Securities Act File No. 333-174926
ICA No. 811-22549
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 3,
2014
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
Pre-Effective Amendment No. □
Post-Effective Amendment No.
170
x
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
Amendment No.
172
(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)
Northern Lights Fund Trust II
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68130
Attention: Brian Nielsen
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)
(402) 895-1600
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
The Corporation Trust Company
Corporate Trust Center
1209 Orange Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With a copy to:
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
(X)
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b).
( )
On
_________
pursuant to paragraph (b).
( )
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1).
( )
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1).
( )
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2).
( )
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
( ) this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, Registrant hereby elects to register an indefinite number of shares of Registrant and any series thereof hereinafter created.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No.
170
to the Registration Statement contains the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information describing the
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund,
a series of the Registrant. This Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement is organized as follows: (a) Prospectus relating to the
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund;
(b) Statement of Additional Information relating to
the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund;
and (c) Part C Information relating to all series of the Registrant. The Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for the other series of the Registrant are not affected hereby.
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
Class A Shares (Symbol:
PCYAX)
Class C Shares (Symbol:
_____)
Class N Shares (Symbol:
_____)
Class I Shares (Symbol:
PCYIX)
Class R Shares (Symbol:
_____)
Prospectus
September
3,
2014
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II (the Trust)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY SECTION |
1 |
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, RELATED RISKS AND DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
6 |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE |
6 |
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES |
6 |
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND |
7 |
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION |
12 |
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND |
12 |
THE ADVISER |
12 |
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS |
13 |
RELATED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION OF THE ADVISER |
14 |
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION |
15 |
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS |
16 |
MORE ABOUT CLASS A SHARES |
16 |
MORE ABOUT CLASS C SHARES |
19 |
MORE ABOUT CLASS N SHARES |
19 |
MORE ABOUT CLASS I SHARES |
19 |
MORE ABOUT CLASS R SHARES |
20 |
SHARE PRICE |
20 |
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES |
21 |
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES |
23 |
REDEMPTION FEE |
25 |
TOOLS TO COMBAT FREQUENT TRANSACTIONS |
25 |
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES |
26 |
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES |
27 |
TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS |
27 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
28 |
PRIVACY NOTICE |
29 |
Summary Section
Investment Objective. The investment objective of the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) is to seek to provide long term total return.
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 Class A shares if you 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 under Shareholder Information More About Class A Shares beginning on page 16 of this Prospectus.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Class A |
Class C |
Class N |
Class I |
Class R |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a % of offering price) |
5.50% |
None |
None |
None |
None |
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the original offering price or NAV at redemption) |
1.00% (1) |
1.00% |
None |
None |
None |
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 30 days of purchase) |
1.00% |
1.00% |
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 Fees |
0.79% |
0.79% |
0.79% |
0.79% |
0.79% |
Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees |
0.25% |
1.00% |
0.25% |
0.00% |
0.50% |
Other Expenses (2) |
0.89% |
0.89% |
0.89% |
0.89% |
0.89% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (3) |
1.93% |
2.68% |
1.93% |
1.68% |
2.18% |
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement |
(0.58)% |
(0.58)% |
(0.58)% |
(0.58)% |
(0.58)% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement (4) |
1.35% |
2.10% |
1.35% |
1.10% |
1.60% |
(1)
A maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1.00% may apply to certain redemptions of Class A shares made within the first 12 months of their purchase when an initial sales charge was not paid on the purchase.
(2)
These expenses are based on estimated amounts for the Funds current fiscal year.
(3)
This number represents an estimate for the Funds current fiscal year of the combined total fees and operating expenses of underlying funds owned by the Fund and would not be a direct expense incurred by the Fund or deducted from Fund assets.
(4)
Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between Price Asset Management, Inc. (the Adviser) and the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) for the Fund do not exceed 1.35%, 2.10%, 1.35%, 1.10% and 1.60%, of the Funds average net assets, for Class A. Class C, Class N, Class I and Class R shares, respectively, through December 31, 2015. This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated only by, or with the consent of, the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is permitted to receive reimbursement of any excess expense payments paid by it pursuant to the operating expense limitation agreement in future years on a rolling three year basis, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Funds annual operating expenses to exceed the expense cap.
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Funds performance.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in (a) a portfolio of commodity-linked futures contracts traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges and (b) a fixed-income portfolio made up primarily of cash, cash equivalents, short-term U.S. government securities, and certain other money market instruments.
Commodity Investments . The Fund will follow a rules-based methodology to seek to replicate the Rogers International Commodity Index® (the Index). The Index is a composite, U.S. dollar-based, total return
1
index. The Index was designed to meet the need for consistent investing in a broad based international vehicle; it represents the value of a basket of commodities consumed in the global economy, including agricultural, energy and metal products. The value of this basket is tracked via futures contracts on 37 different exchange-traded physical commodities, quoted in four currencies, listed on ten exchanges in four countries. The Index aims to be an effective measure of the price action of raw materials not just in the United States but also around the world. The Indexs weightings attempt to balance consumption patterns worldwide (in developed and developing countries) of raw materials on the one hand, and the liquidity of the futures contracts on the raw materials on the other hand. Each month, the Fund will rebalance the Funds futures positions back to the RICIs initial weightings.
The Fund will hold long-only positions in the futures contracts underlying the Index. Accordingly, the value of the Funds futures portfolio will increase only if, in aggregate, the value of the component raw materials represented in the futures portfolio increases. The Fund will use a series of rules to generate trades and positions in commodity-linked futures contracts that seek to track the Index.
The Fund expects to gain exposure to the commodities market indirectly by investing up to 25% of its total assets (measured at the time of investment) in a wholly-owned and controlled in subsidiary (the Subsidiary), which is designed to enhance the ability of the Fund to obtain exposure to the commodities market through commodity-linked futures investments consistent with the limits of the U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Funds transactions in derivatives.
Fixed Income Investments . Assets not invested by the Fund in the Subsidiary or directly in commodity-linked futures contracts are invested in cash, cash equivalents, short-term U.S. government securities, and certain other money market instruments. The Funds fixed income investments consist primarily of direct and guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government and senior obligations of U.S. government agencies as well as money market securities.
Principal Risks. Remember that in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:
·
Commodities Risk: Investing in the commodities markets (directly or indirectly) may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional equity and fixed income securities. Commodity prices may be influenced by unfavorable weather, animal and plant disease, geologic and environmental factors as well as changes in government regulation such as tariffs, embargoes or burdensome production rules and restrictions.
·
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 issuers financial condition changes.
·
Derivatives Risk: The Fund may use derivatives (including commodity futures and options on futures) to enhance returns or hedge against market declines. The Funds indirect use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities including leverage risk, counterparty default risk and tracking risk. The value of a commodity-linked derivative investment typically is based upon the price movements of a physical commodity (such as heating oil, livestock, or agricultural products), a commodity futures contract or commodity index, or some other readily measurable economic variable dependent upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets. The value of these securities will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related benchmark or investment. These securities expose the Fund economically to movements in commodity prices. Trading in the futures and forward markets typically results in volatile
2
performance. Several occasions in the recent past have witnessed sudden and major reversals in these markets, resulting in major losses for traders.
·
Counterparty Risk: A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the Fund does business may decline in financial condition and become unable or unwilling to honor its commitments. This could cause the value of Fund shares to decline and/or the Fund could experience delays in the delivery of loans or other income securities purchased from the counterparty or of proceeds of a sale of a loan or other income security to a counterparty.
·
Fixed Income Risks: Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that securities could lose value because of interest rate changes. Fixed income securities with longer maturities are subject to greater price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income securities with shorter maturities. Fixed income securities are also subject to prepayment and credit risks.
·
Foreign Currency and Foreign Exchange Risk:
Investments in futures contracts denominated in foreign currencies involves the risk that the currencies in which those instruments are denominated will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. As a result, the Fund's investments in foreign currency-denominated futures contracts may reduce the returns of the Fund.
Furthermore, the Funds investments in contracts that trade on foreign exchanges involve risks not associated with investing in U.S. contracts. Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets. There may be difficulties enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for trades to clear and settle.
·
Leverage Risk: Using derivatives like commodity futures and options to increase the Funds combined long and short exposure creates leverage, which can magnify the Funds potential for gain or loss and, therefore, amplify the effects of market volatility on the Funds share price.
·
Limited History of Operations Risk : The Fund has a limited history of operation. In addition, the Adviser has limited experience managing a mutual fund.
·
Management Risk: The risk that investment strategies employed by the Adviser in selecting investments and asset allocations for the Fund may not result in an increase in the value of your investment or in overall performance equal to other similar investment vehicles having similar investment strategies.
·
Market Risk: Overall securities and derivatives market risks 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 and derivatives markets. When the value of the Funds investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.
·
Market Disruption Risk: Most United States futures exchanges limit fluctuations in some futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as daily limits. During a single trading day, no trades may be executed in such contracts at prices beyond the daily limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Similar occurrences could prevent the Fund from executing trades and subject the Fund to substantial losses. Also, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or exchanges (both U.S. exchanges and non-U.S. exchanges) may suspend or limit trading, and exchanges may be subject to periods of illiquidity.
3
·
Futures Commission Merchant Failure Risk: A futures commission merchant (FCM) is required to segregate assets pursuant to CFTC regulations. If the assets of the Fund were not so segregated, the Fund would be subject to the risk of the failure of such an FCM. Even given proper segregation, in the event of the insolvency of an FCM, the Fund may be subject to a risk of loss of its funds and would be able to recover only a pro rata share (together with all other commodity customers of such FCM) of assets, such as United States Treasury bills, specifically traceable to the account of the Fund and its investors. In addition, under certain circumstances, such as the inability of another client of an FCM or the FCM itself to satisfy substantial deficiencies in such other clients account, a client may be subject to a risk of loss of the funds on deposit with the FCM, even if such funds are properly segregated.
·
Regulatory Risk:
The regulation of the U.S. commodities markets has undergone substantial change in recent years, a process which is expected to continue, particularly as rules are enacted by the CFTC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Reform Act). In addition to regulatory changes, the economic features of the markets to be traded by the Fund have undergone, and are expected to continue to undergo, rapid and substantial changes as new strategies and instruments are introduced.
·
Tax Risk:
Certain of the Funds investment strategies, including transactions in
futures contracts
and
options or futures
contracts, may be subject to the special tax rules, the effect of which may have adverse tax consequences for the Fund. Also, by investing in commodities indirectly through the Subsidiary, the Fund will obtain exposure to the commodities markets within the U.S. federal tax requirements that apply to the Fund. However, because the Subsidiary is a controlled foreign corporation, any income received from its investments will be passed through to the Fund as ordinary income, which may be taxed at less favorable rates than capital gains. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a number of private letter rulings to other mutual funds (unrelated to the Fund), which indicate that certain income from a funds investment in a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). However, the IRS has suspended issuance of any further letters pending a review of its position. If the IRS were to change its position with respect to the conclusions reached in its private letter rulings (which change in position might be applied to the Fund retroactively), the income from the Funds investment in the Subsidiary might not be qualifying income, and the Fund might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years.
·
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Risk: The Subsidiary will not be registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, will not be subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Adviser has, on behalf of the Subsidiary, filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming exemption from the CFTCs reporting and disclosure requirements in accordance with Part 4 of the CFTC Regulations. The CFTC regulations provide relief relating to CFTC disclosure and reporting requirements for commodity pools, such as the Subsidiary, that are operated by a commodity pool operator (a CPO) that is the same as, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the CPO of an offered pool (such as the Fund). Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. Your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher because you indirectly bear the expenses of the Subsidiary.
·
Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is classified as non-diversified under the 1940 Act. This means that the Fund may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of portfolio holdings can affect overall performance.
Performance. Because the Fund is new, 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. Also,
4
shareholder reports containing financial and performance information will be mailed to shareholders semi-annually. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by calling the Fund toll-free at
1-844-828-3242.
Investment Adviser. Price Asset Management, Inc. serves as the Funds investment adviser.
Portfolio Managers. The persons listed below serve as the Funds portfolio managers; their activity is conducted through an investment committee that meets regularly to review the investment operations of the Fund:
Portfolio Managers |
Primary Title |
With the Fund since: |
|
The Adviser |
|
|
|
John D. Reese |
Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser |
September 2014 |
|
David F. Schink |
Chief Operating Officer/General Counsel of the Adviser |
September 2014 |
|
Roxanne Bennett |
Executive Vice President of the Adviser |
September 2014 |
|
Alan Konn |
Managing Director |
September 2014 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.
You may conduct transactions by mail (PCS Commodity Strategy Fund, c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha NE 68130), or by telephone at
1-844-828-3242.
Investors who wish to purchase or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly. The minimum initial investment in each share class of the Fund is $5,000, $5,000, $5,000, $5,000,000 and $2,000 for Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I and Class R, respectively, with a minimum subsequent investment of $500, $500, $500, $10,000 and $500 for Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I and Class R, respectively, although the Fund reserves the right to waive minimum initial investment or minimum subsequent investment requirements in its sole discretion.
Tax Information. The Funds distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Under certain circumstances, withdrawals from a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account are taxable.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create conflicts of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
Investment Strategies, Related Risks and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) is to seek to provide long term total return.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, in (a) a portfolio of commodity-linked futures contracts traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges and (b) a fixed-income portfolio made up primarily of cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality short-term debt securities and certain other money market instruments.
Commodity Investments . The Fund will follow a rules-based methodology to seek to replicate the Rogers International Commodity Index® (the Index). The Index is a composite, U.S. dollar-based, total return index. The Index was designed to meet the need for consistent investing in a broad based international vehicle; it represents the value of a basket of commodities consumed in the global economy, including
5
agricultural, energy and metal products. The value of this basket is tracked via futures contracts on 37 different exchange-traded physical commodities, quoted in four currencies, listed on ten exchanges in four countries. The Index aims to be an effective measure of the price action of raw materials not just in the United States but also around the world. The Indexs weightings attempt to balance consumption patterns worldwide (in developed and developing countries) of raw materials on the one hand, and the liquidity of the futures contracts on the raw materials on the other hand.
The specific components and weighting of the Index are reevaluated periodically by a committee consisting of representatives of a number of providers and/or distributors of investment products linked to the Index and the Index calculation agent (the Index Committee). The Index Committee is chaired by James Beeland Rogers, Jr., the developer of the Index, and Mr. Rogers, as chairman, is the final arbiter with respect to any changes of the Indexs components or their weightings. 1 The Funds adviser, Price Asset Management, Inc., is entitled to appoint a member to the Index Committee; Mr. Reese, CEO of Price Asset Management, Inc. currently sits on the Index Committee.
The Index Committee meets, at minimum, each year, generally in December, to consider changes in the components and weightings of the Index for the following year. The Indexs composition is modified only in rare occasions, in order to maintain transparency, consistency, and stability. Generally, the selection and weighting of the items in the Index are reviewed annually by the Index Committee, and weights for the next year are assigned every December; however, such changes may be made at any time.
The Fund will hold long-only positions in the futures contracts underlying the Index. Accordingly, the value of the Funds futures portfolio will increase only if, in aggregate, the value of the component raw materials represented in the futures portfolio increases. The Fund will use a series of rules which generates trades and positions in commodity-linked futures contracts that seeks to track the Index. The Funds adviser selects a futures commission merchant (FCM)to execute trades for the Fund, generally in its discretion, on the basis of various factors, including quality of executions, commission rates and any ancillary services provided, although no assurance is given that it will be possible to execute trades regularly at or near the desired buy or sell price.
Since the Funds portfolio is based on the Index, there is no active trading by the Fund in the traditional sense. A substantial portion of the trading by the Fund is made for the purpose of rolling positions from near delivery dates to later delivery dates in order to ensure that the Fund will not take actual delivery of a physical commodity. These rolling trades, made pursuant to a predetermined formula and rules, are placed and effected, to the extent possible, as spread transactions, in which the Fund simultaneously buys and sells futures contracts corresponding to the same commodity, but for delivery in different months. The Fund also engages in trading, monthly as necessary, to rebalance the Funds exposure to each commodity to its intended weighting within the Index. Such rebalance trades are necessarily outright trades (buy to increase exposure or sell to decrease exposure), unlike the roll trades described above. Finally, the Fund will trade daily, as necessary, to accommodate additions to, and withdrawals from, the Fund.
The Fund expects to gain exposure to the commodities market indirectly by investing up to 25% of its total assets (measured at the time of investment) in a wholly-owned and controlled in subsidiary (the Subsidiary), which is designed to enhance the ability of the Fund to obtain exposure to the commodities market through commodity-linked futures investments consistent with the limits of the U.S. federal tax
____________
1
Jim Rogers, James Beeland Rogers, Jr., and Rogers are trademarks and service marks of, and Rogers International Commodity Index and RICI are registered service marks of, Beeland Interests, Inc., which is owned and controlled by James Beeland Rogers, Jr., and are used subject to license. The personal names and likeness of Jim Rogers/James Beeland Rogers, Jr. are owned and licensed by James Beeland Rogers, Jr. The PCS Commodities Strategy Fund Shares are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Beeland Interests, Inc. (Beeland Interests), James B. Rogers, Jr. or their affiliates. Neither Beeland Interests, James B. Rogers, Jr. nor their affiliates makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, nor accepts any responsibility, regarding the accuracy or completeness of this prospectus, or the advisability of investing in securities or commodities generally, or in PCS Commodities Strategy Fund Shares or in futures particularly.
