All LJMFM personnel must familiarize themselves with the Code and acknowledge receipt of the Code at least annually by returning the Acknowledgement attached hereto.

·

All persons covered by the Coe must comply with applicable U.S. federal securities laws at all times.




1




DEFINITIONS


Access Persons : include (i) all officers, directors, and Employees of LJMFM; and (ii) all retired officers who have access to information about investments of an LJMFM Fund.

Beneficial Interest :  ownership or any benefits of ownership, including the opportunity to directly or indirectly profit or otherwise obtain financial benefits from any interest in a security.

Chief Compliance Officer :  J. Scott Sykora

Employee Account :  each account in which an Employee or a member of his or her family has any direct or indirect Beneficial Interest or over which such person exercises control or influence, including, but not limited to, any joint account, partnership, corporation, trust or estate.  An Employee’s family members include the Employee’s spouse, minor children, any person living in the home of the Employee and any relative of the Employee (including in-laws) to whose support an Employee directly or indirectly contributes.

Employees :  the employees, officers and directors of LJMFM.  The CCO will maintain a current list of all Employees.

Exempt Transactions :  transactions which are 1) effected in an amount or in a manner over which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control, 2) pursuant to an automatic investment plan, 3) in connection with the exercise or sale of rights to purchase additional securities from an issuer and granted by such issuer pro-rata to all holders of a class of its securities, 4) in connection with the call by the issuer of a preferred stock or bond, 5) pursuant to the exercise by a second party of a put or call option, 6) closing transactions no more than five business days prior to the expiration of a related put or call option, 7) inconsequential to any Fund because the transaction is very unlikely to affect a highly liquid market or because the security is clearly not related economically to any securities that a Fund may purchase or sell.

Excepted Securities : : (i) securities that are direct obligations of the U.S. Government; (ii) CDs, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and (iii) shares of registered open-end investment companies.

Securities :  any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security,” or any certificate or interest or participation in temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase (including options) any of the foregoing; except for the following:  1) securities issued by the government of the United States, 2) bankers’ acceptances, 3) bank certificates of deposit, 4) commercial paper, 5) high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, and 5) shares of unaffiliated registered open-end investment companies.

Transaction :  the purchase or sale, or any action to accomplish the purchase or sale, of a Security for an Employee Account.  The term Transaction does not include transactions executed by LJMFM for the benefit of unaffiliated persons, such as investment advisory and brokerage clients.



2




GENERAL CODE CONCEPTS

A. CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE

You are reminded that compliance with the letter and intent of the Code and Insider Trading Policy is essential to your continued affiliation with the LJMFM. Any violation of the Code or Insider Trading Policy, including engaging in a prohibited transaction or failing to file required reports, may result in disciplinary action, and, when appropriate, termination of employment.

B. COVERED PERSONS, ACCOUNTS, SECURITIES AND TRANSACTIONS

 

1.

Who is Covered by the Code?


The Code covers all Access Persons. The Code works by prohibiting some transactions and requiring pre-clearance and reporting of most others.

 

2.

What Accounts and Transactions Are Covered?


The Code covers all of your personal securities accounts and transactions. It also covers all securities and accounts in which you have Beneficial Interest or any direct or indirect influence or control.  A transaction by or for the account of your spouse or any other family member living in your home is considered to be the same as a transaction by you.  Also, a transaction for any account in which you have any economic is generally considered the same as a transaction by you.  For example, if you invest in a corporation or other entity that invests in securities, that entity’s securities transactions are considered yours, if you control the entity or have or share control over its investments ( e.g. , investment clubs).  In a similar way, securities transactions of a trust or foundation in which you have an economic interest and of which you are a trustee, settlor, or beneficiary are considered yours if you have voting or investment control of its assets.  If it is not clear whether a particular account or transaction is covered, you must ask the CCO for guidance.


3.

What Securities Are Not Covered by the Code?


You do not need to pre-clear or report transactions in Excepted Securities, in other words: (i) securities that are direct obligations of the U.S. Government; (ii) CDs, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and (iii) shares of registered open-end investment companies.


4.

What Transactions Are Prohibited by the Code?

A. Front-running: Trading Ahead of a Fund or Client

You cannot front-run any trade of a Fund or client. The term “front-run” means trading on the basis of non-public market information regarding a contemplated transaction by a Fund or client, whether or not your trade and the Fund’s or client’s trade take place in the same market. Thus, you may not (i) purchase a security if you intend, or know of LJMFM’s intention, to purchase that security or a related security on behalf of a Fund or client, or (ii) sell a security if you intend, or know LJMFM’s intention, to sell that security or a related security on behalf of a Fund or client. In addition to other penalties that might apply, you will be expected to give up any profits on front-running transactions to LJMFM for the benefit of the affected Funds or other clients.

B. Scalping .

You cannot purchase a security with the intention of recommending that the security be purchased for a Fund in a manner that results in a profit for you.



3




C. Trading Parallel to a Fund or Client

You cannot buy a security if you know that the same or a related security is being bought by a Fund or client, or sell a security if you know that the same or a related security is being sold by a Fund or client.

D. Trading Against a Fund or Client

You cannot (i) buy a security if you know that a Fund or client is selling the same or a related security, or has sold the security within the 15-day period before the Transaction or (ii) sell a security if you know that a Fund or client is buying the same or a related security, or has bought the security within the 15-day period before the Transaction. In addition to other penalties that might apply, you will be expected to give up any profits you make from trading against a Fund or a client to LJMFM for the benefit of the affected Funds or clients.

E. Use of Proprietary Information

You cannot buy or sell any security if you have information obtained in the course of your employment with the LJMFM concerning the security which you have not reported to the CCO.

F. Securities Sold in an Initial Public Offerings and Limited Offerings

You cannot buy securities in any initial public offering, or a secondary offering by an issuer or transact in options unless you get prior approval of the CCO.

G. Short-Term Trading

You cannot engage in short-term trading ( e.g. , purchase and sale of the same (or equivalent)) security within sixty (60) calendar days unless you get prior approval of the CCO. Transactions will be matched with any opposite transactions within the most recent 60 calendar days.

I. Short-Selling

You are prohibited from selling any security that you do not own or otherwise engage in “short-selling” activities unless you get prior approval of the CCO.

J. Hedge Funds and Investment Clubs

Investing in hedge funds or investment clubs is prohibited unless you get prior approval of the CCO.


C. PRE-CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

Access Persons are required to obtain pre-clearance for all personal securities transactions from the CCO except for transactions in Excepted Securities.

Generally, the purchase of a specific Security will not be approved if the Security is under active consideration, if it has been on the buy list for less than 7 days, or if there is an active purchase program ongoing. Generally, the sale of a specific Security will not be permitted if it is held in any Fund accounts and is currently being considered for sale, or is in the process of being sold or trimmed.  

The pre-approval process and restrictions will help to insure that: (i) our clients have first access to our investment ideas; (ii) the Security in question is not under active consideration; and (iii) a buy or sell program is not underway.



4




1.

How long does the pre-clearance last?

A pre-clearance is good for 24 hours unless same day execution is required as noted on Schedule C.  Additionally, a clearance may be extended in special circumstances.

2.

What form do I use to pre-clear a trade?

 

You must fill in the pre-approval form (Schedule C) and give it to the CCO who will review the Transaction(s) to check whether LJMFM is engaged in a buy or sell program or if the Security is being actively considered for purchase or sale.


D. PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS

 

1.

Private Placements/Limited Offerings/Limited Partnerships/Short Sales/Commodities/ Options/Hedge Funds/Investment Clubs

An LJMFM Employee may not purchase limited partnership interests, securities in a private placement/limited offering, futures, options, hedge funds, short sales and commodities contracts and engage in investment clubs unless he/she receives prior approval of the CCO.  Under normal circumstances, investments with short-term investment horizons are discouraged.

2.

Initial Public Offerings

An LJMFM Employee may not purchase any security in an initial public offering. This restriction ensures that an LJMFM Employee does not cause a violation of applicable broker-dealer rules relating to new issues.


3.

Short Term Trading


An LJMFM Employee may not profit from the purchase and sale of the same (or equivalent) security within sixty (60) calendar days, with the exception of high quality short-term debt instruments. Transactions will be matched with any opposite transaction within the most recent 60 calendar days. This restriction does not apply to trading within a shorter period to avoid losses if you do not violate any other provisions of this Code. If you violate this section you will be expected to give up all profits from these short-term trading transactions to LJMFM for the benefit of the affected Funds or other clients. If LJMFM cannot determine which Fund(s) or client(s) were affected, the proceeds will be donated to a charity chosen by LJMFM.

E. SPECIFIC RULES ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE

This Code’s procedures, standards, and restrictions do not and cannot address each potential conflict of interest. Rather, they attempt to prevent some of the more common types of problems. Ethics and faithful discharge of our fiduciary duties require adherence to the spirit of this Code and activities other than personal securities transactions could involve conflicts of interest. If there is any doubt about a transaction for a reportable account or for an employee's personal account, the CCO should be consulted.

F. ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

As a matter of policy and the terms of each Employee’s employment, the following types of activities are strictly prohibited:

1.

Using any device, scheme or artifice to defraud, or engaging in any act, practice, or course of conduct that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon, any client or prospective client or any party to any securities transaction in which LJMFM or any Fund or client is a participant;



5




2.

Making any untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state to any person a material fact necessary in order to make the statements LJMFM has made to such person, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

3.

Engaging in any act, practice, or course of business that is fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative, particularly with respect to a Fund; and

4.

Causing LJMFM, acting as principal for its own account or for any account in which LJMFM or any person associated with LJMFM, to make an investment in violation of any applicable law, rule or regulation of a governmental agency.

G. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS


Access Persons shall immediately report any employment of relatives (a spouse; parent; grandparent; natural or adopted child; aunt or uncle; and brother or sister (including step and adoptive relationships)) by any brokerage firm.

  

If an investment opportunity is brought to an Access Person in his/her capacity as an employee of LJMFM, the Access Person must consult with the CCO before entering into the Transaction to confirm that LJMFM does not wish to take advantage of the opportunity.

H. RESTRICTIONS ON SERVING AS FIDUCIARY/DIRECTOR

Access Persons shall not accept appointments as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, investment advisor, partner, director, or other fiduciary without prior approval of the CCO. Appointment as a fiduciary for a relative is exempt from this requirement, although such appointment should be promptly reported. In addition, this prohibition does not apply to service as a trustee or director of a charitable organization.

I. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

In order to address conflicts of interest that may arise when LJMFM or an Employee of LJMFM accepts or gives a gift, entertainment, or other items of value, LJMFM places certain restrictions on gifts and entertainment that are given or received in relation to the business of the Firm. As a general matter, a gift or invitation to an event may not influence or present the appearance of influence upon a business decision, transaction or service. Employees may not make referrals to service providers if the Employee expects to personally benefit in any way from the referral.

 

1.

Gifts to LJMFM Employees

 

No Employee may receive gifts from a Client or vendor of more than a nominal value. The LJMFM Employee receiving a gift of more than nominal value must report the gift to the CCO.  The CCO will review gifts of more than nominal value for suitability. While the CCO may grant exceptions under certain circumstances, gifts of more than $100 are generally not suitable.

 

2.

Event Tickets or Meals

Vendors may offer tickets to sporting events, concerts, meals or other forms of entertainment to Employees of LJMFM. Employees attending any events should at all times conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect positively on LJMFM.

Vendor or Client in Attendance . Acceptance of an occasional invitation from a client or vendor for a meal or event is within the guidelines of this Code. Moderate entertaining (such as a dinner provided by a vendor) may be appropriate.

Vendor or Client is Not in Attendance . If the vendor or client is not in attendance, the event or meal will be considered a gift. An Employee may only receive gifts of nominal value, unless the CCO grants an exception.

 

3.

Gifts Sent by LJMFM



6




LJMFM may send gifts to its clients of a nominal value to commemorate a special event. Gifts may not be made by an Employee to any LJMFM client, investor, or vendor without written permission of the CCO. The CCO will determine the suitability of all gifts in advance of the gift(s) being made.

 

4.

Cash Gifts

No Employee may give or accept cash gifts or cash equivalents to or from a client or vendor or any other entity that does business with or on behalf of the firm.

J. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS


Rule 206(4)-5 (the “Rule”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, prohibits investment advisers from making greater than de minimis political Contributions (as defined below) to elected officials who are responsible for hiring, or can influence the hiring of, investment advisers to manage the assets of a state or municipal Government Entity (i.e., pension plans, retirement plans, tuition plans).  Any political Contributions to an elected official (including candidates for office) in violation of the Rule will trigger a two-year time out period during which the investment adviser will be prohibited from receiving compensation for providing advisory services to the Government Entity.  In order to comply with the Rule, the Firm has adopted the below policies and procedures relating to political Contributions.   

Except where otherwise stated, this Political Contributions Policy shall apply to (i) the Firm, (ii) any general partner, principal or executive officer, or individual with a similar status or function, of the Firm, (iii) any employee of the Firm other than employees performing exclusively clerical or administrative functions, and (iv) any political action committee controlled by the Firm or any of its employees (each, a “Covered Person”).

This Political Contributions Policy also applies to a Covered Person’s Family Members.  “Family Member” includes a Covered Person’s spouse or domestic partner, as well as any minor children or other dependents residing in a Covered Person’s home.


Any officer, director or employee of an affiliate of the Firm that supervises, directly or indirectly, any employee of the Firm or an affiliate who solicits a Government Entity for the Firm is also a Covered Person and therefore subject to the requirements of this Political Contributions Policy.


PROCEDURES

Prohibited Contributions and Solicitations


No employee or other personnel of the Firm may make a Contribution for the purpose of influencing the decision by any person or entity to invest in any pooled investment vehicle advised by the Firm (collectively, the “ Funds ”) or to otherwise hire the Firm as an investment adviser or conduct business with the Firm or the Funds.


In addition, the Firm, all Covered Persons of the Firm are prohibited from:


1.

 (1)

Making any Contribution to an incumbent, candidate or successful candidate for elective office of a state or municipal Government Entity if the office is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an investment adviser or has authority to appoint any person who is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an investment adviser.  Additionally, no Contribution should be made to any candidate for federal office if at the time of the Contribution such candidate is a state or municipal official that is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an investment adviser or has authority to appoint any person who is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an investment adviser.  However, you may make a Contribution to such incumbent, candidate or successful candidate if you are eligible to vote for the person and such Contribution, together with all other Contributions to such official, candidate or successful candidate with respect to the same election, does not exceed $350.



7




2.

(2)

Coordinating or soliciting any person or political action committee to make (including, but not limited to causing the Firm or a private investment fund advised by the Firm (a “ Fund ” to make) (A) any Contribution to an official of a Government Entity or candidate for office of a Government Entity (including any election committee for such official or candidate) or (B) any payment (including any gift, loan, advance or anything of value) to a political party of a state or locality.  Firm employees and other personnel should note that coordinating or soliciting Contributions can include actions that can be interpreted as supporting an official or political party, including, but not limited to the use of the Firm’s name or Covered Person’s name on fundraising literature for a candidate, or the Firm or a Covered Person sponsoring a meeting or conference which features an official or candidate as an attendee or guest speaker and which involves fundraising for the official or candidate.  


For purposes of these policies and procedures:


Contribution ” means any gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value made for: (i) the purpose of influencing any election for federal, state or local office; (ii) payment of debt incurred in connection with any such election; or (iii) transition or inaugural expenses of a successful candidate for state or local office.


Government Entity ” means any state or political subdivision of a state, including: (i) any agency, authority, or instrumentality of the state or political subdivision; (ii) a pool of assets sponsored or established by the state or political subdivision or any agency, authority, or instrumentality thereof, including, but not limited to a “defined benefit plan” as defined in section 414(j) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ”), or a state general fund; (iii) any participant-directed investment program or plan sponsored or established by a state or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, including, but not limited to a “qualified tuition plan” authorized by section 529 of the Code, a retirement plan authorized by section 403(b) or 457 of the Code, or any similar program or plan; and (iv) officers, agents, or employees of the state or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, acting in their official capacity.


Disclosure and Pre-clearance


All Contributions must be disclosed and approved by the Firm’s CCO in writing in advance of any Contribution being made.  Generally, it is the Firm’s policy to permit any proposed Contribution so long as it does not cause a violation of the Rule or this Political Contributions Policy or a reasonably foreseeable violation of the Rule or this Political Contributions Policy based on current or future prospective clients of the Firm. However, the CCO may also prohibit any proposed Contribution that is deemed by the CCO to raise a risk of violating the Rule, this Political Contributions Policy, or for any other reason whatsoever.


Written requests for pre-clearance of Contributions shall be made using the Political Contribution Pre-Clearance Form attached to this Political Contributions Policy as Schedule A.


Quarterly Reporting


Additionally, on a quarterly basis, the CCO shall obtain an acknowledgment from all Covered Persons that they are aware of this Political Contributions Policy and in compliance, and such Covered Persons shall verify all Contributions made in the past quarter by such Covered Persons, including the dates on which such Contributions were made and whether any such Contribution was the subject of the exception for certain returned Contributions pursuant to Rule 206(4)-5(b)(3) (which provides a limited means to cure certain contributions made by a Covered Person by returning such contributions).  All quarterly reports shall be made using the Quarterly Political Contributions Report and Acknowledgement Form attached to this Political Contributions Policy as Schedule B.


New Covered Persons  


In advance of becoming a Covered Person, whether as a new hire or by promotion, a potential Covered Person must disclose in writing to the CCO all Contributions to any official of a Government Entity or candidate for office of a



8




Government Entity (including any election committee) made by the Covered Person during the two years prior to potentially becoming a Covered Person.

 

New Government Entity Investors  


In advance of admitting a Government Entity as an investor in a Fund or accepting a Government Entity as a client, the CCO shall review records of Contributions made within two years of the date of the investor’s admission or acceptance to determine whether any Contributions have been made to any official of the Government Entity.


Confidentiality  


The Firm respects the rights of its personnel to lawfully contribute to the political process and will keep the information provided under this Political Contributions Policy confidential, subject to the rights of inspection of all regulatory and licensing bodies or as any disclosure may become necessary or advisable in the operation of the Firm, including disclosures at the request of representatives of investors and potential investors who are government clients, pension funds, or their fiduciaries if requested to do so.


Compliance with Other Laws


It should not be assumed that pre-clearance or approval under this Political Contributions Policy is confirmation that an employee or other personnel are complying with any applicable campaign finance or other applicable laws and each such person is urged to consult such advisors or counsel as appropriate on such laws.  With respect to investors and potential investors that are state or local entities additional or different state or local rules may apply.  Before admitting an investor that is a state or local entity, the Firm’s General Counsel and CCO shall review applicable rules and regulations applicable to that investor and determine whether additional policies or procedures are advisable.


Violations


If any Firm personnel become aware of a violation of this Political Contributions Policy, they must immediately notify the CCO.  In the event a Covered Person makes a Contribution in violation of this Political Contributions Policy or the Rule, the Covered Person agrees to take all reasonable efforts to prevent the triggering of a two-year time out period, including actively seeking the return of the Contribution.


Indirect Contributions  


Firm personnel should be aware that the Rule prohibits the Firm and its Covered Persons from doing anything indirectly which, if done directly, would result in a violation of the Rule and this Political Contributions Policy.  Firm personnel should be mindful of these provisions and should be aware that soliciting a person, such as a family member or friend, to make a Contribution may also be a violation of the Rule and this Political Contributions Policy.  Similarly, Contributions made to an entity that will use the funds to support a candidate for office of a Government Entity could be a violation of this Political Contributions Policy and the Rule.  Further, use of firm resources (such as office space, telephones, etc.) in connection with volunteer activities could be a violation of this Political Contributions Policy and the Rule.  In addition, a Fund may not make a payment that, if made by the Firm, would violate this Political Contributions Policy or the Rule.  Firm personnel should consult the CCO if they have any questions about whether a contribution, payment or activity would be prohibited or restricted by this Political Contributions Policy or the Rule.

Placement Agents or Solicitors for Government Entities

Any placement agents or solicitors that are paid (including by gift, loan, advance or anything of value) by the Firm on or after September 13, 2011, either directly or indirectly, to solicit a Government Entity must be either (i) an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) that has not, and whose Covered Persons have not, within two years of such solicitation (A) made a Contribution to an official of that Government Entity, other than as permitted by the Rule; or (B) coordinated or solicited any person or political action committee to make any Contribution or payment described in paragraphs (a)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) of the Rule; or (ii) a



9




broker or a dealer that is registered with the SEC and is a member of a national securities association registered under section 15A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provided that the rules of the association prohibit members from engaging in distribution or solicitation activities if certain political contributions have been made; and the SEC, by order, has found that such rules impose substantially equivalent or more stringent restrictions on broker-dealers than the Rule imposes on investment advisers and that such rules are consistent with the objectives of the Rule; or (iii) an executive officer, general partner, principal (or, in each case, a person with a similar status or function), or employee of the Firm.  The CCO is responsible for ensuring that payments to placement agents or solicitors are consistent with these requirements.


RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENT


The Firm’s Recordkeeping and Policies and Procedures contain certain requirements with respect to the Firm’s and its personnel’s political contributions.  Firm personnel should refer to the Recordkeeping Policies and Procedures for additional guidance and information.  


RESPONSIBILITY


The CCO shall be responsible for administering this Political Contributions Policy.  If you have any questions about this Political Contributions Policy, please contact the CCO.  

K. PROHIBITION ON OTHER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No Access Person shall engage in any Transaction whether or not specified in this Code in which he/she has a financial interest adverse LJMFM or the Funds, or which has the appearance of creating a conflict of interest with LJMFM or the Funds or the gaining of a financial benefit to the Access Person or an Employee Account by virtue of his/her relationship with LJMFM.

L. DUTIES OF CONFIDENTIALITY

LJMFM and its Employees may receive confidential information from their clients, issuers of securities, or other third parties. Such confidential information may include, among other things, (i) proprietary information that is not “material” or (ii) information that could be embarrassing for the Funds, LJMFM, issuer or third party if disclosed. Even information that appears commonplace, such as the name of a client, issuer or third party may, either alone or when coupled with other available information, constitute proprietary, sensitive or confidential information. Therefore, all information that an Employee obtains through the Firm should be considered confidential unless that information is specifically available to the public.

Procedures Regarding Use and Treatment of Confidential Information.

No Personal Use . All confidential information, whatever the source, may be used only in the discharge of the Employee’s duties with the Firm. Confidential information may not be used for any personal purpose, including the purchase or sale of securities.

Treatment of Confidential Information . LJMFM encourages each Employee to be aware of, and sensitive to, the treatment of confidential information. Each Employee is encouraged not to discuss such information unless necessary as part of his or her duties and responsibilities with LJMFM, and to remove confidential information from conference rooms, reception areas or other areas where third parties may inadvertently see it. Under no circumstances may confidential information be shared with any person, including any spouse or other family member, who is not an Employee.

M. REPORTING


1.

Background and Conflicts of Interest

 

A.

Importance of Reporting .



10




 

Compliance with the following personal Securities Transaction reporting procedures is essential to enable us to meet our responsibilities to LJMFM and to comply with regulatory requirements. Access Persons are expected to comply with both the letter and spirit of these requirements.


B.

Certification of Compliance


Upon employment and annually thereafter by January 30 of each year, each Employee must certify that he or she has read and understands this Code, that he or she recognizes that this Code applies to him or her, and that he or she has complied with all of the rules and requirements of this Code that apply to him or her.


C.

Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership of a Security When Making Recommendations

 

If you have any beneficial ownership in a security and you recommend to LJMFM that the security be considered for purchase or sale by a Fund or client you must disclose your Beneficial Interest to the CCO in writing before or simultaneously with the recommendation. The disclosure of ownership should be part of the initial communication but need not be repeated in the case of continuing communications directed to a specific person.


D.

Exceptions

Where the CCO determines that strict compliance with certain of the specific rules would be detrimental to LJMFM’s interests or the limitations on an Employee’s legitimate interests that would result would not be justified by resulting protection of LJMFM’s and Funds’ interests, he or she may approve particular transactions or types of transactions that do not comply with all particulars of such rules. He or she will specify the limits and basis for each such exception.

 

2.

Securities Pre-Clearance – Schedule C


All trades except those in Excepted Securities by Access Persons must be pre-cleared by the CCO.  Pre-clearance requests should be submitted using Schedule C.


3.

Monthly Securities Transactions Reports – Schedule D

 

Each Access Person shall file with the CCO not later than ten (10) days after the end of each month the information below on the form attached as Schedule D: ( Reminder : a “Security” does not include direct obligations of the U.S. Government, CD’s, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, and shares of registered open-end investment companies.)

 

 

1)

The date of the Transaction, Security name/type/ticker symbol (Common, Bond – interest rate and maturity date), and the amount;

 

 

2)

The name of the account in which the Transaction was completed;

 

 

3)

The nature of the Transaction;

 

 

4)

Market cap of the security;

 

 

5)

The price at which the Transaction was effected; and,

 

 

6)

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through whom the Transaction was effected (if the Access Person established a new account during the month include the date the account was established).


4.

Initial and Annual Securities Holdings Reports – Schedule E

 



11




An Access Person must file an initial holding report on Schedule E within ten days of being employed by LJMFM and annually thereafter a holding report dated December 31 by January 30. Initial and annual reports on Schedule E must include a brokerage or custodian statement issued by a broker/dealer or bank.

 

5.

Dividend Reinvestment Plans

 

If an Access Person participates in a dividend reinvestment plan for a Security, shares issued under the plan should be reported annually on Schedule C in lieu of Schedule D. Shares issued under the cash purchase option should be pre-cleared (if required) and reported each month on Schedule D.

N. RETENTION OF REPORTS AND OTHER RECORDS

The CCO will maintain at LJMFM’s principal office for at least five years a confidential (subject to inspection by regulatory authorities) record of each reported violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation. The CCO will also cause to be maintained in appropriate places all other records relating to this Code that are required to be maintained by Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.



12





Acknowledgment

I have received the Code of Ethics (the “ Code ”) of the Firm and have read it and understand it.

I understand that I am responsible for complying with the policies and procedures in the Code.  I understand that any violation of such policies and procedures may lead to sanctions, including dismissal.


Printed Name

 


Signature

 

Date





13





Schedule A

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION PRE-CLEARANCE AND FORM


1.

LJMFM Employee:  ______________________________________________

2.

Amount of proposed contribution: _____________________________________

3.

Name of recipient ( i.e. , official, candidate, election committee):  __________________

4.

Office that candidate is seeking (including jurisdiction): ____________________

5.

Does the candidate/official currently hold office? _______________________

If yes, describe the office the candidate/official currently holds:  ______________

__________________________________________________________________

6.

Name of individual/entity soliciting the contribution, if any:  ________________

_________________________________________________________________

7.

Prior contributions to this candidate/official (in past 12 months):_______________  

_________________________________________________________________

8.

Can employee vote in election?  

YES __________

      NO __________

9.

Does the employee believe the above official/candidate is a political official with the power to influence or control the investment of a Government Entity or is a candidate running for such office?

YES __________

NO __________

Employee Signature

__________________________________

_____________________________

Name (Print)

Date

__________________________________

Signature

Chief Compliance Officer Approval

___________________________________

______________________________

Signature            Date



14





Schedule B


QUARTERLY POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS REPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM


This report has been completed for the calendar quarter ended _____________.


Please list all political contributions you made during the calendar quarter referred to above.  Include the date, recipient name and title, title of the prospective office of any recipient that is a candidate for office, and amount of any such political contributions.  This report and acknowledgement form must be returned to the Chief Compliance Officer no later than 20 days after the end of the calendar quarter.


If this is your first report, you must disclose below all contributions to any official of a government entity or candidate for office of a government entity (including any election committee) made by you during the twelve months prior to the date you were required to submit this report.


Date of

Contribution

Name of Recipient (including individual, political party, or political action committee)

Title of Recipient (including any city/county/state or other political subdivision)

Title of Prospective Office

(including any city/county/state or other political subdivision)

Amount

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________

___________

________________

_________________

___________________

________


Check here if you did not make any political contributions during the calendar quarter referred to above:    




15




The undersigned employee certifies that the provisions of the Firm s Political Contributions Policy have been complied with.


Employee Signature


_____________________________________

_________________________

Name (Print)

Date


_____________________________________

Title


_____________________________________

Signature




16





Schedule C

SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS PRECLEARANCE FORM

Employee Name _________________________

Date ___________________

Name of Account ________________________


Purchase,

Sale,

or Gift

  

Security

  

Price

  

Market

Cap.

  

Tax

Loss

  

Checked
Trading
Activity

  

Same Day
Execution
Required

  

Approved

  

Comments

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed

  

 

 

Date

 

 

 

Time

 

 

 

  

CCO

 

 

 

(Approval expires 24 hours from this date and time, unless same day execution is required)




17





Schedule D

 

  

SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT

  

COMPLIANCE REPORT:

  

«EmployeeName»

 

This report of personal Securities Transactions pursuant to Rule 204-2(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or Rule 17j-1(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 must be completed and submitted to the CCO not later than 10 days after the end of each month. Refer to the Code for further instructions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade

Date

 

Name of

Account *

 

Buy, Sell

Or Other

 

Security Name, Ticker and Type
(Preferred, Common) Bond
Name and CUSIP – Include
interest rate and maturity date

 

Market Cap

over $1billion/

$400 million for
non-U.S. issuer

(yes/no)

 

Quantity

 

Price

 

Principal

Amount

 

Broker-Dealer

or Bank

 

Pre-Cleared thru

Compliance Dept.