6
law requirements applicable to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Funds transactions in derivatives.
Fixed Income Investments . Assets not invested by the Fund in the Subsidiary or directly in commodity-linked futures contracts are invested in cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality short-term debt securities with final terms not exceeding one year at the time of investment. The Funds fixed income investments consist primarily of direct and guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government and senior obligations of U.S. government agencies as well as money market securities.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider your own investment goals, the amount of time you are willing to leave your money invested and the amount of risk you are willing to take. Remember that in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The value of your investment in the Fund will go up and down with the prices of the securities in which the Fund invests. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:
Commodity Risk: The Funds exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments, commodity-based exchange traded trusts and commodity-based exchange traded funds and notes may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
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 issuers 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 markets 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.
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 Fund may use derivatives (including commodity futures
and
options on futures)
to gain exposure to commodities, enhance returns or hedge against market declines. The Funds use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Derivative prices are highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time. Such prices are influenced by numerous factors that affect the markets, including, but not limited to: changing supply and demand relationships; government programs and policies; national and international political and economic events, changes in interest rates, inflation
7
and deflation and changes in supply and demand relationships. Trading derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities. Derivative contracts ordinarily have leverage inherent in their terms. The low margin deposits normally required in trading derivatives, including futures contracts, permit a high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the Fund. Because option premiums paid or received by the Fund are small in relation to the market value of the investments underlying the options, buying and selling put and call options can be more speculative than investing directly in securities. The value of a commodity-linked derivative investment typically is based upon the price movements of a physical commodity (such as heating oil, livestock, or agricultural products), a commodity futures contract or commodity index, or some other readily measurable economic variable dependent upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets. The value of these securities will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related benchmark or investment. These securities expose the Fund economically to movements in commodity prices.
Counterparty Risk : A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the Fund does business may decline in financial condition and become unable or unwilling to honor its commitments. This could cause the value of Fund shares to decline and/or the Fund could experience delays in the delivery of loans or other income securities purchased from the counterparty or of proceeds of a sale of a loan or other income security to a counterparty.
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 debt 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 Funds share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.
Foreign Currency and Foreign Exchange
Risk: Investments in futures contracts denominated in foreign currencies involves the risk that the currencies in which those instruments are denominated will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. As a result, the Fund's investments in foreign currency-denominated futures contracts may reduce the returns of the Fund.
Furthermore, the Funds investments in contracts that trade on foreign exchanges involve risks not associated with investing in U.S. contracts. Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets. There may be difficulties enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for trades to clear and settle.
Counterparty Risk
: The Fund may enter into foreign investment contracts with a counterparty which will subject the Fund to counterparty
risk (see Counterparty
Risk above).
Geographic Risk : If the Fund concentrates its investments in issuers located or doing business in any country or region, factors adversely affecting that country or region will affect the Funds net asset value more than would be the case if the Fund had made more geographically diverse investments. The economies and financial markets of certain regions, such as Latin America or Asia, can be highly interdependent and decline all at the same time.
Political / Economic Risk : Changes in economic and tax policies, government instability, war or other political or economic actions or factors may have an adverse effect on the Funds foreign investments, potentially including expropriation and nationalization, confiscatory taxation, and the potential difficulty of repatriating funds to the United States.
8
Regulatory Risk : Foreign counterparties and foreign exchanges are generally not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. counterparties and U.S. exchanges. The reporting, accounting, and auditing standards of foreign countries may differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards.
Transaction Costs Risk : The costs of entering into foreign contracts, including tax, brokerage, and custody costs, generally are higher than those involving domestic transactions.
Leverage Risk:
Using derivatives like commodity futures and options to increase the Funds combined long and short position exposure creates leverage, which can amplify the effects of market volatility on the Funds share price and make the Funds returns more volatile. 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. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to have higher expenses than those of mutual funds that do not use such techniques.
Limited History of Operations Risk: The Fund has a limited history of operation. In addition, the Adviser limited experience managing a mutual fund. Mutual funds and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code that do not apply to an advisers management of individual and institutional accounts. As a result, investors cannot judge the Adviser by a mutual fund-specific track record and it may not achieve its intended result in managing the Fund.
Management Risk:
The net asset value of the Fund changes daily based on the performance of the securities and derivatives in which it invests. The Advisers judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular asset classes, securities, and managed futures strategies in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results. The Funds profitability will also depend upon the ability of the Adviser to select suitable investments for the Funds wholly-owned Subsidiary, and upon the Advisers ability to successfully allocate among securities that employ managed futures profitably and the Advisers judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation the securities in which the Fund will invest. There can be no assurance that any of the securities selected by the Adviser will produce positive returns.
Market Risk: The net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate based on changes in the value of the securities and derivatives in which the Fund invests directly and indirectly through its wholly-owned Subsidiary. The Fund invests in securities and derivatives, which may be more volatile and carry more risk than some other forms of investment. The price of securities and derivatives may rise or fall because of economic or political changes. Security and derivative prices in general may decline over short or even extended periods of time. Market prices of securities and derivatives in broad market segments may be adversely affected by price trends in commodities, interest rates, exchange rates or other factors wholly unrelated to the value or condition of an issuer.
Market Disruption Risk: Most United States futures exchanges limit fluctuations in some futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as daily limits. During a single trading day, no trades may be executed in such contracts at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a futures contract has increased or decreased to the limit point, positions can be neither taken nor liquidated. Futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Similar occurrences could prevent the Fund from executing trades and subject the Fund to substantial losses. Also, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or exchanges may suspend or limit trading. Trading on non-United States exchanges and in the forward currency markets is not subject to daily limits, although such trading is also subject to periods of significant illiquidity.
Futures Commission Merchants Failure Risk: A futures commission merchant (FCM) is required to segregate assets pursuant to CFTC regulations. If the assets of the Fund were not so segregated, the Fund would be subject to the risk of the failure of such an FCM. Even given proper segregation, in the event of the insolvency of an FCM, the Fund may be subject to a risk of loss of its funds and would be able to recover only a pro rata share (together with all other commodity customers of such FCM) of assets, such as United States Treasury bills, specifically traceable to the account of the Fund and its investors. In
9
commodity broker insolvencies, customers have, in fact, been unable to recover from the brokers estate the full amount of their customer funds. In addition, under certain circumstances, such as the inability of another client of an FCM or the FCM itself to satisfy substantial deficiencies in such other clients account, a client may be subject to a risk of loss of the funds on deposit with the FCM, even if such funds are properly segregated. In the case of any such bankruptcy or client loss, a client might recover only a pro rata share of all property available for distribution to all of the FCMs clients or possibly, nothing at all.
Regulatory Risk:
The regulation of the U.S. commodities markets has undergone substantial change in recent years, a process which is expected to continue, particularly as rules are enacted by the CFTC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Reform Act). For instance, the Funds investments may need to be modified, and commodity contract positions held by the Fund and/or the Subsidiary may have to be liquidated at disadvantageous times or prices, to avoid exceeding position limits as may be established by the CFTC, potentially subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.. In addition to regulatory changes, the economic features of the markets to be traded by the Fund have undergone, and are expected to continue to undergo, rapid and substantial changes as new strategies and instruments are introduced.
Tax Risk:
The Funds short sales and transactions in
futures contracts
and
options or futures
contracts will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, 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 Funds securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains or convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to the Funds shareholders. The Funds use of such transactions may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gains (subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates) and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions. Additionally, by investing in commodities indirectly through the Subsidiary, the Fund will obtain exposure to the commodities markets within the federal tax requirements that apply to the Fund. Specifically, the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M of the Code. Sub-chapter M requires, among other things, that at least 90% of the Funds income be derived from securities or derived with respect to its business of investing in securities (typically referred to as qualifying income). The Fund will make investments in certain commodity-linked derivatives through the Subsidiary because income from these derivatives is not treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% income requirement if the Fund invests in the derivative directly. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a number of private letter rulings to other mutual funds (unrelated to the Fund), which indicate that certain income from a funds investment in a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of Subchapter M. The IRS, however, has suspended issuance of any further private letter rulings of this type pending a review of its position and the release of public guidance on the issue that can be relied upon by all taxpayers (as opposed to the private guidance previously issued to individual taxpayers in the aforementioned private letter rulings). Because a private letter ruling applies only to the taxpayer to whom it is issued, the Fund is not entitled to rely upon the private letter rulings issued to other mutual funds. However, the Fund believes that the prior private letter rulings evidence both a correct interpretation of the existing law and the current view of the IRS, consistently applied to a number of similarly situated mutual funds. Accordingly, the Fund intends to treat the income derived from its investment in the Subsidiary as qualifying income for purposes of Subchapter M. As a result, if the IRS were to change its position with respect to the conclusions reached in its private letter rulings (which change in position might be applied to the Fund retroactively), the income from the Funds investment in the Subsidiary might not be qualifying income, and the Fund might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years. In such event, the Funds Board of Trustees would consider what action to take in the best interests of shareholders.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Risk: The Subsidiary will not be registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, will not be subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Adviser has, on behalf of the Subsidiary, filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming exemption from the CFTCs reporting and disclosure requirements in accordance with Part 4 of the
10
CFTC Regulations. The CFTC regulations provide relief relating to CFTC disclosure and reporting requirements for commodity pools, such as the Subsidiary, that are operated by a CPO that is the same as, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the CPO of an offered pool (such as the Fund). Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. Your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher because you indirectly bear the expenses of the Subsidiary.
The Fund, by investing in the Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary. The investments of the Fund and Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. The Board of Trustees has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Funds role as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.
Non-Diversification Risk : The Fund is classified as non-diversified under the 1940 Act. This means that the Fund may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of portfolio holdings can affect overall performance.
Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the Funds policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio holdings is available in the Funds SAI.
Management of the Fund
The Adviser
The Fund has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (Advisory Agreement) with Price Asset Management, Inc., located at 141 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1320A, Chicago, IL, 60604, under which the Adviser manages the Funds investments subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is a registered investment adviser. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Fund compensates the Adviser for its investment advisory services at the annual rate of 0.79% of the Funds average daily net assets, payable on a monthly basis.
Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund in accordance with its investment objective and policies using the approach discussed in the Overview section of this Prospectus. The Adviser also maintains related records for the Fund.
Fund Expenses . The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Adviser and the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to reduce its management fees and/or pay expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total amount of Fund operating expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) do not exceed 1.35%, 2.10%, 1.35%, 1.10% and 1.60% of the Funds average net assets, for Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I and Class R respectively, through December 31, 2015, subject thereafter to annual re-approval of the agreement by the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is permitted to receive reimbursement of any excess expense payments paid by it pursuant to the operating expense limitation agreement in future years on a rolling three year basis, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Funds annual operating expenses to exceed the expense cap. The
11
Fund must pay its current ordinary operating expenses before the Adviser is entitled to any reimbursement of management fees and/or expenses. This Operating Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated only by, or with the consent, of the Board of Trustees.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approval of the Advisory Agreement will be available in the Funds first annual report to shareholders.
Portfolio Managers
John D. Reese. Mr. Reese is the chief executive officer of Price Asset Management, Inc. where he oversees management, investment and marketing functions. Mr. Reese earned a B.A. in Economics from Westminster College in 1977. Mr. Reese is registered as a principal and associated person of Price Asset Management, Inc. and holds a Series 3 License. Prior to joining Price Asset Management, Inc. in 2012, Mr. Reese was the founder and managing director of Peak View Capital LLC, a private investment firm focused on acquisitions in the asset management industry. Until 2010, Mr. Reese was executive managing director and senior vice-president of Wells Fargo Asset Management's Evergreen Investments division, where he was principally responsible for the European Credit Management Ltd. (ECM) investment subsidiary business in North America. Prior to the acquisition of ECM by Wachovia Bank in 2007, and Wachovia's acquisition by Wells Fargo in 2008, Mr. Reese was president of ECM, Inc., the US-based investment business of ECM from 2002, and a partner and member of the board of directors of the parent firm. From 1981 to 2001, Mr. Reese was employed by Merrill Lynch in a variety of capacities, including most recently as managing director in the Global Debt Markets division in New York.
David F. Schink. Mr. Schink is the chief operating officer and general counsel of Price Asset Management, Inc., where he is responsible for investment activities and operations and legal functions. Mr. Schink is a registered principal and associated person of Price Asset Management, Inc. and holds a Series 3 license. Mr. Schink is also a managing partner of Peak View Capital LLC, which he joined in 2011. From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Schink was chief operating officer and general counsel of Contego Capital Partners, LLC, a Chicago-based registered investment advisor specializing in hedge fund investing where he was involved in strategic and day-to-day business affairs and was responsible for legal and regulatory risk management. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Schink was an associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, where he represented private equity funds, registered investment advisors and other investment vehicles in a variety of transactions, and from 1998 to 2000 he was an associate at Sidley & Austin, where he represented financial institutions in structuring and negotiating structured finance and secured lending transactions. Mr. Schink holds a B.A. from Hamilton College and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
Roxanne M. Bennett. Ms. Bennett is the executive vice president and managing director of Price Asset Management, Inc., which she joined in 2007. Ms. Bennett concentrates on the trading and counterparty risk management. Prior to joining Price Asset Management, Inc., Ms. Bennett was a director with UBS Securities LLC, a bank owned FCM, from 2006 to 2007. From 1997 until the purchase of ABN AMRO Inc. by UBS Securities LLC in 2006, Ms. Bennett was a director of ABN AMRO Incorporated, a bank owned FCM, and ABN AMRO Clearing and Management Services Inc., a registered commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor (collectively ABN AMRO). At ABN AMRO, Ms. Bennett was responsible for the development and distribution of alternative investment products and was a member of the investment committee selecting commodity trading advisors and hedge funds for asset allocations. In addition, Ms. Bennett oversaw the day-to-day administration and risk management for various alternative investment products.
Alan Konn . Mr. Konn is the Managing Director of the Institutional Client Group, Co-Chairman of Price Holdings Inc., and Chairman of Price Asset Management, Inc. He holds FINRA Series 3, 7, 24 and 63 licenses and is an NFA principal. Mr. Konn joined the Price Group and became registered and a Member with Uhlmann Price Securities Inc. (UPS), our affiliated broker dealer, in early 2003. In his capacity as Managing Director of UPS, he is responsible for Price Asset Managements institutional client marketing. Prior to Price, Alan spent 17 years as an investment executive with William Blair & Co. where he worked
12
as a portfolio manager assisting high net worth clients with asset allocation and investment strategies. Prior to that he was employed by First National Bank of Chicago in the corporate finance department. Alan has a BA in Psychology from Hamline University, and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from UCLA.
The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers and the Portfolio Managers ownership of securities in the Fund.
Related Performance Information of the Adviser
The Funds investment objective, policies and restrictions are substantially similar to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions used by certain private funds and separate accounts also managed by the Funds investment adviser (collectively, the PAM RICI ® Total Composite), including the RICI ® Linked PAM Advisors Fund, LLC (the Private Fund). The PAM RICI ® Total Composite represents all accounts that are managed with substantially the same investment objective, policies and strategies as the Fund. This section presents past performance information for the PAM RICI ® Total Composite. PAM RICI ® Total Composite is not a mutual fund, but rather a collection of all of the portfolios managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. The PAM RICI ® Total Composite is not subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which if applicable would have adversely affected the performance results.
The performance of the PAM RICI ® Total Composite does not represent, and is not a substitute for, the performance of the Fund, and you should not assume that the Fund will have the same future performance as the PAM RICI ® Total Composite. It is inappropriate and would be inaccurate for an investor to consider the PAM RICI ® Total Composites performance below as being indicative of the future performance of the Fund. The Adviser has included this section because it believes that the performance information presented is sufficiently relevant, as related or supplemental information only, to merit consideration by prospective Fund investors.
The table shows performance of the PAM RICI
®
Total Composite over time (as compared with a broad based market index for reference). All figures assume dividend reinvestment. The U.S. Dollar is the currency used to express performance. The PAM RICI
®
Total Composite performance is shown net of the actual fees charged, including management, custodial, and other fees and expenses. The Adviser claims compliance with Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS). It should be noted that GIPS standards with respect to measuring investment performance results differ from the standard SEC method. For GIPS purposes, the
firm
is defined as the Adviser, a registered investment adviser. A copy of the compliant presentation for the PAM RICI
®
Total Composite is available upon request by contacting the Adviser directly by e-mailing
info@priceasset.com
or calling
1-844-828-3242.
The expenses of the Fund, including the Rule 12b-1 fees imposed on the Funds Class A shares, are higher than the expenses of the PAM RICI
®
Total Composite.
The performance shown in the table for the PAM RICI
®
Total Composite would be lower if adjusted to reflect the higher expenses of the Funds shares.
The fee schedule for the Fund is included in its prospectus. Indices are unmanaged and it is not possible to invest directly in indices. As such, year-by-year index figures do not account for any fees or fund expenses.