(Date or N/A)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*

For any new account opened during the month, show the date the account was established.

 

¨

I had no personal Securities Transactions during the preceding month that were required to be reported on Schedule D.

 

The report or recording of any Transaction above shall not be construed as an admission that I have any direct or indirect ownership in the Securities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Month Ending)




18





Schedule E

INITIAL, ANNUAL AND UPDATED SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES HOLDINGS

  

«EmployeeName»

 

This report shall include the information below of each security holding in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial interest, including holdings by a spouse, minor children, trusts, foundations, and any account for which trading authority has been delegated to you, other than authority to trade for a Fund in or a client of LJMFM. In lieu of listing each security position below, you may instead attach copies of brokerage statements, sign below and return Schedule E and brokerage statements to the CCO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name of Account

  

Security Name

  

Security Name, Ticker and
Type

(Preferred, Common)
Bond Name and CUSIP –
Include interest rate/
maturity date

  

Shares/
Principal Amount

  

Broker-Dealer or Bank

  

Dividend
Reinvestment
(“Yes” or “No”)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

To the best of my knowledge I have disclosed all of my securities holdings.

 

¨

I have no securities holdings to report.

 

¨

I have attached statements containing all my personal securities holdings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

(Date)

 

(Year Ended)




19







NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC

Investment Adviser

Code of Ethics





























© Copyright 2008, National Regulatory Services. All rights reserved







NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC

Code of Ethics

9/15/2008 to Current

Table of Contents

1 - Statement of General Policy 3

2 - Definitions 5

3 - Standards of Business Conduct 6

4 - Prohibition Against Insider Trading 7

5 - Personal Securities Transactions 9

6 - Gifts and Entertainment 10

7 - Protecting the Confidentiality of Client Information 11

8 - Service as a Director 13

9 - Compliance Procedures 14

10 - Certification 16

11 - Records 17

12 - Reporting Violations and Sanctions 18



2














Statement of General Policy

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) has been adopted by NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC and its affiliated

companies (refer to the Schedule A, 'Schedule of Affiliated Companies' to which this Code applies, collectively

referred to as, 'NorthStar'), including, specifically CLS Investment Firm, LLC, a registered investment adviser and

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, a registered broker/dealer and is designed to comply with Rule 204A-1 under

the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment

Company Act of 1940.

This Code establishes rules of conduct for all employees of NorthStar and is designed to, among other things,

govern personal securities trading activities in the accounts of employees. The general ethical principles and

personal Securities reporting provisions of this Code apply to all employees of NorthStar, although many

provisions of this Code are written to specifically address the duties and obligations of CLS Investment Firm, LLC

and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC under the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940. The

Code is based upon the principle that NorthStar and its employees owe a fiduciary duty to their clients to

conduct their affairs, including their personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid (i) serving

their own personal interests ahead of clients, (ii) taking inappropriate advantage of their position with their

respective company and (iii) any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of their position of trust

and responsibility.

This Code is designed to ensure that the high ethical standards long maintained by NorthStar continue to be

applied. The purpose of this Code is to preclude activities which may lead to or give the appearance of

conflicts of interest, insider trading and other forms of prohibited or unethical business conduct. The excellent

name and reputation of NorthStar continues to be a direct reflection of the conduct of each employee.

This Code prohibits conduct of all NorthStar employees, which in connection with the purchase or sale, directly

or indirectly, of a Security held or to be acquired by a fund serviced by NorthStar:

1. To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the fund;

2. To make any untrue statement of a material fact to the fund or omit to state a material fact necessary in

order to make the statements made to the fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not

misleading;

3. To engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on

the fund; or

4. To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the fund.

Pursuant to Section 206 of the Advisers Act, both NorthStar and its employees are prohibited from engaging in

fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct. Compliance with this section involves more than acting with

honesty and good faith alone. It means that NorthStar has an affirmative duty of utmost good faith to act

solely in the best interest of its clients.

NorthStar and its employees are subject to the following specific fiduciary obligations when dealing with clients:

l The duty to have a reasonable, independent basis for the investment advice provided;

l The duty to obtain best execution for a client’s transactions where the firm is in a position to direct

brokerage transactions for the client;

l The duty to ensure that investment advice is suitable to meeting the client’s individual objectives, needs

and circumstances; and

l A duty to be loyal to clients.

In meeting any fiduciary responsibilities to its clients, NorthStar expects every employee to demonstrate the

highest standards of ethical conduct for continued employment with NorthStar. Strict compliance with the

provisions of the Code shall be considered a basic condition of employment. NorthStar's reputation for fair and

honest dealing with its clients has taken considerable time to build. This standing could be seriously damaged

as the result of even a single Securities transaction being considered questionable in light of the fiduciary duty

owed to our clients. Employees of NorthStar are urged to seek the advice of the Chief Compliance Officer of

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC who is responsible for administration of this Code, for any questions about this

Code or the application of this Code to their individual circumstances. Employees should also understand that a

material breach of the provisions of this Code may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including

termination of employment with NorthStar. In performing his/her duties hereunder, the Chief Compliance Officer

of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC may utilize resources and share information among compliance and legal

personnel across the NorthStar group of affiliated companies.

The provisions of this Code are not all-inclusive. Rather, they are intended as a guide for employees of

NorthStar in their conduct. In those situations where an employee may be uncertain as to the intent or

3

purpose of the Code, he/she is advised to consult with the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance

Officer may grant exceptions to certain provisions contained in the Code only in those situations when it is clear

beyond dispute that the interests of our clients will not be adversely affected or compromised. All questions

arising in connection with personal securities trading should be resolved in favor of the client even at the

expense of the interests of employees.

The Chief Compliance Officer will periodically report to senior management of NorthStar, including specifically

senior management of CLS Investment Firm, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC to document compliance

with this Code.

4

Definitions




For the purposes of this Code, the following definitions shall apply:

l “Access Person” means any Supervised Person who: has access to nonpublic information regarding any

clients’ purchase or sale of Securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any fund

NorthStar or its control affiliates manage; or is involved in making Securities recommendations to clients that

are nonpublic.

l “Account” means accounts of any employee and includes accounts of the employee’s immediate family

members (any relative by blood or marriage living in the employee’s household), and any account in which he

or she has a direct or indirect beneficial interest, such as trusts and custodial accounts or other accounts in

which the employee has a Beneficial Ownership or exercises investment discretion.

l “Automatic Investment Plan” means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made

automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation.

An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.

l "Beneficial Ownership” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether a person is the beneficial owner of a Security

for purposes of Section 16 of such Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Generally, “Beneficial

Ownership” means ownership of Securities or Securities accounts by or for the benefit of a person, or such

person’s “family member,” including any account in which the person or family member of that person holds a

direct or indirect beneficial interest, retains discretionary investment authority or exercises a power of

attorney. The term “family member” means any person’s spouse, child or other relative, whether related by

blood, marriage, or otherwise, who either resides with, is financially dependent upon, or whose investments

are controlled by that person. The term also includes any unrelated individual whose investments are

controlled and whose financial support is materially contributed to by that person, such as a “significant

other.”

l "Chief Compliance Officer" shall mean the Chief Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC or his

designee.

l “Control” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of

NorthStar. See Section 2(a)(9) of the Adviser's Act.

l “Initial Public Offering” means an offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as

amended, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting

requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

l “Investment Personnel” means (1) any employee of NorthStar (or of any company in a Control relationship to

NorthStar) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making

recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of Securities, and (2) any natural person who Controls

NorthStar and who obtains information concerning recommendations made regarding the purchase or sale of

Securities.

l “Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as

amended, pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant to Rule 504, 505 or 506 under the Securities

Act of 1933, as amended.

l “Reportable Security” means any security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act, except that

it does not include: (i) Transactions and holdings in direct obligations of the Government of the United

States; (ii) Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other high quality

short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; (iii) Shares issued by money market funds;

(iv) Transactions and holdings in shares of other types of open-end registered mutual funds,

unless NorthStar or a Control affiliate acts as the investment adviser, principal underwriter, fund accountant

or fund administrator for the fund (refer to the Schedule B 'Schedule of Funds' as amended, attached to the

Code; and (v) Transactions in units of a unit investment trust if the unit investment trust is invested

exclusively in mutual funds, unless NorthStar or a control affiliate acts as the investment adviser or

principal underwriter for the fund.

l “Security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of

indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust

certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust

certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral

rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on

any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put,

call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency,

or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security”, or any certificate of interest or

participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guaranty of, or warrant or right to subscribe

to or purchase any of the foregoing. See Section 202(a)(18) of the Adviser’s Act.

l “Supervised Person” means managers, officers and partners of NorthStar (or other persons occupying a

similar status or performing similar functions); employees of NorthStar; and any other person who provides

advice on behalf of NorthStar and is subject to NorthStar's supervision and control.

5

Standards of Business Conduct

NorthStar places the highest priority on maintaining its reputation for integrity and professionalism. That

reputation is a vital business asset. The confidence and trust placed in our firm and its employees by our

clients is something we value and endeavor to protect. The following Standards of Business Conduct sets forth




policies and procedures to achieve these goals. This Code is intended to comply with the various provisions of

the Advisers Act and also requires that all Supervised Persons comply with the various applicable provisions of

the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and

Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Section 204A of the Advisers Act requires the establishment and enforcement of policies and procedures

reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information by investment advisers. Such

policies and procedures are contained in this Code. The Code also contains policies and procedures with

respect to personal securities transactions of all Supervised Persons as defined herein. These procedures cover

transactions in a Reportable Security in which a Supervised Person has Beneficial Ownership in or accounts over

which the Supervised Person exercises control as well as transactions by members of the Supervised Person’s

immediate family.

Section 206 of the Advisers Act makes it unlawful to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any

client or prospective client, or to engage in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative practices. This Code contains

provisions that prohibit these and other enumerated activities and that are reasonably designed to detect and

prevent violations of the Code, the Advisers Act and rules thereunder.

6

Prohibition Against Insider Trading

Introduction

Trading Securities while in possession of material, nonpublic information, or improperly communicating that

information to others may expose Supervised Persons and NorthStar to stringent penalties. Criminal sanctions

may include a fine of up to $1,000,000 and/or ten years imprisonment. The SEC can recover the profits gained

or losses avoided through the illegal trading, impose a penalty of up to three times the illicit windfall, and/or

issue an order permanently barring you from the securities industry. Finally, Supervised Persons and NorthStar

may be sued by investors seeking to recover damages for insider trading violations.

The rules contained in this Code apply to Securities trading and information handling by Supervised Persons and

their immediate family members.

The law of insider trading is unsettled and continuously developing. An individual legitimately may be uncertain

about the application of the rules contained in this Code in a particular circumstance. Often, a single question

can avoid disciplinary action or complex legal problems. You must notify the Chief Compliance

Officer immediately if you have any reason to believe that a violation of this Code has occurred or is about to

occur.

General Policy

No Supervised Person may trade, either personally or on behalf of others (such as investment funds and private

accounts managed by NorthStar), while in the possession of material, nonpublic information, nor may any

personnel of NorthStar communicate material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law.

1. What is Material Information?

Information is material where there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it

important in making his or her investment decisions. Generally, this includes any information the disclosure

of which will have a substantial effect on the price of a company’s Securities. No simple test exists to

determine when information is material; assessments of materiality involve a highly fact-specific inquiry.

For this reason, you should direct any questions about whether information is material to the Chief

Compliance Officer.

Material information often relates to a company’s results and operations, including, for example, dividend

changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or

acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems, and extraordinary management

developments.

Material information also may relate to the market for a company’s Securities. Information about a

significant order to purchase or sell Securities may, in some contexts, be material. Prepublication

information regarding reports in the financial press also may be material. For example, the United States

Supreme Court upheld the criminal convictions of insider trading defendants who capitalized on

prepublication information about The Wall Street Journal’s “Heard on the Street” column.

You should also be aware of the SEC’s position that the term “material nonpublic information” relates not

only to issuers but also to NorthStar's Securities recommendations and client Securities holdings and

transactions.

2. What is Nonpublic Information?

Information is “public” when it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. For

example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing

with the SEC or some other government agency, the Dow Jones “tape” or The Wall Street Journal or some

other publication of general circulation, and after sufficient time has passed so that the information has

been disseminated widely.

3. Identifying Inside Information

Before executing any trade for yourself or others, including investment funds or private accounts managed

by NorthStar (“Client Accounts”), you must determine whether you have access to material, nonpublic

information. If you think that you might have access to material, nonpublic information, you should take

the following steps:




l Report the information and proposed trade immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer.

l Do not purchase or sell the Securities on behalf of yourself or others, including investment funds or

private accounts managed by the firm.

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l Do not communicate the information inside or outside the firm, other than to the Chief Compliance

Officer.

l After the Chief Compliance Officer has reviewed the issue, the firm will determine whether the

information is material and nonpublic and, if so, what action the firm will take.

You should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer before taking any action. This degree of caution will

protect you, our clients, and the firm.

4. Contacts with Public Companies

Contacts with public companies may represent an important part of our research efforts. The firm may

make investment decisions on the basis of conclusions formed through such contacts and analysis of

publicly available information. Difficult legal issues arise, however, when, in the course of these contacts,

a Supervised Person of NorthStar or other person subject to this Code becomes aware of material,

nonpublic information. This could happen, for example, if a company’s Chief Financial Officer prematurely

discloses quarterly results to an analyst, or an investor relations representative makes selective disclosure

of adverse news to a handful of investors. In such situations, NorthStar must make a judgment as to its

further conduct. To protect yourself, your clients and the firm, you should contact the Chief Compliance

Officer immediately if you believe that you may have received material, nonpublic information.

5. Tender Offers

Tender offers represent a particular concern in the law of insider trading for two reasons: First, tender

offer activity often produces extraordinary gyrations in the price of the target company’s Securities.

Trading during this time period is more likely to attract regulatory attention (and produces a

disproportionate percentage of insider trading cases). Second, the SEC has adopted a rule which

expressly forbids trading and “tipping” while in the possession of material, nonpublic information regarding

a tender offer received from the tender offeror, the target company or anyone acting on behalf of either.

Supervised Persons of NorthStar and others subject to this Code should exercise extreme caution any

time they become aware of nonpublic information relating to a tender offer.

6. Restricted/Watch Lists

Although NorthStar does not typically receive confidential information from portfolio companies, it may, if

it receives such information take appropriate procedures to establish restricted or watch lists in certain

Securities.

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Personal Securities Transactions

General Policy

The following principles governing personal investment activities by Supervised Persons have been adopted:

l The interests of client accounts will at all times be placed first;

l All personal Securities transactions will be conducted in such manner as to avoid any actual or potential

conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual’s position of trust and responsibility; and

l Supervised Persons must not take inappropriate advantage of their positions.

Pre-Clearance Required for Participation in IPOs

No Supervised Persons shall acquire any Beneficial Ownership in any Securities in an Initial Public Offering for his

or her account, as defined herein without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer after

being provided with full details of the proposed transaction (including written certification that the investment

opportunity did not arise by virtue of the Supervised Person’s activities on behalf of a client) and, if approved,

will be subject to continuous monitoring for possible future conflicts.

Pre-Clearance Required for Private or Limited Offerings

No Supervised Person shall acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Securities in a Limited Offering or private

placement without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer who has been provided with full

details of the proposed transaction (including written certification that the investment opportunity did not arise

by virtue of the Supervised Person’s activities on behalf of a client) and, if approved, will be subject to

continuous monitoring for possible future conflicts.

Blackout Periods

No Investment Personnel shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Security in which he or she has, or by

reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial interest within seven (7) calendar days of

the purchase or sale of the same Security by a NorthStar client under such Investment Personnel's supervision,

or a NorthStar client for whom such Investment Personnel participates in decision making or otherwise obtains

information in connection with the purchase or sale of Securities. (For example, if a NorthStar client trades in a

Security on day one, day eight is the first day the Investment Personnel may trade in such Security of an

account he or she has Beneficial Ownership.) In the event a Securities transaction is executed in a

NorthStar client's account within seven (7) calendar days after an Investment Personnel executed a transaction

in the same Security, the Chief Compliance Officer, or his/her designee, will review such Investment Personnel's

and the client’s transactions to determine whether any fiduciary duties to the client have been violated.

Interested Transactions

No Supervised Person shall recommend any Securities transactions for a client without having disclosed his or




her interest, if any, in such Securities or the issuer thereof, including without limitation:

l any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership of any Securities of such issuer;

l any contemplated transaction by such person in such Securities;

l any position with such issuer or its affiliates; and

l any present or proposed business relationship between such issuer or its affiliates and such person or any

party in which such person has a significant interest.

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Gifts and Entertainment

Giving, receiving or soliciting gifts in a business setting may create an appearance of impropriety or may raise a

potential conflict of interest. NorthStar has adopted the policies set forth below to guide Supervised Persons in

this area.

General Policy

NorthStar's policy with respect to gifts and entertainment is as follows:

l Giving, receiving or soliciting gifts in a business may give rise to an appearance of impropriety or may raise a

potential conflict of interest;

l Supervised Persons should not accept or provide any gifts or favors that might influence the decisions you

or the recipient must make in business transactions involving NorthStar, or that others might reasonably

believe would influence those decisions;

l Modest gifts and favors, which would not be regarded by others as improper, may be accepted or given on

an occasional basis. Entertainment that satisfies these requirements and conforms to generally accepted

business practices also is permissible;

l Where there is a law or rule that applies to the conduct of a particular business or the acceptance of gifts

of even nominal value, the law or rule must be followed.

Reporting Requirements

l Any Supervised Person who accepts, directly or indirectly, anything of value from any person or entity that

does business with or on behalf of NorthStar, including gifts and gratuities with value in excess of $100 per

year, must obtain consent from the Chief Compliance Officer before accepting such gift.

l This reporting requirement does not apply to bona fide dining or bona fide entertainment if, during such

dining or entertainment, you are accompanied by the person or representative of the entity that does

business with NorthStar.

l This gift reporting requirement is for the purpose of helping NorthStar monitor the activities of its

employees. However, the reporting of a gift does not relieve any Supervised Person from the obligations

and policies set forth in this Section or anywhere else in this Code. If you have any questions or concerns

about the appropriateness of any gift, please consult the Chief Compliance Officer.

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Protecting the Confidentiality of Client Information

Confidential Client Information

In the course of providing its services NorthStar gains access to non-public information about its clients. Such

information may include a person's status as a client, personal financial and account information, the allocation

of assets in a client portfolio, the composition of investments in any client portfolio, information relating to

services performed for or transactions entered into on behalf of clients, advice provided by NorthStar to clients,

and data or analyses derived from such non-public personal information (collectively referred to as 'Confidential

Client Information'). All Confidential Client Information, whether relating to NorthStar's current or former clients,

is subject to the Code's policies and procedures. Any doubts about the confidentiality of information must be

resolved in favor of confidentiality.

Non-Disclosure Of Confidential Client Information

All information regarding NorthStar's clients is confidential. Information may only be disclosed when the

disclosure is consistent with the firm's policy and the client's direction. NorthStar does not share Confidential

Client Information with any third parties, except in the following circumstances:

l As necessary to provide service that the client requested or authorized, or to maintain and service the

client's account. NorthStar will require that any financial intermediary, agent or other service

provider utilized by NorthStar (such as broker-dealers or sub-advisers) comply with substantially similar

standards for non-disclosure and protection of Confidential Client Information and use the information

provided by NorthStar only for the performance of the specific service requested by NorthStar;

l As required by regulatory authorities or law enforcement officials who have jurisdiction over NorthStar, or as

otherwise required by any applicable law. In the event NorthStar is compelled to disclose Confidential Client

Information, the firm shall provide prompt notice to the clients affected, so that the clients may seek a

protective order or other appropriate remedy. If no protective order or other appropriate remedy is

obtained, NorthStar shall disclose only such information, and only in such detail, as is legally required;

l To the extent reasonably necessary to prevent fraud, unauthorized transactions or liability.

Employee Responsibilities

All Supervised Persons are prohibited, either during or after the termination of their employment from disclosing

Confidential Client Information to any person or entity outside the firm, including family members, except under

the circumstances described above. A Supervised Person is permitted to disclose Confidential Client Information

only to such other Supervised Persons who need to have access to such information to deliver services to the

client.




Supervised Persons are also prohibited from making unauthorized copies of any documents or files containing

Confidential Client Information and, upon termination of their employment with NorthStar, must return all such

documents to NorthStar.

Any Supervised Person who violates the non-disclosure policy described above will be subject to disciplinary

action, including possible termination, whether or not he or she benefited from the disclosed information.

Security Of Confidential Personal Information

NorthStar enforces the following policies and procedures to protect the security of Confidential Client

Information:

l The firm restricts access to Confidential Client Information to those Supervised Persons who need to know

such information to provide NorthStar's services to clients;

l Any Supervised Person who is authorized to have access to Confidential Client Information in connection

with the performance of such person's duties and responsibilities is required to keep such information in a

secure compartment, file or receptacle on a daily basis as of the close of each business day;

l All electronic or computer files containing any Confidential Client Information shall be password secured and

firewall protected from access by unauthorized persons;

l NorthStar employees are trained to place all printed materials containing Confidential Client Information in

appropriate shredding receptacles;

l Building access is controlled via access cards issued to employees. All visitors are required to sign in and be

accompanied by a NorthStar employee;

l Any conversations involving Confidential Client Information, if appropriate at all, must be conducted

by Supervised Persons in private, and care must be taken to avoid any unauthorized persons overhearing or

intercepting such conversations.

Privacy Policy

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NorthStar has adopted a privacy policy to comply with SEC Regulation S-P, which requires the adoption of

policies and procedures to protect the 'nonpublic personal information' of natural person clients. 'Nonpublic

information,' under Regulation S-P, includes personally identifiable financial information and any list, description,

or grouping that is derived from personally identifiable financial information. Personally identifiable financial

information is defined to include information supplied by individual clients, information resulting from

transactions, any information obtained in providing products or services. The policies and procedures adopted

by NorthStar serve to safeguard the information of natural person clients.

Enforcement and Review of Confidentiality and Privacy Policies

The legal department of NorthStar is responsible for reviewing, maintaining and enforcing NorthStar's

confidentiality and privacy policies and is also responsible for conducting appropriate employee training to

ensure adherence to these policies. Any exception to this policy requires the written approval of the legal

department.

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Service as a Director

No Supervised Person shall serve on the board of directors of any publicly traded company without prior

authorization by the Chief Compliance Officer or a designated supervisory person based upon a determination

that such board service would be consistent with the interest of NorthStar's clients. Where board service is

approved NorthStar shall implement a “Chinese Wall” or other appropriate procedure to isolate such person from

making decisions relating to the company’s securities.

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Compliance Procedures

Pre-clearance

All Supervised Persons may, directly or indirectly, acquire or dispose of Beneficial Ownership of a Reportable

Security only if: (i) such purchase or sale has been approved by a supervisory person designated by the Chief

Compliance Officer; (ii) the approved transaction is completed within 24 hours after approval is received unless

otherwise approved by the Chief Compliance Officer; and (iii) the designated supervisory person has not

rescinded such approval prior to execution of the transaction. Post-approval is not permitted.

Clearance must be obtained by completing and signing the 'Pre-Clearance Form' provided for that purpose by

the compliance department and providing a copy to the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee. The

designee for all employees of Gemini Fund Services, LLC and its subsidiaries is Emile Molineaux; all other

employees must obtain pre-clearance from the Chief Compliance Officer. Clearance will generally be obtained by

receiving a fully signed 'Pre-Clearance Form' back from the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee. The

Chief Compliance Officer, or his/her designee, monitors all transactions by all Supervised Persons in order to

ascertain any pattern of conduct which may evidence conflicts or potential conflicts with the principles and

objectives of this Code, including a pattern of frontrunning.

Advance trade clearance in no way waives or absolves any Supervised Persons of the obligation to abide by the

provisions, principles and objectives of this Code.

Holding Period Requirements

Supervised Persons cannot sell a Reportable Security within less than 30 days of its purchase or purchase a

Reportable Security within less than 30 days of its sale. Approved Securities purchased in an Initial Public

Offering also must be held for at least 30 days. Hardship exceptions to this 30-day holding period requirement

may be granted at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee.




Reporting Requirements

Every Supervised Person shall provide initial and annual holdings reports and quarterly transaction reports to the

Chief Compliance Officer, or his/her designee, which must contain the information described below. It is the

policy of NorthStar that each Supervised Person must arrange for their brokerage firm(s) to send automatic

duplicate brokerage account statements and trade confirmations of all Securities transactions to the Chief

Compliance Officer.

1. Initial Holdings Report

Every Supervised Person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the person becomes a Supervised Person, file

an initial holdings report containing the following information:

l The title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, type of Security, number of shares and principal

amount (if applicable) of each Reportable Security in which the Supervised Person had any direct or indirect

Beneficial Ownership when the person becomes a Supervised Person;

l The name of any broker, dealer or bank, account name, number and location with whom the Supervised

Person maintained an account in which any Securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the

Supervised Person; and

l The date that the report is submitted by the Supervised Person.

The information submitted must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the person

became a Supervised Person.

2. Annual Holdings Report

Every Supervised Person shall, no later than February 14th each year, file an annual holdings report containing

the same information required in the initial holdings report as described above. The information submitted must

be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the annual report is submitted.

3. Quarterly Transaction Reports

Every Supervised Person must, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, file a

quarterly transaction report containing the following information:

With respect to any transaction during the quarter in a Reportable Security in which the Supervised Person had

any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:

l The date of the transaction, the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and

14

maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of

each Reportable Security;

l The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);

l The price of the Reportable Security at which the transaction was effected;

l The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and

l The date the report is submitted by the Supervised Person.

The quarterly transaction report must also contain the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the

Supervised Person established any account during the period in which Securities are held, the date the account

was established and the date the report is submitted by the Supervised Person.

4. Exempt Transactions

A Supervised Person need not submit a report with respect to:

l Transactions effected for, Securities held in, any account over which the person has no direct or indirect

influence or control;

l Transactions effected pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan;

l Transactions in a NorthStar 401(k) plan;

l A quarterly transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in Securities transaction

confirmations or brokerage account statements that NorthStar holds in its records so long as the firm

receives the confirmations or statements no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar

quarter;

l Any transaction or holding report if NorthStar has only one Supervised Person, so long as the firm maintains

records of the information otherwise required to be reported

5. Monitoring and Review of Personal Securities Transactions

The Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee will monitor and review all reports required under the Code for

compliance with NorthStar's policies regarding personal Securities transactions and applicable SEC rules and

regulations. The Chief Compliance Officer may also initiate inquiries of Supervised Persons regarding personal

Securities trading. Supervised Persons are required to cooperate with such inquiries and any monitoring or

review procedures employed by NorthStar. Any transactions for any accounts of the Chief Compliance

Officer will be reviewed and approved by NorthStar's General Counsel or his designee. The Chief Compliance

Officer shall at least annually identify all Supervised Persons who are required to file reports pursuant to the

Code and will inform such Supervised Persons of their reporting obligations. The Chief Compliance Officer may

exempt temporary or part time NorthStar employees from certain reporting requirements of the Code if they are

determined not to be an Access Person.

15

Certification

Initial Certification

All Supervised Persons will be provided with a copy of this Code and must initially certify in writing to the Chief

Compliance Officer that they have: (i) received a copy of the Code; (ii) read and understand all provisions of




the Code; (iii) agreed to abide by the Code; and (iv) reported all account holdings as required by the Code.

Acknowledgement of Amendments

All Supervised Persons shall receive any amendments to the Code and must agree to abide by the Code as

amended.

Annual Certification

All Supervised Persons must annually certify in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer that they have: (i) read

and understood all provisions of the Code, as amended; (ii) complied with all requirements of the Code; and (iii)

submitted all holdings and transaction reports as required by the Code.

Further Information

Supervised Persons should contact the Chief Compliance Officer regarding any inquiries pertaining to the Code or

the policies established herein.

16

Records

The Chief Compliance Officer shall maintain and cause to be maintained in a readily accessible place the

following records:

l A copy of any code of ethics adopted by NorthStar pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204A-1 which is or has

been in effect during the past five years;

l A record of any violation of NorthStar's Code and any action that was taken as a result of such violation for

a period of five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred;

l A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the Code and amendments thereto for each person

who is currently, or within the past five years was, a Supervised Person which shall be retained for five

years after the individual ceases to be a Supervised Person;

l A copy of each report made pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204A-1, including any brokerage confirmations

and account statements made in lieu of these reports;

l A list of all persons who are, or within the preceding five years have been, Access Persons;

l A record of any decision and reasons supporting such decision to approve a Supervised Persons' acquisition

of Securities in Initial Public Offerings and Limited Offerings within the past five years after the end of the

fiscal year in which such approval is granted.

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Reporting Violations and Sanctions

All Supervised Persons shall promptly report to the Chief Compliance Officer or an alternate designee all

apparent violations of the Code. Any retaliation for the reporting of a violation under this Code will constitute a

violation of the Code.

The Chief Compliance Officer shall promptly report to senior management all apparent material violations of the

Code. When the Chief Compliance Officer finds that a violation otherwise reportable to senior management

could not be reasonably found to have resulted in a fraud, deceit, or a manipulative practice in violation of

Section 206 of the Advisers Act, he or she may, in his or her discretion, submit a written memorandum of such

finding and the reasons therefore to a reporting file created for this purpose in lieu of reporting the matter to

senior management.

Senior management shall consider reports made to it hereunder and shall determine whether or not the Code has

been violated and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. Possible sanctions may include reprimands,

monetary fine or assessment, or suspension or termination of the employee’s employment.

18





Section II. Supervision



Subsection D. Code of Ethics


Battenkill has built a reputation for integrity and professionalism among its clients.   We value the confidence and trust those clients have placed in us and strive to protect that trust.  This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) is our commitment to protecting our clients trust by establishing formal standards for general personal and professional conduct.


A.          APPLICABILITY AND DEFINITIONS


This Code applies to all Supervised Persons and Access Persons.



“Supervised Persons” for purposes of this Code means any:


1)   Any Employee or Officer of Battenkill ; or

2)   Certain other persons designated by the CCO, such as temporary/contract workers or consultants who support Battenkill s businesses.


“Access Person” for purposes of this Code means any:


1)   Employees or Officers of Battenkill who can effect or influence the purchase or sale of securities for managed portfolios; or

2)   Any Employee or Officer who has access to non-public information regarding clients purchases

or sales of securities, or non-public information about the portfolio holdings of Battenkill; or

3)   The CCO; or

4)   Certain other persons designated by the CCO, such as temporary/contract workers or consultants who support Battenkill s businesses.


“Limited Access Person” for purposes of this Code means any:


1)   Sub-Advisors to any client of Battenkill or Fund managed by Battenkill; or

2)   Certain other persons designated by the CCO, such as temporary/contract workers or consultants who support Battenkill s businesses.


The code applies equally in all respects to both Access and Supervised Persons, except as noted in

III B. (5).  The CCO shall inform each Battenkill employee or officer as to his or her status as an Access

Person or Supervised Person.



“Beneficial Interest” for purposes of this Code means any Covered Security (as that term is defined in Section F.I. below) in which a Supervised Person has an opportunity directly or indirectly to provide or share in any profit derived from a transaction in a Covered Security, including accounts held by members of the Supervised Person s household, or any person or organization (such as an investment club) with whom a Supervised Person has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest, or any trusts of which a Supervised Person is trustee.




The CCO will notify all individuals of their status as either an Access Person or a Limited Access Person.


B.

STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT


The following principles are intended to guide in the applicability of this Code of Ethics:


1.   Battenkill is a fiduciary and its Supervised Persons have a duty to act for the benefit of its clients and shall at all times place the financial interests of the client ahead of themselves; and


2.   Battenkill holds all Supervised Persons responsible to high standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct; and


3.   Battenkill fosters a spirit of cohesiveness and teamwork while ensuring the fair treatment of all

Supervised Persons.


C.

COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS


All Supervised Persons must comply with applicable federal securities laws.  The applicable laws are designed to prevent the following practices, which should not be viewed as all encompassing and are not intended to be exclusive of others.


Supervised Persons must never:


·

Defraud any client in any manner;

·

Mislead any client, including by making a statement that omits material facts;

·

Engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any client, including misappropriation of an investment opportunity;

·

Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to any client or security, including price manipulation.


D.          CONFLICTS OF INTEREST


As a fiduciary, Battenkill has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty to its clients and a duty of utmost good faith to act in the best interests of the client.  Compliance with this fiduciary responsibility can be accomplished by fully, adequately, and fairly disclosing all material facts concerning any conflict which arises with respect to any client.  Supervised Persons are to actively avoid any existing or potential conflicts or situations that have the appearance of conflict or impropriety.


The following specific guidelines should not be viewed as all encompassing and are not intended to be exclusive of others:


1.   No Supervised Person shall take inappropriate advantage of their position with respect to a client, advancing their position for self-gain.


2.   No Supervised Person shall use knowledge about pending or currently considered securities transactions for clients to profit personally, directly or indirectly, as a result of such transactions.


3.   All securities transactions affected for the benefit of a client account shall avoid inappropriate favoritism of one client over another client.





4.   All securities transactions affected for the benefit of a Supervised Person shall be conducted in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or abuse of that individual s position of trust and responsibility.


F.

EMPLOYEE PERSONAL SECURITIES MONITORING


I.

Definitions


Covered Security ” shall include any type of equity, including any rights, warrants, derivatives, convertibles, options, puts, calls, straddles, shares of closed-end mutual funds, shares of open end mutual funds that are advised or sub-advised by Battenkill, or in general, any interest or investment commonly known  as  an  equity  security,  plus  debt  securities  with  maturities  greater  than  one  year  issued  by corporation entities whose equity may be purchased by Battenkill.


“Non-Covered Security ” shall include shares of open-ended mutual funds that are not advised or sub- advised by Battenkill, direct obligations of the US government, municipal debt, bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, which have a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”).



Managed  Portfolios ”  shall  include  any  client  portfolio  of  Battenkill  subject  to  an  Investment

Management Agreement or similar agreement between Battenkill and a client.



“Outside Account” shall include any Supervised Person s Covered Securities account.


Outside Counsel ” any attorney of Troutman Saunders LLP designated to represent Battenkill with respect to investment advisor issues and the regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Act.



II.

Brokerage/Advisory Accounts


Supervised Persons are required to maintain all discretionary or non-discretionary securities or commodities accounts with an approved broker-dealer, unless prior written permission to maintain account(s) outside of the approved broker-dealer list has been granted by the CCO.  This includes any account over which the Supervised Person has the power to exercise investment control, including but not limited to accounts in which the Supervised Person has a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest.


Outside Accounts are permitted subject to the prior written consent of the CCO or designee.  If an Outside Account is approved, the Supervised Person must instruct their broker to send duplicate statements and confirmations to the CCO or designee.



Upon joining the firm, a Supervised Person shall within 30 days from the date of employment:


1.   close any Outside Accounts for which written approval has not been granted;


2.   transfer existing accounts, or to open a new account, under Battenkill s agreement to a person to be determined by the Supervised Person and Battenkill;


3.   provide copies of all brokerage transaction statements for their first month of employment with

Battenkill to the CCO or designee.







III.

Transaction Pre-clearance and transaction restrictions


A.

1.   Short sales of Covered Securities are not permitted.

2.   Day trading is not permitted.

3.   All Supervised Persons securities transactions in Covered Securities are subject to pre-clearance.


Exceptions to the above policy will only be made in limited circumstances, for example:


B.

1.   Documented financial hardship

2.   If the Supervised Person received securities through an inheritance and on a one time basis wishes to sell all or some of the securities

3.   The Supervised Person simultaneously wishes to sell more than ten securities and invest the

proceeds in a Fund managed by Battenkill on the next NAV dealing date.

4.   Within the first 30 days of the hire date of a new employee.

5.   There are currently no exceptions for Supervised Persons who are not Access Persons.


Access Persons with discretionary authority over Managed Portfolios are encouraged to invest in Funds managed by Battenkill. Furthermore, any Access Person must obtain prior approval before acquiring securities in an initial public offering or limited offering.


To pre-clear a trade, Supervised Persons must send an email to the CCO or designee.  The email must contain the following terms of the trade:


·

Buy or Sell


·

Security


Pre-clearance is valid only for the day of approval.  If the trade is not executed on the approved date, the pre-clearance process must be repeated prior to execution on the day the transaction is to be effected. Upon approval it is the responsibility of the Supervised Person to enter the approved trades with an approved broker-dealer.



IV.

Initial Public Offerings (“IPO”)


Supervised Persons are prohibited from purchasing any equity security sold in an initial public offering.


V.

Private Investments (Hedge Funds, Private Placements, etc.)


Private investments by Supervised Persons in Hedge Funds managed by Battenkill are subject to the prior approval of the CCO.  When approving such transactions the CCO will primarily be concerned with whether such transaction should be disclosed to the investors in such Funds.


All other private investments by Supervised Persons are not subject to prior approval of the CCO, however all such transactions are subject to the annual reporting requirements.









VI.

Blackout Periods


1.    7 day Before and After



All Supervised Persons are precluded from purchasing or selling in their personal accounts any Covered Security purchased or sold for a Managed Portfolio for a period of 7-calendar days before or after a Managed Portfolio transaction.   In calculating the 7-calendar day period, the trade date of the Managed Portfolio s transaction is not counted.  Violations will result in the unwinding of the transaction and disgorgement of any profit.


VII.

Exemptions


The following transactions are exempt from all pre-clearance and black-out periods.    Note that while these exemptions apply, if they fall under the definition of Covered Security, they are reportable.


1.   Gifts of securities; (potential transaction/annual reportable)


2.   Covered Security transactions executed on a fully discretionary basis by an investment adviser

(other than Battenkill) on behalf of a Supervised Person (transaction/annual reportable);


3.  Purchases or sales that are non-volitional such as margin calls; stock splits; stock dividends; systematic investment plans, including dividend reinvestment plans; mergers; consolidations; spin-offs; or other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities; (potentially reportable); and


4.   Any acquisition of a Covered Security through the exercise of rights issued pro rata to all holders of the class, to the extent such rights were acquired in the issue and not through the acquisition of transferable rights (transaction/annual reportable); and


5.   All Non-Covered securities


VIII.

Exemptions


The following transactions are exempt from black-out periods.   Note that while these exemptions apply, if they fall under the definition of Covered Security, they are reportable.


Purchases or sales of Hedge Funds managed by Battenkill .


Non-volitional trades A supervised person may submit a list of securities trades 15 calendar days prior to a designed trade date for pre-clearance.  Upon approval the trades will be executed by the Battenkill trading desk on the opening of the designated trade date through the appropriate broker - dealer. Once submitted a Supervised Person may not cancel the non-volitional trade, except for reason of substantial market volatility.  However once a non-volitional trade or trades for a particular day have been approved, they will be considered as a traded day for purposes of the four times a year limit specified in III.


IX.

Restricted Security List


The CCO will maintain a Restricted Security List (the “Restricted List”) which includes all securities where a Supervised Person has, or is in a position to receive, material non-public information about a





company, such as information about a company s earnings or dividends, as a result of a special relationship between Battenkill or a Supervised Person and the company.


If a Supervised Person knows or believes they have material, non-public information, they must immediately notify the CCO.  The decision whether to place a security on the Restricted List and the amount of time a security will remain on the Restricted List is made by the CCO in consultation with Outside Counsel.


Given the nature of Battenkill s business the restricted list is expected to be empty.


X.

Reporting Requirements


1.    Transaction Reporting


All Supervised Persons must submit brokerage statements or a list of transactions to the CCO or designee which reports every gift of a security, IPO, private placement, and Covered Security transaction in which they participated during the calendar quarter no later than 30 days after the end of that quarter.  New Employees must disclose a listing of all Covered Securities beneficially owned no later than 10 days after becoming a new employee of Battenkill. The information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of hire.


If a list of transaction is provided the following information must be included:


i.

The name of the security, the date of the transaction, the interest rate and maturity (if applicable), the number of shares, and the principal amount;

ii.

The  nature  of  the  transaction  (i.e.,  purchase,  sale  or  other  type  of  acquisition  or

disposition);

iii.

The price at which the transaction was effected;

iv.

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank through which the transaction was effected;


The CCO will conduct periodic reviews of Supervised Persons personal securities transactions for compliance with this Code.


2.    Annual Holdings Report


No later than January 31st, annually,  Access Persons shall deliver to the CCO or designee a listing of all Covered Securities beneficially owned that are current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted and an attestation that the listing is complete.


The report shall include the following:


a.

The title and type of security, the ticker or CUSIP  and the principal amount of all securities in which the Supervised Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;


b.

The name of any broker, dealer, or bank with whom the Supervised Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Supervised Person; and


c.

The date the report is submitted.


d.

Brokerage statements for December 31 are deemed to have all the requisite information.






The CCO or designee will review all Annual Holdings Reports in an effort to monitor potential conflicts of interest and to assess the Supervised Person s fulfillment of their quarterly reporting obligations.


Holdings and transaction reports are not required with respect to Covered Securities held in accounts over which the Supervised Person has no direct or indirect influence or control, or with respect to transactions effected pursuant to automatic investment plans.



XI.

Limited Access Persons



1.    Transaction Reporting


All Limited Access Persons must submit brokerage statements or a list of transactions to the CCO or designee which reports every Covered Security transaction in which they participated during the calendar quarter no later than 30 days after the end of that quarter.


If a list of transaction is provided the following information must be included:


i.

The name of the security, the date of the transaction, the interest rate and maturity (if applicable), the number of shares, and the principal amount;

ii.

The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or other type of acquisition or disposition);

iii.

The price at which the transaction was effected;

iv.

The name of the broker, dealer, or bank through which the transaction was effected;


The CCO will conduct periodic reviews of Limited Access Persons personal securities transactions for compliance with this Code.


2.    Annual Holdings Report


No later than January 31st, annually,  Limited Access Persons shall deliver to the CCO or designee a listing of all Covered Securities beneficially owned that are current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted and an attestation that the listing is complete.


The report shall include the following:


a.

The title and type of security, the ticker or CUSIP, the number of shares, and the principal amount of all securities in which the Limited Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;


b.

The name of any broker, dealer, or bank with whom the Limited Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Limited Access Person; and


c.

The date the report is submitted.


d.

Brokerage statements for December 31 are deemed to have all the requisite information.





The CCO or designee will review all Annual Holdings Reports in an effort to monitor potential conflicts of interest and to assess the Limited Access Person s fulfillment of their quarterly reporting obligations.


Holdings and transaction reports are not required with respect to Covered Securities held in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control, or with respect to transactions effected pursuant to automatic investment plans.





G.         INSIDER TRADING/MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION


Battenkill aspires to the highest standard of business ethics. The purpose of Battenkill s policies on insider trading is to reduce the risk of violation of federal insider trading laws and reporting requirements. Accordingly, Battenkill has developed the following policies to monitor, restrict if necessary, and educate Supervised Persons with respect to acquiring and investing when in possession of proprietary and/or confidential information.


I.           Use of Confidential or Proprietary Information


Supervised Persons may receive or have access to material, non-public information in the course of their work at Battenkill. Company policy, industry practice and federal and state law establish strict guidelines for the use of material, non-public information. To ensure that Supervised Persons adhere to the applicable laws, Battenkill has adopted the following policies:



Supervised Persons:

·

may not use confidential or proprietary information for investment purposes, for personal gain, or share such information with others for their personal benefit; or

·

may not pass material, non-public information about an issuer on to others or recommend that they trade the issuer s securities; or

·

must  treat  as  confidential  all  information  not  generally  made  public  concerning

Battenkill s investment activities or plans, or the financial condition and business activity of any enterprise with which Battenkill is conducting business; or

·

must preserve the confidentiality of proprietary information and disclose it only to other

Supervised Persons who have a legitimate business need for the information.   Prior to disclosing this information to others, Supervised Persons must consult with the CCO.


Under federal securities law, it is illegal to buy or sell a security while in possession of material, non- public information relating to the security. In some circumstances, additional elements may be required for there to be a violation of law, including breach of a duty or the misappropriation of information. It is also illegal to “tip” others about inside information. Tipping involves passing material, non-public information about an issuer on to others or recommending that they trade the issuer s securities.


Insider trading is an extremely complex area of the law principally regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).   Questions concerning the law or a particular situation should be addressed with the CCO prior to taking any action. If the Supervised Person believes that they may have material, non-public information gained within or outside the scope of their employment, regardless of the source, they must notify the CCO so that the CCO can consult with Outside Counsel and securities can be monitored and/or placed on the Battenkill Restricted List as appropriate.





II.

Battenkill s Insider Trading Rules


Set forth below are three rules concerning insider trading. Failure to comply with these rules could result in violations of the federal securities laws and subject the Supervised Person to severe penalties under these laws. Violations of these rules also may result in discipline by Battenkill, up to and including termination of employment.


·

Supervised Persons who possess, or have reason to believe they possess, material, non- public information relating to any security, may not buy or sell that publicly traded security for themselves, members of their family, Battenkill or any other persons.  In addition, Supervised Persons may not recommend to others that they buy or sell that security.

·

If a Supervised Person is aware that Battenkill is considering or actually trading any publicly traded security for any account it manages, the Supervised Person must regard that as material, non-public information.

·

Supervised Persons must contact the CCO and disclose that they are in possession of this information.   The CCO will communicate this information to Outside Counsel for Battenkill and Supervised Persons may not communicate material, non-public information to anyone without the advance approval of Outside Counsel.


III.        What is Non-public Information?


Non-public information is information that is not generally available to the investing public. Information is public if it is generally available through the media or disclosed in public documents such as corporate filings with the SEC. If it is disclosed in a national business or financial wire service (such as Dow Jones or Bloomberg), in a national news service (such as AP or Reuters), in a newspaper, magazine, on the television, on the radio or in a publicly disseminated disclosure document (such as a proxy statement, quarterly or annual report, or prospectus), consider the information to be public. If the information is not available in the general media or in a public filing, consider the information to be non-public. If you are uncertain as to whether material information is non-public, you must notify the CCO who will consult with outside counsel


While Supervised Persons must be especially alert to sensitive information, you may consider information directly from a company representative to be public information unless you know or have reason to believe that such information is not generally available to the investing public. In addition, information you receive from company representatives during a conference call that is open to the investment community is public.   The disclosure of this type of information is covered by SEC Regulation FD. Please contact the CCO if you have any questions with regard to this Regulation.


Battenkill Supervised Persons working on a venture capital, private equity or other private securities transaction who receive information from a company representative regarding the transaction should treat the information as non-public. The termination or conclusion of the negotiations in many instances will not change the status of that information.


IV.        What is Material Information?


There is no statutory definition of material information.  Information an investor would find useful in deciding whether or when to buy or sell a security is generally material. In most instances, any non-public information that, if announced, could affect the price of the security should be considered to be material





information. If you are not sure whether non-public information is material, you must notify the CCO who will consult with Outside Counsel.


V.

Material information Examples


1.   Material information may be about the issuer itself:  For example:


·

information about a company s earnings or dividends, (such as whether they will be increasing or decreasing);

·

any merger, acquisition, tender offer, joint venture or similar transaction involving the company;

·

information about a company s physical assets (e.g., an oil discovery, or an environmental problem);

·

information  about  a  company s  Personnel  (such  as  a  valuable  employee  leaving  or becoming seriously ill); or

·

information about a company s financial status (e.g., any plans or other developments concerning financial restructuring or the issuance or redemption of, or any payments

on, any securities).


2.   Information may be material that is not directly about a company, if the information is relevant to that company or its products, business, or assets. For example:


·

Information that a company s primary supplier is going to increase dramatically the prices it charges; or

·

information that a competitor has just developed a product that may cause sales of a company s products to decrease.


3.   Material information may include  information about  Battenkill s portfolio management activities.


You should treat as material, any information that Battenkill is considering whether to buy or sell a publicly traded security of a company or is going to make a trade or has just made a trade of that security.


VI.

 “Front-running”  and “Scalping”


Trading while in possession of information concerning Battenkill s trades is called front-running or scalping, and is prohibited by Battenkill s insider trading rules, and may also violate federal law. The terms “front-running” and “scalping” are sometimes used interchangeably in industry literature and by the SEC.


Front-running is making a trade in the same direction as Battenkill just before Battenkill makes its trade, for example, buying a security just before Battenkill buys that security, or selling just before Battenkill sells that security.


Scalping is making a trade in the opposite direction just after Battenkill s trade, for example, selling just after Battenkill stops buying such security or buying a security just after Battenkill stops selling such security.     Scalping allows Supervised Persons the opportunity to profit from temporary artificially inflated/deflated prices caused by Battenkill s transactions.





VII.

Penalties for Insider Trading


Battenkill and/or Battenkill Supervised Persons could be subject severe civil penalties as well as criminal prosecution for illegally trading while in possession of material, non-public information.


VIII.

Specific Procedures


In application of the policy, the following procedures shall be followed:


·

Defraud any client in any manner;


·

Supervised Persons who have business relationships with senior management of companies which can result in the receipt of material, non-public information about the company, including, without limitation,  (i) the election or appointment of the Supervised Persons as a director, officer, executive employee or confidential consultant, or (ii) the acquisition of securities or the right to receive securities having sufficient voting power to influence the management policies of the Company, should be aware that, in such circumstances, they must contact Outside Counsel and notify the CCO prior to acting in the marketplace.


·

All Supervised Persons shall promptly report to the CCO their awareness of any information which they believe may constitute material non-public information concerning a company.


·

The CCO will maintain the Restricted Security List.


·

Any Supervised Persons who has reason to believe that any violation of this Statement of Policy has occurred shall immediately report all material facts concerning such matter to Outside Counsel or the CCO.



H.        GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT POLICY


Supervised Persons should not offer or receive gifts, favors, entertainment or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or making a client feel beholden to the firm or the Supervised Person. The following guidelines will further clarify this general principal.


Definitions:


Gift anything of value, including, but not limited to gratuities, tokens, objects, clothing, or certificates for anything of value.  The definition also includes any meal, tickets or admission to events where the person supplying the meal or event is not present.


Entertainment business meals and events such as sporting events, shows, concerts where the person supplying the meal or event is present.


Gifts Policy


A.  No Supervised Person shall accept any gift of more than $100 value from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of a client (or any of its portfolios), or any entity that provides a service to Adviser. Gifts of greater than $100 value are to be declined or returned in order not to compromise the reputation of Adviser or the individual.  Gifts valued at less than

$100 and considered customary in the industry, are considered appropriate.






B.  No Supervised Person shall provide gifts of more than $100 value, per person, per year, to existing institutional clients, prospective institutional clients, or any entity (or employee of that entity) that does business with or on behalf of a client (or any of its portfolios), or any entity (or employee of that entity) that provides a service to Adviser. Gifts to institutional clients valued at less than $100 and considered customary in the industry, are considered appropriate.


C.  Under no circumstances may an employee accept or provide a gift of cash or cash equivalent, (such as a gift card, gift certificate or gift check.).


D.  Supervised Persons are expressly prohibited from soliciting anything of value from a client, or other entity with which the firm does business.


Entertainment Policy


A.   Supervised

Persons

may

engage

in

normal

and

customary

business

entertainment.

Entertainment that is extraordinary or extravagant, or that does not pertain to business, is not permitted.


B.  Certain rules and regulations enacted by the client or a regulator of the client may exist which prevent any form of gift or entertainment.   It is important to be cognizant of what each client allows, especially pertaining to public funds, where rules may be very stringent and specific.


C.  Prior to providing entertainment to a representative of a public entity, contact the CCO in order to verify interpretation and understanding of state or municipal regulations.


Standard of Reasonableness

The terms “extraordinary” or “extravagant,” “customary in the industry,” and “normal and customary”

may be subjective.  Reasonableness is a standard that may vary depending on the facts and circumstances. If you have questions regarding a gift or entertainment, contact the CCO.


Records

Battenkill must retain records of all gifts and gratuities given or received for a period of five (5) years.

These records must be made available upon request for inspection by your Supervisor, the CCO or a regulator.


I.  CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS POLICY


From time to time, Battenkill or its employees may be asked by a client to make a charitable contribution. To avoid any real or perceived conflict of interests, Battenkill has adopted the following procedures.


If a contribution is requested by a client, Battenkill may agree to charitable contributions subject to the following terms.

a.

The check must be made in Battenkill s name (not the client or the supervised person)

b.   Any tax benefit is taken by Battenkill

c.

The contribution does not directly benefit the client

d.   The contribution is not made to satisfy a pledge made by the client

e.

The contribution must be made payable to the 501c3 Charitable organization  (otherwise, the contribution may be subject to LM-10 filing with the DOL)


Charitable contributions must be pre-approved by the CCO and the Portfolio Manager.






J.  POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS POLICY


While Battenkill or its employees may be asked by a client from time to time to make a political contribution, Battenkill will not make political contributions.   Employees, by their own volition, may seek to make individual political contributions.  As an investment manager, Battenkill is often eligible to manage money on behalf of a state or municipality.  To avoid any real or perceived conflict of interests, Battenkill requires that all personal political contributions be subject to a preclearance policy.


For the purposes of this policy, political contribution includes a direct payment of money to a campaign organization, volunteer work, or fundraising work done on behalf of, or to benefit, a political campaign organization or candidate.


Firm Contributions


Battenkill does not make political contributions.


Individual Contributions


For all Employees


-

Battenkill will not reimburse any employee for individual political contributions. In addition, the

Battenkill corporate credit card cannot be used to make contributions.


-

Preclearance is required for any political contribution made by any employee to a state or local candidate outside of the contributor s jurisdiction for whom the contributor is not eligible to vote.


-

Preclearance is not required prior to individual personal contributions to national election campaigns, national political parties, or political action committees or candidates for national office such as president of the US or members of the US Senate or House of Representatives.


-

Certain contributions, even within your voting jurisdiction, may restrict or prohibit Battenkill from transacting business with a related public entity.  If there is a chance that an individual contribution may cause a conflict of interest with Battenkill s business, please consult with CCO prior to making an individual contribution.


Employees should contact the CCO for a copy of the political contribution pre-clearance form.


K.

OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES


A potential conflict of interest exists with respect to a Supervised Person s duties to Battenkill and its clients when individuals are permitted to engage in outside business activities.


Written notification must be submitted to the Supervised Person s supervisor with a copy to the CCO within 30 days of a Supervised Person engaging in any outside business activity provided that, no Supervised Person may accept any position as an employee, officer or director of any corporation in which Battenkill Managed Portfolios may invest, any competitor to Battenkill, any broker-dealer or any similar financial services company.





L.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS


All Supervised Persons must report violations of this Code promptly to the CCO. Battenkill is committed to treating all Supervised Persons in a fair and equitable manner.   Individuals are encouraged to voice concerns regarding any personal or professional issue that may impact their ability or the firm s ability to provide a quality product to its clients while operating under the highest standards of integrity.


1.   Any such reports will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly and appropriately.

2.   Retaliation against any individual making such a report is prohibited and constitutes a violation of the Code.


M.         ANNUAL REVIEWS AND CERTIFICATIONS


The CCO will review the Code annually and update any provisions and/or attachments. Upon employment, all Supervised Persons are required to certify that they have:

1.

Received a copy of the Code;

2.

Read and understand all provisions of the Code; and

3.

Agreed to comply with all provisions of the Code.


At the time of any amendments to this Code, all Supervised Persons are required to:


1.

Certify they have received, read and understood the amendments to the Code; and

2.

Agree to comply with the amendment and all other provisions of the Code.


Annually, all Supervised Persons are required to:


1.

Certify they have read and understand all provisions of the Code; and

2.

Agree to comply with all provisions of the Code.


N.

SANCTIONS


Regardless of whether a government inquiry occurs, Battenkill views seriously any violation of its Code of Ethics.    Disciplinary sanctions may be imposed on any Supervised Persons committing a violation, including, but not necessarily limited to, censure, suspension, monetary penalties, or termination of employment.


O.         FURTHER INFORMATION


If any Supervised Persons has any questions with regard to the applicability of the provisions of this Code, generally or with regard to any attachment referenced herein, they should consult the CCO.

CODE OF ETHICS


A.

Introduction

High ethical standards are essential for the success of the Firm and to maintain the confidence of our clients.  Our long-term business interests are best served by adherence to the principle that clients' interests always come first. Del Mar has a fiduciary duty to its clients which requires individuals associated with our Firm to act solely for the benefit of our clients. Potential conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the personal trading activities of individuals associated with investment adviser firms.  In recognition of Del Mar's fiduciary obligations to its clients and Del Mar's desire to maintain high ethical standards, Del Mar has adopted this Code of Ethics (the "Code") containing provisions designed to identify conflicts of interest, prevent improper personal trading, and provide a means to resolve any actual or potential conflicts with the interests of our clients. The Code incorporates the following general principles which all Employees are expected to uphold:


We must at all times place the interests of our clients first.


Portfolio Managers must avoid any conflict of interest that may arise between our fiduciary responsibilities to our investors and his or hers own personal interests.


All personal securities transactions must be conducted in a manner consistent with the Code and avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of an Employee's position of trust and responsibility.


Employees must not take any inappropriate advantage of their positions at the Firm.


Information concerning the identity of securities and financial circumstances of the Funds and their investors must be kept confidential.

Independence in the investment decision-making process must be maintained at all times. Adherence to the Code and the related restrictions on personal investing is considered a basic condition of employment by Del Mar. If you have any doubt as to the propriety of any activity, you should consult with the Compliance Officer, the Chief Investment Officer or the CEO. These officers are charged with the administration of this Code and have general compliance responsibility for Del Mar. They may offer guidance on securities laws and acceptable practices and/or refer the matter to the Firm’s legal counsel.


B.

Definitions

“Access Person” shall mean any employee that is responsible for any of the following activities; investment research, trading, portfolio management, securities operations, investor relations, marketing, securities accounting, and/or financing.