The past performance in managing other portfolios is no guarantee of future results in managing the Fund. Please note the following cautionary guidelines in reviewing this disclosure:
·
Performance figures are not the performance of the Fund. The PAM RICI ® Total Composites performance shown is not the performance of the Fund and is not an indication of how the Fund would have performed in the past or will perform in the future. The Funds performance in the future will be different from the PAM RICI ® Total Composites performance presented, due to factors such as differences in the cash flows, different fees, expenses, portfolio size and composition, and possibly asset allocation methodology. In particular, PAM RICI ® Total Composites performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform, as the portfolio is not subject to investment limitations, leverage restrictions, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on investment companies by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, can have a negative impact on the Funds performance.
13
·
There have been significant fluctuations in the market in the past few years. The performance for the period is shown through March 31, 2014. The markets have been quite volatile in the last few years, and this trend may continue. As a result, the performance included herein will not reflect the latest volatility in the markets, if any occurs.
·
The performance shown are averages. The information below shows annual rates of return for the years indicated, but does not reflect any volatility that may have occurred within a given period. The following table provides for the PAM RICI ® Total Composites annual rates of return for the years indicated, without deduction of fees and expenses, as discussed above.
·
Even with the differences that have been outlined between the PAM RICI ® Total Composite and the Fund, the PAM RICI ® Total Composites objective, strategy and policies are substantially similar to the Funds and that the management of the PAM RICI ® Total Composite would not have been materially different from how this Fund will be managed.
PAM RICI ® Total Composite
Year-By-Year Returns
|
2007 (1) |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
26.98% |
-42.05% |
24.79% |
17.67% |
-10.19% |
2.86% |
-5.75% |
(1)
Returns are shown from the PAM RICI® Total Composites inception on May 10, 2007.
(2)
From the inception of the PAM RICI® Total Composite through April 30, 2013, the performance results disclosed reflect the performance results of the Private Fund. From May 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, the performance results disclosed reflect the performance results of the Private Fund together with three additional accounts which were acquired by the Adviser in April 2013. Both the Private Fund and the additional accounts included in May 2013 were managed with substantially the same investment objective, policies and strategies as the Fund.
Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended March 31, 2014
|
One Year |
Three Year |
Five Year |
Since Commencement (1) |
PAM RICI ® Total Composite |
-1.36% |
-5.97% |
6.86% |
-0.91% |
Rogers International Commodity Index ® (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 2 |
0.03% |
-4.64% |
8.34% |
-0.01% |
Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index TR 3 S&P 500 TR 4 |
-2.10% 1.13% |
-7.37% -3.40% |
4.24% 6.85% |
-4.06% -2.78% |
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
From the inception of the Private Fund on May 7, 2007.
(2)
The Rogers International Commodity Index ® is a U.S. dollar-based, total return index. The Index was designed to meet the need for consistent investing in a broad based international vehicle; it represents the value of a basket of commodities consumed in the global economy, including agricultural, energy and metal products.
(3)
The Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index TR® is an unmanaged index composed of futures contracts on physical commodities. The index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for commodities as an asset class.
(4)
The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged market-value weighted index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, sector performance and other factors. The index tracks the performance of the large cap U.S. equity market.
Shareholder Information
Choosing a Share Class
Description of Classes. The Trust has adopted a multiple class plan that allows the Fund to offer one or more classes of shares. The Fund has registered five classes of shares Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I and Class R shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are generally offered through different distribution channels and are subject to different expenses and may have different share prices as outlined below:
14
·
Class A shares are charged a front-end sales load. The Class A shares are also charged a 0.25% Rule 12b-1 distribution and servicing fee. Class A shares are generally offered through financial intermediary platforms, including, but not limited to, traditional brokerage platforms.
·
Class C shares are sold without an initial sales charge, but are subject to a 1.00% Rule 12b-1 distribution and servicing fee. Class C shares are generally offered through financial intermediary platforms, including, but not limited to, traditional brokerage platforms.
·
Class N shares are sold without an initial sales charge, but are subject to a 0.25% Rule 12b-1 distribution and servicing fee. Class N shares are generally offered through financial intermediary platforms, including, but not limited to, asset allocation, mutual fund wrap, or other discretionary and non-discretionary fee-based investment advisory programs, as well as directly from the Funds distributor.
·
Class I shares 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 I shares are generally offered through transaction fee platforms and other financial intermediary platforms, including, but not limited to, asset allocation, mutual fund wrap, or other discretionary and non-discretionary fee-based investment advisory programs, as well as directly from the Funds distributor.
·
Class R shares are sold without an initial sales charge and without a contingent deferred sales charge, but are subject to a 0.50% Rule 12b-1 distribution and servicing fee. Class R shares are available only to eligible retirement plans, health savings accounts and fee based investment accounts.
More About 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 Rule 12b-1 distribution and service 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 $5,000. The minimum subsequent investment in Class A shares of the Fund is $500 for all other accounts. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum initial or subsequent investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser. The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest. There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions. The Fund reserves the right to waive sales charges at its discretion. The following sales charges apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund:
Amount of Transaction |
Sales Charge as % of Public Offering Price (1) |
Sales Charge as % of Net Amount Invested |
Dealer Reallowance as a Percentage of Public Offering Price |
||||
Less than $25,000 |
5.50% |
5.82% |
5.00% |
||||
$25,000 but less than $50,000 |
4.75% |
4.99% |
4.25% |
||||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 |
4.50% |
4.71% |
4.00% |
||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 |
3.50% |
3.63% |
3.25% |
||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 |
2.25% |
2.30% |
2.00% |
||||
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 |
1.75% |
1.78% |
1.50% |
||||
$1,000,000 or more |
0.00% (2) |
0.00% |
1.00% |
(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)
Investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more of the Funds 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 12 months after their purchase in the amount of the commissions paid on the shares redeemed. In addition, a CDSC of up to 1.00% of the purchase price will be charged to the shareholders who received a sales charge waiver and then redeem their shares within one year after purchase. This CDSC will be based on the lower of the cost of the shares or their NAV at the time of redemption.
Reducing Your Sales Charge
15
You may be eligible to purchase Class A shares at a reduced sales charge. To qualify for these reductions, you must notify the Funds 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 .
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 $50,000, 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 Funds 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).
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:
·
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 adviser);
·
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.
Waiving Your Class A Sales Charge
The sales charge on purchases of Class A shares is waived for certain types of investors, including:
·
Current and retired directors and officers of the 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).
·
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 funds 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.
16
·
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 advisers may charge a separate fee.
·
Institutional investors (which may include bank trust departments and registered investment advisers).
·
Any accounts established on behalf of registered investment advisers 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 plans 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).CDSC of up to 1.00% of the purchase price will be charged to the shareholders who received a sales charge waiver and then redeem their shares within one year after purchase. This CDSC will be based on the lower of the cost of the shares or their NAV at the time of redemption.
The Fund also reserves the right to enter into agreements that reduce or eliminate sales charges for groups or classes of shareholders, or for Fund shares included in other investment plans such as wrap accounts. If you own Fund shares as part of another account or package, such as an IRA or a sweep account, you should read the terms and conditions that apply for that account. Those terms and conditions may supersede the terms and conditions discussed here. Contact your selling agent for further information.
Further information regarding the Funds sales charges, breakpoints and waivers is available free of charge upon request.
17
More About 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 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 shareholders investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.
The Adviser will advance to Selling Brokers, or other financial intermediaries that have entered into distribution agreements with the distributor, 1.00% of the purchase price of Class C shares from the Advisers own resources, at the time of purchase. The Funds distributor will pay the Class C shares distribution and/or shareholder service fees (as described above) during the first year after purchase to the Adviser in satisfaction of the advance. The Funds distributor will pay the Class C shares distribution and/or shareholder service fees to Selling Brokers, or other financial intermediaries that have entered into distribution agreements with the distributor, for Class C shares held for over a year.
If you redeem Class C shares within one year after purchase, you will be charged a CDSC of up to 1.00%. The charge will apply to the lesser of the original cost of the Class C shares being redeemed or the proceeds of your redemption and will be calculated without regard to any redemption fee. When you redeem Class C shares, the redemption order is processed so that the lowest CDSC is charged. Class C shares that are not subject to a CDSC are redeemed first. In addition, you will not be charged a CDSC when you redeem shares that you acquired through reinvestment of Fund dividends or capital gains. Any CDSC paid on the redemptions of Class C shares expressed as a percentage of the applicable redemption amount may be higher or lower than the charge described due to rounding.
The minimum initial investment in Class C shares of the Fund is $5,000. The minimum subsequent investment in Class C shares of the Fund is $500. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum initial or subsequent investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser.
More About Class N Shares
Class N 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 N 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. Over time, fees paid under this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of a Class N shareholders investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Class N shares of the Fund is $5,000. The minimum subsequent investment in Class N shares of the Fund is $1,000. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum initial or subsequent investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser.
More About Class I Shares
Class I shares may be purchased without the imposition of any sales charges. The Fund offers Class I shares primarily for direct investment by investors such as pension and profit-sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations, corporations and high net worth individuals. Class I shares may also be offered through certain financial intermediaries (including broker-dealers) and their agents in fee based and other programs. In these programs financial intermediaries have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund that charge their customers transaction or other distribution or service fees with respect to their customers investments in the Fund. Class I shares are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge, and are not subject to 12b-1 distribution fees. The minimum initial investment in Class I shares of the Fund is $5,000,000. The minimum subsequent investment in Class I shares of the Fund is $10,000. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum initial or subsequent investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser.
18
More About Class R Shares
Class R 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 R shares pay up to 0.
50%
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 R shareholders investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Class R shares of the Fund is $2,000. The minimum subsequent investment in Class R shares of the Fund is $500. Class R shares are available only to eligible retirement plans, health savings accounts and fee based investment accounts. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum initial or subsequent investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser.
Share Price
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 Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washingtons 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 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 Funds investments are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each securitys primary exchange. Investments traded or dealt in upon one or more 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, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange . Investments 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. Options contracts listed on a securities exchange or board of trade (not including Index Options contracts) for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the valuation date. Index Options contracts listed on a securities exchange or board of trade for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the valuation date. Options not listed on a securities exchange or board of trade for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the valuation date. Futures are valued based on their daily settlement value. If market quotations are not readily available, investments 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 Funds NAV will reflect certain portfolio investments 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 value of the Funds investments. In addition, market prices for foreign investments are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. Because the Fund may invest in futures interests primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not compute NAV, the value of some of the Funds portfolio investments may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares. In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign investments 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 investments quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Funds portfolio, particularly foreign investments, occur after the close
19
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 Funds 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 Funds portfolio investments 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 Funds NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price an investment 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 investment.
With respect to any portion of the Funds assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, the Funds 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
The Fund offers four classes of shares so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs: Class A, Class C, Class I and Class R shares. The main differences between each class are sales charges and ongoing fees and expenses. In choosing which class of shares to purchase, you should consider which will be most beneficial to you given your investment goals, the amount of your purchase and the length of time you expect to hold the shares. Each class of shares in the Fund represents an interest in the same portfolio of investments in the Fund. Not all share classes may be available for purchase in all states.
Purchase by Mail. To purchase the Funds shares, simply complete and sign the Account Application and mail it, along with a check made payable to PCS Commodity Strategy Fund to:
via Regular mail to:
or via Overnight mail to :
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 541150
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68154
Omaha, NE 68130
Purchase through Brokers. You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Funds 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
1-844-828-3242
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 Funds 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 Funds 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
1-844-828-3242
for more information about the Funds Automatic Investment
20
Plan. Minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for Automatic Investment Plan investors, at the Funds discretion.
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 PCS Commodity Strategy Fund. The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashiers 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 Funds transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholders account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.
Anti-Money Laundering Program. 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 shareholders 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.
In order to ensure compliance with these laws, the Account Application asks for, among other things, the following information for all customers seeking to open an account (as those terms are defined in rules adopted pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act):
·
full name;
·
date of birth (individuals only);
·
Social Security or taxpayer identification number; and
·
permanent street address (P.O. Box only is not acceptable).
Accounts opened by entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships or trusts, will require additional documentation.
Please note that if any information listed above is missing, your Account Application will be returned and your account will not be opened. In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, the Transfer Agent will verify the information on your application as part of the Program. The Fund reserves the right to request additional clarifying information and may close your account if such clarifying information is not received by the Fund within a reasonable time of the request or if the Fund cannot form a reasonable belief as to the true identity of a customer. If you require additional assistance when completing your Account Application, please contact the Transfer Agent at
1-844-828-3242.
21
How to Redeem Shares
You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:
via Regular mail to:
or via Overnight mail to:
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 541150
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68154
Omaha, NE 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 will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or wired 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
1-844-828-3242.
The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire 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 Funds 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 accounts, IRA or other qualified plan account have a current account value of at least $10,000, you may participate in the Funds 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
1-844-828-3242
for more information about the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds NAV. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.
22
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.
Low Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $2,500, for Class A shares, $2,500 for Class C Shares, $2,500 for Class R shares and $100,000 for Class I Shares, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $5,000 for Class A shares, $5,000 for Class C Shares, $5,000 for Class R shares or $250,000 for Class I shares within 60 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 required minimum due to a decline in NAV.
23
Redemption Fee
The Fund will deduct a 1% redemption fee on the redemption amount if you sell your shares less than 30 days after purchase or shares held less than 30 days are redeemed for failure to maintain the Funds balance minimum. See Low Balances for further information on account closure policy. Shares held longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held shortest as being redeemed last. Shares held for 30 days or more are not subject to the 1% fee.
Redemption fees are paid to the Fund directly and are designed to offset costs associated with fluctuations in Fund asset levels and cash flow caused by short-term shareholder trading.
Waivers of Redemption Fees: The Fund has elected not to impose the redemption fee for:
·
Redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
·
Certain types of redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares owned through participant-directed retirement plans;
·
Redemptions or exchanges in discretionary asset allocation, fee based or wrap programs (wrap programs) that are initiated by the sponsor/financial advisor as part of a periodic rebalancing;
·
Redemptions or exchanges in a fee based or wrap program that are made as a result of a full withdrawal from the wrap program or as part of a systematic withdrawal plan;
·
Involuntary redemptions, such as those resulting from a shareholders failure to maintain a minimum investment in the Fund, or to pay shareholder fees; or
·
Redemptions or exchanges due to the death or disability of a shareholder, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or divorce decree, or similar situations where the Fund, in its discretion, believes it is appropriate in the circumstances.
The Fund reserves the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fees or waivers at any time and will give shareholders 30 days prior written notice of any material changes, unless otherwise provided by law. The redemption fee policy may be modified or amended in the future to reflect, among other factors, regulatory requirements mandated by the SEC.
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions
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 Funds 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 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. 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 Funds Market Timing Trading Policy;
·
Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests; and
·
Charging a 1.00% redemption charge if shares are held less than 30 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 Funds shareholders.
The redemption fee, which is uniformly imposed, is intended to discourage short-term trading and is paid to the Fund to help offset any cost associated with such short-term trading. The Fund will monitor the assessment of redemption fees against your account. Based on the frequency of redemption fees assessed against your account, the Adviser or Transfer Agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading
24
activity is detrimental to the Fund as described in the Funds 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 or exchange requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholders 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 or exchange orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investors financial adviser) 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions, assessing the Funds redemption fee 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 Funds 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.
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
1-844-828-3242
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.
Shares of one of the Class of the Fund will not be exchangeable for shares of other Classes.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Distributor) is located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130, and serves as distributor and principal underwriter to the Fund. The Distributor 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 and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Plans
The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the 12b-1 Plans) under the 1940 Act applicable to each of Class A, Class C, Class N and Class R shares. Under the 12b-1 Plans, the Fund is authorized to pay the Funds distributor, or such other entities as approved by the Board of Trustees, a fee for the promotion and distribution of the Fund and the provision of personal services to shareholders. The maximum amount of the fee authorized is 0.25% of the Funds average daily net assets annually for Class A
and Class
N shares, 0.50% of the Funds average daily net assets annually for Class
R
shares,
and 1.00% of the Funds average daily net assets annually for Class C shares.
25
The distributor may pay any or all amounts received under the 12b-1 Plans to other persons, including the Adviser, for any distribution or service activity. Because these fees are paid out of the Funds assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment in the Fund and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
In addition to the fees paid under the 12b-1 Plans, the Fund may pay service fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions, including the Adviser and affiliates of the Adviser, for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
The distributor, its affiliates and the Adviser, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Such payments and compensation are in addition to service fees paid by the Fund, if any. These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Cash compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to the Funds 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 distributors discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional commissions.
Distributions and Taxes
Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions
Any sale or exchange of a Funds 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.)
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains annually in December. Both 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 income 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
26
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 is 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. This summary is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. The tax considerations relevant to a specific shareholder depend upon its specific circumstances, and this summary does not attempt to discuss all potential tax considerations that could be relevant to a prospective shareholder with respect to the Fund or its investments. This general summary is based on the Code, the Federal Income Tax Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change (potentially on a retroactive basis). You should consult your own independent tax advisors to determine the tax consequences of owning the Funds shares.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (FFI) or a non-financial foreign entity (NFFE) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income and dividends paid by a Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the gross proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it either enters into a valid agreement with the IRS or otherwise complies with the specific requirements and provisions of an applicable intergovernmental agreement, in each case to, among other requirements, to collect and report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
Financial Highlights
Because the Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for the Funds at this time. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.
27
PRIVACY NOTICE
Rev.