"Employees" shall mean all of the Firm's supervised persons, including the Firm’s directors, officers, and partners (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions); our employees; and any other person who provides advice on behalf of the Firm and is subject to the Firm's supervision and control.


"Beneficial ownership" includes ownership by any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from a personal account.  For a full definition of beneficial ownership, refer to Rule 16a-1(a) (2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


"Personal Account" means any securities account in which an Employee has any beneficial ownership and includes any personal account of an Employee's immediate family member (including any relative by blood or marriage either living in the Employee's household or financially dependent on the Employee). "Covered Securities" includes all securities defined as such under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), and includes:






equity securities;


Options on securities, on indices, and on currencies;


The term "covered securities," however, does not include the following :


Direct obligations of the U.S. government (e.g., treasury securities), corporate or municipal debt;


Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high-quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements;


Shares issued by money market funds;


Shares of open-end or closed-end  mutual funds, including ETF’s; that are not advised or sub-advised by the Firm (or the Firm's affiliate); and


Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open- end mutual funds, none of which are funds advised or sub-advised by the Firm (or the Firm's affiliates).


"Private Placement" shall mean an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(2) or section 4(6) of the Securities Act.


"Automatic Investment Plan" shall mean a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, including any dividend reinvestment plans


C.

Transactions in Personal Accounts

Pre-Approval of Transactions in Covered Securities . All Access Persons must obtain the prior written approval of the Head Trader (or his designee) and the Compliance Officer before engaging in any transaction in a covered security in his or her personal account. The Compliance Officer or his designee (who may have no personal interest in the subject transaction) may approve the transaction if the Compliance Officer concludes that the transaction is not likely to materially conflict with trading by the Fund in the same security on the same day.  A request for trading pre-approval must be made by completing the Pre-Approval Form, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A , in advance of the contemplated transaction. The proposed trade must be reviewed and approved by the Head Trading Officer or one of his designees to ensure that there is no material market impact to the Fund that may result from the proposed trade of the Access Person.


Any approval given under this paragraph for the proposed trade will expire at the end of the business day.  All trades submitted by an access person to their designated broker for execution are expected to be executed that day. In some instances, an external broker may require one or more days to fully execute an order given market/liquidity considerations on a given trade. If a personal trade is approved by the Head Trader and is not submitted for execution by the end of the business day, the approval will be rescinded and the Access Person must resubmit the trade pre-approval form. (Amended 6-30-07).


Trading on the Same Day As Clients.   If the Head trader (or his designee) determines that a client account will be trading in the same security on the same day as the proposed employee transaction, then the employee will not be allowed to trade that security and must resubmit the Pre-Approval Form on another day. An exception will be granted on those days where the client account is trading a basket of securities, which may include the security designated in the employee transaction.






Initial Public Offerings .  Portfolio Managers, which are 'restricted persons' under NASD Rule 2790, shall not participate directly or indirectly in any security offered as part of an initial public offering.


Pre-Approval of Transactions in Private Placements . Employees shall not acquire beneficial ownership in a private placement of securities unless the Compliance Officer has given express prior written approval. The Compliance Officer, in determining whether approval should be given, will take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a client and whether the opportunity is being offered to the Employee by virtue of his or her position with Del Mar.


D.

Exceptions to the Pre-Approval Process

 

The following transactions are exempt from the pre-approval requirements.


Transactions or accounts managed by an outside unaffiliated advisor


Transactions in which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control.


Involuntary corporate actions and dividend reinvestment programs


Transactions pursuant to an automatic investment plan.


Any securities transactions involving a mutual fund (as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940), ETF’s, bank certificates of deposit, shares of unit investment trusts, variable annuities (and life products) or United States Government securities.


E.

Security Holdings Reporting


(1) Duplicate Copies of Account Statements to Del Mar


Employees shall arrange to have duplicate copies of brokerage account statements sent to the Compliance Officer each month.  Each Employee has an affirmative obligation to notify the Compliance Officer promptly if the Employee opens any new account with a broker or custodian or moves an existing account to a different broker or custodian.


(2) Initial and Annual Holdings Reports

Every Employee must submit both initial and annual holdings reports to the Compliance Officer that disclose all covered securities held in any personal account by an Access Person.  Each such report must contain, at a minimum:


the type of covered security, and the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number (as applicable), number of shares, and principal amount of each covered security in any personal account;


the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Employee maintains any personal account; and


•    the date on which the Employee submits the report.


(3) Timing of Holdings Reports

Every Employee must submit a holdings report, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , within the following time frames:


no later than thirty (30) days after becoming an Employee, and the information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of becoming an Employee; and


at least once each year thereafter by January 31, and the information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date the report is submitted.






F.

Quarterly Transaction Reports

Every Employee must submit a quarterly transaction report to the Compliance Officer for each

covered securities transaction in any personal account . The report must contain, at a minimum, the following information for each transaction:


the date of the transaction, the title, and the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number (as applicable), interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each covered security involved;


the nature of the transaction ( i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);


the price of the covered security at which the transaction was effected;


the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected;

and


the date on which the Employee submits the report.


Each Employee must submit a quarterly transaction report, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C , no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, which report must cover, at a minimum, all transactions that occurred during the preceding quarter.


G.

Exceptions to the Reporting Requirements

No Employee is required to submit:


Any report with respect to covered securities held in a personal account over which the Employee had no direct or indirect influence or control (e.g., a blind trust).


A quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan .


An initial, quarterly or annual report if the report would duplicate information contained in brokerage account statements submitted by the Employee, so long as the Firm receives such statements within the time frames set forth in paragraphs 2(b) and 3(b) of this section.


H.

Outside Business Activities

Employees will not engage in business activity for compensation, without the approval of the CEO.  Employees shall, upon commencement of employment with Del Mar, disclose any outside business activities in which the Employee has a significant role or interest by completing the Conflicts Questionnaire Supplement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit D .


I.

Conflicts of Interest

To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, an Access Person should consider as a conflict

any investment recommendation between the Fund(s) and (i) themselves or a family member, (ii) any entity in which they or a relative is a trustee director, officer, employee, consultant or agent, or (iii) any entity in which they or a relative or close associate has a financial interest. The access person has the burden of obligation to disclose to the Investment Committee any material facts as to his or her relationship or interest before such an investment recommendation can be acted upon.  (Amended March, 2008)


J.

Gifts and Entertainment

Employees are allowed to accept or give nominal gifts, gratuities or other items with persons, broker dealers or entities that conduct business on behalf of the Firm.  Employees shall not provide or accept extravagant or excessive entertainment from persons who conduct or seek to conduct business with the company.  Employees may provide or accept a business entertainment event, such as a meal or a sporting event, of reasonable value, if the person or entity providing the entertainment is present. (Amended March, 2008)






K.

Compliance with Procedures, Regulations and Governing Laws

Each Employee shall have and maintain knowledge of and shall comply with the Code of

Ethics.


Each Employee having supervisory responsibility shall exercise reasonable supervision over Employees subject to their control with a view to preventing any violation by such persons of applicable rules and regulations, corporate procedures or the provisions within Code.


Each Employee shall have and maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable federal and state laws and all rules and regulations of any government agency that governs his/her behavior as an Employee of the Firm. In addition to the general principles of conduct stated

in the Code and the specific trading restrictions and reporting requirements described below, the Code requires all Employees to comply with applicable federal securities laws. These laws include the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Advisers Act, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to private investment funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Department of the Treasury.


Any Employee obtaining evidence that an act occurred, which may be in violation of applicable statutes, regulations or provisions of this Code, must immediately report such evidence to the Compliance Officer, the Chief Investment Officer and/or the CEO of Del Mar. Such action by the Employee will remain confidential. Failure to report violations may result in disciplinary actions including termination.


L.

Oversight of the Code of Ethics

Acknowledgment. The Firm will provide each Employee with a copy of the Code and any amendments.  All Employees are required annually to sign and acknowledge their receipt and familiarity with the provisions of this Code of Ethics by completing the Compliance Acknowledgment Form.

Review of Transactions . Each Employee's transactions in his/her Personal Account will be reviewed on a regular basis and compared to transactions entered into by Del Mar for clients. Any transactions that are believed to be a violation of this Code of Ethics will be reported promptly to the Compliance Officer who must report to the President of Del Mar.

Sanctions. The Management Committee of Del Mar, with advice of legal counsel, at their discretion, shall consider reports made to them and upon determining that a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred, may impose such sanctions or remedial action as they deem appropriate or to the extent required by law. These sanctions may include, among other things: disgorgement of profits, suspension, fines, termination of employment with Del Mar, and/or criminal or civil penalties.

Authority to Exempt Transactions . The Compliance Officer has the authority to exempt any Employee or any personal securities transaction of an Employee from any provision of this Code of Ethics if the Compliance Officer determines that such exemption would not be against the interests of any client. The Compliance Officer shall prepare and file a written memorandum of any exemption granted, describing the circumstances and reasons for the exemption.


No exceptions may be made to the fundamental requirements contained in the Code that have been adopted to meet applicable rules under the Advisers Act.


M.

Recordkeeping

The Compliance Officer shall keep in an easily accessible place for at least five (5) years:


A copy of the Code that is in effect, or at any time within the past five (5) years was in effect;






A record of any violation of the Code, and of any action taken as a result of the violation;


A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt, review and understanding of the Code from each person who is currently, or within the past five (5) years was, an Employee;


A record of each report made by an Employee, including any brokerage account statements obtained from Employees;


A record of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five (5) years were, Employees;


A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of a limited offering or of an IPO for non-portfolio manager Employees;


A record of any exception from the Code granted by the Compliance Officer, all related documentation supplied by the Employee seeking the exception, and the reasons supporting the decision to grant the exception; and


A record of all completed pre-clearance forms.


These books and records must be maintained by the Firm in an easily accessible place for at least five (5) years from the end of the fiscal year during which the record was created, the first two (2) years in an appropriate office of the Firm.


Finally, the Firm is required to include a description of our Code in Part II of our Form ADV and, upon request, furnish investors in the Funds with a copy of the Code. The Compliance Officer will ensure that a proper description of our Code is included in the Form ADV and will coordinate the distribution of our Code to any investors who request a copy.


N.

Confidentiality

All reports of securities transactions and any other information filed pursuant to this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.








EXHIBIT A

Del Mar Asset Management, LP


PERSONAL TRANSACTION PRE-APPROVAL FORM


Employees must complete this Pre-Approval Form prior to engaging in any personal transaction (unless excepted by the Code of Ethics).




Investment Information




Trade Date:                              


Trans.

Type


Issuer (Ticker)


# of Shares

Est.Trans.

Price


Broker/Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Representation and Signature


By executing this form, I represent that my trading in this investment is not based on any material nonpublic information.  I understand that pre-approval will only be in effect until the end of the business day on the date of the Compliance Officer's signature.



                                                                    

Employee Name (please print)



                                                                                                                    

Employee Signature

Date


The investment is not the subject of a pending order on behalf of, or under consideration for, purchase or disposition by any account or Fund managed by Del Mar.




                                                                                                      

Trading Desk Supervisor

Date




Disposition of Pre-Approval Request


Approved                                                                                        

Compliance Officer

Date







  APPENDIX B

EXHIBIT B

Del Mar Asset Management, LP

HOLDINGS REPORT



Name of Employee:                                 


Date of Submission:                                 


Type of Report (check one):         Initial Holdings Report (submitted within 10 days after becoming an access person)

          

 Annual Holdings Report (submitted annually)


I.

Securities Accounts


Account Title

Broker/Institution

Name and Address

Account Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II.

Covered Securities


Title of Security

Type of Security

Ticker or CUSIP

Number of Shares

Principal Amount

1.

 

 

 

 

2.

 

 

 

 

3.

 

 

 

 

4.

 

 

 

 

5.

 

 

 

 

6.

 

 

 

 

7.

 

 

 

 

8.

 

 

 

 

9.

 

 

 

 

10.

 

 

 

 

There are no covered securities in any personal accounts.


I hereby certify that the information contained in this report is accurate and that listed above are all personal accounts and covered securities with respect to which I have beneficial ownership.


By:                                                          

Name:                                                    

Date:                                                     









Del Mar Asset Management,

LP QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT



Name of Employee:                                 


Date of Submission:                                 


I.

Transactions


Trade Date and

Transaction

Type

Transaction

Price and Number of Shares

Name of

Security

Ticker

or

CUSIP

Interest

Rate and Maturity Date

Principal

Amount

Broker/

Institution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I hereby certify that the information contained in this report is accurate and that listed above are all transactions for the quarter ended                of covered securities with respect to which I have beneficial ownership.





By:                                                          

Name:                                                    

Date:                                                     

 









Del Mar Asset Management, LP

Conflicts Questionnaire Supplement

 

Name of Employee:                                 


Date of Submission:                                 


The Firm is required to monitor Employee circumstances which may pose a potential conflict with our management of the Funds. Please complete this questionnaire and disclose the required information.  In addition, we will ask for a recertification of the information contained in the questionnaire annually.

You also must provide any changes to the information promptly to the Compliance Officer .


Please disclose the requested information for any entity (including any commercial business or not-for- profit organization) other than the Firm in which, or from which, you (1) receive compensation; (2) take an active role in making management decisions; (3) serve as an officer, director or general partner; or (4) provide any advice about investments.




Name of Entity:



Nature of Affiliation or Title:


Public

Company

 

 


Yes/No

 

 


Yes/No

 

 


Yes/No

 

 


Yes/No

 

 


Yes/No


None                 



Please disclose whether your spouse or any immediate family member (including your parents, child or siblings) currently conducts business or works for an entity that conducts business with the Firm.


Describe:









None                 





CODE OF ETHICS POLICY


Purpose and Scope


The purpose of the Code of Ethics Policy  ( the  Policy ) is to implement a policy of strict compliance with the highest standards of ethical business conduct and the provisions of applicable federal securities laws, including rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. This Policy provides guidance to all Company personnel regarding ethical business principals. The Policy designed to ensure compliance with legal requirements and the Company‘s standard of business conduct. Employees shall read and understand  the Policy and uphold the standards outlined herein in their day-to-day activities at the Company.


General Policy


This Policy does not address every possible situation that may arise. Consequently, every Employee is responsible for exercising good judgment, applying ethical principles, and bringing violations or potential violations of this Policy to the attention of the Chief Compliance  Officer.      Any   questions  regarding  the   Company‘s  policies  and  procedures should  be  referred  to  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer.  This  Policy  shall  apply  to  each Employee of the Company. The Policy covers the following topics:


(i)

Insider Trading


(ii)

Personal Trading Policy


(iii)

Outside Business Activities and Private Securities Transactions


(iv)

Business Gifts and Entertainment


(v)

Political Contributions


The Company will distribute this Code of Ethics, and any amendments, to each Employee, and each Employee will be required to sign either electronically or in writing an acknowledgement, indicating that they have received a copy of the Code of Ethics and will comply with its provisions.  Acknowledgements required under the Code of Ethics may be submitted in written or electronic format containing substantially the same information included on the form.


Standards of Conduct

 

Compliance with Governing Laws, Regulations and Procedures


The Company and its Employees shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.


(i)      Employees  shall  comply  with  all  procedures  and  guidelines established by the Company to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  No Employee shall knowingly participate in, assist, or condone any act of violation of any statute or






regulation governing the Company or any act that would violate any provision of this Policy.


(ii)

Employees shall have and maintain knowledge of and shall comply with the provisions of the Policy.


(iii)

Employees  having  knowledge  of  violations  of  this   Policy  shall immediately report such violations to the Chief Compliance Officer.


Individual Standards of Conduct


The following general principles guide the individual conduct of each Employee:


(i)        Employees will not take any action that will violate any applicable laws or regulations, including all federal securities laws.


(ii)

Employees will adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct.


(iii)     Employees   will   maintain   the   confidentiality   of   all   information obtained in the course of employment with the Company.


(iv)

Employees  will  bring  any  issues  reasonably  believed  to  place  the Company at risk to the attention of the Chief Compliance Officer.


(v)

Employees  will  not  abuse or misappropriate  the   Company‘s or  any Client‘s assets or use  them for personal gain.


(vi)     Employees will disclose any activities that may create an actual or potential conflict of interest between the Employee, the Company and/or any Client.


(vii)     Employees will deal fairly with Clients and other Employees and will not abuse the Employee‘s position of  trust  and responsibility with Clients or take inappropriate advantage of his or her position with the Company.


(viii)

Employees will comply with this Code of Ethics.


Ethical Business Practices


It is the policy of the Company that any violation of applicable laws, regulations or this Policy shall be immediately reported to the Chief Compliance Officer.  An Employee must not conduct individual investigations, unless authorized to do so by the Chief Compliance Officer.  If an Employee, in good faith, raises an issue regarding a possible violation of law, regulation or Company policy or any suspected illegal or unethical behavior he or she will be protected from retaliation.






Falsification or Alteration of Records


Falsifying or altering records or reports, preparing records or reports that do not accurately or adequately reflect the underlying transactions or activities, or knowingly approving such conduct is prohibited. Examples of prohibited financial or accounting practices include:


(i)  Making false or inaccurate entries or statements in any Company or Client  books,  records,  or  reports  that  intentionally  hide  or misrepresent the true nature of a transaction or activity;


(ii)  Manipulating books, records, or reports for personal gain;


(iii)  Failing to maintain books and records that completely, accurately, and timely reflect all business transactions;


(iv)  Maintaining any undisclosed or unrecorded Company or Client funds or assets;


(v)  Using funds for a purpose other than the described purpose; and


(vi)  Making a payment or approving a receipt with the understanding that the funds will be, or have been, used for a purpose other than what is described in the record of the transaction.


Competition and Fair Dealing


The Company seeks to outperform its competition fairly and honestly. The Company seeks  competitive  advantages  through  superior  performance,  not  through  unethical  or illegal business practices. Stealing proprietary information, possessing trade secret information obtained without the  owner‘s  consent, or inducing such  disclosures by past or present employees of other companies is prohibited. Each Employee should endeavor to respect the rights of and deal fairly with the Clients, vendors, service providers, suppliers, and competitors.  No Employee should, in connection with any Company business, take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other intentional unfair dealing practice.  Employees should not falsely disparage or make unfair negative comments about its competitors or their products and services.  Negative public statements concerning the conduct or performance of any former Employee of the Company should also be avoided.


Privacy of Personal Information


The Company will acquire and retain only personal information that is required for the effective operation of the business of the Company or that is required by law in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates.  Access to such information will be restricted internally to those with a legitimate need to know.  Employee communications transmitted by the  Company‘s systems are  not considered private.


Online Blogging and Communication with Media






The Company strictly prohibits Employees from posting their opinions regarding an investment, issuer, investment strategy, market conditions, government financial actions, and any and all other such opinions as may appear to impart a financial opinion on any corporate,  personal, or financial blogging website.


Spreading of False Rumors


The Company prohibits Employees from spreading Rumors (as hereinafter defined) directly or indirectly regarding the financial condition of any company. For purposes of the Code  of Ethics, a Rumor shall be defined to include any  statement which, at the  time of making, the Employee knew, or should have known, was false, misleading, or otherwise untrue or deceptive. This includes any statement in which the Employee omits a fact or set of facts, which if disclosed would change the nature of the statement, and which by being omitted results in the statement being false, misleading or otherwise untrue and deceptive. The Company prohibits the dissemination of Rumors verbally, electronically, or in writing.


Protection of Confidential Information


Information generated in the Company is a valuable Company asset. Protecting this information plays a  vital role  in  the  Company‘s continued  growth and ability to compete. Such information includes among other things, technical information such as computer programs and databases, business information such  as  the  Company‘s objectives and strategies, trade secrets, processes, analysis, charts, drawings, reports, sales, earnings, forecasts, relationships with Clients, marketing strategies, training materials, Employee compensation and records, and other information of a similar nature.  Employees must maintain the  confidentiality of the  Company‘s proprietary and  confidential information and must not use or disclose such information without the express consent of an officer of the Company or when legally mandated.


Confidentiality of Investor Information


As   a   registered   investment   adviser,  we  have   particular   responsibilities   for safeguarding our  investors‘  information and the proprietary information of the  Company. Employees should be mindful of this obligation when using the telephone, fax, electronic mail,  and  other  electronic  means  of  storing  and  transmitting  information.  Employees should not discuss confidential information in public areas, read confidential documents in public places, or leave or discard confidential documents where they can be retrieved by others.


Information concerning the identity of investors and their transactions and accounts is confidential. Such information may not be disclosed to persons within the Company except as they may need to know it in order to fulfill their responsibilities to the Company. You may not disclose such information to anyone or any firm outside the Company unless (i) the outside firm requires the information in order to perform services for the Company and is bound to maintain its confidentiality; (ii) when the Client has consented or been given an opportunity to request that the information not be shared; (iii) as required by law; or (iv) as authorized by the Chief Compliance Officer.






Information regarding investor orders must not be used in any way to influence trades in personal accounts or in the accounts of other Clients.  Intentionally trading ahead of a  Client‘s order with the  purpose of benefiting on  the  trade as  a  result of the  Client‘s follow-on  trade is  known  as   frontrunning  and is  prohibited.   Similarly, intentionally following a Client s order with Employee trading activity for a similar purpose is known as piggybacking  or   shadowing  and is  likewise prohibited.  Certain six-month short-swing transactions (e.g., a sale and a purchase, or a purchase and a sale, occurring within a six- month period) are also prohibited.  If you reasonably believe improper trading in personalor Client accounts has occurred, you must report such conduct to the Chief Compliance Officer.


Additionally, Employees are prohibited from buying or selling an option while in possession of non-public information concerning a block transaction in the underlying stock, or buying or selling an underlying security while in possession of non-public information concerning a block  transaction in  an  option covering that security (the inter-market front running ), for an  account in which the  Company or such  Employee has  an  interest or with respect to which the Company or such Employee exercises investment discretion.  This prohibition extends to trading in stock index options and stock index futures while in possession of non-public information concerning a block transaction in a component stock of an  index.  A block transaction means a transaction involving 10,000 shares or more  of an underlying security or options covering 10,000 shares or more of such security.  In the case of a thinly traded security, fewer than 10,000 shares may constitute a block transaction.


Prohibition Against Insider Trading


General


The Company forbids any Employee from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, including registered investment companies, private investment funds and private accounts advised by the Company, on material non-public information or communicating material non-public information to others in violation of the law.  This conduct is frequently referred to  as   insider  trading.   The  Company s policy  extends to activities within and outside each  person s duties at the  Company.


The  term insider trading is not defined in the  federal securities laws, but generally is used to refer to the use of material non-public information to trade in securities (whether or  not  one  is  an   insider )  or  to  communications  of  material non-public  information to others.


While the law concerning insider trading is not static, it is generally understood that the law prohibits:


(a)      Trading by an insider while in possession of material non-public information;


(b)      Trading by a non-insider while in possession of material non-public information, where the information either was disclosed to the non-






insider in violation of an insider‘s duty to keep  it confidential or was misappropriated; or






(c)

Communicating material non-public information to others.


Insider Trading


The elements of insider trading and the penalties for such unlawful conduct are discussed below.   If Employees have any questions, they should consult the Chief Compliance Officer.


Who is an Insider?


The  concept of who  is an   insider is broad.  It includes generally officers, directors and Employees of a Company.  In addition, a person can  become  a temporary insider if he or she  enters into  a special confidential relationship in  the  conduct of a Company s affairs and, as  a  result, is  given   access to  information solely  for  the  Company‘s purposes.    A temporary insider can  include, among others, a Company‘s attorneys, accountants, consultants,  bank  lending  officers,  and  certain  Employees  of  such  organizations.    In addition, although it is unlikely to occur in the normal conduct of its business, the Company or an Employee could become a temporary insider of a Company it advises or for which it performs other services.  According to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Company must expect an outsider to keep the disclosed non-public information confidential and the relationship must at least imply such a duty before the outsider will be considered an insider.


What is Material Information?


Trading on inside information is not a basis for liability unless the information is material.   Material  information is  defined generally as  information for  which there is  a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect   on  the   price   of  a  Company‘s securities.     Information   that   should  be  considered material includes, but is not limited to, dividend changes, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation problems, antitrust charges, labor disputes, pending large commercial or government contracts, major new products or services, significant shifts in operating or financial circumstances (such as major write-offs and strikes at major plants) and extraordinary management developments (such as key personnel changes).


What is Non-Public Information?


Information is non-public until it has been effectively communicated to the market place. One must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public. For example, information found in a report filed with the SEC, or appearing in Dow Jones, Reuters Economic Services, The Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation would be considered public.


Penalties for Insider Trading


Penalties  for  trading  on  or  communicating  material  non-public  information  are severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers. A






person can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he or she does not personally benefit from the violation.  Penalties include:


(i)

civil injunctions,


(ii)

disgorgement of profits,

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

jail sentences,

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)     fines  for  the  person  who  committed  the  violation  of  up  to  three times the profit gained or loss avoided, whether or not the person actually benefited, and


(v)

fines for the employer or other controlling person of up to the greater of $1,000,000 or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided.


In  addition,  violations  can  be  expected  to  result  in  serious  sanctions  by  the Company, detailed in the Compliance Committee Sanction Provisions section in this Policy, potentially including dismissal of the person(s) involved.


Procedures to Detect and Prevent Insider Trading


The following procedures have been established to aid Employees in avoiding insider trading, and to aid the Company in preventing, detecting and imposing sanctions against individuals for insider trading.  Each Employee must follow these procedures or risk serious sanctions, including dismissal, substantial personal liability and criminal penalties.


Identifying Inside Information


Before trading for yourself or others, including any Client Account, in the securities of a Company about which you may have potential inside information, ask yourself the following questions:


(i)        Is the information material?   Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment decisions? Is this information that would substantially affect the market price of the securities if disclosed?


(ii)      Is the information non-public?  To whom has this information been provided?  Has the information been effectively communicated to the marketplace by appearing in publications of general circulation?   Is the information already available to a significant number of other traders in the market?


If after consideration of the foregoing you believe that the information is material and non-public, or if you have questions as to whether the information is material and non- public, you should take the following steps:


(i)

Report the matter immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer.






(ii)

Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others, including any Client Account.


(iii)

Do not communicate the information within or outside of the Company other than to the Chief Compliance Officer.


Client Account Trading


In connection with certain Company investments in syndicated loan participations and assignments, bank debt or certain other types of loan or debt obligations  ( Loan Positions ), certain Employees may gain access to material, non-public information relating to the borrowing company.  In such cases, the borrowing company will be placed on the Company s Restricted List discussed below.   In addition, in connection  with investments in Loan Positions, the Company will often enter into a confidentiality agreement relating to information  that  it  may  receive  concerning  certain  borrowing  companies.    It  is  the Company‘s  general  policy   that all   companies  who   are   the   subject  of  a  confidentiality agreement relating to a loan  position will be placed on the Company‘s Restricted List.


Restricting Access to Material Non-Public Information


Information in your possession that you identify as material and non-public may not be communicated to anyone, including any person within the Company other than those persons who need to know such information in order to perform their job responsibilities at the Company.  In addition, care should be taken to keep the information secure.  For example, memos, reports, correspondence or files containing the information should be restricted.


Resolving Insider Trading Issues


If, after consideration of the provisions of this Code of Ethics, you have questions as to whether information is material or non-public, the propriety of any action, or about the foregoing procedures, please contact the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee to discuss your questions before trading or communicating the information to anyone.





Restricted Lists


Whenever the Chief Compliance Officer determines that an Employee of the Company is in possession of material, non-public information with respect to an issuer (regardless of whether it is currently owned by the Company or any Client Account, but particularly   if   the   Company   is   analyzing   or   recommending   securities   for   Client transactions) such issuer will be placed on the Restricted List.   The Chief Compliance Officer will also have the discretion of placing an issuer on the Restricted List even though no Employee has or is expected to receive any material, non-public information about the issuer.  Such action may be taken for the purpose of avoiding any appearance of the misuse of material, non-public information.  When an issuer is placed on the Restricted List, all Employees are prohibited from personal trading in securities of those issuers.  In addition,






no trades in Client Accounts may be made in an issuer on the Restricted List until the Chief Compliance Officer makes a determination described in the following paragraph.


In the event that the Company desires to engage in a securities transaction relating to an issuer that is listed on the Restricted List, the Chief Compliance Officer will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the placement of such issuer on the Restricted List.  In connection with any such investigation, the Chief Compliance Officer will determine (i) the extent to which any Employee may have continued possession of material, non-public information, and (ii) whether that Employee‘s access (if any)  to  such material, non-public information will prevent the Company from engaging in such security transaction.   All such determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis.   Should the Chief Compliance Officer determine that the trade is permissible, then the Portfolio Manager will be required to execute a certification affirming that, as of such trade date, they do not possess any material, non-public information relating to such issuer.


The Chief Compliance Officer will be responsible for determining whether to remove a particular issuer from the Restricted List.   The only persons who will have access to remove issuers from the Restricted List are members of the Compliance Department.


Securities Assignment Procedures


When allocating new securities analysis assignments to Company personnel, to the extent practicable, the Company will review the personnel files of its qualified Employees to determine whether such Employee‘s personal holdings present  any  apparent conflicts  of interest.  Particular attention will be paid to personal transactions that were made within a six-month period of the security assignment research . New securities analyses will not be assigned  to  Employees  whose  personal  holdings  may  present  a  conflict  of  interest.  A notation will be made in any such Employee‘s file  to document that they were  considered for the opportunity, but could not be assigned the opportunity due to a potential conflict of interest.





Personal Trading Policy


Policy Overview


The purpose of this policy regarding employee personal trading is to ensure that employee‘s personal trading activity complies with applicable laws  and regulations, and is carried out in a manner consistent with Company policy. The Company has an obligation to monitor employee personal trading to ensure that all trades meet the requirements set forth in this policy and that all personal trading transactions must avoid even the

appearance of a conflict of interest. (For additional information regarding the Personal Trading Policy, including the list of approved brokerage firms, please see Employee Trading Policy )






General Principals


The following general principles should guide the individual trading activities of Employees:


·

All Employees will be allowed to place an unlimited number of trades per calendar year in Reportable Securities.


·

Employees may not trade in the securities of an issuer in which any portfolio or fund managed by the Company has an interest in any part of the capital structure, (other than securities of issuers with respect to which the Company may be deemed to have an interest solely as a result of such securities being held in a retail client that is managed by a third party sub-advisor). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief Compliance Officer may approve exceptions to this limitation upon showing of need such as (in the case of a sale by an employee where the Company is long the security in an account) or a showing of alignment of interests (such as where the employee wishes to buy a security that the company is long) provided that the investment does not violate any legal, regulatory, or contractual restriction.


·

Executions of Employee account orders are subject to completion of Client orders (See, Restrictions on Personal Trading Activity below).


·

The Company reserves the right to cancel any Employee s transaction. If a transaction is canceled, the Employee will bear the risk of loss and the Company (or a designated charity) will retain any profit associated with such cancellation.


·

Any breach of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment (See, Compliance Committee Sanction Provisions for a detailed list of sanctions relating to violations of the  Company‘s Code of Ethics Policy).


Pre-Clearance Required for Reportable Securities: Sungard/PTA System


Employees are required to pre-clear all acquisitions or dispositions of Reportable Securities.  Pre-clearance approval is good for the day on which it is obtained. Receiving pre-clearance approval for a specific trade does not oblige the employee to place the trade. Limit orders expiring at the end of a trading day are  permissible; good  until canceled orders are not.


Pre-Clearance Procedures


To monitor, record, and report the personal trading activities of Employees, the Company  uses  the  Protegent  Personal  Trading  Assistant  System   (the    PTA  System ). Each Employee is provided a username and password to the online PTA System. Pre- clearance must be obtained by submitting a pre-clearance request using the PTA System. The  PTA  System will  generate an   approval  or   denial  of the   pre-clearance.  The PTA






System maintains  a record of all pre-clearance requests submitted and their approval status, which can be viewed by both Compliance and Employees. The Chief Compliance Officer monitors all transactions made by all Employees in order to ascertain any pattern of conduct  which  may  evidence  conflicts  or  potential  conflicts  with  the  principles  and objectives of this Policy.


Employees requiring pre-clearance of personal securities transactions while out of the office can email ptacompliance@hcmlp.com .


Advance  trade  clearance  in  no  way  waives  or  absolves  any  Employees  of  the obligation to abide by the provisions, principles and objectives of this Policy.


Reportable Securities


For  the  purpose  of  this  Code of  Ethics,  Reportable Securities include  exchange traded funds ( ETFs ), closed-end  funds, notes and financial derivatives, and, except as provided below, all public securities including, securities issued by the Retail Funds. However, ETFs are not required to be pre-cleared.


The following instruments are not considered Reportable Securities: shares issued by open-end funds (mutual funds) other than funds for which the Company or an affiliate of the Company serves as an investment adviser, direct obligations of the Government of the United States, municipal securities, annuities, currencies and commodities, commercial paper, banker acceptances, and bank certificates of deposit.


Restrictions on Personal Trading Activity


An Employee‘s transactions should generally be effected with a view  toward investment, not speculation. Therefore, Employees will be required to hold a position (both long and short) for no less than 30 calendar days, except for ETFs. A hold prevents day trading and ensures a view toward long term investment. Excessive trading by employees is discouraged and will be documented by Compliance and reviewed at the Compliance Committee.


Under  no  circumstances  may  any  Employee  effect  a  transaction  in  his  or  her personal account or in another Employee‘s account while  either in  possession of material non-public information (MNPI) regarding the financial instrument and/or issuer that is the subject of the transaction, or with knowledge that a Client account is engaging, or likely to engage on the same day, in a similar transaction in the same instrument. Employees may reference  the  Company‘s Restricted List for  a  complete list of issuers the Company has access  to  MNPI.  If  an  employee  holds  a  position  that  is  subsequently  placed  on  the Restricted List, employees are prevented from closing out the position until the issuer is removed from the list.


Employees are also restricted from trading issuers where the Company has filed under Section 13D (Company owns more than 5%) or Section 16A (Company owns more than 10%). Compliance will maintain a complete list of restricted issuers under this rule.






Employees are prohibited from trading in any firm holding that is in conflict with the  Company‘s position. Conflicting positions misalign employee interests with investor interests. For example, employees are not allowed to go long in a security if the Company is currently short in an account nor shall they short a security if the company is currently long the security in an account.


All  employees  are  prohibited  from  violating  any  rule,  regulation,  or  law  while trading in their personal accounts. Highland employees are expected to live up not only to the letter of the law but also to the ideals of the Company.


Blackout Periods for Reportable Securities


Effective February 1, 2012, without the prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee, no employee may directly or indirectly acquire or dispose of a beneficial ownership interest in a Reportable Security other than during the first week of February, May, August, and November. No Employee may directly or indirectly acquire or dispose of a beneficial ownership in a Reportable Security, with the exceptions of ETFs, when the Company has an open order in the Order Management System for an asset of the same issuer or its wholly owned affiliate. Employees may trade in the assets of an issuer held by the Company 2 business days after the Company‘s most recent transaction in  the assets of that issuer. For  example, if the  Company purchases  any  part of IBM‘s  capital structure on Business Day 1 (loans, bonds, or equity), on Business Day 2 an employee may not trade in IBM but on Business Day 3 the employee may enter such a trade if the Company did not enter a trade in IBM on Business Day 2 and has no open orders on Business Day 3.


Employees will not be restricted from exercising a call/put option position in their personal trading accounts prior to expiration as long as the trade was approved at purchase through  the  PTA  system.  If  an  options  is  purchased  that  has  less  than  30  days  to expiration, the position can either be exercised or expire.


Front Running


All Employees are prohibited from front running. The  SEC  states front-running occurs when a person trades in advance of his or her client in order to take advantage of changes  in  the   market price   of  a  security that  will  be  caused  by  that client s   trade. Generally, market price movements occur in small cap issuers, so all small cap transactions will be closely scrutinized. For purposes of this Code of Ethics, small cap stocks are defined as having a market cap less than $2 billion.


Compliance will back-test trades executed by all Employees. Trades in small cap securities by personnel that occur within the four business day window of trades in client accounts will be reviewed by Compliance and presented to the Compliance Committee as necessary to remediate any front-running violation. All front-running profits will be disgorged to the Company for the benefit of the Client Accounts and any fines will be determined by the Compliance Committee.






Highland Retail Fund Trading


Employees are not allowed to trade for short term profits in any of the Retail Funds managed or sub-advised by the Company. Preclearance will be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer and will be subject to the same restrictions held on all other securities.


Pre-Clearance Required for Participation in IPOs


No Employee shall acquire any beneficial ownership in any securities in an initial public offering (as defined in Rule 204A-1 promulgated under the Advisers Act), for his or her account, without the prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer who has been provided with full details of the proposed transaction.


Pre-Clearance Required for Private or Limited Offerings


No  Employee  shall  acquire  beneficial  ownership  of  any  securities  in  a  limited offering (as defined in Rule 204A-1 promulgated under the Advisers Act) without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer who has been provided with full details of the proposed transaction.


Pre-Clearance Required for Personal Loans Collateralized by Securities


Prior to arranging a personal loan with a financial institution, which will be collateralized by securities, an Employee must obtain the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.  If the loan is approved, the Employee must supply the Chief Compliance Officer with an email containing the following information:


(i)       The date of the transaction, the title and the number of securities involved in the transaction, the principal amount of each security, and a description of any other interest involved,


(ii)       The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition),


(iii)

The price at which the transaction was effected, and


(iv)     The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected.


Hardship Exemption


Employees may request to trade prior to the end of the holding period under the hardship exemption. This exemption includes raising cash for a large investment, incurring losses or gains in excess of 20% on an investment, or court ordered liquidation. These and other claims under the hardship exemption will be reviewed at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer and all approved exemptions will be reported to the Compliance Committee.






Requests for hardship exemptions must be provided to the Chief Compliance Officer in writing. The Employee is not permitted to complete any transaction unless approval has been granted.


Any and all ambiguities relating to the administration of this policy will be determined and resolved by the Chief Compliance Officer in his sole discretion.


Monitoring and Review of Personal Securities Transactions


The Chief Compliance Officer or a designee will monitor and review all reports required under the Policy for compliance with Highland‘s policies regarding personal securities transactions and applicable SEC rules and regulations. The Chief Compliance Officer may also initiate inquiries of Employees regarding personal securities trading. Employees are required to cooperate with such inquiries and any monitoring or review procedures employed by the Company. Any transactions for any accounts of the Chief Compliance Officer will be reviewed and approved by a Compliance Manager, Assistant General Counsel or other designated supervisory person, subject to the oversight of the Compliance Committee. All Employees are required to comply with the reporting requirements outlined in the Code of Ethics.


Reporting Requirements for Employees


Every Employee shall annually disclose their personal brokerage accounts and holdings held   within those accounts.  It is  the   Company‘s policy  that Employees  must maintain their account at one of thirteen approved brokerage firms. Additionally, an employee may be asked to provide hard copy duplicate statements for their disclosed personal brokerage accounts.


Initial and Annual Holdings Disclosure


Every Employee must, no later than ten (10) days after becoming an Employee, submit a completed Securities/Futures Account Disclosure Form covering the accounts over which they have investment discretion.  Employees are required to provide a copy of their most current brokerage statements (and the information must be current as of no more than  45  days  prior  to  the  reporting  date),  and  transfer  their  account  to  one  of  the designated brokers approved by the Company.  For the purpose of this Policy, an Employee account includes:


·

Any account owned by an Employee, any account owned/controlled by his or her family (including a spouse, minor child or other relative living in the same household),


·

Any account, contract, understanding or other arrangement in which the Employee has a beneficial or pecuniary interest (such as a corporation, partnership, trust or estate in which the Employee has an interest), and


·

Any account  over  which the  Employee  exercises discretionary trading control (such as an IRA, trust account or other custodian account).






No later thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar year, each Employee must complete an Annual Holdings Certification reflecting account holdings as of year-end.  Both the Securities/Futures Account Disclosure Form and the Annual Holdings Certification at a minimum must contain the following information:


(a)       The title and type, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of each reportable security and/or reportable fund in which the Employee had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;


(b)      The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Employee maintains an account in which any securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Employee; and


(c)

The date the report is submitted by the Employee


Securities/Futures Account Disclosure Form and Annual Holdings Certifications are submitted to the Chief Compliance Officer using the PTA System.


Quarterly Certification of Transactions


Every Employee must, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, file a quarterly Certification of Transactions containing the following information with respect to any transaction during the quarter in a reportable security over which the Employees had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:


(a)      The date of the transaction, the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of each reportable security;


(b)       The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);


(c)       The price of  the  reportable security at which the transaction was effected;


(d)      The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected;


(e)

The date the account was established; and


(f)

The date the report is submitted by the Employee


As part of the reporting requirements, every Employee must also, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, affirm that they have reported all non-exempt transactions during the period.  Quarterly Certification of Transactions are submitted to the Chief Compliance Officer using the PTA System.






Annual Certification & Conflict of Interest Disclosure


Every Employee must, no later than 30 days following year end, or no less than annually, must complete the Annual Certification & Conflicts of Interest Disclosure. The Annual  Certification  &  Conflicts  of  Interest  Disclosure  is  submitted  to  the  Chief Compliance  Officer  using  the  PTA  System.  The  Chief  Compliance  Officer  or  his/her designee is responsible reviewing and following up on any issues identified as potential conflicts of interest on the questionnaires.


Compliance Committee Sanction Provisions


The following details violations of the Policy and the related sanctions that may result from non-adherence to the Policy.  Each violation may result in the corresponding sanction, but the Company is not limited by what is enumerated.  Similarly, the Company may take disciplinary action with respect to certain violations not specifically mentioned herein.  The Chief Compliance Officer and Compliance Committee, at all times, have the discretion to additionally fine a violator and to call a violator before the Compliance Committee.  A violation of the Policy may result in the disciplinary action detailed below, as well as additional disciplinary action up to and including termination.  All penalty fines will be placed in a fund held by the Company that will be available for donations to charities approved by the Compliance Committee.


The Company encourages any Employee who has or may have violated the Policy (or any securities law or regulation) to voluntarily bring the matter to the attention of the Chief Compliance Officer.  To the extent that any such volunteered violation of the Policy is determined to have been unintentional, or to the extent that such voluntary disclosure prevented further violation of the Policy, the Compliance Committee shall take such factors into consideration in determining any sanction relating to such Employee actions.


I.

Non-disclosure of the opening of a new brokerage account.


FIRST VIOLATION:   Violator will receive a notification identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.


SECOND   VIOLATION:   Violator   will   pay   a   fine   determined   by   the Compliance Committee.


THIRD  VIOLATION  AND  FURTHER:  Violator  will  appear  before  the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.

 

II.

Personal Account Trading

 

A.

Trading  in  personal  account  without  pre-clearing  with  Chief  Compliance Officer (in a security that is not restricted).






FIRST VIOLATION:   Violator will receive a notification identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.


SECOND  VIOLATION:     Violator  will  pay  a  fine  determined  by  the Compliance Committee.


THIRD VIOLATION:   Violator will disgorge his or her profit in the transaction.


FOURTH  VIOLATION  AND  FURTHER:     Violator  will  appear  before Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


B.

Trading in personal account without pre-clearing the transaction with the Chief Compliance Officer (in a security that is restricted).


FIRST VIOLATION:   Violator will receive a notification identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated. Violator must also disgorge any profits.


SECOND VIOLATION:  Violator will disgorge any profits and pay a fine of not less than $250.


THIRD VIOLATION AND FURTHER:  Violator will disgorge any profits, pay a fine of not less than $1000 and appear before the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


C.

Trading  in  personal  account  in  a  security  that  is  restricted,  where  pre- clearance was requested and denied.


FIRST VIOLATION:   Violator will receive a notification identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated. Violator must also disgorge any profits and pay a fine of not less than $1000.


SECOND VIOLATION AND FURTHER:   Violator will appear before the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


III.

Non-disclosure of personal holding when recommending an investment action in the same Company, issuer or entity.


FIRST VIOLATION:   Violator will receive a notification identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.






SECOND  VIOLATION:     Violator  will  pay  a  fine  determined  by  the Compliance Committee.


THIRD  VIOLATION  AND  FURTHER:    Violator  will  appear  before  the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


IV.      Buying or  selling a  security in  one s  personal account within four  or  fewer   days before   or  after  a  Client  Account  has a  disclosed pending   buy  or   sell  order involving the same issuer.


FIRST VIOLATION:   Violator will receive a notification identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated. Violator may pay a fine of up to $1000 based on the decision of the Compliance Committee. Any profits must be disgorged.


SECOND VIOLATION AND FURTHER:   Violator must appear before the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


V.

Receiving a gift or entertainment event in violation of the Gift and Entertainment Policy.


FIRST VIOLATION:  Violator will receive a letter identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.  Violator may be required to return the gift (or repay the entertainment cost).


SECOND VIOLATION AND FURTHER:   The violator will pay a fine determined by the Compliance Committee in addition to the penalties for the first violation.


THIRD VIOLATION AND FURTHER:  The violator will pay a fine of not less than $1,000 in addition to the penalties for the prior violations and will appear  before  the  Compliance  Committee  to  assess  further  disciplinary action.


VI.      Neglecting  to  obtain  authorization  from  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer  prior  to serving on the board of any publicly traded company.


FIRST VIOLATION:  Violator will receive a letter identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.


SECOND VIOLATION AND FURTHER:  Violator will not be permitted to serve on such board and will appear before the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.






VII.

Failure to timely file various reports required by the Code of Ethics


FIRST VIOLATION:  Violator will receive a letter identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.


SECOND  VIOLATION:     Violator  will  pay  a  fine  determined  by  the Compliance Committee.


THIRD  VIOLATION  AND  FURTHER:    Violator  will  appear  before  the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.

 

VIII. Use of non-approved marketing materials.

 

FIRST VIOLATION:  Violator will receive a letter identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, and 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated.


SECOND VIOLATION:  Violator will pay a fine of not less than $250.


THIRD  VIOLATION  AND  FURTHER:    Violator  will  appear  before  the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


IX.

Failure to add an issuer to the restricted list when accessing private information or executing a confidentiality agreement.




FIRST VIOLATION:  Violator will receive a letter identifying 1) the type of violation that has occurred, 2) the section in the Code of Ethics that has been violated, and 3) may pay a fine determined by the Compliance Committee.


SECOND  VIOLATION:     Violator  will  pay  a  fine  determined  by  the Compliance Committee.


THIRD  VIOLATION  AND  FURTHER:    Violator  will  appear  before  the Compliance Committee to assess further disciplinary action.


Outside Business Activities and Private Transactions


All employees of Highland Capital Management, L.P.  (the Company ) are  required to devote their full time and efforts to the business of the Company. In addition, no person may make use of his or her position as an employee, make use of information acquired during employment, or make personal investments in a manner that may create a conflict, or the  appearance of a conflict, between the employee‘s personal interests and the  interests of the Company.






To assist in ensuring that such conflicts are avoided, an employee must obtain the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer prior to:


·

Serving as a director, officer, general partner or trustee of, or as a consultant to, any business, corporation or partnership, including family owned businesses and charitable, non-profit and political organizations.


·

Accepting a second job or part-time job of any kind or engaging in any other business outside of the Company.


·

Acting, or representing that the employee is acting, as agent for a firm in any investment banking matter or as a consultant or finder.


·

Forming or participating in any  stockholders or creditors committee.


·

Receiving compensation of any nature, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm, corporation, estate, trust or association, other than the Company, whether as a fee, commission, bonus or other consideration such as stock, options or warrants.


Every employee is required to complete the required disclosure form via the PTA System and have the form approved by the Chief Compliance Officer prior to serving in any of the capacities or making any of the investments described heretofore.


The Chief Compliance Officer, in connection with approving any outside activities, may place such conditions on an approval as he deems necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of any Client.  In addition, an employee must advise the Company if the employee is or believes that he or she may become a participant, either as a plaintiff, defendant or witness, in any litigation or arbitration.  Evidence of such advice must be obtained by completion of such form with the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.





Gifts and Entertainment Policy


General


The Company recognizes the value of fostering good working relationships with individuals and firms doing business or seeking to do business with the Company. To this end, subject to the guidelines below, Employees are permitted, on occasion, to accept gifts and invitations to attend entertainment events. When doing so, however, Employees should always act in the best interests of the Company and its Clients and should avoid any activity that might create an actual or perceived conflict of interest or impropriety in the course of the  Company‘s business relationships.  Employees should contact the Chief Compliance Officer to discuss any offered activity or gift that they feel creates such a conflict. The Company reserves the right to prohibit the acceptance or retention of a gift or offer of entertainment, regardless of value, as it may determine in its sole discretion.  In addition, the Company may reimburse certain expenses or costs paid by Employees as determined on a case by case basis.






Prior to accepting entertainment, and promptly following receiving any gift from an existing or prospective firm service provider or counterparty, Employees must obtain pre- approval from their Team Leader. Any gifts or entertainment having a market value in excess of $200.00 per occurrence/item must also be pre-approved by Compliance .To obtain approval employees must submit a Gift and Event Approval Form using the PTA System.


To determine approval or denial of the pre-clearance requests, the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee will consider if the gift or entertainment is of significant value and whether accepting such the gift or entertainment would create a real or potential conflict of interest. Entertainment may include such events as meals, shows, concerts, theatre events, sporting    events,    certain    accommodations    or    similar    types    of    entertainment.

Entertainment  also   includes  in-town  and  out-of-town  trips  and  seminars  where  the service provider or counterparty offers to pay for items such as lodging, airfare, meal and/or event expenses.  No gift or entertainment may be accepted or given, however, regardless of value, that is intended to influencing, or has the likelihood of influences, any business decision or relationship of the Company.


Entertainment


Entertainment  includes events such   as  meals, shows, concerts, theatre  events, sporting events, or similar types of entertainment.


(a)

Employees  must  pay  for  all  air  transportation,  which  may  be reimbursed by the Company in its sole discretion.


(b)

Despite the actual dollar value, the cost of the entertainment should in all instances be reasonable under the circumstances.


(c)

Employees may not request to attend particular entertainment events.


Gifts


Gifts includes tickets to an event that is not attended by the grantor.

 

 

(a) Employees may not request or solicit gifts.

 

(b)

No gift of cash or cash equivalents may be accepted.


(c)

Employees may not receive gifts on more than two occasions annually from a specific service provider or counterparty.


Employee Provided Gifts and Entertainment


Employees may occasionally give and expense business gifts to someone doing or seeking to do business with the Advisor.


(a)

The value of such gift should be limited to approximately $150.00.






(b)

Employees

should

limit

entertainment

and

meal

expenses

to approximately  $150.00  per  attendee  per  event  and  approximately

$400.00 per person per day.


(c)

Employees should not give a requested business gift or entertainment.


Political Contributions


General


SEC Rule 206(4)-5 (the   Rule ) prohibits certain political contributions made by investment advisers that provide advisory services to a state or local government entity or to an investment pool in which a state or local governmental entity invests. An "investment pool" includes:


(A)

Any investment company registered under the Investment Company

Act that is an investment option of a plan or program of a government entity; or


(B)    Any company that would be an investment company under section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act but for the exclusion provided from that definition by section 3(c)(1), section 3(c)(7) or section 3(c)(11) of the Investment Company Act.


The Company currently provides advisory services to government entities and anticipates continuing to do so in the future and therefore will fall under the provisions of the Rule. Any questions regarding this rule should be directed to the Chief Compliance Officer.




Specifics of the Rule


There are three key elements of the Rule: (i) a two-year "time-out" from receiving compensation for providing advisory services to certain government entities after certain political contributions are made, (ii) a prohibition on soliciting contributions and payments, and (iii) a prohibition from paying third parties for soliciting government clients.


Two-Year Time Out


The Rule prohibits an Investment Adviser from receiving compensation from a "government entity" for two years after the Investment Adviser or any of its "covered associates" makes a political "contribution" to an "official" of the government entity. During the two-year "time-out" period, the Investment Adviser is only prohibited from receiving compensation from a government entity; the Investment Adviser can still provide advisory services to the government entity.


Look-Back Provision


Under the Rule, when a person becomes a covered associate (including when an existing employee is transferred or promoted), the Investment Adviser must "look back" in






time to that person's prior contributions to determine whether the "time-out" provisions of the Rule apply to the Investment Adviser. If the person is involved in soliciting clients, then the Investment Adviser is required to look back two years. If the person is not involved in soliciting clients, then the Investment Adviser is only required to look back six months. The "look-back" provision is prophylactic since it bars advisers from influencing the selection process by hiring persons who have made political contributions.


Soliciting Contributions and Payments


The Rule bars an Investment Adviser and its covered associates from soliciting or coordinating: (i) contributions to an official of a government entity to which the Investment Adviser is seeking to provide investment advisory services, or (ii) "payments" to a political party of a state or locality where the Investment Adviser is providing or seeking to provide investment advisory services to a government entity.


Prohibition on Third Party Solicitation



The Rule prohibits an Investment Adviser or any of its covered associates from paying any person to solicit a government entity unless such person is (i) a "regulated person"  (i.e.,  a  registered  investment  adviser  or  broker-dealer)  that  is  subject  to prohibitions against engaging in pay-toplay practices or (ii) one of the Investment Adviser's employees, general partners, managing members, or executive officers (although contributions by these persons may trigger the two-year time out). This provision is a change from the initial proposal, which would have completely barred the use of solicitors.


The prohibition does not extend to non-affiliated persons providing legal, accounting or other professional services in connection with specific investment advisory business that are not being paid directly or indirectly for communicating with the government entity for the purpose of obtaining or retaining investment advisory business for the Investment Adviser.


Catch-all Provision


There is a catch-all provision in the Rule that "prohibits acts done indirectly, which, if done directly, would violate the Rule." As a result, an Investment Adviser and its covered associates are not permitted to funnel payments through third parties, including, for example, "consultants, attorneys, family members, friends or companies affiliated with the adviser as a means to circumvent the Rule."


De Minimis Exception


The Rule has a de minimis exception for contributions to officials for whom the contributor can vote. The exception permits individual contributions up to $350 per official (per election) for whom the employee is entitled to vote. In addition, contributions that in the






aggregate do not exceed $150 per election per official will not violate the Rule, even if the contributor is not entitled to vote for the official. These de minimis exceptions are available only for contributions by individual covered associates, not the Investment Adviser. Under both exceptions, primary and general elections are considered separate elections.


Returned Contributions Exception


The Rule contains an exception that will provide an Investment Adviser "with a limited ability to cure the consequences of an inadvertent political contribution to an official for whom the covered associate making it is not entitled to vote." The exception is available for a limited number of contributions that, in the aggregate, do not exceed $350 to any one official, per election. '   The Investment Adviser must have discovered the offending contribution within four months of the date the contribution was made and, within 60 days after learning of the triggering contribution, the contributor must obtain the return of the contribution.


Exemptions


The SEC may exempt an Investment Adviser from the two-year "time out" requirement after an offending contribution is discovered when the exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest.





Code of Ethics



Statement of General Policy

This Code of Ethics (“Code”) has been adopted by Kellner Management,  LP (the “Company”) and is designed to comply with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) as well as Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”).


This Code establishes rules of conduct for Access Persons and others related to the Company and is designed, among other things, to govern personal securities trading activities in their accounts. The Code is based upon the principle that Access Persons owe a fiduciary duty to conduct their affairs, including personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid (i) serving personal interests ahead of client interests, (ii) taking inappropriate advantage of their position with the Company and (iii) actual or potential conflicts of interest or abuse of their position of trust and responsibility.


The Code is designed to ensure that the high ethical standards maintained by the Company are applied.  The purpose of the Code is to preclude activities which may lead to or give the appearance of conflicts of interest, insider trading, and other forms of prohibited or unethical business conduct.


Pursuant to Section 206 of the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, both the Company and its Access Persons are prohibited from engaging in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct, especially as it relates to knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of the Company.  Compliance with these sections involves more than acting with honesty and good faith alone.  It means that the Company has an affirmative duty to act in the best interests of its clients. Accordingly, all Access Persons must seek to avoid any actual or potential conflicts between their personal interests and the interests of the Company or its advisees.


In meeting its fiduciary responsibilities to its clients, the Company expects every Access Person to demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct for continued employment with the Company.  Strict efforts to comply with the provisions of the Code shall be considered a basic condition of employment with the Company.   Access Persons should understand that a material breach of the provisions of the Code may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including termination of employment with the Company.


The provisions of the Code are not all-inclusive.  Rather, they are intended as a guide for Access Persons of the Company in their conduct.  In those situations where an employee may be uncertain as to the intent or purpose of the Code, he/she is advised to consult with the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”).  The CCO may grant exceptions to certain provisions contained in the Code in those situations when it seems clear that the interests of our clients ought not be adversely affected or compromised.  All questions arising in connection with personal securities trading should be resolved in favor of the client even at the expense of the interests of Access Persons.



Standards of Business Conduct

The Company places the highest priority on maintaining its reputation for integrity and professionalism.  The confidence and trust placed in the Company by our clients is something we value and endeavor to protect.  The following standards of business conduct set forth policies and procedures designed to achieve these goals.  This Code of Ethics is intended to comply with the various provisions of the Advisers Act and the 1940 Act, and also requires that all Access Persons comply with the various







applicable provisions of: the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).


Section 204A of the Advisers Act requires the establishment and enforcement of policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information by investment advisers. Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act generally seeks to address conflicts of interest situations involving persons having knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of the Company. Such policies and procedures are contained in this Code.  The Code also contains policies and procedures with respect to personal securities transactions for all Company Access Persons as defined herein.  These procedures cover transactions in a Reportable Security in which an Access Person has a Beneficial Interest or Accounts over which the Access Person exercises control as well as transactions by members of the Access Person’s immediate family and/or household members.


Section 206 of the Advisers Act makes it unlawful for the Company or its agents or Access Persons to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any client or prospective client, or to engage in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative practices.  Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act generally proscribes fraudulent or manipulative practices with respect to purchases or sales of Securities Held or to be Acquired by investment advisers or their advisees if effected by Access Persons of such companies. This Code of Ethics contains provisions that prohibit these and other enumerated activities and are reasonably designed to detect and prevent violations of the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, and rules thereunder.