April
2014
FACTS |
WHAT DOES NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST II (NLFT II) 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 depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include: |
|||
· Social Security number · Employment information · Account balances |
· Account transactions · Income · Investment experience |
|||
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 a customers personal information to run their everyday business - to process transactions, maintain customer accounts, and report to credit bureaus. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers personal information; the reasons NLFT II chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing. |
|||
Reasons we can share your personal information |
Does NLFT II share? |
Can you limit this sharing? |
||
For our everyday business purposes --
|
Yes |
No |
||
For our marketing purposes --
|
Yes |
No |
||
For joint marketing with other financial companies |
Yes |
No |
||
For our affiliates everyday business purposes --
|
Yes |
No |
||
For our affiliates everyday business purposes --
|
No |
We dont share |
||
For nonaffiliates to market to you |
No |
We dont share |
||
Questions? |
Call 1-402-493-4603 |
28
|
|
|
|
|
Who we are |
||||
Who is providing this notice? |
Northern Lights Fund Trust II |
|||
What we do |
||||
How does NLFT II 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. |
|||
How does NLFT II collect my personal information? |
We collect your personal information, for example, when you |
|||
· open an account · give us your income information · provide employment information |
· provide account information · give us your contact information |
|||
We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies. |
||||
Why cant I limit all sharing? |
Federal law gives you the right to limit only · sharing for affiliates everyday business purposesinformation 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. The following companies may be considered affiliates of NLFT II : · CLS Investments, LLC · NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC · NorthStar Holdings, LLC · Gemcom, LLC · Gemini Fund Services, LLC · Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC · Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC · Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC · Northern Lights Distributors, LLC · Orion Advisor Services, LLC · Constellation Trust Company |
|||
Nonaffiliates |
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies. · NLFT II does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. |
|||
Joint marketing |
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products and services to you. · Our joint marketing partners include other financial service companies. |
29
Investment Adviser
Price Asset Management, Inc.
141 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1320A
Chicago, IL, 60604
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
McGladrey LLP
555 17 th Street, Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80202
Legal Counsel
Alston & Bird, LLP
950 F Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Custodian
MUFG Union Bank, National Association
400 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Fund Administrator
Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68130
Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68130
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II
FOR MORE INFORMATION |
You can find more information about the Fund in the following documents:
Statement of Additional Information
The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information. A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference. This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports provide the most recent financial reports and portfolio listings. The annual report contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that affected the Funds performance during the Funds last fiscal year.
You can obtain a free copy of these documents, request other information, or make general inquiries about the Fund by calling the Fund (toll-free) at
1-844-828-3242
or by writing to:
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68130
Information is also available at
www.priceasset.com.
You can review and copy information, including the Funds reports and SAI, at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling (202) 551-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available:
·
free of charge from the SECs EDGAR database on the SECs Internet website at http://www.sec.gov;
·
for a fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-1520; or
·
for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
_________________________________________________________________
(The Trusts SEC Investment Company Act file number is 811-22549)
Statement of Additional Information
Dated:
September
3,
2014
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
Class A Shares (Symbol:
PCYAX)
Class C Shares (Symbol:
_____)
Class N Shares (Symbol:
_____)
Class I Shares (Symbol:
PCYIX)
Class R Shares
(Symbol:
_____)
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides general information about the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund), a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II (the Trust). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Funds current Prospectus for Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I and Class R shares dated
September
3,
2014 (the Prospectus), as supplemented and amended from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference To obtain a copy of the Prospectus
free of charge, please write or call the Fund at the address or telephone number below:
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68130
1-844-828-3242
---------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
---------------------------------
THE TRUST |
3 |
INVESTMENT POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND ASSOCIATED RISKS |
4 |
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS |
15 |
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND |
16 |
BOARD OF TRUSTEES |
16 |
BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE |
16 |
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS |
18 |
BOARD COMMITTEES |
20 |
TRUSTEE COMPENSATION |
21 |
INVESTMENT ADVISER |
22 |
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS |
24 |
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS |
27 |
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES |
28 |
12B-1 DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLANS |
29 |
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE |
30 |
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER |
32 |
CODE OF ETHICS |
32 |
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES |
32 |
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE PROGRAM |
32 |
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION |
33 |
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE |
34 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
42 |
B-2
The Trust
The PCS Commodity Strategy Fund (the Fund) is a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II, (the Trust) a Delaware statutory trust, organized on August 26, 2010.
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 Funds investment objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may add classes to and reclassify the shares of the Fund, start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.
The Fund offers five classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I shares and Class R shares. Each share class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund, has the same rights and is identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales loads, (ii) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (iii) each class of shares may have different shareholder features, such as minimum investment amounts; (iv) certain other class-specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees paid by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees fees or expenses paid as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares and (v) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements. 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 on a class-specific basis (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 Funds 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.
Under the Trusts 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.
Price Asset Management, Inc. (the Adviser) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
B-3
Investment Policies, Strategies and Associated Risks
The investment objective of the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund is to seek to provide long term total return. The investment objectives of the Fund and the descriptions of the Funds principal investment strategies are set forth under Investment Strategies, Related Risks and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings in the Prospectus. The Funds investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without the approval of shareholders. Shareholders will be given 60 days prior notice of any such changes.
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 Funds investment objective and a summary of related risks.
Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest up to
10%
of its net assets in shares of other investment companies, including money market mutual funds, other mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs).
The Funds investments in money market mutual funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses.
The Fund limits its investments in securities issued by other investment companies in accordance with the 1940 Act or with certain terms and conditions of applicable exemptive orders issued by the SEC and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act precludes the Fund from acquiring (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another investment company; (ii) shares of another investment company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) shares of another registered investment company and all other investment companies having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.
However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i)
immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of such investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii)
the Fund has not offered or sold, and is not proposing to offer or sell its shares through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price that includes a sales load of more than 1 1/2%.
SEC Rule 12d1-3 provides, however, that the Fund may rely on the Section 12(d)(1)(F) exemption and charge a sales load in excess of 1 1/2% provided the sales load and any service fee charged does not exceed limits set forth in applicable Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) rules.
If the Fund invests in investment companies, including ETFs, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F), it must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Funds shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.
In addition, an investment company purchased by the Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment companys total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days.
In addition to the advisory and operational fees the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operation, the Fund also bears its pro rata portion of the advisory and operational expenses incurred indirectly through investments in other investment companies.
In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds: (1)
the market price of the ETFs shares may trade at a discount to their net asset value; (2)
an active trading market for an ETFs shares may not develop or be maintained; or (3)
trading of an ETFs shares may be halted if the listing exchanges officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed 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.
B-4
Closed-End Investment Companies
The Fund may invest its assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or "closed-end funds"), subject to the investment restrictions set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% and 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 or Sub-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.
B-5
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. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying fund, the Fund's ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser or Sub-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 SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser or Sub-Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.
Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying fund(s) are made independently of the Fund and its Adviser or Sub-Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.
Exchange-Traded Funds
ETFs are generally passive 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, 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). ETFs typically have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap "creation units" in block-multiples of, for example, 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.
Exchange-Traded Notes
Similar to ETFs, owning an ETN generally reflects the risks of owning the assets that comprise the underlying market benchmark or strategy that the ETN is designed to reflect. ETNs also are subject to counterparty and fixed-income risk. ETNs are a type of unsecured, unsubordinated debt security that have characteristics and risks similar to those of fixed income securities and trade on a major exchange similar to shares of ETFs. This type of debt security differs, however, from other types of bonds and notes because ETN returns are based upon the performance of a market index minus applicable fees, no period coupon payments are distributed, and no principal protections exist. The purpose of ETNs is to create a type of security that combines the aspects of both bonds and ETFs. 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 underlying commodities or securities markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuers credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced commodity or security. The funds decision to sell its ETN holdings also may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. If the fund must sell some or all of its ETN holdings and the secondary market is weak, it may have to sell such holdings at a discount. If the fund holds its investment in an ETN until maturity, the issuer will give the fund a cash amount that would be equal to principal amount (subject to the days index factor). ETNs also are subject to counterparty credit risk and fixed income risk.
B-6
Foreign Currencies
The Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and enter into forward currency contracts in order to possess the foreign currency required by the Indexs rules and to provide margin support for foreign exchange futures contracts denominated in currency other than U.S. dollars. 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 or futures 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.
Swap Agreements
The Fund may enter into swap agreements for purposes of attempting to gain exposure to equity or debt securities without actually purchasing those securities, or to hedge a position. 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 Funds 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 Funds risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.
The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Funds 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 net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in an account with the Custodian. 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 Funds investment restriction concerning senior securities.
Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Funds illiquid investment limitations. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser or a Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, 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 counter-party.
The Fund may enter into a swap agreement in circumstances where the Adviser or a Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, believes that it may be more cost effective or practical than buying the securities represented by such index or a futures contract or an option on such index. The counter-party to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. The counter-party will
B-7
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 counter-party 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 are traded in the OTC market.
Fixed Income Securities
The Fund may invest in a wide range of fixed income securities, which may include obligations of any rating maturity, and in mutual funds and ETFs that invest in such securities.
The Fund may invest in investment grade corporate debt securities and lower-rated corporate debt securities (commonly known as junk bonds). Lower-rated or high yield debt securities include corporate high yield debt securities, zero-coupon securities, payment-in kind securities and strips. Investment grade corporate bonds are those rated BBB or better by Standard & Poors Rating Service (S&P) or Baa or better by Moodys Investors Service (Moodys). Securities rated BBB by S&P are considered investment grade, but Moodys considers securities rated Baa to have speculative characteristics. The Fund may also invest in unrated securities.
Corporate Debt Securities . Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations, although corporate debt instruments may also include bank loans to companies. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured.
The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may be rated investment-grade or below investment-grade and may carry variable or floating rates of interest.
Because of the wide range of types and maturities of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of its issuers, corporate debt securities have widely varying potentials for return and risk profiles. For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated investment-grade may have a modest return on principal, but carries relatively limited risk. On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued by a small foreign corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal, but carries a relatively high degree of risk.
Corporate debt securities carry both credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk is the risk that the Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when it is due. Some corporate debt securities that are rated below investment-grade are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities. The credit risk of a particular issuers debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of higher-ranking senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the
B-8
holders of more junior securities. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of certain corporate debt securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise. In general, corporate debt securities with longer terms tend to fall more in value when interest rates rise than corporate debt securities with shorter terms.
Zero-Coupon Securities . Zero-coupon securities make no periodic interest payments, but are sold at a deep discount from their face value. The buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date. The discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity, as well as market interest rates, liquidity of the security and the issuers perceived credit quality. If the issuer defaults, the holder may not receive any return on its investment. Because zero-coupon securities bear no interest and compound semiannually at the rate fixed at the time of issuance, their value generally is more volatile than the value of other fixed-income securities. Since zero-coupon bondholders do not receive interest payments, when interest rates rise, zero-coupon securities fall more dramatically in value than bonds paying interest on a current basis. When interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities rise more rapidly in value because the bonds reflect a fixed rate of return. An investment in zero-coupon and delayed interest securities may cause the Fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on its investment.
Unrated Debt Securities . Unrated debt, while not necessarily lower in quality than rated securities, may not have as broad a market. Because of the size and perceived demand for the issue, among other factors, certain issuers may decide not to pay the cost of getting a rating for their bonds. The creditworthiness of the issuer, as well as any financial institution or other party responsible for payments on the security, will be analyzed to determine whether to purchase unrated bonds.
Borrowing
The Fund will not borrow money for investment purposes but it may borrow funds to meet redemptions or for other emergency purposes, which is a form of leveraging. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity. Leverage will magnify changes in the Funds net asset value and on the Funds investments. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Funds assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Fund. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Fund will have to pay, the Funds net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Fund will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.
Such borrowings may be on a secured or unsecured basis at fixed or variable rates of interest. The 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage of not less than 300% with respect to all borrowings. If such asset coverage should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to dispose of some of its portfolio holdings within three days in order to reduce the Funds debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to dispose of assets at that time.
The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
Borrowing by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income, but at the same time, creates special risk considerations. For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Funds portfolio.
B-9
Futures
General . The Fund will use certain futures contracts (sometimes referred to as futures).
The use of futures is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several exchanges upon which they are traded and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC). In addition, the Funds ability to use futures will be limited by tax considerations. Pursuant to a claim for exemption filed with the National Futures Association on behalf of the Fund, the Fund is not deemed to be a commodity pool operator or a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act and is not subject to registration or regulation as such under the Commodity Exchange Act. In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below and in the Prospectus, the Funds Adviser or Sub-Advisers may discover additional opportunities in connection with futures and other similar or related techniques. These new opportunities may become available as the Adviser or Sub-Advisers develop new techniques, as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions. The Adviser or Sub-Advisers may utilize these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Funds investment objective and permitted by the Funds investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities. The Prospectus or this SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those described below or in the Prospectus.
Futures Contracts . A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security on the expiration date of the contract.
Whether the Fund realizes a gain or loss from futures activities depends upon movements in the underlying security or index. The Fund purchases and sells futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade and certain foreign exchanges.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit initial margin in an amount generally equal to approximately 10% or less of the contract value. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
Subsequent variation margin payments are made to and from the futures commission merchant daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as marking-to-market. Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Funds obligations to or from a futures commission merchant. When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.
Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract position.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract can vary from the previous days settlement price. Once that limit is reached, no trades
B-10
may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain cash or liquid assets in an account.
Risks of Futures Contracts . The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to the following factors, which may create distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationships between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions.
Temporary and Cash Investments
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will stay fully invested according to its principal investment strategies as noted above. The Fund, however, may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by making short-term investments in cash, cash equivalents, and high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions. This may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objectives during that period.
For longer periods of time, the Fund may hold a substantial cash position. If the market advances during periods when the Fund is holding a large cash position, the Fund may not participate to the extent it would have if the Fund had been more fully invested. To the extent that the Fund uses a money market fund for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market funds advisory fees and operational expenses.
The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:
Money Market Mutual Funds . The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds in connection with its management of daily cash positions or as a temporary defensive measure. Generally, money market mutual funds seek to earn income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. They primarily invest in high quality money market obligations, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations and high-grade corporate instruments. These investments generally mature within 397 days from the date of purchase. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. The Funds investments in money market mutual funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses.
Your cost of investing in the Fund will generally be higher than the cost of investing directly in the underlying money market mutual fund shares. You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying money market mutual funds in addition to the Funds direct fees and expenses. Furthermore,
B-11
the use of this strategy could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you.
Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers Acceptances and Time Deposits . The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are accepted by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances acquired by the Fund will be dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. Government.
Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans that may be made and interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operations of the banking industry.
As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are, among other things, required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited in the amount which they can loan to a single borrower and subject to other regulations designed to promote financial soundness. However, such laws and regulations do not necessarily apply to foreign bank obligations that the Fund may acquire.
In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances, to the extent permitted under the investment objective and policies stated above and in the Prospectus, the Fund may make interest-bearing time or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.
Savings Association Obligations . The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit (interest-bearing time deposits) issued by savings banks or savings and loan associations that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million, based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such obligations is fully insured by the U.S. Government.
Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations . The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term notes. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.
Commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase A-2 or higher by S&P, Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moodys, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, will be determined by the Adviser or a Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, to be of comparable quality.
Corporate obligations include bonds and notes issued by corporations to finance longer-term credit needs than supported by commercial paper. While such obligations generally have maturities of ten years
B-12
or more, the Fund may purchase corporate obligations which have remaining maturities of one year or less from the date of purchase and which are rated A or higher by S&P or A or higher by Moodys.
U.S. Government Obligations
The Fund may invest in various types of U.S. Government obligations. 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.
Illiquid Securities
As a non-principal strategy, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid at the time of purchase, which means that there may be legal or contractual restrictions on their disposition, or that there are no readily available market quotations for such a security. Illiquid securities present the risks that the Fund may have difficulty valuing these holdings and/or may be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price desired. There are generally no restrictions on the Funds ability to invest in restricted securities (that is, securities that are not registered pursuant to the Securities Act), except to the extent such securities may be considered illiquid. Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act will be considered liquid if determined to be so under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is responsible for making the determination as to the liquidity of restricted securities (pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees). The Fund will determine a security to be illiquid if it cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at the value at which the Fund has valued the security. Factors considered in determining whether a security is illiquid may include, but are not limited to: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase and sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; the number of dealers who undertake to make a market in the security; the nature of the security, including whether it is registered or unregistered, and the market place; whether the security has been rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO); the period of time remaining until the maturity of a debt instrument or until the principal amount of a demand instrument can be recovered through demand; the nature of any restrictions on resale; and with respect to municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation, there is reasonable assurance that the obligation will remain liquid throughout the time the obligation is held and, if unrated, an analysis similar to that which would be performed by an NRSRO is performed. If a restricted security is determined to be liquid, it will not be included within the category of illiquid securities, which may not exceed 15% of the Funds net assets. Investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of the Funds illiquidity to the extent that the Fund, at a particular point in time may be unable to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing the securities. The Fund is permitted to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands subsidiary (the Subsidiary), which is expected to invest primarily in commodity and financial futures and option contracts. As a result, the Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in these investments through the Subsidiary. For that reason, and for the sake of convenience, references in this Statement of Additional Information to the Fund may also include the Subsidiary.
The Subsidiary will not be registered under the 1940 Act but, will be subject to certain of the investor protections of that Act, as noted in this Statement of Additional Information. The Fund, as the sole
B-13
shareholder of the Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. However, since the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, it is unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. The Funds Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Funds role as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. Also, in managing the Subsidiarys portfolio, the Adviser will be subject to the same investment restrictions and operational guidelines that apply to the management of the Fund, including any collateral or segregation requirements in connection with various investment strategies. The Adviser has, on behalf of the Subsidiary, filed with the National Futures Association a notice claiming exemption from the CFTCs reporting and disclosure requirements in accordance with Part 4 of the CFTC Regulations. The CFTC regulations provide relief relating to CFTC disclosure and reporting requirements for commodity pools, such as the Subsidiary, that are operated by a CPO that is the same as, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the CPO of an offered pool (such as the Fund).
Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Statement of Additional Information and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.
Additional Risks
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) (which 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.
Volatility Risk
The Fund may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Funds net asset value per share to experience significant appreciations or decreases in value over short periods of time.
B-14
High Portfolio Turnover Risk
In accordance with industry practice, derivative instruments and instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate, resulting in an expected portfolio turnover rate of 0% for the Fund. However, if these instruments were included in the calculation, the Funds strategy would result in frequent portfolio trading and a high portfolio turnover rate (typically greater than 300%). By investing on a shorter-term basis through its investment in one or more wholly-owned and controlled Subsidiary, the Fund may trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liabilities to shareholders in the Fund.
Interest Rate Risk
A portion of the Funds assets may be invested in short-term interest rate instruments or securities to increase returns. If interest rates increase, the Fund may earn interest at rates below prevailing market rates.
Fundamental Investment Limitations
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
1.
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 Funds engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff;
2.
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 Funds total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions;
3.
Purchase securities on margin, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account, or underwrite securities. (Does not preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of its portfolio securities, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities);
4.
Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate or real estate acquired as a result of such investments. 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);
5.
Invest 25% or more of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry. (Does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.);
B-15
6.
Purchase or sell commodities (unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments), except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options to the full extent permitted under the 1940 Act, buy or sell foreign currency contracts in accordance with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, and invest in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities; or
7.
Make loans to others, except (a) through the purchase of debt securities in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, (b) to the extent the entry into a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan, and (c) by loaning portfolio securities.
The following lists the non-fundamental investment restrictions applicable to the Fund. These restrictions can be changed by the Board of Trustees, but the change will only be effective after notice is given to shareholders of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
1.
Invest in securities of other investment companies except as permitted under the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder; or
2.
Invest 15% or more of the value of its net assets, computed at the time of investment, in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are those securities without readily available market quotations, including repurchase agreements having a maturity of more than seven days. Illiquid securities may include restricted securities not determined by the Board of Trustees to be liquid, non-negotiable time deposits, over-the-counter options and repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after notice.
Except with respect to borrowing and illiquid securities, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.
The Subsidiary will also follow the Funds fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions, described above, with respect to its investments on a consolidated basis. The Fund will look through the Subsidiary for purposes of compliance with diversification, leverage and concentration requirements and restrictions.
Management of the Fund
Board of Trustees
The management and affairs of the Fund are supervised by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of five individuals, four (4) of whom are not interested persons (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (Independent Trustees). The Trustees are fiduciaries for the Funds shareholders and are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware in this regard. The Board of Trustees establishes policies for the operation of the Fund and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Fund.
Board Leadership Structure
The Trust is led by Mr. Brian Nielsen, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since 2011. Mr. Nielsen is an interested person by virtue of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (the Trusts Administrator, Fund Accountant, and Transfer Agent) and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Funds Distributor). The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Nielsen and four (4) Independent Trustees. Under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent
B-16
Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Trusts 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, (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. The Trust believes that (i) its Chairman, Brian Nielsen (ii) Keith Rhoades, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, (iii) 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. The Board has not appointed a Lead Independent Trustee at this time.
Board Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Nielsen and four (4) Independent Trustees with a standing independent 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 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 Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Nielsen has over ten years of business experience in the investment management and brokerage business and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate. Since 2010, Thomas Sarkany has been the President of TTS Consultants, LLC, a financial services firm and from 1994 through 2010, held various roles at Value Line, Inc. (a publicly held company providing financial research, publications and money management services to retail and institutional investors), including Director of Marketing and Asset Management, Director of Index Licensing, and member of the Board of Directors. Anthony Lewis has been Chairman and CEO of The Lewis Group USA, an executive consulting firm, for the past ten years, and also serves as a Director, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, and a Member of the Audit Committee of Torotel Inc. Keith Rhoades served as the Director then Senior Director of General Ledger/Financial Research for Union Pacific Railroad, and Randy Skalla has served as the President of L5 Enterprises, Inc. since 2001 and is a member of the Orizon Investment Counsel Board. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustees qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The Board of Trustees has established three standing board committees the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating Committee. All Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee. Inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board of Trustees oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes. The Board of Trustees has also established a Valuation Committee for the Trust.
In accordance with the fund governance standards prescribed by the SEC under the 1940 Act, the Independent Trustees on the Nominating Committee select and nominate all candidates for Independent Trustee positions. Each Trustee was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees because of his experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills as set forth above. The Board of Trustees reviews its leadership structure regularly. The Board of Trustees believes that the structure described above facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Trustees from the officers of the Trust, the advisers of the funds that comprise the Trust and other service providers, and facilitates the effective
B-17
evaluation of the risks and other issues, including conflicts of interest, that may impact the Trust as a whole as well as the funds individually. The Board of Trustees believes that the orderly and efficient flow of information and the ability of the Board of Trustees to bring each Trustees experience and skills to bear in overseeing the Trusts operations is important given the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust, including: the unaffiliated nature of each investment adviser and the fund(s) managed by such adviser; the number of funds that comprise the Trust; the variety of asset classes that those funds reflect; the net assets of the Trust; the committee structure of the Trust; and the independent distribution arrangements of each of the Trusts series. For these reasons, the Board of Trustees believes that its leadership structure is appropriate.
The Board of Trustees role is one of oversight rather than day-to-day management of any of the Trusts series. The Trusts Audit Committee assists with this oversight function. The Board of Trustees oversight extends to the Trusts risk management processes. Those processes are overseen by Trust officers, including the President, the Treasurer, the Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), who regularly report to the Board of Trustees on a variety of matters at Board meetings.
Investment advisers managing the Trusts series report to the Board of Trustees, on a regular and as-needed basis, on actual and possible risks affecting the Trusts series. These investment advisers report to the Board of Trustees on various elements of risk, including investment, credit, liquidity, valuation, operational and compliance risks, as well as any overall business risks that could impact the Trusts series.
The Board of Trustees has appointed the CCO, who reports directly to the Board of Trustees and who participates in its regular meetings. In addition, the CCO presents an annual report to the Board of Trustees in accordance with the Trusts compliance policies and procedures. The CCO, together with the Trusts Treasurer and Secretary, regularly discusses risk issues affecting the Trust and its series during Board of Trustee meetings. The CCO also provides updates to the Board of Trustees on the operation of the Trusts compliance policies and procedures and on how these procedures are designed to mitigate risk. Finally, the CCO and/or other officers of the Trust report to the Board of Trustees in the event that any material risk issues arise in between Board meetings.
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and the officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.
Independent Trustees
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position/Term of Office* |
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
||||||
Thomas T. Sarkany 1946 |
Trustee since October 2011 |
President, TTS Consultants, LLC since 2010 (financial services); Director of Marketing and of Asset Management; Director of Index Licensing, Value Line (from 1994 to 2010). |
26 |
Director, Value Line Funds; Director, Value Line, Inc.; Director, Aquila Distributors, Trustee, Northern Lights ETF Trust, Trustee, Arrow Investments Trust |
0
000
B-18
Anthony H. Lewis 1946 |
Trustee Since May 2011 |
Chairman and CEO of The Lewis Group USA (executive consulting firm). |
26 |
Director, Chairman of the Compensation Committee, and Member of the Audit Committee of Torotel Inc. (Magnetics, Aerospace and Defense), Trustee, Wildermuth Endowment Strategy Fund |
||||||
Keith Rhoades 1948 |
Trustee Since May 2011 |
Director and then Senior Director, General Ledger/Financial Research, Union Pacific Railroad (from 1988 to 2008). Retired since 2008. |
26 |
NONE |
||||||
Randal D. Skalla 1962 |
Trustee since May 2011 |
President, L5 Enterprises, Inc. since 2001 (financial services company). |
26 |
Orizon Investment Counsel (financial services company) Board Member |
Interested Trustees and Officers
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position/Term of Office* |
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
Brian Nielsen** 1972 |
Trustee Since May 2011 |
General Counsel and Secretary (since 2001) of CLS Investments, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2001) of Orion Advisor Services, LLC; Manager (since 2012), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2003) of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC; CEO (since 2012), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2003), Manager (since 2005), President (from 2005 to 2013) of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (since 2003) of AdvisorOne Funds; Director, Secretary and General Counsel (since 2004) of Constellation Trust Company; Manager (since 2008), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2011), Assistant Secretary (from 2004 to 2011) of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC; Trustee (since 2011) of Northern Lights Fund Trust II; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2011) and Assistant Secretary (from 2004 to 2011) of Gemcom, |
26 |
NONE |
B-19
|
LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2012) and Assistant Secretary (from 2003 to 2012) of Gemini Fund Services, LLC; Manager (since 2012) of Arbor Point Advisors, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2013) of Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (since 2013) of Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC; Assistant Secretary (from 2011 to 2013) of Northern Lights Fund Trust; and Assistant Secretary (from 2011 to 2013) of Northern Lights Variable Trust |
||||
Kevin E. Wolf 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 1969 |
President Since January 2013 |
President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Director of Fund Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2006 2012); and Vice-President, Gemcom, LLC (2004 2012). |
N/A |
N/A |
|
James P. Ash 80 Arkay Drive. Hauppauge, NY 11788 1976
|
Secretary Since May 2011 |
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 |
|
Emile R. Molineaux 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 1962 |
Chief Compliance Officer and Anti Money Laundering Officer Since May 2011 |
General Counsel, CCO and Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2003 - 2011); CCO of Various clients of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC, (Secretary 2003-2011 and Senior Compliance Officer since 2011). |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Erik Naviloff 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 1968 |
Treasurer, Since January 2013 |
Vice President of Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Assistant Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, (2007 2012); |
N/A |
N/A |
* The term of office for each Trustee and Officer listed above will continue indefinitely.
** Brian Nielsen is an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, because of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (the Trusts Administrator, Fund Accountant, and Transfer Agent) and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Funds Distributor), Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (the Funds Compliance provider) and Gemcom, LLC (the Funds Edgar and printing service provider).
Board Committees
Audit Committee . The Board has an Audit Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Fund. The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Funds independent auditor concerning the scope of the audit and the auditors independence and will meet at least four times annually.
B-20
Nominating Committee . The Board has a Nominating Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary. The Nominating Committee generally will not consider shareholder nominees.
Compensation Committee. The Board has a Compensation Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The role of the Compensation Committee is to oversee the evaluation of, and review and approve compensation for, the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The Compensation Committee will generally meet annually.
Other Committees of the Trust
Valuation Committee . The Trust has a Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee is responsible for the following: (1) monitoring the valuation of Fund securities and other investments; and (2) as required, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, determining the fair value of illiquid securities and other holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations are reported to the Board. The Valuation Committee shall, at all times, consist of no less than three members, including the Trusts President and Treasurer, and may include such number of alternate members that are officers of the Trusts Administrator or the investment adviser of a series of the Trust as the Board of Trustees or the members of the Valuation Committee may from time to time designate. The Valuation Committee meets as necessary when a price for a portfolio security is not readily available.
Trustee Compensation
Effective July 2014, each Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust or Adviser will receive a quarterly fee of $12,500, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings to be paid at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The Audit Committee Chairman will receive a $1,250 additional quarterly fee. The interested persons who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.
Prior to July 2014 , each Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust or Adviser will receive a quarterly fee of $6,000, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings to be paid at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The Audit Committee Chairman receives a $4,000 additional annual fee. The interested persons who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.
And, prior to October 2013, each Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust or Adviser received a quarterly fee of $4,000, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings to be paid at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The Audit Committee Chairman receives a $4,000 additional annual fee. The interested persons who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.
B-21
Name |
Aggregate Compensation From Trust ** |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees *** |
Thomas T. Sarkany |
$ 22,000 |
None |
None |
$ 22,000 |
Anthony Lewis |
$ 22,000 |
None |
None |
$ 22,000 |
Keith Rhoades |
$ 26,000 |
None |
None |
$ 26,000 |
Randy Skalla |
$18,000 |
None |
None |
$ 22,000 |
Brian Nielsen* |
$0 |
None |
None |
$0 |
_______________
*Brian Nielsen is deemed to be an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his affiliation with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant), Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Funds Distributor) and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (the Trusts compliance service provider) and Gemcom, LLC (the Funds Edgar and printing service provider).
** There are currently multiple series comprising the Trust. Trustees fees will be allocated equally to each Fund in the Trust.
***The term Fund Complex refers to
Northern Lights Fund Trust,
Northern Lights Fund Trust II,
Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Variable Trust and Advisors Preferred Trust.
Trustee 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 Funds outstanding shares.
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, there were no principal or control shareholders as there were no shares of the Fund outstanding.
Investment Adviser
Price Asset Management, Inc. (the Adviser), located at 141 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1320A, Chicago, IL, 60604, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser is indirectly wholly-owned and controlled by the Price Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust. Walter Price serves as trustee of the Trust.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board of the Trustees, and in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, manages the portfolio investment operations of the Fund. The Adviser has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund's securities portfolio, as detailed below, which are subject to review and approval by the Board of Trustees.
Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Funds investments.
After an initial period of two years, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund upon 60 days prior written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the applicable Funds shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, or by the Adviser upon 60 days prior written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as
B-22
defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser, under such agreement, shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees (directly or through a Sub-Adviser) to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Funds 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 (directly or through a sub-advisor) (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 or retained by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases or sales are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser (directly or through a sub-advisor) 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 personnel for servicing the Funds 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 April 24-25, 2014.
In addition, the Adviser, directly subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provides the management and administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. These services include providing facilities for maintaining the Trusts organization; supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the Fund; preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining the Funds records and the registration of the Funds shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; developing management and shareholder services for the Fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a management fee at the annual rate of 0.79% of the Funds average daily net assets.
The fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its management fee and to reimburse operating expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) at least until December 31, 2015, such that net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed the percentages in the table below. This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated only by, or with the consent of, the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is permitted to receive reimbursement of any excess expense payments paid by it pursuant to the operating expense limitation agreement in future years on a rolling three year basis, as long as the reimbursement does not cause the Funds annual operating expenses to exceed the expense cap. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease the Funds expenses and increase its performance.
B-23
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 Funds 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 its shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Funds 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 Trusts business.
The Adviser has only recently been engaged to manage the Funds and has not been paid any advisory fees as of the date of this SAI.
Portfolio Managers
The following section provides information regarding the Portfolio Managers, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, compensation, material conflicts of interests, and any ownership of securities in the Fund.
John D. Reese. Mr. Reese is the chief executive officer of Price Asset Management, Inc. where he oversees management, investment and marketing functions. Mr. Reese was born in 1955. Mr. Reese earned a B.A. in Economics from Westminster College in 1977. Mr. Reese is registered as a principal and associated person of Price Asset Management, Inc. and holds a Series 3 License. Prior to joining Price Asset Management, Inc. in 2012, Mr. Reese was the founder and managing director of Peak View Capital LLC, a private investment firm focused on acquisitions in the asset management industry. Until 2010, Mr. Reese was executive managing director and senior vice-president of Wells Fargo Asset Management's Evergreen Investments division, where he was principally responsible for the European Credit Management Ltd. (ECM) investment subsidiary business in North America. Prior to the acquisition of ECM by Wachovia Bank in 2007, and Wachovia's acquisition by Wells Fargo in 2008, Mr. Reese was president of ECM, Inc., the US-based investment business of ECM from 2002, and a partner and member of the board of directors of the parent firm. From 1981 to 2001, Mr. Reese was employed by
B-24
Merrill Lynch in a variety of capacities, including most recently as managing director in the Global Debt Markets division in New York.