These antifraud provisions include the SEC Compliance Programs of Investment Companies and Investment Advisers (“Compliance Programs Rule”) (SEC Rule 206 (4)-7), which requires advisers to adopt a formal compliance program designed to prevent, detect and correct any actual or potential violations by the adviser or its Access Persons, as well as other federal securities laws and rules adopted under the Advisers Act.


Definitions

For the purposes of this Code of Ethics, the following definitions shall apply:


Access Person ” means any director, officer, general partner, employee, or Advisory Person (as defined below) of the Company.


Account ” means accounts of any Access Person and includes accounts of the Access Person’s immediate family members (any relative by blood or marriage or significant other living at the same address as the Access Person), and any account in which he or she has a direct or indirect Beneficial Interest, such as trusts and custodial accounts or other accounts in which the Access Person has a Beneficial Interest or can exercise investment authority. In addition, “Account” shall be considered to include accounts over which the Access Person may have substantial influence but not control.

An “ Advisory Person ” of the Company is: (i) any employee (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, including contract workers if their work is of an ongoing nature and includes access to Company investment decisions) of the Company, or any natural person in a Control (as defined below) relationship with the Company, who in connection with his or her regular functions or duties makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of any Reportable Security (as defined below) by the Company or an advisee, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendation with respect to such purchases or sales; or (ii) any natural person in a Control relationship with the Company who obtains information concerning recommendations made to







the Company with regard to the purchase or sale of any Reportable Security by the Company or an advisee.


Beneficial Interest ” includes any entity, person, trust, or account with respect to which an Access Person exercises investment discretion or provides investment advice. A Beneficial Interest shall be presumed to include all accounts in the name of or for the benefit of the Access Person, his or her spouse, dependent children, or any person living with him or her or to whom he or she contributes economic support.


Beneficial Ownership ” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether a person is the Beneficial Owner of a security for purposes of Section 16 of such Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.


“Company ” shall mean Kellner Management, a Delaware limited partnership.


Control ” shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act.


“Non-Reportable Securities” shall include:

 

·

Direct obligations of the Government of the United States

·

Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements

·

Shares issued by money market funds

·

Shares issued by open-ended investment companies registered under the 1940 Act other than those advised by the Company

·

Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-ended funds, none of which are advised by the Company


Reportable Security ” includes all Securities other than Non-Reportable Securities.


Reportable Transaction ” means any transaction undertaken in a Reportable Security by an Access Person, an Access Person’s immediate family member, or an Access Person’s significant other to the extent they share the same household, in an account in which the aforementioned has direct or indirect influence or control.


Security ” as defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, means any investment that represents an ownership stake or debt stake in a company, partnership, governmental unit, business or other enterprise.  It includes stocks, bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral trust certificates and certificates of deposit for securities.  It also includes many types of puts, calls, straddles, options and warrants on any security or group of securities; fractional undivided interests in oil, gas, or other mineral rights; and investment contracts, variable life insurance policies and variable annuities whose cash values or benefits are tied to the performance of an investment account.  It does not include currencies.  Unless expressly exempt, all securities transactions are covered under the provisions of Personal Securities Transactions (See definition of Non-Reportable Securities).


Security Held or to be Acquired ” by the Company means: (i) any Security which, within the most recent 5 days: (A) is or has been held by the Company’s advisees; or (B) is being or has been considered by the Company for imminent purchase by the Company’s advisees; and (ii) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Reportable Security.







Prohibition Against Insider Trading

The Company prohibits any employee from acting upon, misusing, or disclosing any material non-public information, known as inside information. No Access Person may trade, either personally or on behalf of others (such as investment funds and private accounts managed by the Company), while in the possession of material non-public information, nor may any personnel of the Company communicate material non-public information to others in violation of the law. Any instances or questions regarding possible inside information must be brought immediately to the attention of the CCO or senior management, and any violations of the firm’s policy may result in disciplinary action up to termination.


What is Material Information?

Information is material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions.  Generally, this includes any information the disclosure of which will have a substantial effect on the price of a company’s securities.  No simple test exists to determine when information is material; assessments of materiality involve a highly fact-specific inquiry.  For this reason, any questions about whether information is material should be directed to the CCO.


Material information often relates to a company’s results and operations, including, for example, dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidity problems, and extraordinary management developments. Material information also may relate to the market for a company’s securities.  Information about a significant order to purchase or sell securities may, in some contexts, be material.  Prepublication information regarding reports in the financial press also may be material.  For example, the United States Supreme Court upheld the criminal convictions of insider trading defendants who capitalized on pre-publication information about The Wall Street Journal’s “Heard on the Street” column.


You also should be aware of the SEC’s position that the term “material nonpublic information” relates not only to issuers but also to the Company’s securities recommendations and client securities holdings and transactions.


What is Nonpublic Information?

Information is “public” when it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace.  For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the SEC or some other government agency, the Dow Jones “tape” or The Wall Street Journal or some other publication of general circulation, and after sufficient time has passed so that the information has been disseminated widely.


Identifying Inside Information

Before an Access Person executes a trade for themself or others, including investment funds or private accounts advised by the Company, the Access Person must determine whether they have access to material, nonpublic information.  If they think that they might have access to material, nonpublic information, they should take the following steps:

 

·

Report the information and proposed trade immediately to the CCO

·

Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of themself or others, including investment funds or private accounts advised by the Company

·

Do not communicate the information inside or outside the Company, other than to the CCO

·

After the CCO has reviewed the issue, the Company will determine whether the information is material and nonpublic and, if so, what action the Company will take







·

The Access Person should consult with the CCO before taking any action.  This degree of caution should protect the Access Person, clients, and the Company


Contacts with Public Companies

Contact with public companies may represent an important part of the Company’s research efforts.  The Company may make investment decisions on the basis of conclusions formed through such contacts and analysis of publicly available information.  Difficult legal issues arise, however, when, in the course of these contacts, an Access Person of the Company or other person subject to this Code of Ethics becomes aware of material, nonpublic information.  This could happen, for example, if a company’s Chief Financial Officer prematurely discloses quarterly results to an analyst, or an investor relations representative makes selective disclosure of adverse news to a handful of investors.  In such situations, the Company must make a judgment as to its further conduct.  To protect the Access Person, our clients and the Company, the Access Person should contact the CCO immediately if they believe that they may have received material, nonpublic information.


Tender Offers

Tender offers represent a particular concern in the law of insider trading for two reasons: First, tender offer activity often produces significant gyrations in the price of the target company’s securities.  Trading during this time period is more likely to attract regulatory attention (and produces a disproportionate percentage of insider trading cases).  Second, the SEC has adopted a rule which expressly forbids trading and “tipping” while in the possession of material, nonpublic information regarding a tender offer received from the tender offeror, the target company or anyone acting on behalf of either.  Access Persons of the Company and others subject to this Code of Ethics should exercise caution any time they become aware of nonpublic information relating to a tender offer.


Restricted Lists

Although the Company does not typically receive confidential information from portfolio companies, it may, if it receives such information, take appropriate procedures to establish restricted lists in certain securities.


The CCO may place certain securities on a “restricted list.”  Access Persons, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household are prohibited from personally, or on behalf of an advisory account, purchasing or selling securities during any period they are listed on such a restricted list.  Securities issued by companies about which a number of Access Persons are expected to regularly have material, nonpublic information should generally be placed on the restricted list.  The CCO shall take steps to immediately inform all Access Persons of the securities listed on the restricted list.


Additional Prohibitions

Confidentiality of Company Transactions

Until disclosed in a public report or to the Securities and Exchange Commission in the normal course of business, all information concerning the securities “being considered for purchase or sale” by the Company shall be kept confidential by all Access Persons and disclosed by them only on a “need to know” basis.


Outside Business Activities and Directorships

Access Persons may not engage in any outside business activities that are likely to give rise to conflicts of interest or jeopardize the integrity or reputation of the Company. Similarly, no such outside business activities may be inconsistent with the interests of the Company. Prior written approval is required before any Access Person; engages in any other business activity outside of the Company, is employed







by or receives compensation from any other person, or serves as a director, partner or employee of another business organization.


Interested Transactions

No Access Person shall recommend any transaction in any Securities to the Company without having disclosed to the CCO his or her interest, if any, in such Securities or the issuer thereof, including: the Access Person’s Beneficial Ownership of any Securities of such issuer; any contemplated transaction by the Access Person in such Securities; any position the Access Person has with such issuer; and any present or proposed business relationship between such issuer and the Access Person (or a party in which the Access Person has a significant interest).


Unlawful Actions

Access Persons, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household may not engage in any investment transaction under circumstances in which such Access Person would benefit either directly or indirectly, or which would interfere with, the purchase or sale of investments by the Company. In addition, Access Persons may not use information concerning the investments or investment intentions of the Company, or their ability to influence such investment intentions, for personal gain or in a manner detrimental to the interests of the Company.


Access Persons may not engage in conduct that is deceitful, fraudulent or manipulative, or that involves false or misleading statements, in connection with the purchase or sale of investments by the Company. In this regard, Access Persons should recognize that Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for any affiliated person of the Company, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by such person of a Reportable Security Held or to be Acquired by the Company to:


·

Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Company or its clients

·

Make any untrue statement of a material fact to the Company or its clients or omit to state to the Company or its clients a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading

·

Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Company or its clients

·

Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Company or its clients


Personal Securities Transactions & Records

The Company has adopted the following principles governing personal investment activities by the Company’s Access Persons.

·

The interests of client accounts will be placed first at all times

·

All personal securities transactions will be conducted in such manner as to seek to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual’s position of trust and responsibility

·

Access Persons must not take inappropriate advantage of their positions


Pre-Clearance Required for all Reportable Securities

No Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household may directly or indirectly acquire or dispose of Beneficial Ownership of any Reportable Securities, participate in IPO’s, or effect transactions in private or limited offerings without the prior written approval of the CCO. Pre-clearance should be requested by submitting a Personal Trading/IPO/Limited Offering Request and Authorization Form to the CCO or his designee (See attached Exhibit A).  Upon receipt of Personal







Trading/IPO/Limited Offering Request and Authorization Form, the CCO or his designee will review and approve requests which are deemed not to be detrimental to the investment activity of the Company nor in violation of any securities laws (i.e. insider trading).  The CCO or his designee will maintain a file of all requests.


Advance trade clearance in no way waives or absolves any Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household of the obligation to abide by the provisions, principles, and objectives of these policies and procedures. Post-approval is not permitted. Pre-clearance authorization will expire at the end of the second (2nd) business day after it is granted.  The day authorization is granted is considered the first business day.


Upon execution of an approved trade, the person making such trade is required to log the transaction in the Employee Trade Blotter.  This blotter is initialed daily by George A. Kellner or Kevin McHale (or their designees) evidencing their review of executed trades and verified against broker confirmations.  Quarterly, Kevin McHale reviews brokerage statements for all affiliated personnel trading activity.  This review is noted by initialing the brokerage statement.



Reporting Requirements

Pursuant to the 1940 Act Rule 17j-1(d)(2)(v) and the Advisers Act Rule 204A-1(b)(3), every Access Person shall provide initial and annual holdings reports as well as the quarterly attestation to the CCO which should contain the information described below. It is the policy of the Company that each Access Person obtain written approval from the CCO prior to opening an account at a brokerage firm and must arrange for his/her brokerage firm(s) to send automatic duplicate brokerage account statements and trade confirmations of all securities transactions to the CCO.


Initial and Annual Holdings Report

Every Access Person must, no later than 10 days after becoming an Access Person (and the information must be current as of no more than 45 days prior to the reporting date), and annually no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar year, submit to the CCO an Initial/Annual Holdings Report (See attached Exhibit B) which will include the following information:

 

·

The title and type, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of each Reportable Security and/or reportable fund in which the Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household had any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership

·

The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household maintained an account in which any Reportable Securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person

·

The date the report is submitted by the Access Person


Quarterly Transaction Reports

Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, each Access Person shall submit to the CCO a Quarterly Attestation (See attached Exhibit C) which will include but not be limited to the following information:

 

·

A list of all accounts established during the quarter by the Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household which held or could hold Reportable Securities in which he or she had any Beneficial Ownership

·

Name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household established the account







·

The date the account was established

·

The date the report is submitted by the Access Person


If at any time the Company does not receive duplicate statements within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter for any accounts in which the Access Person, their immediate family members, and/or members of their household had any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership during the previous quarter, such report should be included with the Quarterly Attestation. Each statement must include at a minimum the title and type, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of each Reportable Security and/or reportable fund.

Quarterly Transaction Reports are not required for transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan.


A person need not make a report hereunder with respect to transactions effected for, and Securities held in, any account over which the person has no direct or indirect influence or control.


Monitoring and Review of Personal Securities Transactions

The CCO or a designee will monitor and review all reports required herein for compliance with the Company’s policies regarding personal securities transactions and applicable SEC rules and regulations. The CCO may also initiate inquiries of Access Persons regarding personal securities trading. Access Persons are required to cooperate with such inquiries and any monitoring or review procedures. Any transactions for any accounts of the CCO will be reviewed by another designated supervisory person. The CCO shall at least annually identify all Access Persons who are required to file reports pursuant to this Code of Ethics and will inform such Access Persons of their reporting obligations.


Violations of Personal Securities Transactions

In the event that, during the review process, the CCO or designee identifies a personal security transaction violation, such violation(s) will be reviewed with the CEO, documented, and classified as “minor” or “significant.”  In the event that the infraction is deemed to be significant or at such time that there is a collection of minor infractions that demonstrate a pattern of willful disregard for the personal securities restrictions, such Access Person will be subject to disciplinary action (which may include disposing of the security(ies) and donating any profits) up to and including termination.   To the extent a personal securities transaction is determined to be in violation of rules of use of non-public information, insider trading or inappropriate use of internal or external proprietary information, the CCO will consider escalating the situation to the appropriate legal or regulatory authority.


Gifts and Gratuities

All gifts, regardless of the dollar amount, received by any Access Person from any person or organization that the Company does business with, or may do business with, must be documented.  Gifts include, but are not limited to, dinners, lunches, sporting event/show tickets, outings (and only to the extent that Access Persons are not accompanied to such events by the host), gift baskets, wine/liquor, etc. Documentation should include the name of the gift giver, the name of the recipient, the nature of the gift and the date received. All such documentation should be submitted to the CCO.  Gifts should be appropriate in light of the business relationship and should not be excessive in nature.  Affiliated personnel are reminded that they have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the Company’s clients and the receipt of gifts should in no way alter this duty. The value of gifts received, should be no greater than $200, unless otherwise approved by the CCO.  








All Access Persons are prohibited from giving anything of value, including gratuities, in excess of $100 per individual per year to any person, principal, proprietor, employee, agent or representative of another company when such payment or gratuity is in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient of the payment or gratuity.  The prohibition does not apply to personal gifts such as a wedding or congratulatory gift for the birth of a child, provided that these gifts are not “in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient”. In determining whether a gift is “in relation to the business of the employer of a recipient” the gift giver should consider a number of factors including the nature of any pre-existing personal or family relationship between the person giving the gift and the recipient, and whether the gift giver paid for the gift.  When the Company bears the cost of a gift, either directly or by reimbursing the giver, regulators will presume that such gift is in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient. 


All gifts given by Access Persons in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient should be documented.  Documentation should include a description of the gift given, the value of the gift given, the recipient of the gift and the date that the gift was given.  All such documentation should be submitted to the CCO.


It shall be in violation of this Code of Ethics for any Access Person to accept or give gifts to any outside party which can be considered unreasonable and excessive by industry standards.  The purpose of this policy is to maintain unimpaired the ability of such person to be disinterested when required, in the course of business, to make judgments and/or recommendations on behalf of the Company.


Certification

All Access Persons will be provided with a copy of the Code and must upon initial employment and annually thereafter certify in writing to the CCO that they have: (i) received a copy of the Code; (ii) read and understand all provisions of the Code; (iii) agreed to abide by the Code; and (iv) reported all securities accounts and transactions as required by the Code.


All Access Persons shall receive promptly any material amendments to the Code and must certify to the CCO in writing that they have: (i) received a copy of the material amendment; (ii) read and understood such amendment; (iii) and agreed to abide by the Code as amended.


Further Information

Access Persons should contact the CCO regarding any inquiries pertaining to the Code established herein.


Records

All records shall be maintained in accordance with Rules 204-2 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-1(f) under the 1940 Act. The CCO shall maintain or cause to be maintained in a readily accessible place the following records:

·

A copy of any code of ethics adopted by the Company pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204A-1 and 1940 Act Rule 17j-1 which is or has been in effect during the past five years

·

A record of any violation of the Company’s Code of Ethics and any action that was taken as a result of such violation for a period of five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred

·

A record of all written acknowledgements of receipt of the Code of Ethics and amendments thereto for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, an Access Person, which shall be retained for five years after the individual ceases to be an Access Person of the Company







·

A copy of each required report made by an Access Person, including a copy of each brokerage account statement made in lieu of holding and transaction reports pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204A-1 and 1940 Act Rule 17j-1(d)(1), for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided

·

A list of all persons who are, or within the preceding five years have been, Access Persons

·

A record of any decision and reason(s) supporting such decision to approve an Access Person’s acquisition of securities in IPOs and/or private or limited offerings and/or publicly traded securities within the past five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such approval is granted

·

A file or log of any qualifying gifts received or given by Access Persons of the Company within the past five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such approval is granted

·

A copy of each annual report to the board (described immediately below) must be maintained for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made


Reporting

Violations and Sanctions

All Access Persons shall report to the CCO and/or the CEO all apparent violations of this Code of Ethics in a timely manner. Any retaliation for the reporting of a violation under the Code will itself constitute a violation.


The CCO shall consider reports made to it hereunder and shall determine whether or not the Code has been violated and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed.  Possible sanctions may include reprimands, monetary fine or assessment, or suspension or termination of employment with the Company.


Annual Report to the Mutual Fund Board

On at least an annual basis, the CCO of the Company shall prepare a written report describing any issues arising under the Code of Ethics, including information about any material violations of the Code of Ethics or its underlying procedures and any sanctions imposed due to such violations, and submit the information to the Chief Compliance Officer of any registered investment company for whom the Company acts as investment adviser for review by the investment company's Board of Trustees.


On an annual basis, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Company shall certify to the Board of Trustees of any registered investment company for whom the Company acts as investment adviser that the Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons from violating this Code of Ethics.







Kellner Management Code of Ethics Certification



This form must be completed by each Access Person
within 10 days of becoming an Access Person;
within 30 days after the end of each calendar year thereafter; and
upon receipt of any amendment to the Code.

I have received, read and reviewed the entire contents of Kellner Management’s Code of Ethics and have obtained an interpretation of any provision(s) about which I had a question. I accept responsibility for understanding, complying with and, when appropriate, seeking guidance regarding same.  I also hereby certify that I have complied with and will continue to comply with the requirements of the Code and that I have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the Code.

I will report violations of the Code, laws or other Company policies of which I am aware or that I suspect have taken place.  I understand that I am required to cooperate fully with Kellner Management, LP in any investigation of violations.  I understand that my failure to comply with the Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.


Printed Name:

Signature:

Date:









Exhibit A

Personal Trading/IPO/Limited Offering Request and Authorization Form


Access Person Name:

_______________________________

Person On Whose Behalf Trade is Being Done (if different): _____________________________

Broker: ___________________

        Brokerage Account Number: ________________________

Security: ________________________________

           Ticker Symbol or CUSIP:   _______

    Company Name, Type of Security

Number of Shares or Units:

Price per Share or Unit:

Approximate Total Price:

Buy or Sell:


I hereby certify that all of the following information is true and complete:

To the best of my knowledge, the requested transaction is consistent with the letter and spirit of the Kellner Management’s Code of Ethics and applicable law.


______________________________

________________

Signature

Date


When signed and dated by the CCO, this authorization will expire at the end of the second business day after it is granted.  The day authorization is granted is considered the first business day.  A record of this transaction will be kept by the CCO in confidential files.


________________________________

________________

CCO

Date































EXHIBIT B

Initial/Annual Holdings Report

Disclosure of Securities Accounts and Securities Holdings


This form must be completed within 10 days of becoming an Access Person (which information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you became an Access Person) and by January 30 of each calendar year

Pursuant to Kellner Management’s Code of Ethics, all accounts which I hold direct or indirect beneficial ownership of Reportable Securities must be disclosed.  In addition, any hard copy stock certificates of securities held outside the medium of a securities account also should be disclosed on the Initial/Annual Holdings Report and subsequent quarterly reports for as long as they are owned.


In lieu of an individual listing of securities, copies of statements from all brokerage accounts in which I hold direct or indirect beneficial ownership are attached.


Acknowledgment and Consent

I hereby attest that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics. I affirm that I have disclosed all accounts and that I have provided all necessary documentation as prescribed in the Firm’s Code of Ethics and in this disclosure document.





If you have no Accounts to disclose, please check this box. Otherwise, please complete the information below regarding account(s) held.

Employee signature:

____________________________________________________________

Employee name:

____________________________________________________________

Date:

____________________________________________________________

Reviewed By:

____________________________________________________________

Reviewer Name:

____________________________________________________________

Date:

____________________________________________________________








EXHIBIT C

Quarterly Holdings and Transaction Report


This form must be completed by each Access Person
within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter.


Employee name:________________________________________________________________

Calendar quarter and year:________________________________________________________



Please answer Yes/No to each of the following questions:


I have opened a new Account(s) this quarter (e.g., I have affirmatively opened a new account or been a newly-named beneficiary in an existing account).

Yes   or   No


I only undertook Reportable Transaction(s) this quarter for which pre-approval had been sought and received.

Yes (in compliance)

or

No (not in compliance)

or

N/A (not applicable)


I have changed an Account(s) this quarter (e.g., I changed an account from one where I did not have the ability to direct trades to one where I do).

Yes   or   No


To the extent you or someone in your household has opened a new Reportable Account or changed a Reportable Account during the quarter, please provide the relevant information below.


Account name/holder:

______________________________________________________

Reportable Account number:

______________________________________________________

Name of institution:

______________________________________________________

Action(s) taken;

__________________________________________________




If necessary, please add additional Reportable Accounts, including the information shown above, on an attached sheet.

Signed:

____________________________________________________

Date:

____________________________________________________

Reviewed By:

____________________________________________________

Reviewer Name:

____________________________________________________

Date:

____________________________________________________















 

[P10PHINEUSCOE001.JPG]

 

 

 

 

Code of Ethics


Under Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act, the firm has adopted a code of ethics, which sets out ideals for ethical conduct premised on fundamental principals of openness, integrity, honesty and trust. This code of ethics strives to effectively convey to employees the value the firm places on ethical conduct, and challenges employees to live up not only to the letter of the law, but also to the ideals of the organization.


The firm s code of ethics applies to all access persons. Access persons are defined as: supervised persons, who have access to nonpublic information regarding clients' purchase or sale of securities, or are involved in making securities recommendations to clients or who have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.


The firm s code of ethics requires all Access persons to: (i) act with integrity, competence, dignity, and in an ethical manner, (ii) place the interests of others above their own personal interests; (iii) practice in a professional manner (iv) maintain and improve their professional competence, (v) promote the integrity of global capital markets, and (vi) exercise independent professional judgment when taking investment actions.


The firm s codes of ethics include: (i) standards of business conduct required of supervised persons, that reflect the fiduciary obligations of the advisor and supervised persons; (ii) provisions requiring supervised persons to comply with applicable federal securities laws; (iii) provisions that require all “access persons” to report, and compliance to review, their personal securities transactions and holdings on a periodic basis; (iv) provisions requiring supervised persons to report violations of the code of ethics promptly to the chief compliance officer; (v) provisions requiring the firm to provide each supervised person with a copy of the code of ethics and any amendments, and requiring supervised persons to respond with a written acknowledgment of their receipt of the code and any amendments, and (vi) a requirement for access persons to obtain approval before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in an initial public offering or private placement.


Code of Ethics for Access Persons to sign:


I will not engage in any conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or commit any act that reflects adversely on my integrity, trustworthiness, or professional competence.


I will exercise diligence, independence and thoroughness in conducting investment analysis and taking investments actions.


I will make full and fair disclosure of all matters that could reasonably be expected to impair my independence and objectivity or interfere with my respective duties to Phineus Partners, L.P., clients, or prospective clients.


I will not knowingly make any statement that misrepresents facts relating to investment analysis, recommendations, actions, or other professional activities.


I will not make or imply any assurances or guarantees regarding any investment except to communicate accurate information regarding the characteristics and terms of the investment instrument and the issuer's obligations under the instrument.


When I communicate investment performance information, I will make reasonable efforts to ensure that it is fair, accurate, and complete.


I will keep information about current, former, and prospective clients confidential unless: 1) the information concerns illegal activities on the part of the client or prospective client, 2) disclosure is required by law, or 3) the client or prospective client provides written permission allowing disclosure of the information.


I will place the interests of the firm before my own and will not deprive the firm of the advantage of my skills and abilities, divulge confidential information, or otherwise cause harm to the firm.


I will comply with the policies and procedures established by the firm to the extent that there is no conflict with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.






I will make reasonable efforts to detect and prevent violations of applicable laws, rules, and regulations by anyone subject to my supervision or authority.


If I possess material nonpublic information related to the value of an investment I will not act, or cause others to act, on the information, until that information is made public.


I will not offer, solicit, or accept any gift, benefit, compensation or consideration that could be reasonably expected to compromise my own or another s independence and objectivity. I will not accept gifts, benefits, compensation, or consideration that competes with, or might reasonably be expected to create a conflict of interest with the firm unless I obtain written consent.


I will comply with trading restrictions for securities listed on the various restricted lists of the affiliate, as communicated to me by the firm s chief compliance officer.


I will provide the firm s compliance officer with duplicate trade confirmations and account statements at least quarterly for all personal securities accounts. I will provide copies of all brokerage account statements to the firm s compliance officer when I first become an access person (initial report). I acknowledge in writing that all personal securities accounts and securities holdings have been reported to the firm s chief compliance officer.


I acknowledge that my personal securities transaction reports will be reviewed to assess whether I have followed internal procedures, to include the comparison of personal trading to any restricted lists, and an analysis to determine if clients are receiving terms as favorable as those given myself when trading the same security, and a review to determine if client accounts with the same objectives as my own have similar quality of performance and a similar percentage of profitable trades.


I will not trade securities in my personal account(s), or accounts of family members or affiliates, two business days before trading the same securities for clients (i.e., front-running), and thereby receiving better prices.


I will not invest in IPO s prior to secondary trading, and must receive pre-clearance to invest in private placements by the firm s chief compliance officer.


I will promptly report any observed violations of this Code of Ethics to the firm s chief compliance officer.


I have been provided with a copy of the code of ethics and any amendments and I will promptly return a signed and dated acknowledgement of this Code of Ethics to the firm s chief compliance officer.







Code of E t h i cs

R esp onsibilit y

Chief Compliance Officer

R esou r ces

http://www.sec.gov/rules/final/ia-2256.htm


Code of Ethics

Duplicate confirms and statements

 

F r e qu e n c y

Annually, as needed

Act io n

Provide a copy of the code of ethics to each supervised person

Receive and retain signed acknowledgement from each supervised person

Receive initial holdings report from each access person, and arrange for duplicate confirms

Maintain spreadsheet of access person holdings in electronic format

Review personal securities transactions of access persons

Keep records of  names and holdings of access persons

Ensure retention period of five (5) years for firm records


APPENDIX D CODE OF ETHICS


I.

INTRODUCTION


High ethical standards are essential for the success of Rockview and to maintain the confidence of Advisory Clients.  Rockview is of the view that its long-term business interests are best served by adherence to the principle that Advisory Clients interests come first.   Rockview has a fiduciary duty to its Advisory Clients, which requires individuals associated with Rockview to act solely for the benefit of Advisory Clients. Potential conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the personal trading activities of individuals associated with investment adviser firms.  In recognition of Rockview s fiduciary obligations to its Advisory Clients and Rockview s desire to maintain its high ethical  standards,  Rockview  has  adopted  this  Code  of  Ethics  containing  provisions designed  to:  (i)  prevent  improper  personal  trading  by  Access  Persons;  (ii)  prevent improper use of material, non-public information about securities recommendations made by  Rockview  or  securities  holdings  of  Advisory  Clients;  (iii)    identify  conflicts  of interest; (iv)  provide a means to resolve any actual or potential conflict in favor of the Advisory Client; and (v). ensure that our Supervised Persons act in conformance with all applicable securities laws.


Capitalized  terms not defined  in this Appendix  shall have the meanings  provided  in

Section II of the Compliance Manual.


One goal is to allow Rockview s Access Persons to engage in personal securities transactions while protecting its Advisory Clients, Rockview and its Access Persons from the conflicts that could result from a violation of the securities laws or from real or apparent conflicts of interests.  While it is impossible to define all situations that might pose such a risk, this Code of Ethics is designed to address those circumstances where such risks are likely to arise.


Adherence to the Code of Ethics and the related restrictions on personal investing is considered a basic condition of employment for employees and Access Persons (as applicable) of Rockview.   If there is any doubt as to the propriety of any activity, employees should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee, who is charged with the administration of this Code of Ethics, has general compliance responsibility for Rockview and may offer guidance on securities laws and acceptable practices, as the same may change from time to time.  The Chief Compliance Officer may rely upon the advice of outside legal counsel or outside compliance consultants.