David F. Schink. Mr. Schink is the chief operating officer and general counsel of Price Asset Management, Inc., where he is responsible for investment activities and operations and legal functions. Mr. Schink is a registered principal and associated person of Price Asset Management, Inc. and holds a Series 3 license. Mr. Schink is also a managing partner of Peak View Capital LLC, which he joined in 2011. From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Schink was chief operating officer and general counsel of Contego Capital Partners, LLC, a Chicago-based registered investment advisor specializing in hedge fund investing where he was involved in strategic and day-to-day business affairs and was responsible for legal and regulatory risk management. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Schink was an associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, where he represented private equity funds, registered investment advisors and other investment vehicles in a variety of transactions, and from 1998 to 2000 he was an associate at Sidley & Austin, where he represented financial institutions in structuring and negotiating structured finance and secured lending transactions. Mr. Schink holds a B.A. from Hamilton College and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
Roxanne M. Bennett. Ms. Bennett is the executive vice president and managing director of Price Asset Management, Inc., which she joined in 2007. Ms. Bennett concentrates on the trading and counterparty risk management. Prior to joining Price Asset Management, Inc., Ms. Bennett was a director with UBS Securities LLC, a bank owned FCM, from 2006 to 2007. From 1997 until the purchase of ABN AMRO Inc. by UBS Securities LLC in 2006, Ms. Bennett was a director of ABN AMRO Incorporated, a bank owned FCM, and ABN AMRO Clearing and Management Services Inc., a registered commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor (collectively ABN AMRO). At ABN AMRO, Ms. Bennett was responsible for the development and distribution of alternative investment products and was a member of the investment committee selecting commodity trading advisors and hedge funds for asset allocations. In addition, Ms. Bennett oversaw the day-to-day administration and risk management for various alternative investment products.
Alan Konn . Mr. Konn is the Managing Director of the Institutional Client Group, Co-Chairman of Price Holdings Inc., and Chairman of Price Asset Management, Inc. He holds FINRA Series 3, 7, 24 and 63 licenses and is an NFA principal. Mr. Konn joined the Price Group and became registered and a Member with Uhlmann Price Securities Inc. (UPS), our affiliated broker dealer, in early 2003. In his capacity as Managing Director of UPS, he is responsible for Price Asset Managements institutional client marketing. Prior to Price, Alan spent 17 years as an investment executive with William Blair & Co. where he worked as a portfolio manager assisting high net worth clients with asset allocation and investment strategies. Prior to that he was employed by First National Bank of Chicago in the corporate finance department. Alan has a BA in Psychology from Hamline University, and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from UCLA.
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
The table below identifies, for each Portfolio Manager of the Fund, the number of accounts managed (excluding the Fund) and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. To the extent that the advisory fees for any of these accounts are based on account performance, this information is reflected in separate tables below. Asset amounts are approximate as of the date of this SAI, and have been rounded.
The table below identifies, for each Portfolio Manager of the Fund, the number of accounts managed (excluding the Fund) and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. To the extent that the advisory fees for any of these accounts are based on account performance, this information is reflected in separate tables below. Asset amounts are as March 31, 2014, and have been rounded.
B-25
Portfolio Manager |
Registered Investment Companies (excluding the Fund) |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
|
|||
Other Accounts |
||||||
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets in the Accounts |
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets in the Accounts |
Number of Accounts |
Total Assets in the Accounts |
|
Adviser |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John D. Reese |
0 |
$0 |
7 |
$305 million |
1 |
$10 million |
David F. Schink |
0 |
$0 |
7 |
$305 million |
1 |
$10 million |
Roxanne M. Bennett |
0 |
$0 |
7 |
$305 million |
1 |
$10 million |
Alan Konn |
0 |
$0 |
7 |
$305 million |
123 |
$80 million |
Material Conflicts of Interest
Actual or apparent material conflicts of interest may arise when a Portfolio Manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one investment account or in other circumstances. Portfolio Managers who manage other investment accounts in addition to the Fund may be presented with the potential conflicts described below.
The investment adviser has responsibility for managing multiple client accounts and, as such, 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 may receive fees from certain client accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund. Currently, the accounts for which the adviser has discretion (including the Fund) follow an investment strategy that utilizes a rules-based methodology, which dictates the trading activity for such accounts and thus reduces the potential for a conflict of interest.
In the future, Price Asset Management may have responsibility for accounts that follow different investment strategies. It has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts (i.e., allocation of resources or of investment opportunities) common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Portfolio Managers Compensation
The Portfolio Managers generally receive compensation that includes a base salary and a discretionary bonus. Discretionary bonuses paid to the Portfolio Managers are based on a variety of factors, including the profitability of the Adviser and certain other performance metrics determined by the Advisers management team.
Portfolio Managers Ownership of the Fund
Because there were no shares outstanding as of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Manager owned 0% of the Funds outstanding shares.
B-26
Other Service Providers
Administrator
Pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement (the Administration Service Agreement), Gemini Fund Services, LLC (GFS), 80 Arkay Drive, Hauppauge, New York 11788 (the Administrator), acts as administrator for the Fund, 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 provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.
The Administration Service Agreement was initially approved by the Board at a meeting held on
April 24-25, 2014.
The Agreement shall remain in effect for two years from the date of the Funds commencement of operations, and subject to annual approval of the Board for one-year periods thereafter. The Administration Service Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 60 days prior written notice and may be assigned provided the non-assigning party provides prior written consent. This Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of GFS or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, GFS shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.
Under the Administration Service Agreement, GFS provides facilitating administrative services, including: (i) providing services of persons competent to perform such administrative and clerical functions as are necessary to provide effective administration of the Fund; (ii) facilitating the performance of administrative and professional services to the Fund by others, including the Funds Custodian; (iii) preparing, but not paying for, the periodic updating of the Funds Registration Statement, Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information in conjunction with Fund counsel, including the printing of such documents for the purpose of filings with the SEC and state securities administrators, and preparing reports to the Funds shareholders and the SEC; (iv) preparing in conjunction with Fund counsel, but not paying for, all filings under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such states or countries as are designated by the Distributor, which may be required to register or qualify, or continue the registration or qualification, of the Fund and/or its shares under such laws; (v) preparing notices and agendas for meetings of the Board and minutes of such meetings in all matters required by the 1940 Act to be acted upon by the Board; and (vi) monitoring daily and periodic compliance with respect to all requirements and restrictions of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Prospectus.
For the services rendered to the Fund, during its first year of operations, by GFS, the Fund pays GFS a fund administration fee equal to the greater of (a) a minimum fee of $32,000 or (b) 0.08% on the first $250 million of net assets, 0.06% on the next $250 million net assets, 0.04% on the next $500 million of net assets, and 0.03% on net assets greater than $1 billion.
Fund Accounting
GFS, pursuant to the Fund Accounting Service Agreement, 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 Funds 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 Funds custodian or Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund. For the services rendered to the Fund, during its first year of operations, by GFS, the Fund pays GFS a fund accounting fee equal to the base fee of $22,000 and $6,000 for each additional class above two, plus 0.01% on net assets above $25 million.
B-27
Transfer Agent
GFS, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130, acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to a written agreement with the Fund. 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 the services rendered to the Fund, during its first year of operations, by GFS, the Fund pays GFS an annual transfer agency fee equal to a minimum fee of $15,000 or $14 per account.
Custodian
Union Bank 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 Fund. The Custodians 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 Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets.
Compliance Services
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS), 17605 Wright Street Omaha, NE 68130, 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. The Fund pays a compliance service fee to NLCS.
Legal Counsel
Alston & Bird, LLP, 950 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 serves as counsel to the Fund.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
McGladrey LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The Trust has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Distributor), 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130, pursuant to which the Distributor acts as the Funds principal underwriter, provides certain administration services and promotes and arranges for the sale of the Funds shares. The offering of the Funds shares is continuous. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA.
The Underwriting Agreement has an initial term of 2 years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Underwriting Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party. The Underwriting Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on 60 days notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Funds outstanding voting securities or by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Distributor on 60 days notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with broker-dealers that solicit orders for the sale of shares of the Fund and may allow concessions to dealers that sell shares of the Fund.
B-28
12b-1 Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans
As noted in the Prospectus, the Trust has adopted Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each of the Funds Class A shares, Class C shares, Class N and Class R shares (the Plans) pursuant to which the Class A shares, Class C shares and Class R shares of the Fund are authorized to pay fees to the Distributor for providing distribution and/or shareholder services to the Fund. Under each Plan, Class A shares
and Class
N
shares of the Fund may pay a combined distribution and/or shareholder servicing fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average net assets of such share class as compensation for the Distributor providing account maintenance and/or distribution services to shareholders,
Class
R
shares of the Fund may pay a combined distribution and/or shareholder servicing fee at an annual rate of up to
0.50%
of the average net assets of such share class as compensation for the Distributor providing account maintenance and/or distribution services to shareholders,
and Class C shares of the Fund may pay a combined distribution and/or shareholder servicing fee at an annual rate of up to 1.00% of the average net assets of such share class as compensation for the Distributor providing account maintenance and/or distribution services to shareholders.
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 each share classs 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 the Trust and the Distributor. The 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 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 Funds 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. The Adviser may be compensated by the Distributor for its distribution and marketing efforts.
The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board 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 Rule 12b-1 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 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 Rule 12b-1 Plan (Rule 12b-1 Trustees) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Rule 12b-1 Plan. The Rule 12b-1 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 Distributors 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 the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board 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
B-29
Plan. During the term of a 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 a 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 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.
To the extent these asset-based fees and other payments made under the Distribution Plan to these financial intermediaries for the distribution services they provide to the Funds shareholders exceed the Distribution Fees available, these payments are made by the Adviser from its own resources, which may include its profits from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund. In addition, the Fund may participate in various fund supermarkets in which a mutual fund supermarket sponsor (usually a broker-dealer) offers many mutual funds to the sponsors customers without charging the customers a sales charge. In connection with its participation in such platforms, the Adviser may use all or a portion of the Distribution Fee to pay one or more supermarket sponsors a negotiated fee for distributing the Funds shares. In addition, in its discretion, the Adviser may pay additional fees to such intermediaries from its own assets.
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers determine which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Funds portfolio transactions. Purchases and sales of securities in the OTC market will generally be executed directly with a market-maker unless, in the opinion of the Adviser, a better price and execution can otherwise be obtained by using a broker for the transaction.
Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund will be effected through broker-dealers (including banks) that specialize in the types of securities that the Fund will be holding, unless better executions are available elsewhere. Dealers usually act as principal for their own accounts. Purchases from dealers will include a spread between the bid and the asked price. If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer that has provided research or other services as discussed below.
In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser will use reasonable efforts to choose broker-dealers capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable price and execution available. The full range and quality of services available will be considered in making these determinations, such as the size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of the firm involved, the firms risk in positioning a block of securities and other factors. In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price and execution available, consideration may be given to those broker-dealers that furnish or supply research and statistical information to the Adviser that they may lawfully and appropriately use in their investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other brokerage services in addition to execution services. The Adviser considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Advisory Agreement with the Fund, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value.
B-30
While it is the Funds general policy to first seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services to the Fund or to the Adviser, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Adviser in advising other clients. In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Adviser to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer. The standard of reasonableness is to be measured in light of the Advisers overall responsibilities to the Fund.
Investment decisions for the Fund may or may not be made independently from those of other client accounts of the Adviser. In certain instances, investment decisions will be made similar to other accounts managed. In the case where the Fund uses similar strategies, applicable procedures will be taken to ensure trading allocations will be handled fairly and abide by all appropriate rules and regulations. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times identical securities will be acceptable for both the Fund and one or more of such client accounts. In such event, the position of the Fund and such client account(s) in the same issuer may vary and the length of time that each may choose to hold its investment in the same issuer may likewise vary. However, to the extent any of these client accounts seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a portion of such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time. If one or more of such client accounts simultaneously purchases or sells the same security that the Fund is purchasing or selling, each days transactions in such security will be allocated between the Fund and all such client accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Adviser, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts and the amount being purchased or sold. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned. In other cases, however, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for the Fund. Notwithstanding the above, the Adviser may execute buy and sell orders for accounts and take action in performance of their duties with respect to any of their accounts that may differ from actions taken with respect to another account, so long as the Adviser shall, to the extent practical, allocate investment opportunities to accounts, including the Fund, over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis and in accordance with applicable law.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its regular brokers or dealers that the Fund has acquired during its most recent fiscal year. The Fund is also required to identify any brokerage transactions during its most recent fiscal year that were directed to a broker because of research services provided, along with the amount of any such transactions and any related commissions paid by the Fund.
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, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.
B-31
Portfolio Turnover
Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (i) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (ii) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Funds portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to above-average transaction costs, could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates (currently as high as 35%) and could increase brokerage commission costs. To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher portfolio turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred by the Fund and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
Code of Ethics
The Fund, the Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These Codes permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of the Adviser, and Distributor to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.
Proxy Voting Procedures
The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies of securities held by the Fund to the Adviser and responsibility for voting proxies of securities held by the Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Boards continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Advisers 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. Notwithstanding this delegation of responsibilities, however, the Fund retains the right to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities. A copy of the Adviser's Proxy Voting Policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.
More Information . The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free, 1-800-SEC-0330 or by accessing the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a providing 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.
B-32
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.
Portfolio Holdings Information
The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Funds portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.
It is the Trusts 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 Trusts shareholders and those of the Trusts affiliates.
The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing the 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 Funds may choose to make portfolio holdings information available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg more frequently on a confidential basis.
Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Funds 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 Funds 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 and 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.
Northern Light Compliance Services, LLC. Northern Light Compliance Services, LLC provides consulting services to the Funds as well as related compliance services; 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.
B-33
Union Bank Union Bank is custodian for the Fund; 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.
Alston & Bird, LLP. Alston & Bird, LLP is counsel to the Fund; 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 Trusts 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 Fund, the Adviser, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Funds portfolio holdings.
Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures
The Trusts 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 Trusts 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.
Determination of Net Asset Value
As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading Net Asset Value, the net asset value (NAV) of the Funds shares, by class, is determined by dividing the total value of the Funds portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund, by class.
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 on the primary exchange. 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.
B-34
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 Funds 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 use pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and does 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 its 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 Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents 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 NAV 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 NAV or offering price per share.
Redemption of Shares
The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholders shares in the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Redemptions section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholders 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 SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or
(d) when the SEC 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 NAV next determined after the termination of the suspension.
B-35
The Fund may purchase shares of certain underlying funds which charge a redemption fee to shareholders (such as the Fund) that redeem shares of the underlying fund within a certain period of time (such as one year). The fee is payable to the underlying fund. Accordingly, if the Fund were to invest in an underlying fund and incur a redemption fee as a result of redeeming shares in such underlying fund, the Fund would bear such redemption fee. The Fund will not, however, invest in shares of an underlying fund that is sold with a contingent deferred sales load.
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.
The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. The tax considerations relevant to a specific shareholder depend upon its specific circumstances, and the following general summary does not attempt to discuss all potential tax considerations that could be relevant to a prospective shareholder with respect to the Fund or its investments. This general summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), the Federal Income Tax Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change (potentially on a retroactive basis).
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. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax advisor regarding their investment in the Fund.
The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify and has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, 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. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a number of private letter rulings to other mutual funds (unrelated to the Fund), which indicate that certain income from a funds investment in a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary will constitute qualifying income for purposes of Subchapter M.
1
The IRS has suspended issuance of any further letters pending a review of its position and the release of public guidance on the issue. If the IRS were to change its position in published public guidance with respect to the conclusions reached in these prior private letter rulings (which change in position might be applied to the Fund retroactively), the income from the Funds investment in the Subsidiary might not be qualifying income, and the Fund might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years.
___________
1 Because a private letter ruling applies only to the taxpayer to whom it is issued, the Fund is not entitled to rely upon the private letter rulings issued to other mutual funds.
B-36
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 carryforward of the Fund. Under the recently enacted Regulated Investment Company Act of 2010, the Fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. However, losses incurred during those future years will be required to be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment tax years. Thus, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may be more likely to expire unused. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under previous law.
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 stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such stock, 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 Funds 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 Funds 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. Under the Regulated Investment Company Act of 2010, if the Fund fails to satisfy these qualifying income and asset tests, and such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it may be permitted to cure such failures (and thereby not jeopardize its tax status as a regulated investment company) under certain circumstances.
If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year (and such failure is not subject to cure as discussed above), 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 Funds net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Funds 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 the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Funds 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 excise tax.
B-37
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. In most cases the Fund will hold shares in Underlying Funds for less than 12 months, such that its sales of such shares from time to time will not qualify as long-term capital gains for those investors who hold shares of the Fund in taxable accounts.
Distributions of net capital gain (capital gain dividends) generally are taxable to shareholders as short-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 shareholders 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 reinvest 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 net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.
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.
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.
Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements
To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Funds 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 Funds securities, convert long-term capital gains
B-38
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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 recipients basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Funds book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated 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), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the companys 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 Funds 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 Funds total return.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Funds transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt 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 Funds 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 its 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
B-39
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 Funds 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 shareholders 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 Funds 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 debt 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 debt 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 debt 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 debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Some of the debt 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 debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
Some debt 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 debt 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 debt securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
B-40
If the Fund holds the foregoing kinds of securities, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount that 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 Funds shares.
A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompanies 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 advisors about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary
The Fund intends to invest a portion of its assets in the Subsidiary, which will be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless it is deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. It is expected that the Subsidiary will conduct its activities in a manner so as to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under Section 864(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Safe Harbor) pursuant to which the Subsidiary, provided it is not a dealer in stocks, securities or commodities, may engage in the following activities without being deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business: (1) trading in stocks or securities (including contracts or options to buy or sell securities) for its own account; and (2) trading, for its own account, in commodities that are of a kind customarily dealt in on an organized commodity exchange if the transaction is of a kind customarily consummated at such place. Thus, the Subsidiarys securities and commodities trading activities should not constitute a U.S. trade or business. However, if certain of the Subsidiarys activities were determined not to be of the type described in the Safe Harbor or if the Subsidiarys gains are attributable to investments in securities that constitute U.S. real property interests (which is not expected), then the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a U.S. trade or business, or be taxed as such.
In general, a foreign corporation that does not conduct a U.S. trade or business is nonetheless subject to tax at a flat rate of 30 percent (or lower tax treaty rate), generally payable through withholding, on the gross amount of certain U.S.-source income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. There is presently no tax treaty in force between the U.S. and the Cayman Islands that would reduce this rate of withholding tax. Income subject to such a flat tax includes dividends and certain interest income. The 30 percent tax does not apply to U.S.-source capital gains (whether long-term or short-term) or to interest paid to a foreign corporation on its deposits with U.S. banks. The 30 percent tax also does not apply to interest which qualifies as portfolio interest. The term portfolio interest generally includes interest (including original issue discount) on an obligation in registered form which has been issued after July 18, 1984 and with respect to which the person, who would otherwise be required to deduct and withhold the 30 percent tax, received the required statement that the beneficial owner of the obligation is not a U.S. person within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. Under certain circumstances, interest on bearer obligations may also be considered portfolio interest.
The Subsidiary will be wholly-owned by the Fund. A U.S. person who owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign
B-41
corporation is a U.S. Shareholder for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation (CFC) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. A foreign corporation is a CFC if, on any day of its taxable year, more than 50 percent of the voting power or value of its stock is owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) by U.S. Shareholders. Because the Fund is a U.S. person that will own all of the stock of the Subsidiary, the Fund will be a U.S. Shareholder and the Subsidiary will be a CFC. As a U.S. Shareholder, the Fund will be required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes all of the Subsidiarys subpart F income (defined, in part, below), whether or not such income is distributed by the Subsidiary. It is expected that all of the Subsidiarys income will be subpart F income. Subpart F income generally includes interest, original issue discount, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. Subpart F income also includes the excess of gains over losses from transactions (including futures, forward and similar transactions) in any commodities. The Funds recognition of the Subsidiarys subpart F income will increase the Funds tax basis in the Subsidiary. Distributions by the Subsidiary to the Fund will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed subpart F income, and will correspondingly reduce the Funds tax basis in the Subsidiary. Subpart F income is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the Subsidiarys underlying income.
In general, each U.S. Shareholder is required to file IRS Form 5471 with its U.S. federal income tax (or information) returns providing information about its ownership of the CFC and the CFC. In addition, a U.S. Shareholder may in certain circumstances be required to report a disposition of shares in the Subsidiary by attaching IRS Form 5471 to its U.S. federal income tax (or information) return that it would normally file for the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. In general, these filing requirements will apply to investors of the Fund if the investor is a U.S. person who owns directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of Sections 958(a) and (b) of the Internal Revenue Code) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of a foreign corporation that is a CFC for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during any tax year of the foreign corporation, and who owned that stock on the last day of that year.
Financial Statements
The Fund has only recently commenced operations as of the date of this SAI and therefore does not have a financial history.
B-42
APPENDIX A
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
Proxy Policy
Because of the manner in which the Price Asset Management manages its Clients investments (i.e., clients are typically invested in a portfolio of futures contracts and cash and cash equivalent collateral), the Adviser generally does not take ownership of the securities of corporate issuers and, accordingly, the Adviser does not generally vote Proxies on behalf of its Clients. In the unlikely event that the Adviser is called upon to vote a Proxy, the Adviser's policy is to vote such Proxy in the best interest of its Clients. Accordingly, the Adviser will vote any Proxy in a manner intended to promote the Client's investment objective, usually to maximize investment returns, following the applicable investment restrictions and policies of the Client, if any. Our firm maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting and makes appropriate disclosures about our firms proxy policies and practices. Our policy and practice includes the responsibility to monitor corporate actions, receive and vote client proxies and disclose any potential conflicts of interest as well as making information available to clients about the voting of proxies for their portfolio securities and maintaining relevant and required records.
Background
Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised.
Investment advisers registered with the SEC, and which exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, are required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act to (a) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that client securities are voted in the best interests of clients, which must include how an adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between an adviser's interests and those of its Funds, Portfolios and clients; (b) to disclose to Funds, Portfolios and clients how they may obtain information from the adviser with respect to the voting of proxies for their securities; (c) to describe to clients a summary of its proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) maintain certain records relating to the adviser's proxy voting activities when the adviser does have proxy voting authority.
Responsibility
Price Asset Management has the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of our proxy voting policy, practices, disclosures and record keeping, including outlining our voting guidelines in our procedures.
Procedure
The Adviser has adopted procedures to implement the firms policy and reviews to monitor and insure the firms policy is observed, implemented properly and amended or updated, as appropriate, which include the following:
Voting Procedures
I.
INTRODUCTION
B-43
The Adviser has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures as required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. These policies and procedures are effective on March 25, 2014.
II.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Non-Routine Proxy Proposals shall mean:
·
Proxy proposals that are to be considered on a case-by-case basis,
·
Proxy proposals that Advisor generally abstains from voting on, and
·
Proxy proposals that are not addressed by the Principles and Guidelines section of the Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures.
Proxy Manager shall be David Schink, Chief Operating Officer.
Proxy Committee shall be comprised of the current members of the Firms investment committee.
A quorum of the Proxy Committee shall be comprised of at least one member.
Routine Proxy Proposals shall mean proxy proposals that the Proxy Manager, at the direction of the Proxy Committee, shall cast either yes or no votes in accordance with the Principles and Guidelines noted below.
III.
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINE
A.
Principles. The Advisers primary purpose and fiduciary responsibility is to maximize shareholder value, which is defined as share price and dividend appreciation. The Adviser will vote proxies in the best interests of our Funds, Portfolios and clients and will generally vote for, against, consider on a case-by-case basis, or abstain from voting as indicated below. Because of the extenuating circumstances associated with specific proxy issues, the Advisers votes may differ from time to time from the indications noted. In addition, the list may not include all proxies on which the Adviser votes. The Adviser will also act, in our best judgment, on behalf of our Funds, Portfolios and clients on certain corporate actions that impact shareholder value, such as tender offers and bankruptcy proceedings.
B.
Voting Guidelines
1.
Routine Business Decisions and Director Related Proposals
Adviser votes for:
a)
Name changes
b)
Directors in uncontested elections
c)
Elimination/limitation of directors liability
d)
Indemnification of directors
e)
Reincorporation that is not a takeover defense
Adviser considers on a case-by-case basis:
B-44
f)
Directors in contested elections
g)
Approval of auditors.
2.
Corporate Governance
Adviser votes for:
a)
Majority independent board
b)
Audit, compensation & nominating committees that are comprised exclusively of independent directors Minimum director share ownership
c)
Separate offices of chairperson and CEO
d)
Limitation on number of other board seats
e)
Confidential voting
f)
Shareholders ability to remove directors Shareholder right to call special meetings
Adviser votes against:
a)
Supermajority vote requirements
b)
Limiting directors tenure
c)
Restrictions on shareholders to act by written consent Advisor considers on a case-by-case basis:
d)
Shareholder proposals
e)
Dissident proxy battle
3.
Director and Executive Compensation
Adviser votes for:
a)
Disclosure of executive compensation Adviser votes against:
b)
Golden and tin parachutes Adviser considers on a case-by-case basis:
c)
Restricting executive compensation
d)
Executive compensation plans
e)
Establish/Increase share option plans for directors and executives
4.
Take-Over Defense
Adviser votes against:
a)
Reincorporation to prevent takeover
b)
Issue new class of common stock with unequal voting rights
c)
Adoption of fair price amendments
d)
Establish a classified (or staggered) board of directors
e)
Eliminating cumulative voting
f)
Poison pills
g)
Blank check preferred stock
5.
Capital Structure
Adviser votes for:
a)
Increase authorized common stock (unless additional stock is a takeover defense, i.e., poison pill).
B-45
b)
Share repurchase programs (when all shareholders may participate on equal terms)
Adviser votes against:
c)
Unequal voting rights, such as dual class of stock
d)
Pre-emptive rights
Adviser considers on a case-by-case basis:
e)
Increase preferred stock
f)
Blank check preferred stock (not for takeover defense)
g)
Restructuring plans
6.
Other Shareholder Value Issues
Adviser votes for:
a)
Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)
b)
Employee stock purchase plans
c)
401(k) plans
Adviser votes against:
d)
Greenmail
Adviser considers on a case-by-case basis:
e)
Mergers and acquisitions
f)
Spin-offs and asset sales
7.
Corporate, Social and Environmental Policy Proposals . As noted above, the Advisers fiduciary responsibility is the maintenance and growth of our clients assets. Accordingly, the Adviser will typically vote in accordance with managements recommendations or abstain from voting on proposals concerning corporate policy and social and environmental issues. When such proposals impact shareholder value, the Adviser may vote on a case-by-case basis.
8.
Proposals Specific to Mutual Funds . The Adviser serves as investment adviser to certain investment companies under the Northern Lights Fund Trust. These funds invest in other investment companies that are not affiliated (Underlying Funds) and are required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) to handle proxies received from Underlying Funds in a certain manner. Notwithstanding the guidelines provided in these procedures, it is the policy of The Adviser to vote all proxies received from the Underlying Funds in the same proportion that all shares of the Underlying Funds are voted, or in accordance with instructions received from fund shareholders, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act. After properly voted, the proxy materials are placed in a file maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer for future reference.
IV.
Conflicts of Interest
On occasion, a conflict of interest may exist between the Adviser and Funds, Portfolios and clients regarding the outcome of certain proxy votes. In such cases, the Adviser is committed to
B-46
resolving the conflict in the best interest of our Funds, Portfolios and clients before we vote the proxy in question.
If the proxy proposal is a Routine Proxy Proposal, the Adviser will typically adhere to the standard procedure of referring to the principles and guidelines described herein in deciding how to vote. Alternatively, the Adviser may disclose the conflict to our clients and obtain their consent before voting or seek the recommendation of an independent third party in deciding how to vote.
If the proxy proposal is a Non-Routine Proxy Proposal, the Adviser will take any of the following courses of action to resolve the conflict:
1)
Disclose the conflict to our Funds, Portfolios and clients and obtain consent before voting;
2)
Suggest that our Funds, Portfolios and clients engage another party to determine how the proxy should be voted; or
3)
Vote according to the recommendation of an independent third party, such as a:
·
proxy consultant;
·
research analyst;
·
proxy voting department of a mutual fund or pension fund; or
·
compliance consultant.
V.
Obtaining More Information
Funds, Portfolios and clients may obtain a record of Advisors proxy voting, free of charge, by calling the Firms publicly available phone number.
These policies and procedures may also be found in the Advisers Form ADV, Part II and supporting schedules.
VI.
Procedures
When the mail arrives, the person responsible for separating the mail gives any proxy materials to the person who handles compliance issues. The proxy materials are then opened by the Compliance person. The ticker symbol for the security noted on the proxy is located. A Security Cross Reference report is run in Axys as of the record date, as stated on the proxy. This report tells how many shares were owned by Funds, Portfolios and clients as of the record date, and can be printed in detail so that the exact clients who held the security on the record date are listed. An email is sent to the Receptionist about the arrival of the proxy. In the email is listed the name of the security, ticker symbol, arrival date, custodian and number of shares.
Once the Security Cross Reference report has been run, the number of shares on the report is compared to the number of shares to be voted on the proxy.
If the number of shares between the two reports matches, then the Security Cross Reference report is attached to the proxy materials and forwarded to the Portfolio Manager to be voted according to the Advisers proxy voting policies.
B-47
If the number of shares does not match, then reasonable efforts will be made to resolve the difference, such as:
·
Rerunning the Security Cross Reference report for other dates around the record date of the proxy to see if the security transferred into the Adviser after the record date, even though the client owned it as of the record date.
·
Calling the custodian to confirm the clients per their records that are included in the proxy count, and then verifying that information to the Security Cross Reference report. There may be differences due to clients having made the decision to vote their proxies, in which case, the proxies would go directly to the clients.
If the difference still cannot be resolved, the matter is reviewed with the Portfolio Manager as to the next action to be taken. If the difference is determined to be immaterial and is approved by the Portfolio Manager, then the proxy will stand as is.
Once the shares have been reconciled, then the proxy materials and the Security Cross Reference report are then given to the Portfolio Manager to vote.
The Portfolio Manager will generally vote the routine proxies in accordance with the principles and guidelines described in the Advisers Proxy Voting Policy and sign the proxy. For Non-Routine Proxy Proposals, the Portfolio Manager will vote them on a case-by-case basis. The vote and the rationale will be noted as documentation for the vote.
Once the Portfolio Manager has voted the proxies, they will be given to the Receptionist for processing. If the proxy is to be mailed, then a copy of the proxy is made, attached to the proxy materials that support the vote and Security Cross Reference report and filed in chronological order. This file is maintained by year.
If the proxy was voted electronically, the original proxy with the notes on it is as to how the proxy was voted, are maintained and attached to the proxy materials that support the vote and Security Cross Reference report, and filed in chronological order, just like proxies that are mailed.
The Receptionist then enters the necessary information in the Proxy Voting Database. The following information is entered:
·
Name of Company
·
Proxy Proposal
·
Managements recommendation
·
the Advisers Action
·
Rationale for the vote
·
List of clients to whom the proxy vote applies.
Should the Adviser receive any requests from clients regarding proxy voting, the Receptionist will maintain a record of the requests from the specific clients, which will include:
B-48
·
Name of the Client
·
Date that the request was received
·
Whether the request was for a complete or partial record of proxy votes
·
The documents provided
·
Date that the information was sent to the client
A copy of the information sent to the client will be retained in a chronological file, maintained by year.
VII.
Disclosure
The Adviser will provide conspicuously displayed information in its Form ADV Part II in the Supporting Schedules, summarizing this proxy voting policy and procedures, including a statement that clients may request information regarding how the Adviser voted a clients proxies, and that clients may request a copy of these policies and procedures.
B-49
Northern Lights Fund Trust II
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28.
EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) |
Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 26, 2010. 3 |
(a)(2) |
Certificate of Trust as filed with the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010. 3 |
(b) |
By-Laws, effective as of August 26, 2010. 3 |
(c) |
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. See Article III, Shares and Article V Shareholders Voting Powers and Meetings of the Registrants Agreement and Declaration of Trust. See also, Article II, Meetings of Shareholders of the Registrants By-Laws. |
(d)(1) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC, with respect to Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund. 4 |
(d)(2) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Advisors Preferred, LLC, with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 6 |
(d)(3) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and North Star Investment Management Corp., with respect to the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund and North Star Micro Cap Fund. 49 |
(d)(4) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Monte Capital Group, LLC, with respect to Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 74 |
(d)(5) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Water Oak Advisors, LLC on behalf of WOA All Asset I. 16 |
(d)(6) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Solutions Funds Group, Inc. on behalf of the SFG Futures Strategy Fund. 14 |
(d)(7) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and AFAM Capital, Inc., Inc. on behalf of the Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund, Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund, Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 71 |
(d)(8) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Witherspoon Asset Management, LLC on behalf of the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 43 |
(d)(9) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Linde Hansen & Co., LLC on behalf of the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund. 22 |
(d)(10) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and AIS Capital Management, L.P. on behalf of the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio. 26 |
(d)(11) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Crow Point Partners, LLC on behalf of the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund. 35 |
(d)(12) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and North Peak Asset Management, LLC on behalf of the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 35 |
(d)(13) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Braver Wealth Management, LLC on behalf of the Braver Tactical Opportunity Fund. 33 |
(d)(14) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Longboard Asset Management, LLC on behalf of the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund . 35 |
(d)(15) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Milliman Financial Risk Management LLC on behalf of the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund. 31 |
(d)(16) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Absolute Investment Management LLC on behalf of the Aftershock Strategies Fund. 50 |
(d)(17) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and KKM Financial, LLC on behalf of KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund. 76 |
(d)(18) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and North Star Investment Management Corp., with respect to the North Star Bond Fund. 2 |
(d)(19) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Price Asset Management, Inc., with respect to PCS Commodity Strategy Fund.