In addition, all employees are expected to conduct their personal affairs in a manner that will not conflict with their duties for Rockview or their fiduciary duties to Rockview s clients.  Upon joining, each employee must provide Rockview with a report in the form attached  as  Exhibit  7  listing  all  material  outside  activities,  directorships,  or  major ownership (over 5%) in any entity.   No Employee may engage in any outside activities as employee,  proprietor,  partner,  consultant,  trustee,  officer  or director  without prior written consent of the Chief Compliance Officer.   Volunteer activities in a non- managerial and non-director role, family private foundations and real estate cooperative










or condominium boards for which the employee serves without compensation are exempt from this prohibition.  If you have any questions about any potential activity or position outside Rockview, please discuss it with the Chief Compliance Officer.


II.

APPLICABILITY OF CODE OF ETHICS


A.         Personal Accounts of Access Persons Where Reportable Securities are Held (Pursuant to the Definition in Section III.B of this Code of Ethics).   This Code of Ethics applies to all Personal Accounts of all Access Persons.  A Personal Account also includes an account maintained by or for:


1.         Access Person's spouse (other than a legally separated or divorced spouse of the Access Person) and minor children;


2.         Any  individuals  who  live  in  the  Access  Person's  household  and  over whose purchases, sales, or other trading activities the Access Person exercises control or investment discretion;


3.         Any  persons  to  whom  the  Access  Person  provides  primary  financial support, and either (i) whose financial affairs the Access Person controls, or  (ii)  for  whom  the  Access  Person  provides  discretionary  advisory services;


4.        Any trust or other arrangement which names the Access Person as a beneficiary; and


5.         Any partnership, corporation, or other entity of which the Access Person is a director, officer or partner or in which the Access Person has a 25% or greater  beneficial  interest,  or  in  which  the  Access  Person  owns  a controlling interest or exercises effective control.


As provided in Section  V.A.(1) below, upon receipt of this Compliance Manual, each  Access  Person  will  be  required  to  provide  a  comprehensive  list  of  all Personal Accounts to Rockview s Chief Compliance Officer.


B.         Personal Accounts.   A Personal Account does not include any account for which an Access Person serves as trustee of a trust for the benefit of (i) a person to whom the Access Person does not provide primary financial support, or (ii) an independent third party.


1.          Personal Accounts of Other Access Persons.   A Personal Account of an Access Person that is managed by another Access Person is considered to be a Personal Account only of the Access Person who has a Beneficial Ownership in the Personal Account.   The account is considered to be a client account with respect to the Access Person managing the Personal Account.










2.          Solicitors/Consultants.    Non-employee Solicitors or consultants are not subject to this Code of Ethics unless the Solicitor/consultant, as part of his duties on behalf of Rockview becomes an Access Person.


3.

Client  Accounts.

A client  account  includes  any account  managed  by

Rockview which is not a Personal Account.


III.

DUTY TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWs


It  is  the  duty  of  all  of  Rockview s  Supervised  Persons  to  comply  with  applicable  federal securities laws.   Through this Code of Ethics and the Compliance Manual, a compliance infrastructure  has  been  established  that  seeks  to  identify  applicable  legal  requirements  and provide policies and procedures for Supervised Persons to carry out their responsibilities in a legal and ethical fashion.  It is everyone s responsibility to act within both the letter and spirit of these policies and procedures.  Any questions regarding the scope of the Code or any other compliance  policy or  procedures  should  be  addressed  promptly  with  the Chief  Compliance Officer.


IV.

RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL INVESTING ACTIVITIES


A.         General.   It is the responsibility of each Access Person to ensure that a particular securities  transaction  being considered  for his or her Personal  Account  is not subject to a restriction contained in this Code of Ethics, the limitations imposed by  the  internal  Restricted  Securities  List,  or  otherwise  prohibited  by  any applicable  laws.    Personal  securities  transactions  for  Access  Persons  may  be affected only in accordance with the provisions of this Section.


B.         Pre-clearance of Transactions in Personal Account.    An Access Person must obtain the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer before engaging in any Reportable Security transaction in his or her Personal Account.  A request for pre-clearance must be made by completing the Pre-Clearance Form in advance of the contemplated transaction.  A Sample Pre-Clearance Form is attached as Exhibit 1.  Any approval given under this paragraph will remain in effect for 48 hours.


C.         Short Sales.   An Access Person shall not engage in any short sale of a security if, at the time of the transaction, any Advisory Client account managed by Rockview has a long position in such security.


D.

Option Writing.   An Access Person may not engage in uncovered option writing.


E.         Day Trading Prohibited.   All transactions executed by Access Persons must be held a minimum of 10 business days










V.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS


A.  All  Access  Persons  are  required  to  submit  to  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer

(subject to the applicable provisions of Section V. below) the following reports:


1.         Initial Holdings Report Access Persons are required to provide the Chief Compliance Officer with an Initial Holdings Report within 10 days of the date that such person became an Access Person that meets the following requirements:


a.         Must disclose all of the Access Person s current securities holdings with the following content for each Reportable Security (as defined in IV.B. below ) that the Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership:


·

title and type of reportable security;


·

ticker symbol or CUSIP number (as applicable);


·

number of shares;


·

principal amount or value of each reportable security.


b.         Must disclose the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains a Personal Account.


c.         Information contained in Initial Holding Reports must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of submission.


d.

The date upon which the report was submitted.


e.         Access  Persons  should  use the form of  Initial  Holdings  Report contained in Exhibit 2 to this Code of Ethics.


2.         Annual Holdings Report Subject to the applicable provisions of Section V. below , Access Persons must also provide Annual Holdings Reports of all  current  reportable  securities  holdings  at  least  once  during  each  12 month period (the “Annual Holding Certification Date”).  For purposes of this Code, the Annual Holdings Certification Date is December 31 and the Annual Holdings Report must be provided no later than February 14 of each year.   From a content perspective, such Annual Holdings Reports must comply with the requirements of Section IV.A.(1)(a), (b) and (c) above .   Access Persons should use the form of Annual Holdings Report contained in Exhibit 3 to this Code of Ethics.


3.         Quarterly Transaction  Reports   Subject  to the applicable  provisions  of Section V. below , Access Persons must also provide quarterly securities transaction  reports  for  each  transaction  in  a  Reportable  Security  (as










defined in Section IV.B. below ) that the Access Person has any direct or indirect  beneficial  ownership.    Such  quarterly  transaction  reports  must meet the following requirements:


a.         Content Requirements Quarterly transaction report must include:


·

date of transaction;


·

title of Reportable Security;


·

ticker symbol or CUSIP number of reportable security (as applicable);


·

interest rate or maturity date (if applicable);


·

number of shares;


·

principal amount of Reportable Security;


·

nature of transaction (i.e., purchase or sale);


·

price of Reportable Security at which the transaction was effected;


·

the name of broker, dealer or bank through which the transaction was effected;


·

the date upon which the Access Person submitted the report.


b.         Timing Requirements Subject to Section VI.C. , Access Persons must submit a quarterly transaction report no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter.


c.         Access Persons should use the form of quarterly transaction report provided in Exhibit  4 to this Code of Ethics.


B.         Definition of Reportable Security For purposes of the reporting requirements, a Reportable Security is any financial instrument that is known as a security and as defined in detail in Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act, EXCEPT that it does NOT include:


1.  Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;


2.         Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high  quality  short-term  debt  instruments,  including  repurchase agreements;










3.

Shares issued by money market funds;


4.         Shares issued by registered open-end funds; provided that (i) such funds are NOT advised by Rockview or an affiliate and such fund s adviser or principal underwriter is not controlled or under common control with Rockview or (ii) such funds are not exchange-traded funds;


5.         Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more registered open-end funds; provided that such funds are NOT advised by Rockview or an affiliate and such fund s adviser or principal underwriter is not controlled or under common control with Rockview


C.

Duty  to  Update    All  Access  Persons  are  required  to  promptly  update  any information in their holdings reports that may be incomplete or incorrect.


VI.

EXCEPTIONS FROM REPORTING REQUIREMENTS/ ALTERNATIVE TO QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORTS


This Section sets forth exceptions from the reporting requirements of Section IV of this Code.    All  other  requirements  will  continue  to  apply  to  any  holding  or  transaction exempted   from   reporting   pursuant   to   this    Section .   Accordingly,   the   following transactions will be exempt only from the reporting requirements of Section   IV :


A.         No Initial, Annual or Quarterly Transaction is required to be filed by an Access Person with respect to securities held in any Personal Account over which the Access Person has (or had) no direct or indirect influence or control;


B.         Quarterly Transaction Reports are not required to be submitted with respect to any transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan (although holdings need to be included on Initial and Annual Holdings Reports);


C.        Quarterly Transaction Reports are not required if the report would duplicate information  contained  in broker  trade confirm  or account  statements  that   an Access Person has already provided to the Chief Compliance Officer; provided, that such broker trade confirm or account statements are provided to the Chief Compliance Officer within 30 days of the end of the applicable calendar quarter. This paragraph has no effect on an Access Person s responsibility related to the submission of Initial and Annual Holdings Reports.


1.

Access  Persons  that  would  like  to  avail  themselves  of this  exemption should:


a.         Ensure  that  the  content  of  such  broker  confirms  or  account statements for any Personal Account meet the content required for Quarterly Transaction Reports set forth in Section IV.A.3 above ; and










b.         Inform  the  CCO  that  you  would  like  to  avail  yourself  of  this compliance  option and provide the CCO with the following for each of your Personal Accounts:


·

name of institution;


·

address of institution;


·

name of contact at institution;


·

identification numbers for personal accounts held at institution;


·

name of personal accounts held at institution.




c.         The CCO will then work with the individual Access Person to send the form of letter attached to this Code of Ethics as Exhibit 5 to the institution(s) in question.


VII.

PROTECTION OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITIES/INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS


In  addition  to  other  provisions  of  this  Code  of  Ethics  and  Rockview s  Compliance Manual (including Section Error! Reference source not found.Error! Reference source not found. . of the Compliance Manual and the Insider Trading Procedures in 0 ), Access Persons  should  note  that  Rockview  has  a  duty  to  safeguard  material,  non-public information about securities/investment recommendations provided to (or made on behalf of)  Advisory  Clients.     As  such,  Access  Persons  generally  should  not  share  such information outside of Rockview.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Access Persons and Rockview may provide such information to persons or entities providing services to Rockview or Advisory Clients where such information is required to effectively provide the services in question.  Examples of such are:


·            b r o k e r s;


·            acc o un t a n t s o r a c c ou n t i n g s u pp o r t s e r v i ce f i r m s;


·            c u s t o d i a n s;


·            t r a n s f er a g e n ts;


·            b a n k e r s; a n d


·            l a w y e r s










If there are any questions about the sharing of material, non-public information about securities/investment recommendations made by Rockview, please see the Chief Compliance Officer.


VIII.

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS; PAYMENTS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS


A.

“Pay to Play” Policy


Rule 206(4)-5 under the Advisers Act prohibits practices commonly known as “pay to play,” where an investment adviser or its employees directly or indirectly make contributions or other payments to public officials with the intent of generating investment advisory business.


B.

Definitions


For purposes of this section:


1.         A “Contribution” includes any gift, subscription, loan, advance, deposit of money  or  anything  of  value  made  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  an election to an elective office.  A Contribution includes, without limitation, payment  of  campaign  debts  and  payment  of  transition  or  inaugural expenses.


2.         A  “Government  Official”  means  any  candidate  for  elective  office  or incumbent holding elective office if the office holder (i) is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the hiring of, an investment adviser by a government entity or (ii) has the authority to appoint any person who is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the hiring of, an investment adviser by a government entity.


3.         A “Government Entity” means any U.S. state or political subdivision of a U.S. state, including its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities, plans, programs and pools of assets.  For the avoidance of doubt, government entities  include  all  pension  plans  and  collective  government  funds, including participant-directed plans such as 403(b), 457 and 529 plans.


C.

General Principles


1.         De Minimis Threshold.  Covered Associates may make a Contribution or series of Contributions to a Government Official, without pre-approval of or notice to the Chief Compliance Officer, provided that the aggregate contributions to any one Government Official per election do not exceed (i) $350 with respect to any Government  Official for which a Covered Associate is entitled to vote at the time of the Contribution or (ii) $150 with respect to any other Government Official.










2.         If  a  Covered  Associate  desires  to  make  a  Contribution  above  the  de minimis limits described above, or coordinates or solicits any third party to make any Contribution to, or for the benefit of or at the request of, any Government Official, then the Covered Associate must submit a written request  to  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer  (a  form  for  this  purpose  is attached to this Code as Exhibit 6) that includes:


a.

The amount and date of the proposed Contribution;


b.         The government official to whom such Contribution or on whose behalf such coordination or solicitation was made;


c.         If applicable, the elective or appointed office or other government position that such Government Official occupies at the time of the Contribution, coordination or solicitation;


d.         If applicable, the elective or appointed office or other government position sought by such Government Official at the time of the proposed Contribution, coordination or solicitation;


e.         If applicable, the person who requested that such employee make the proposed Contribution or engage in such coordination or solicitation;


f.         The   form   of   the   proposed   Contribution,    coordination   or solicitation, as the case may be; and


g.         A brief description of the reason for the Contribution, coordination or solicitation and any other relevant facts or circumstances.


3.         Covered Associates are not required to submit a written request to the Chief Compliance Officer before making (or a written report after the fact after making):


a.         Donations of their time to a Government Official, provided that (i) Rockview  did  not  tell  them  to  volunteer  their  time;  (ii) Rockview s resources were not used and (iii) the employee s campaign activities do not otherwise take place during business hours;


b.         Payments to political action committees (“PACs”), political parties or charities (provided that such payments are not being used as an indirect means to “channel” the contribution to a Government Official); or


c.        Contributions to candidates for federal office, provided that such candidate is not also a Government Official by virtue of a state or local office held during the campaign.










Covered Associates should also report Contributions and activities, done indirectly that, if done directly, would require such Covered Associate to submit a request as described above.   Examples of such activities include a spouse making a Contribution for the employee spouse.


D.         Two Year “Time Out”


1.         If a “Covered Associate” makes a Contribution to a Government Official above the de minimis thresholds, then Rockview may not receive compensation in connection with providing advisory services to the applicable Government Entity for two years after the date of such Contribution.   If the Government Entity is an existing investor in an Advisory Client managed by Rockview, then Rockview must waive or rebate any fees otherwise payable by the Government Entity to Rockview for two years or, alternatively, redeem the Government Entity s interest in the Rockview client or permit the Government Entity to withdraw from the Rockview client.  A “Covered Associate” for purposes of rule 206(4)-5 means (i) any managing member or executive officer of Rockview or its affiliates; (ii) any employee whose job duties include the solicitation of any government entity on behalf of Rockview or its affiliates (including any  consultant  or  independent  contractor  hired  by  Rockview  or  its affiliates who solicits a Government Entity on behalf of Rockview or its affiliates) and any person who directly or indirectly supervises them and (iii) any PAC controlled by Rockview or another Covered Associate. Employees performing administrative or advisory services that do not involve solicitation are not Covered Associates.


2.        The two-year “time out” resulting from a Covered Associate making a Contribution will continue to apply even if the Covered Associate is no longer employed by Rockview.   Furthermore, prior Contributions follow an individual if he or she subsequently becomes a Covered Associate of Rockview  (including  a  non-Covered  Associate  employee  of  Rockview who is promoted to a Covered Associate position).  When hiring Covered Associates or promoting employees to Covered Associate positions, Rockview shall require disclosure of such Covered Associates prior campaign Contributions.


3.         Rockview  can  ask  the  SEC  to  waive  a  “time  out”  if  (i)  Rockview discovers the contribution after it occurs and (ii) the “time out” is unnecessary to achieve the intended purpose of rule 206(4)-5 (e.g., if a disgruntled  ex-employee  of  Rockview  or  its  affiliates  makes  a Contribution triggering a time out on his or her way out the door).


4.         Rockview may also avoid a “time out” if (i) the Contribution is discovered within  four  months  and  returned  within  60  days  after  discovery,  and (ii) the  contribution  did  not  exceed  $350.    This  “self  help”  option  is limited to no more than two Contributions per calendar year and to no










more than one returned Contribution per Covered Associate, regardless of the time period.


E.

Recordkeeping


1.  At all times that Rockview is providing advisory services to Government

Entities, it is required, pursuant to rule 206(4)-5, to keep records of:


a.         All direct and indirect Contributions made by Rockview or any of its Covered Associates to Government Officials and payments to state and local political parties and PACs.   Contributions and payments must be listed in chronological order, identifying the contributor and recipient and the date and amount of each Contribution;


b.         A list of the names, titles and business and residential addresses of all Covered Associates;


c.         A  list  of  the  Government  Entities  to  which  it  provides  or  has provided advisory services during the past five years; and


d.         A  list  of  the  names  and  business  addresses  of  each  regulated person   retained   by  Rockview   to  solicit   investment   advisory business from Government Entities.


F.

Other Regulations


Various  states,  local  governments  and  individual  public  pension  plans  have passed legislation, issued regulations or promulgated policies prohibiting or restricting the use of finders or solicitors to solicit public pension plans and/or requiring  extensive  disclosure  with  respect  to  campaign  contributions.    Rule

206(4)-5 does not preempt any regulation at the state, local or plan-specific level and Rockview will adhere to the most restrictive approach in order to comply with all finder/solicitor and political contribution regulations.  These requirements may change over time.  As a result, Rockview will monitor state, local and plan- specific regulations that will need to be followed.  Such rules may also require covered persons involved in a solicitation to register in the state as a lobbyist and may limit gifts and entertainment provided to Government Officials of a Government Entity.


IX.

GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT


The practices of receiving and giving gifts and business entertainment have a legitimate place in business.   However, when such practices involve a person or organization that has an existing or potential business relationship with Rockview, there is a risk of an actual or perceived conflict or other impropriety.   Accordingly, Rockview has adopted this policy on (1) receiving gifts; (2); receiving entertainment; and (3) giving gifts and entertainment.  This policy addresses gifts and entertainment in the context of a business










relationship only and does not address situations where the relationship is primarily personal  and  independent  of  business,  even  if  there  is  also  an  existing  or  potential business relationship.  If you are in any doubt as to the applicability of this policy, you must seek guidance from the Chief Compliance Officer.


A.         Receiving Gifts


A gift includes anything of value that is provided to you by any third party that has or seeks to have a business relationship with Rockview.  Gift giving, particularly around the holidays, is a common practice and accepting a gift of nominal value (having a market value of US$250 or less is generally acceptable, although employees accepting such gifts should always consider whether there could be the appearance of or an actual conflict of interest (such as a specific request for business in return for the gift) that should be raised to the Chief Compliance Officer.   No gifts of cash, in any amount, may be accepted. Gifts should not be received regularly from the same vendor, even if each of these gifts is within the limits outlined above. In addition, brokerage firms have rules that prevent them from giving gifts valued in excess of US$250 to the same person in one year. If there is any doubt as to the value of a gift, please consult the Chief Compliance Officer.


To avoid any potential conflict, any business gift in excess of US$250, must be disclosed to the Chief Compliance Officer using the Form attached as Exhibit 8.    The Chief Compliance  Officer  will  approve  your  receipt  of  the  gift  or,  for  gifts  that  create  a potential  conflict,  determine  whether  the  gifts  need  to  be  returned  or  alternatively handled.   The Chief Compliance Officer will maintain a log of all gifts referred to Compliance under this policy.


For purposes of clarity, the following will not be considered gifts under this policy, provided that the gifts are not lavish or extravagant:


gifts  that  are  given  for  celebratory  events,  such  as  wedding  or  baby  gifts, promotions or retirement, where a personal relationship exists;


tombstones or other items with prominently displayed logos provided to recognize a transaction or participation at a conference or similar event; or


token gifts sent to Rockview or its employees at holiday time, for example, food baskets and wine.


B.         Receiving Entertainment


Attending business dinners, sporting events and other business-related functions is an important part of developing and maintaining relationships with brokers, suppliers and others  with  whom  Rockview  does  business.    Business  entertainment  should  always include at least one attendee from the company providing the entertainment.   If no one from the company that is providing access to the event is present, it is not entertainment and must be viewed as a gift (for example, receiving 4 tickets to take your family to a sporting event) and will generally require payment by the Rockview employee of the estimated cost of the event.










All entertainment must be reasonable and not “lavish” or excessive.   All entertainment must also be in good taste and behavior should be commensurate with that expected at a business affair.


Provided that it meets the standards  set forth above, the following types of business entertainment do not need approval:


         Business meals;


Sporting  events,  concerts  or  other  similar  activities,  provided  that  the  event requires no air travel;


         Golf outings, provided that the event requires no air travel;


Conferences,  cocktail parties or other events sponsored  by brokerage  firms or other companies with which we have or may develop business relationships, provided that the event requires no air travel; or


         Car transportation home from any of the above events.


The following types of business entertainment require pre-approval:


         Any event that involves air travel or overnight accommodations; or


Any  event  that  involves  an  activity  that  is  unique  or  extravagant  (hot  air ballooning, humvee rides in the desert).


In approving entertainment, the Chief Compliance Officer will consider several factors, including:


         What is the business purpose of the entertainment?


What is the potential for a conflict or appearance of a conflict of interest created by accepting the entertainment?


         Is the entertainment reasonable in relation to the business purpose?


Depending  on  the  circumstances,  approval  may  be  conditioned  on  the  employee  or

Rockview paying for all or a part of the cost of the entertainment.


The Chief Compliance Officer will maintain a log of all entertainment requests under this policy.


C.         Giving Gifts and Entertainment on Behalf of Rockview


Any  gifts  given  to  employees  of  companies  with  which  Rockview  has  or  seeks  to establish a business relationship must be of nominal value, as defined above, and should never create the appearance of impropriety.   Any business gift to be given in excess of US$250, must be approved by the Chief Compliance Officer using the Form attached as










Exhibit 8.  No cash or cash equivalent gifts are permitted.  No gift of any value may be given to employees of governmental entities (US state, local, federal or non-US) without the prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.  Business relationships of Rockview, such as with our investors, as well as many other types of institutions with which we have a relationship, often have internal policies on receiving gifts and, accordingly, any gift must also be consistent with those policies.   If there is any doubt as to whether a gift would be appropriate, you must contact the Chief Compliance Officer.


Similar policies also apply when Rockview is providing entertainment.  Accordingly, any entertainment provided by Rockview that would require approval if received by an employee of Rockview will require approval of your manager and the Chief Compliance Officer.   Specifically, no entertainment of any value may be given to employees of governmental entities (US state, local, federal or non-US), including business meals or other similar activities that would be permissible with non-governmental employees, without the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.


X.

OVERSIGHT OF CODE OF ETHICS


A.         Reporting.   All employees, members, officers and directors of Rockview have an affirmative obligation to report promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer (i) any situation that may involve a conflict of interest or (ii) other possible violation of this Code of Ethics.  Any reports under this section made to the Chief Compliance Officer must be reported by the Chief Compliance Officer to the executive management of Rockview.


B.         Review of Transactions.   Each Access Person's transactions in his/her Personal Accounts  may  be  reviewed  on  a  regular  basis  and  compared  to  transactions entered  into  by  Rockview  for  Advisory  Clients.    Any  transactions  that  are believed to be a violation of this Code of Ethics will be reported promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer who must report them to the executive management of Rockview.


C.         Sanctions.   The executive management of Rockview, with advice of outside legal counsel, at its discretion, shall consider reports made to management and upon determining that a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred, may impose such sanctions or remedial action management deems appropriate or to the extent required by law (as may be advised by outside legal counsel or other advisors). These sanctions may include, among other things, disgorgement of profits, suspension or termination of employment with Rockview, or criminal or civil penalties.


XI.

CONFIDENTIALITY


All reports of securities transactions and any other information filed pursuant to this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.







EXHIBIT 1





R OCK V IEW M ANAGEMENT , LLC



Req u e s t o r ( p ri n t na me ):                                

 



D a t e :                                            







S E C U R I T Y N A ME



S EC U R I T Y

T Y P E ( 1 )




Q U AN T I T Y



T R A N SA C T I O N

T Y P E ( 2 )



P A Y M E N T

T Y P E ( 3 )

B R O K E R P R O CE SS I N G T R A D E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Stock, option, warrant, convertible, bond, et c . P u r c h as e , s h o r t sa l e, e t c.

Cash or margin




Note: Firm policy prohibits short-term (e.g. day) trading and uncovered option writing.  All t r an s a c t i on s e x ec u t e d mu st b e h e ld a m i n i m u m o f 1 0 b u si n e ss d a y s (e . g . 2 w ee k s) an d d up l i c a te s t a t e m e n ts m u s t b e s en t f r o m y o u r b r o ke r to R oc k v i e w Ma n a g e m en t , LL C s Co m p l i a nc e De pa r t men t e a c h m on th .







I agree to abide by the policy conditions set forth alone


Requestor Signature






Transaction Approval


Compliance Department










EXHIBIT 2


ROCKVIEW MANAGEMENT, LLC INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT FOR ACCESS PERSONS


Name of Access Person:                                 


Date of Submission of Report:                        


In connection with my new status as an Access Person at Rockview, the following sets forth all of my holdings in Reportable Securities (as defined in Section IV.B. of Rockview s Code  of  Ethics)  that  are  held  in  my  Personal  Accounts  (as  defined  in   Section II.A.   of Rockview s Code of Ethics).



Title and

Type of Security

Tracker Symbol

or CUSIP Number

(As Applicable)


Number of

Shares Held

Principal

Amounts of Shares

Broker/Dealer

Or Bank Where

Securities Are Held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



OR


No holdings in Reportable Securities (as defined in Section IV.B. of Rockview s

Code of Ethics)







The undersigned Access Person certifies that all information contained in this report is true and

correct as of                  , 201_ (which must be a date within 45 days that this report is submitted to the Chief Compliance Officer).



Name of Access Person




Signature of Access Person




Date




Compliance Review Signature

Chief Compliance Officer










EXHIBIT 3


ROCKVIEW MANAGEMENT, LLC ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT FOR ACCESS PERSONS


Name of Access Person:    


Date of Submission of Report:  


The following sets forth all of my holdings in Reportable Securities (as defined in Section IV.B of Rockview s Code of Ethics) that are held in my Personal Accounts (as defined in Section II.A of Rockview s Code of Ethics) as of December 31 (the “Annual Holdings Certification Date”).



Title and

Type of Security

Tracker Symbol

or CUSIP Number

(As Applicable)


Number of

Shares Held

Principal

Amounts of Shares

Broker/Dealer

Or Bank Where

Securities Are Held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O R


No holdings in Reportable Securities (as defined in Section IV.B of Rockview s

Code of Ethics) as of the Annual Holdings Certificate Date.


The undersigned Access Person certifies that all information contained in this report is true and

correct as of Holdings Certificate Date ).             , 201_ (which must be a date within 45 days of the Annual



Name of Access Person




Signature of Access Person




Date




Compliance Review Signature

Chief Compliance Officer










EXHIBIT 4


ROCKVIEW MANAGEMENT, LLC QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT FOR ACCESS PERSONS


Name of Access Person:    


Date of Submission of Report:  


The following sets forth all of the transactions in Reportable Securities (as defined in Section

IV.B of Rockview s Code of Ethics) made in my Personal Accounts (as defined in Section II.A

of  Rockview s  Code  of  Ethics)  for  the  quarter  beginning  on                 and  ending  on





Date of

Transaction




Nature of

Transaction


Title and Type of Security


Tracker Symbol or

CUSIP Number

(As Applicable)




Number of Shares





$ Amount

Broker/Dealer or

Bank Where Securities Are Held

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


OR


No  transactions   in  Reportable   Securities   (as   defined   in    Section IV.B.    of

Rockview s Code of Ethics)


The undersigned Access Person certifies that all information contained in this report is true and correct as of (check appropriate):


December 31, 201_ March 31, 201_ June 30, 201_

September 30, 201_


Name of Access Person




Signature of Access Person




Date




Compliance Review Signature

Chief Compliance Officer







EXHIBIT 5




[DATE]

[INSERT NAME OF BROKER]

[INSERT ADDRESS]

 

 

Re:   [ NAME OF EMPLOYEE ] /Account No(s). [###]

 

 

Dear [CONTACT NAME]:

 


As the Compliance Officer for Rockview Management, LLC, I am aware that [NAME OF BROKER] executes and clears transactions for the purchase or sale of securities for the account of [NAME OF EMPLOYEE] (the “Employee”).


In accordance with our compliance procedures, I hereby request that duplicate copies of all trade confirmation statements and monthly account statements with respect to the above-referenced account(s) held by our Employee be sent to my attention at the following address:


Rockview Management, LLC

MetroCenter, One Station Place, Stamford, CT  06902

Attn. [NAME OF CCO], Chief Compliance Officer


Please feel free to call me at 203-388-4900 should you have any questions. Best regards,

Rockview Management, LLC





Name: [NAME OF CCO]

Title:  Chief Compliance Officer


I hereby authorize [NAME OF BROKER] or   its   representatives   to   send   duplicate copies of all trade confirmation statements and monthly account statements with respect to my account(s) held with [NAME OF BROKER] to my employer, Rockview Management, LLC, at the above-listed address.