|
(d)(20) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Milliman Financial Risk Management, LLC, with respect to Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund and Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund. 2 |
(d)(21) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between Advisors Preferred, LLC and Hundredfold Advisors LLC with respect to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 9 |
(d)(22) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between North Peak Asset Management, LLC and Wellington Management Company with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(d)(23) |
Amendment to the Sub-advisory Agreement between North Peak Asset Management, LLC and Parametric Portfolio Associates, LLC with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(d)(24) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between North Peak Asset Management, LLC and City of London Investment Group with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(d)(25) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between North Peak Asset Management, LLC and The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(d)(26) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between North Peak Asset Management, LLC and Mellon Capital Management Corporation with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(d)(27) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between North Peak Asset Management, LLC and Commodity Strategy AG with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(d)(28) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between Longboard Asset Management, LLC and Horizon Cash Management LLC with respect to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 36 |
(d)(29) |
Sub-advisory Agreement between KKM Financial, LLC and Equity ARMOR , LLC with respect to KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity Armor Fund. 76 |
(d)(30) |
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Advisors Series Trust, with respect to the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund, each a separate series of Advisors Series Trust, the Registrant, on behalf of the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund, each a separate series of the Registrant, and Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. dated January 18, 2013. 2 |
(d)(31) |
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Northern Lights Fund Trust III, with respect to the Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund and Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund, each a separate series of Northern Lights Fund Trust III, the Registrant, on behalf of the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund and Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund, each a separate series of the Registrant, and Milliman Financial Risk Management, LLC dated November __, 2014. 2 |
(d)(32) |
Master Securities Loan Agreement between AFAM Capital, Inc, Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC and MS Securities Services, Inc. 45 |
(e)(1) |
Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors LLC. 42 |
(e)(2) |
Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Ceros Financial Services, Inc. 10 |
(f) |
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts - Not Applicable |
(g)(1) |
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon. 4 |
(g)(2) |
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., on behalf of Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 5 |
(g)(3) |
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Union Bank, N.A. 15 |
(g)(4) |
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., on behalf of the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 46 |
(h)(1) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund. 4 |
(h)(2) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 5 |
(h)(3) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund and North Star Micro Cap Fund. 49 |
(h)(4) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 11 |
(h)(5) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of WOA All Asset I. 16 |
(h)(6) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the SFG Futures Strategy Fund. 14 |
(h)(7) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund, Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund, Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 75 |
(h)(8) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 43 |
(h)(9) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund. 22 |
(h)(10) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio. 26 |
(h)(11) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund. 35 |
(h)(12) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 35 |
(h)(13) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 35 |
(h)(14) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund. 31 |
(h)(15) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Braver Tactical Equity Opportunity Fund. 33 |
(h)(16) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Aftershock Strategies Fund. 40 |
(h)(17) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund. 76 |
(h)(18) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the North Star Bond Fund. 2 |
(h)(19) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund. 2 |
(h)(20) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund. 2 |
(h)(21) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund. 4 |
(h)(22) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund and North Star Micro Cap Fund. 49 |
(h)(23) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 75 |
(h)(24) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to WOA All Asset I. 16 |
(h)(25) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the SFG Futures Strategy Fund. 38 |
(h)(26) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund. 75 |
(h)(27) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 43 |
(h)(28) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund. 38 |
(h)(29) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio. 26 |
(h)(30) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund. 35 |
(h)(31) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 76 |
(h)(32) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund. 42 |
(h)(33) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Braver Tactical equity Opportunity Fund. 62 |
(h)(34) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Aftershock Strategies Fund. 50 |
(h)(35) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 45 |
(h)(36) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund and the Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund. 76 |
(h)(37) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund. 76 |
(h)(38) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the North Star Bond Fund. 2 |
(h)(39) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund. 2 |
(h)(40) |
Fee Waiver Letter Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund. 2 |
(h)(41) |
Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC. 4 |
(h)(42) |
Shareholder Services Plan on behalf of the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, Investor Class Shares. 42 |
(i)(1) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 60 |
(i)(2) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund and North Star Micro Cap Fund. 65 |
(i)(3) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 70 |
(i)(4) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund and Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund. 67 |
(i)(5) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the SFG Futures Strategy Fund. 59 |
(i)(6) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 69 |
(i)(7) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund. 66 |
(i)(8) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the WOA All Asset I. 77 |
(i)(9) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund (formerly the Sustainable Opportunities Fund. 55 |
(i)(10) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 55 |
(i)(11) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Crow Point Defined Global Equity Income Fund. 55 |
(i)(12) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio. 78 |
(i)(13) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 79 |
(i)(14) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Braver Tactical Opportunity Fund. 58 |
(i)(15) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Aftershock Strategies Fund. 71 |
(i)(16) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund.
|
(i)(17) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, Investor Class Shares. 40 |
(i)(18) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 72 |
(i)(19) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund. 73 |
(i)(20) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund. 62 |
(i)(21) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund. 63 |
(i)(22) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund. 64 |
(i)(23) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund. 74 |
(i)(24) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the North Star Bond Fund. 76 |
(i)(25) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund.
|
(i)(26) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund. 2 |
(i)(27) |
Consent of Alston & Bird LLP. 1 |
(j)(1) |
Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services Ltd. with respect to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund.
|
(j)(2) |
Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 60 |
(j)(3) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Dividend Fund. 65 |
(j)(4) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP with respect to Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 70 |
(j)(5) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP with respect to WOA All Asset I. 77 |
(j)(6) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP with respect to the SFG Futures Strategy Fund. 59 |
(j)(7) |
Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund and Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund. 67 |
(j)(8) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 69 |
(j)(9) |
Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund. 66 |
(j)(10) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio. 78 |
(j)(11) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund. 55 |
(j)(12) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund. 1 |
(j)(13) |
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 28 |
(j)(14) |
Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund (formerly the Sustainable Opportunities Fund. 55 |
(j)(15) |
Consent of McGladrey LLP with respect to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 55 |
(j)(16) |
Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Braver Tactical Opportunity Fund. 58 |
(j)(17) |
Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, Investor Class Shares. 40 |
(j)(18) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 49 |
(j)(19) |
Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund. 72 |
(j)(20) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to North Star Dividend Fund and North Star Micro Cap Fund. 48 |
(j)(21) |
Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund. 73 |
(j)(22) |
Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund. 2 |
(j)(23) |
Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund. 2 |
(j)(24) |
Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund. 2 |
(j)(25) |
Consent of McGladrey LLP with respect to the Aftershock Strategies Fund. 71 |
(j)(26) |
Consent of McGladrey LLP with respect to the KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund. 2 |
(j)(27) |
Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the North Star Bond Fund. 76 |
(j)(28) |
Consent of
|
(j)(29) |
Consent of independent registered public accountants with respect to Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund. 2 |
(j)(30) |
Powers of Attorney. 6, 13, 44 |
(k) |
Omitted Financial Statements - Not Applicable. |
(l) |
Initial Capital Agreements - Not Applicable. |
(m)(1) |
Class A Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 71 |
(m)(2) |
Class C Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 62 |
(m)(3) |
Class N Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 71 |
(m)(4) |
Class R Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 71 |
(m)(5) |
Investor Class Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 46 |
(m)(6) |
Service Class Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 46 |
(m)(7) |
Rule 12b-1 Plan on behalf of WOA All Asset I. 52 |
(n) |
Rule 18f-3 Plan, as amended April 25, 2014. 75 |
(p)(1) |
Code of Ethics of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC. 4 |
(p)(2) |
Code of Ethics of Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC. 4 |
(p)(3) |
Code of Ethics of Advisors Preferred LLC. 4 |
(p)(4) |
Code of Ethics for Hundredfold Advisors, LLC. 5 |
(p)(5) |
Code of Ethics for North Star Investment Management Corp. 7 |
(p)(6) |
Code of Ethics for Monte Capital Group, LLC.
|
(p)(7) |
Code of Ethics for Water Oak Advisors LLC. 9 |
(p)(8) |
Code of Ethics for Capital Wealth Planning, LLC. 9 |
(p)(9) |
Code of Ethics for Solutions Funds Group, Inc. 17 |
(p)(10) |
Code of Ethics for AFAM Capital, Inc. 14 |
(p)(11) |
Code of Ethics for Witherspoon Asset Management LLC 45 |
(p)(12) |
Code of Ethics for Linde Hansen & Co., LLC. 16 |
(p)(13) |
Code of Ethics for AIS Capital Management, LLC. 23 |
(p)(14) |
Code of Ethics for Crow Point Partners, LLC. 35 |
(p)(15) |
Code of Ethics for North Peak Asset Management, LLC. 33 |
(p)(16) |
Code of Ethics for Wellington Management Company. 33 |
(p)(17) |
Code of Ethics for Parametric Portfolio Associates, LLC. 33 |
(p)(18) |
Code of Ethics for City of London Investment Group. 33 |
(p)(19) |
Code of Ethics for The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC. 35 |
(p)(20) |
Code of Ethics for Mellon Capital Management Corporation. 35 |
(p)(21) |
Code of Ethics for Commodity Strategy AG. 2 |
(p)(22) |
Code of Ethics for Braver Wealth Management. 26 |
(p)(23) |
Code of Ethics for Longboard Asset Management, LLC. 31 |
(p)(24) |
Code of Ethics for Milliman Financial Risk Management LLC. 31 |
(p)(25) |
Code of Ethics for Horizon Cash Management, LLC. 35 |
(p)(26) |
Code of Ethics for Absolute Investment Management, LLC. 42 |
(p)(27) |
Code of Ethics for Ceros Financial Services, Inc. 42 |
(p)(28) |
Code of Ethics for KKM Financial, LLC. 74 |
(p)(29) |
Code of Ethics for Equity Armor Investments, LLC 74 |
(p)(30) |
Code of Ethics for Price Asset Management, Inc.
|
Is filed herewith.
2 To be filed by subsequent amendment.
3 Previously filed on June 16, 2011 in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, and hereby incorporated by reference.
4 Previously filed on June 28, 2011 in the Registrant's Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2, and hereby incorporated by reference.
5 Previously filed on August 3, 2011 in the Registrant's Proxy/Registration Statement on Form N-14, and hereby incorporated by reference.
6 Previously filed on August 3, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 2, and hereby incorporated by reference.
7 Previously filed on August 19, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 3, and hereby incorporated by reference.
8 Previously filed on August 26, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 4, and hereby incorporated by reference.
9 Previously filed on September 20, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 5, and hereby incorporated by reference.
10 Previously filed on October 3, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 9, and hereby incorporated by reference.
11 Previously filed on October 27, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 12, and hereby incorporated by reference.
12 Previously filed on October 27, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 13, and hereby incorporated by reference.
13 Previously filed on November 2, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 14, and hereby incorporated by reference.
14 Previously filed on November 17, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 and hereby incorporated by reference.
15 Previously filed on November 22, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 and hereby incorporated by reference.
16 Previously filed on December 14, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 and hereby incorporated by reference.
17 Previously filed on December 19, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 and hereby incorporated by reference.
18 Previously filed on December 20, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 and hereby incorporated by reference.
19 Previously filed on January 4, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 and hereby incorporated by reference.
20 Previously filed on January 10, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 and hereby incorporated by reference.
21 Previously filed on January 10, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 and hereby incorporated by reference.
22 Previously filed on January 27, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 and hereby incorporated by reference.
23 Previously filed on February 2, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 and hereby incorporated by reference.
24 Previously filed on February 7, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 and hereby incorporated by reference.
25 Previously filed on February 10, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 and hereby incorporated by reference.
26 Previously filed on March 8, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 and hereby incorporated by reference.
27 Previously filed on March 9, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 and hereby incorporated by reference.
28 Previously filed on March 13, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 and hereby incorporated by reference.
29 Previously filed on March 23, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 and hereby incorporated by reference.
30 Previously filed on March 27, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 and hereby incorporated by reference.
31 Previously filed on April 12, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 and hereby incorporated by reference.
32 Previously filed on April 17, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 and hereby incorporated by reference.
33 Previously filed on May 15, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 and hereby incorporated by reference.
34 Previously filed on May 25, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 and hereby incorporated by reference.
35 Previously filed on June 19, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 and hereby incorporated by reference.
36 Previously filed on June 28, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 and hereby incorporated by reference.
37 Previously filed on July 27, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 and hereby incorporated by reference.
38 Previously filed on August 17, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 and hereby incorporated by reference.
39 Previously filed on September 20, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 and hereby incorporated by reference.
40 Previously filed on October 19, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 and hereby incorporated by reference.
41 Previously filed on November 9, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 and hereby incorporated by reference.
42 Previously filed on December 28, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 and hereby incorporated by reference.
43 Previously filed on January 17, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 91 and hereby incorporated by reference.
44 Previously filed on January 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 and hereby incorporated by reference.
45 Previously filed on February 1, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 and hereby incorporated by reference.
46 Previously filed on March 22, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 and hereby incorporated by reference.
47 Previously filed on March 28, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 and hereby incorporated by reference.
48 Previously filed on April 17, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 and hereby incorporated by reference.
49 Previously filed on April 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 and hereby incorporated by reference.
50 Previously filed on June 7, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 and hereby incorporated by reference.
51 Previously filed on June 25, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 and hereby incorporated by reference.
52 Previously filed on July 29, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 and hereby incorporated by reference.
53 Previously filed on September 3, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 and hereby incorporated by reference.
54 Previously filed on September 19, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 and hereby incorporated by reference.
55 Previously filed on September 26, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 117 and hereby incorporated by reference.
56 Previously filed on September 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 and hereby incorporated by reference.
57 Previously filed on November 18, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 and hereby incorporated by reference.
58 Previously filed on December 17, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 and hereby incorporated by reference.
59 Previously filed on December 27, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 and hereby incorporated by reference.
60 Previously filed on December 27, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 and hereby incorporated by reference.
61 Previously filed on December 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 and hereby incorporated by reference.
62 Previously filed on January 13, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 and hereby incorporated by reference.
63 Previously filed on January 13, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 135 and hereby incorporated by reference.
64 Previously filed on March 14, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 and hereby incorporated by reference
65 Previously filed on March 26, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 and hereby incorporated by reference.
66 Previously filed on March 26, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 and hereby incorporated by reference.
67 Previously filed on March 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 and hereby incorporated by reference
68 Previously filed on March 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 and hereby incorporated by reference
69 Previously filed on March 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 and hereby incorporated by reference
70 Previously filed on March 28, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 and hereby incorporated by reference.
71 Previously filed on March 28, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 147 and hereby incorporated by reference.
72 Previously filed on April 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 and hereby incorporated by reference.
73 Previously filed on April 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 150 and hereby incorporated by reference.
74 Previously filed on May 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 and hereby incorporated by reference.
75 Previously filed on June 20, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 and hereby incorporated by reference.
76 Previously filed on June 25, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 158 and hereby incorporated by reference.
77 Previously filed on June 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 and hereby incorporated by reference.
78 Previously filed on June 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 and hereby incorporated by reference.
79 Previously filed on July 8, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 and hereby incorporated by reference.
80 Previously filed on July 24, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 and hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 29.
PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT.
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 officers or Trustees 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 persons office.
Article VIII, Section 2(b) 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 Persons 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 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.
ITEM 31.
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.
Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of each Advisor of each series of the Trust is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the section of the respective Prospectus captioned Investment Advisor 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 Advisor is incorporated by reference to the Advisors Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Each Advisors Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SECs website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, and may be requested by File No. as follows:
Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC, adviser to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund -- File No. 801-72390
Advisors Preferred, LLC, adviser to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund File No. 801-72430
North Star Investment Management Corp., adviser to North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund File No. 801-62013.
Monte Capital Group, LLC, adviser to the Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund File No. 801-76944.
Water Oak Advisors, LLC, adviser to the WOA All Asset I File No. 801-66872.
AFAM Capital, Inc., adviser to the Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund, Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund and Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund File No. 801-30528
Solutions Funds Group, Inc., adviser to the SFG Futures Strategy Fund File No. 801-72794
AIS Capital Management, L.P., adviser to the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio File no. 801-43295
Crow Point Partners, LLC, adviser to the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund File No. 801-67184
North Peak Asset Management, LLC, adviser to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund File No. 801-72894.
Braver Wealth Management, LLC, adviser to the Braver Tactical Equity Opportunity Fund File No. 801-26501.
Longboard Asset Management, LLC, adviser to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy File No. 801-72623.
Absolute Investment Management, LLC, adviser to the Aftershock Strategies Fund File No. 801-71500
Witherspoon Asset Management LLC, adviser to the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund File No. 801-77245.
KKM Financial, LLC adviser to the KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund File No. 801-77094
Price Asset Management, Inc. adviser to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund File No. 801-77076
Milliman Financial Risk Management LLC adviser to the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund and Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund File No. 801-73056
ITEM 32.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER.
(a)
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (NLD), is the principal underwriter for all series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II except Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. NLD also acts as principal underwriter for the following:
A rrow Investments Trust, Copeland Trust, The DMS Funds, Dominion Funds, Inc., Equinox Funds Trust, Miller Investment Trust, OCM Mutual Fund, Nile Capital Investment Trust, Northern Lights ETF Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Variable Trust, Rogé Partners Funds, The North Country Funds, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, The Multi-Strategy Growth & Income Fund, Tributary Funds, Inc., Vertical Capital Income Fund, GL Beyond Income Fund, AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds, American Realty Capital Real Estate Income Fund, Total Income+ Real Estate Fund, Mutual Fund Series Trust, Two Roads Shared Trust, and Compass EMP Funds Trust.
(b)
NLD 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 NLD is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. NLD is an affiliate of Gemini Fund Services, LLC and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC. To the best of Registrants knowledge, the following are the officers of NLD:
Name |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with the Fund |
Brian Nielsen |
Manager, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary |
Trustee |
Bill Wostoupal |
President |
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 1940 Act 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.
Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM), One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, provides custodian services to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund and the KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between BNYM and the Trust.
U.S. Bank, National Association, 1555 North River Center Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, provides custodian services to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, Hundredfold Select Equity Fund, Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between US Bank and the Trust.
Union Bank, National Association, 400 California Street, San Francisco, California 94104, provides custodian services to the North Star Opportunity Fund, WOA All Asset I, Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund, SFG Futures Strategy Fund, Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund, Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund, Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund, Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund, AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio, Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Braver Tactical Equity Opportunity Fund, Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund, Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Aftershock Strategies Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund, North Star Bond Fund and PCS Commodity Strategy Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between Union Bank and the Trust.
Huntington National Bank, 7 East Oval, Columbus, Ohio 43219 provides custodian services to the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between Huntington National Bank and the Trust.
Gemini Fund