Signature of Employee:                                 


Name:  


EXHIBIT 6




GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL CONTRIBUTION R EQUEST

 



Employee Name:

 


Amount of Contribution:

 


Date of Contribution:

 


Form of Contribution, coordination or solicitation:

 


Name   of   Government   Official   to whom the Contribution or on whose behalf   coordination   or   solicitation was made:

 


Elected  or  appointed  office  or position held by the Government Official at time of Contribution:

 


Elected  or  appointed  office  or position sought by the Government Official at time of Contribution:

 


Reason for the Contribution, coordination or solicitation and any other relevant facts or circumstances:

 


I affirm that the above information is accurate and complete.



Signature




Print Name



Date:



Contribution Approved:



Compliance Review Signature

Chief Compliance Officer






EXHIBIT 7





Outside Directorships or Positions

Annual Disclosure/Affirmation Form

 


Pursuant to Rockview s policy, all employees are required to disclose to Rockview at the time of employment, and thereafter to obtain Rockview s approval prior to engaging in certain “outside activities”.  For these purposes, outside activities are deemed to include any activity engaged in during or after business hours, other than those activities for which the employee is being compensated by Rockview.   In particular, employees must disclose employment relationships ( i.e. , second jobs, board directorships and fiduciary relationships).


To ensure that Rockview s information in this regard is current and comprehensive, Rockview is requesting all employees to complete this form.  For Section B, all “outside activities” must be described.   If you currently do not maintain any “outside activities”, please attest to such in Section B below.  Please sign and return the form to the Chief Compliance Officer.


Section A.   Employee Information

Employee Name

 

Title and Position

Office Telephone Number


Section B. Outside Activities (Directorships and/or Positions Held)

Description of Activity

Date Activity Commenced

1 .

 

 

2.

 

 

3.

 

 

4.

 

 

5.

 

 



 

[  ] As of the date below, I am not engaged in any “outside activities,” as defined above and under Rockview s Code of Ethics.


Section D.   Employee Affirmation


I affirm that the above information is accurate and complete as of the date of my signature.  I understand  that  I  am  under  a  continuing  obligation  during  my  employment  to  amend, supplement or correct this disclosure should circumstances so warrant.


Signature                                                                                                 Date




All Outside Activities Approved:



Compliance Review Signature

Chief Compliance Officer










EXHIBIT 8


GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT APPROVAL FORM


Each employee of Rockview must provide details of any gift received in excess of $250 or any entertainment requiring approval, as detailed in Rockview s Code of Ethics.  Please provide the following information with respect to any such gift or entertainment:




Description of gift/entertainment:                                                                            




Reason for gift/entertainment:                                                                            






Investor/Broker/Vendor individual and firm name:                                                                            






Approximate value of gift/entertainment:                                                                            




Does the entertainment involve air travel or an overnight hotel stay?



                                                                           



Signature:                                                                            


Print Name:                                                                            


Date:                                                                            


Manager Approval (if applicable):                                                                            


CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER Approval:                                                                            


Date:                                                                            




APPENDIX E     

INSIDER TRADING P R O C E D U R ES


XII.

POLICY STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING


Rockview forbids any employee from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, including  Advisory  Clients,  on  material  non-public  information  or  communicating material  non-public  information  to  others  in  violation  of  the  law.    This  conduct  is frequently referred to as “insider trading.”  Rockview s policy applies to every employee and extends to activities within and outside their duties at Rockview s principal office. Every employee must read and retain this policy statement.


The term “insider trading” is not defined in the federal securities laws, but generally is used to refer (including Exchange Act Rule 10b-5) to the use of material non-public information   to   trade   in   securities   (whether   or   not   one   is   an   “insider”)   or   to communications of material non-public information to others.


While the law concerning insider trading is not static, it is generally understood that the law prohibits:


·            t r a d i n g b y an i n si d e r , w h i le in po ss e ss i o n o f m at e r i a l n o n - p u b l i c i n f o rm a t i o n ; o r

·

trading by a non-insider, while in possession of material non-public information, where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider s duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated; or

·            c o mm un i c ati n g m at e r i a l no n - pu b l ic i n f o r m ati o n to o t h e r s.


The elements of insider trading and the penalties for such unlawful conduct are discussed below.  If, after reviewing this policy statement, any employee has any questions he or she should consult the Chief Compliance Officer.


A.         Who is an Insider?


The concept of “insider” is broad.  It includes officers, directors and employees of a company.  In addition, a person can be a “temporary insider” if he or she enters into a special confidential relationship in the conduct of a company s affairs and as a result is given access to information solely for the company s purposes.   A temporary insider can include, among others, a company s attorneys, accountants, consultants, bank lending officers, and the employees of such organizations.   In addition, Rockview may become a temporary insider of a company it advises or for  which  it  performs  other  services.    According  to  the  Supreme  Court,  the company must expect the outsider to keep the disclosed non-public information confidential  and  the  relationship  must  at  least  imply  such  a  duty  before  the outsider will be considered an insider.


B.

What is Material Information?


Trading on insider information is not a basis for liability unless the information is material.   “Material information” generally is defined as information for which there  is  a  substantial  likelihood  that  a  reasonable  investor  would  consider  it










important in making his or her investment decisions, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a company s securities.   Information that employees should consider material includes, but is not limited to:


·            d i v i d e n d c h a n g e s ;

·            ea r n i n g s est i m a t e s ( o r r e s u lts ) ;

·            c h a n g es in pr e v i o u s l y r e l eased e a r n i n g s est i m at e s;

·            s i g n i f i c a n t m e r g e r o r ac qu isi t i o n p r op o sals o r a g r e e m e n ts;

·            m aj o r l i t i g ati on ;

·            l i q u i d ati o n p r o b l e m s; a n d

·            e x t r a o r d i n a r y m a n a g e m e n t d e v el o p m e n ts.


Material  information  does  not  have  to  relate  to  a  company s  business.    For example, in Carpenter v. U.S., 18 U.S. 316 (1987), the Supreme Court considered as material certain information about the contents of a forthcoming newspaper column that was expected to affect the market price of a security.  In that case, a Wall Street Journal reporter was found criminally liable for disclosing to others the dates  that reports  on various  companies  would appear  in the Journal  and whether those reports would be favorable or not.


C.

What is Non-Public Information?


Information is non-public until it has been effectively communicated to the marketplace.  One must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public.   For example, information found in a report filed with the SEC, or appearing in Dow Jones, Reuters Economic Services, the Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation would be considered public.


D.

What is a Duty of Trust or Confidence?


Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-2 sets forth a non-exclusive list of three situations in which a person has a duty of trust or confidence deriving from a personal  or family relationship  for purposes  of the “misappropriation” theory of insider trading liability (see below).  The three listed situations in which a person receives material non-public information in violation of a duty of trust or confidence are:


a.

whenever a person agrees to maintain information in confidence;


b.        when two people have a history, pattern, or practice of sharing confidences such that the recipient of the information knows or reasonably  should   know  that  the  person   communicating   the material non-public information expects that the recipient will maintain the confidentiality of the information (this is a facts and circumstances test based on the expectation of the parties in light of their overall relationship); and










c.         when a person receives or obtains material non-public information from certain enumerated close family members: spouses, parents, children, and siblings.


Employees of Rockview should be aware of the fact that this list is non-exclusive. In other words, there are many other types of relationships, business and other, from which a duty of trust or confidence may be inferred.  When a person reveals material non-public information received as a result of a relationship that gives rise to a duty of trust or confidence, that person violates that duty and the revealed information may be deemed to have been “misappropriated” for purposes of the misappropriation theory of insider trading liability.


E.

Basis for Liability


1.

Fiduciary Duty Theory


In 1980, the Supreme Court found that there is no general duty to disclose before trading on material non-public information, but that such a duty arises only where there is a fiduciary relationship.  That is, there must be a relationship between the parties to the transaction such that one party has a right to expect that the other party will disclose any material non-public information or refrain from trading.   Chiarella v. U.S. , 445 U.S. 22 (1980).


In Dirks v. SEC , 463 U.S. 646 (1983), the Supreme Court stated alternate theories under which non-insiders can acquire the fiduciary duties of insiders: they can enter into a confidential relationship with the company through which they gain information (e.g., attorneys, accountants), or they can acquire a fiduciary duty to the company s shareholders as “tippees” if they are aware or should have been aware that they have been given confidential information by an insider who has violated his fiduciary duty to the company s shareholders.


However, in the “tippee” situation, a breach of duty occurs only if the insider personally benefits, directly or indirectly, from the disclosure.  The benefit does not have to be pecuniary, but can be a gift, a reputational benefit that will translate into future earnings, or even evidence of a relationship that suggests a quid pro quo.


2.

Misappropriation Theory


Another basis for insider trading liability is the “misappropriation” theory, where liability is established when trading occurs on material non-public information that was stolen or misappropriated from any other person.  In U.S. v. Carpenter, supra the Court found, in 1987, a columnist defrauded the Wall Street Journal when he stole information from the journal and used it for trading in the securities markets.  It should be noted that the misappropriation theory could be used to reach a variety of individuals not previously thought to be encompassed under the fiduciary duty theory.










F.

Penalties for Insider Trading


Any  violation  of  this  policy  statement  can  be  expected  to  result  in  serious sanctions by Rockview, including dismissal of the persons involved.


Penalties for trading on or communicating material non-public information are severe,  both  for  individuals  involved  in  such  unlawful  conduct  and  their employers.  A person can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he or she does not personally benefit from the violation.  Penalties include:


a.

civil injunctions;


b.

treble damages;


c.

disgorgement of profits;


d.

jail sentences;


e.         fines for the person who committed the violation of up to three times the profit gained or loss avoided, whether or not the person actually benefited; and


f.         fines  for the employer  or other controlling person  of up to the greater of $100,000 or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided.


XIII.

PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT ROCKVIEW S POLICY AGAINST INSIDER TRADING


The following procedures have been established to aid employees in avoiding insider trading, and to aid Rockview in preventing, detecting and imposing sanctions against insider trading.  Every employee must follow these procedures or risk serious sanctions, including dismissal, substantial personal liability and criminal penalties.  If you have any questions about these procedures, you should consult the Chief Compliance Officer.


A.         Identifying Insider Information


1.         Before engaging in personal trading and trading for Advisory Clients in the securities of a company about which there may be potential insider information, the following questions should be asked:


a.         Is the information material?   Is this information that an investor would  consider   important   in   making   his  or  her  investment decisions?  Is this information that would substantially affect the market price of the securities if generally disclosed?


b.         Is the information non-public?  To whom has this information been provided?  Has the information been effectively communicated to










the marketplace  by being published  in Reuters,  the   Wall Street

Journal or other publications of general circulation?


2.         If,  after  consideration  of  the  above,  there  is  a  possibility  that  the information could be material and non-public, or if there are questions as to whether the information is material and non-public, the following steps should be taken:


a.

The   matter   should   be   reported   immediately   to   the   Chief

Compliance Officer.


b.         The securities should not be purchased personally or on behalf of an Advisory Client.


c.

The  information  should  not  be communicated  inside  or outside

Rockview, other than to the Chief Compliance Officer.


d.         After  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer  has  reviewed  the  issue  or consulted with counsel (as appropriate), the prohibitions against trading and communication shall be continued, or trading and communication of the information shall be permitted.


B.

Personal Securities Trading


As noted above in Rockview s Code of Ethics, all Access Persons are subject to strict reporting and pre-clearance requirements with respect to personal securities transactions.


C.

Restricting Access to Material Non-Public Information


If an employee is in possession of information that he or she has identified as material and non-public such information may not be communicated to anyone, including persons within Rockview, except as provided in Section II.A. (2) . In addition, care should be taken so that such information is secure.   For example, files containing material non-public information should be sealed; access to computer files containing material non-public information should be restricted.


D.

Resolving Issues Concerning Insider Trading


If after consideration of the items set forth in Section II.A. , doubt remains as to whether  information  is  material  or  non-public,  or  if  there  is  any  unresolved question as to the applicability or interpretation of the foregoing procedures, or as to the propriety of any action, it must be discussed with the Chief Compliance Officer before trading or communicating the information to anyone.





 

CODE OF ETHICS

 Effective July 2011


This Code of Ethics (“Code”) is adopted in compliance with the requirements of U.S. securities laws applicable to registered investment advisers. Registered investment advisers are required by Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”), to adopt a code of ethics which, among other things,  sets  forth  the  standards  of  business  conduct  required  of  their  supervised  persons  and  requires  those supervised persons to comply with the federal securities laws.


Standards of Business Conduct


Sound Point seeks to foster a reputation for integrity and professionalism. That reputation is a vital business asset. The confidence and trust placed in us by our clients is something we value and endeavor to protect. To further that goal, we have adopted this Code and implemented policies and procedures to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and manipulative practices and to ensure compliance with the Federal Securities Laws and the fiduciary duties owed to our clients.


We are fiduciaries and as such, we have affirmative duties of care, honesty, loyalty and good faith to act in the best interests of our clients. Our clients interests are paramount and come before our personal interests. Our Access Persons and Supervised Persons, as those terms are defined in this Code, are also expected to behave as fiduciaries with respect to our clients. This means that each must render disinterested advice, protect client assets (including nonpublic information about a client or a client account) and act always in the best interest of our clients. We must also strive to identify and avoid conflicts of interest, however such conflicts may arise.


Access Persons and Supervised Persons of Sound Point must not:


employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a client;


make to a client any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to a client a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;


engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a client;


engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a client;


use their positions, or any investment opportunities presented by virtue of their positions, to personal advantage or to the detriment of a client; or


conduct personal trading activities in contravention of this Code or applicable legal principles or in such a manner as may be inconsistent with the duties owed to clients as a fiduciary.


To ensure compliance with these restrictions and the Federal Securities Laws, as defined in this Code, we have adopted, and agreed to be governed by, the provisions of this Code. However, Access Persons and Supervised Persons are expected to comply not merely with the “letter of the law,” but also with the spirit of the law, this Code, and Sound Point s Investment Adviser Policies and Procedures Manual.


Should you have any doubt as to whether this Code applies to you, you should contact Kevin Gerlitz, the Chief

Compliance Officer of Sound Point (“CCO”).


1.  Definitions


As used in the Code, the following terms have the following meanings:




1.1.         Access Persons include (i) any Supervised Person of Sound Point who (a) has access to nonpublic information regarding any client s purchase or sale of securities; or (b) is involved in making securities recommendations to clients or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic and (ii) any other person who the CCO determines to be an Access Person.


The CCO will inform all Access Persons of their status as such and will maintain a list of Access

Persons on Appendix A.


1.2.         Beneficial Ownership generally means having a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a security and is legally defined to be beneficial ownership as used in Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). However, transactions or holdings reports required by Section 5 of this Code may contain a statement that the report will not be construed as an admission that the person making the report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security or securities to which the report relates.


1.3.         Federal Securities Laws means: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”); (ii) Exchange Act; (iii) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; (iv) the 1940 Act, (v) the Advisers Act; (vi)  title  V  of  the  Gramm-Leach-Bliley  Act;  (vii)  any  rules  adopted  by  the  SEC  under  the foregoing statutes; (viii) the Bank Secrecy Act, as it applies to funds and investment advisers; and (ix) any rules adopted under relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act by the SEC or the Department of the Treasury.


1.4.         Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Exchange Act Sections 13 or 15(d).


1.5.

Limited Offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under Securities Act Sections

4(2) or 4(6), or pursuant to Securities Act Rules 504, 505 or 506.   Limited Offerings include, without limitation, offerings of securities issued by the private funds advised by Sound Point.


1.6.         Purchase or Sale of a Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security.


1.7.         Reportable Security means any security as defined in Advisers Act Section 202(a)(18) and Company Act Section 2(a)(36) except (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; (iii) shares issued by money market funds; (iv) shares issued by open-end funds other than Reportable Funds; and (v) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are Reportable Funds.


1.8.         Security Held by a Client means any Reportable Security which is currently held by a client. This definition also includes any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Reportable Security.


2.  Pre-Approval Requirements for Access Persons


2.1.         IPO and Limited Offering Restrictions . Access Persons may not acquire any securities issued as part of an IPO or a Limited Offering, absent prior approval in writing from the CCO.  Any such approval will take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a client and whether the investment opportunity is being offered to the person because of his or her position with Sound Point.


2.2.       Transactions in Securities Held by a Client .  Access Persons may not engage in a transaction in any Security held by a Client, absent the approval of the CCO.  In considering an Access Person s




request to engage in a transaction involving a Security Held by a Client, the CCO shall consider, among other factors, whether the sale of the Reportable Security may negatively impact the market vale of the Securities Held by a Client and whether the transaction is otherwise consistent with the Code.


2.3.        30 Day Holding Period .  Absent the prior written consent of the CCO, no Access Person may sell a Reportable Security within 30 days of acquiring the Reportable Security.


2.4.         Prohibition on Self Pre-clearance or Approval .   No Access Person shall pre-clear his own trades, review his own reports or approve his own exemptions from this Code. When such actions are to be undertaken with respect to the CCO, Stephen Ketchum will perform such actions as are required of the CCO by this Code.


3.  Additional Requirements


3.1.          Fair Treatment . Access Persons must avoid taking any action which would favor one client or group of clients over another, in violation of our fiduciary duties and applicable law. Access Persons must comply with relevant provisions of our compliance manuals designed to detect, prevent or mitigate such conflicts.


3.2.          Service as Outside Director, Trustee or Executor .  Access Persons shall not serve on the boards of directors of publicly traded companies, or in any similar capacity, absent the prior approval of such service by the CCO following the receipt of a written request for such approval. In the event such a request is approved, “Chinese Wall” procedures may be utilized to avoid potential conflicts of interest.  Other than by virtue of their position with the firm or with respect to a family member, no Access Person may serve as a trustee, executor or fiduciary.  Similarly, Access Persons may not serve on a creditor s committee. In appropriate circumstances the CCO may grant exemptions from this provision.


4.

Required Reports


4.1.         Initial and Annual Holdings Reports.   Each Access Person must submit to the CCO a report: (i) not later than ten (10) days after becoming an Access Person, reflecting the Access Person s Reportable Securities as of a date not more than 45 days prior to becoming an Access Person; and (ii) annually, on a date selected by the CCO, as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date the report was submitted.


4.2.

Holdings reports must contain the following information:


(a)

the title and type of security and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership;


(b)

the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the Access Person s direct or indirect benefit. (Note that even those accounts which hold only non-Reportable Securities, must be included); and


(c)         the date the Access Person submits the report.


4.3.         Quarterly Transaction Reports.    Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a report to the CCO covering all transactions in Reportable Securities during the preceding calendar quarter other than those excepted from the reporting requirements.


4.4.

Quarterly Transaction Reports must contain the following information:




(a)

the date of the transaction, the title and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security involved;


(b)

the nature of the transaction ( i.e. , purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);


(c)

the price of the security at which the transaction was effected;


(d)         the  name  of  the  broker,  dealer  or  bank  with  or  through  which  the  transaction  was effected; and


(e)

the date the Access Person submits the report.


4.5.         Exceptions to Reporting Requirements .  The reporting requirements of this Section 5 apply to all transactions in Reportable Securities other than:


(a)

transactions with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control; and


(b)

transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan (i.e., any program in which regular periodic purchases or withdrawals are made automatically in or from investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, including, but not limited to, any dividend reinvestment plan (“DRIP”).


4.6.         Duplicate  Statements  and  Confirms .  In  order  to  satisfy  the  reporting  requirements  of  this Section 4, each Access Person, with respect to each brokerage account in which such Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial interest, must arrange to have his/her broker mail all brokerage statements, confirmations, and other periodic reports directly to the CCO at the same time they are mailed or furnished to such Access Person.  To the extent that a duplicate brokerage statement  lacks  some  of  the  information  otherwise  required  to  be  reported,  the  missing information must be submitted as a supplement to the statement or confirmation.


5.  Code Notification and Access Person Certifications


The CCO shall provide notice to all Access Persons of their status under this Code, and shall deliver a copy of the Code to each Access Person annually. Additionally, each Access Person will be provided a copy of any Code amendments.  After reading the Code or amendment, each Supervised Person shall make the certification contained in Exhibit A. Annual certifications are due within ten (10) days after the end of each calendar year. Certifications with respect to amendments to the Code must be returned to the CCO within a reasonably prompt time.  To the extent that any Code-related training sessions or seminars are held, the CCO shall keep records of such sessions and the Access Persons attending.


6.  Review of Required Code Reports


6.1.        Reports required to be submitted pursuant to the Code will be reviewed by the CCO or a designee on a periodic basis.


6.2.        Any material violation or potential material violation of the Code must be promptly reported to the CCO. The CCO will investigate any such violation or potential violation and determine the nature and severity of the violation. All violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis in a manner deemed appropriate by the CCO. In each case of a violation, the CCO must determine what actions, if any, are required to cure the violation and prevent future violations.




6.3.        The CCO will keep a written record of all investigations in connection with any Code violations, including any action taken as a result of the violation.


6.4.         Sanctions for violations of the Code may include: verbal or written warnings and censures, monetary sanctions, disgorgement, suspension or dismissal. Where a particular client has been harmed by the violative action, disgorgement may be paid directly to the client; otherwise, monetary sanctions shall be paid to an appropriate charity determined by the CCO.


7.  Recordkeeping and Review


Sound Point will maintain records (which shall be available for examination by the SEC staff) in accordance with

Sound Point s Policy Regarding Recordkeeping , and specifically shall maintain:


(i)    a copy of this Code of Ethics and any other preceding code of ethics that, at any time within the past 5 years, has been in effect in an easily accessible place;


(ii)

a record of any Code of Ethics violation and of any sanctions imposed for a period of not less than

5 years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place;


(iii)

a copy of each report made by an Access Person under this Code of Ethics for a period of not less than 5 years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place;


(iv)        a record of all persons who are, or within the past 5 years have been, required to submit reports under this Code of Ethics, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports for a period of at least 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report was submitted, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place; and


(v)

a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by an Access Person of Securities acquired in an Initial Public Offering or Limited Offering, for a period of at least 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted, the first 2 years in an easily accessible place.


To the extent appropriate and permissible, the CCO may choose to keep such records electronically.


The CCO shall review this Code and its operation annually and may determine to make amendments to the Code as a result of that review. Non-material amendments to this Code should be made no more frequently than annually and shall be distributed as described in Section 5.  Material amendments to the Code may be made at any time.


8.  Reporting Violations


Any Access Person who believes that a violation of this Code has taken place must promptly report that violation to the CCO or to the CCO s designee. To the extent that such reports are provided to a designee, the designee shall provide periodic updates to the CCO with respect to violations reported.  Access Persons may make these reports anonymously and no adverse action shall be taken against an Access Person making such a report in good faith.


9.  Waivers .


The CCO may grant waivers of any substantive restriction in appropriate circumstances ( e.g ., personal hardship) and will maintain records necessary to justify such waivers.




10.  Confidentiality


All reports of securities transactions and other information filed pursuant to this Code of Ethics shall be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.


11.  Gifts, rebates, contributions or other payments


Sound Point will take reasonable steps to ensure that neither it nor its Supervised Persons offer or give, or solicit or accept, in the course of business, any inducements which may lead to conflicts of interest between Sound Point and its Clients.   Supervised Persons generally may not solicit gifts or gratuities nor give inducements, except in accordance with this Code of Ethics.  The term “inducements” means gifts, entertainment and similar benefits which are offered to or given by Supervised Persons.  Gifts of nominal value or those that are customary in the industry such as meals or entertainment may be appropriate.  Any form of a loan by a Supervised Person to a Client or by a Client to a Supervised Person is not allowed.  A relaxation of, or exemption from, these procedures may only be granted by the CCO.


Discretion must be used in accepting gifts, including invitations for dinners, entertainment, gold outings, sporting events, theater, etc.  No Access Person may accept any gift or preferential treatment (except meals and entertainment valued at less than $100) from any person or entity that: (i) does business with Sound Point; (ii) is or may appear to be connected with any present or future business dealings between Sound Point and such person or entity; or (iii) may create or appear to create a conflict of interest.  Similarly, no Access Person should offer any gifts that could be viewed as influencing the decision making or otherwise could be considered as creating a conflict of interest on the part of the recipient.


12.  Outside Employment or Other Activities


Sound Point Supervised Persons are generally prohibited from being employed or compensated by any other entity, serving on the board of directors of any publicly traded companies, and similar conduct except with the prior authorization of the CCO.  Any employment or other outside activity by a Supervised Person may result in possible conflicts of interests for the Supervised Person or for Sound Point and therefore must be reviewed and approved by the CCO. Outside activities, which must be reviewed and approved, include the following:


(1)

being employed or compensated by any other entity;

(2)

engaging in any other business including part-time, evening or weekend employment; or

(3)

serving as an officer, director, partner, etc . , in any other entity.


Written approval for any of the above activities is to be obtained by a Supervised Person   before undertaking any such activity so that a determination may be made that the activities do not interfere with any of the Supervised Person s responsibilities at Sound Point and any conflicts of interests which may be created by such activities may be addressed.  An Supervised Person seeking approval shall provide the following information to the CCO: (1) the name and address of the outside business organization; (2) a description of the business of the organization; (3) compensation, if any, to be received; (4) a description of the activities to be performed; and (5) the amount of time per  month  that  will  be  spent  on  the  outside  activity.    Because  Sound  Point  encourages  Supervised  Person involvement in charitable, nonpublic organization, civic and trade association activities, these outside activities will generally be approved unless a clear conflict of interest exists.  Supervised Persons must update annually any requests for approval of an outside activity.


Records of requests for approval along with the reasons such requests were granted or denied are maintained by the

CCO.




Enforcement of this Code of Ethics


CCO s Duties and Responsibilities


The CCO shall be primarily responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of this Code of

Ethics. The CCO shall:


(i)

maintain a current list of all Access Persons;


(ii)

supervise, implement and enforce the terms of this Code of Ethics;


(iii)

(a) provide each Access Person with a current copy of this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto, (b) notify each person who becomes an Access Person of the reporting requirements and other obligations under this Code of Ethics at the time such person becomes an Access Person, and (c) require each Access Person to provide a signed Certificate of Compliance for the Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy;


(iv)

maintain a list of all Securities which Sound Point recommends, holds, or is purchasing or selling, or intends to recommend purchase or sell on behalf of its Clients;


(v)    determine whether any particular Personal Securities Transactions should be exempted pursuant to the provisions this Code of Ethics;


(vi)

maintain files of statements and other information to be reviewed for the purpose of monitoring compliance with this Code of Ethics, which information shall be kept confidential by Sound Point, except as required to enforce this Code of Ethics, or to participate in any investigation concerning violations of applicable law;


(vii)   review all Holdings Reports required to be provided by each Access Person pursuant to this Code of Ethics: (a) for each new Access Person, to determine if any conflict of interest or other violation of this Code of Ethics results from such person becoming an Access Person; and (b) for all Access Persons, to determine whether a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred;


(viii)  review on a quarterly basis all Securities reported on the Quarterly Transaction Reports required to be provided by each Access Person pursuant to this Code of Ethics for such calendar quarter to determine whether a Code of Ethics violation may have occurred;


(ix)

review any other statements, records and reports required by this Code of Ethics; and


(x)

review on a periodic basis and update as necessary, this Code of Ethics.


Violations of this Code of Ethics


If the CCO determines that a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred, the CCO shall prepare a record of explanatory material regarding such violation and shall immediately take remedial or corrective action.  The CCO shall monitor his own Securities holdings and transactions in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in this Policy.


If the CCO finds that a Supervised Person has violated this Code of Ethics, the CCO will impose upon such Supervised Person sanctions that the CCO deems appropriate in view of the facts and circumstances.  Sanctions with respect to any Supervised Person (other than a principal) may include written warning, suspension or termination of employment, a letter of censure and/or restitution of an amount equal to the difference between the price paid or received by the offending Supervised Person.  In addition, Sound Point reserves the right to require the offending Supervised Person to reverse, cancel or freeze, at the Supervised Person s expense, any transaction or position in a




specific Security if Sound Point believes the transaction or position violates this Code of Ethics and/or Sound

Point s general fiduciary duty to its Clients, or otherwise appears improper.


All violations of this Code of Ethics must be immediately reported to the CCO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix A: Reference Page


Relevant Personnel


Title

Name(s)

Access Persons

Stephen J. Ketchum


Tom Dobesh Bradley Schneider Kevin Gerlitz Sarah Seelaus

Rick Richert


Tory Gossage

Supervised Persons (other than Access Persons)

None currently

CCO

Kevin Gerlitz

 

 

 

 

E XHIBIT A



Certification of Receipt and Compliance of Code of Ethics


This form must be completed by each Supervised Person within 10 days of becoming a Supervised Person;

within 10 days after the end of each calendar year thereafter; and upon receipt of any amendment to the Code.



I hereby acknowledge receipt of Sound Point s current Code of Ethics (the “Code”), including any applicable amendments.  I hereby certify that I (i) recently have read/re-read the Code (including any amendments thereto); (ii) understand the Code; and (iii) recognize that I am subject to its provisions.   I also hereby certify that I have complied with and will continue to comply with the requirements of the Code and that I have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the Code.





Name:                            


(Please print or type clearly)



Signature:

                       



Date: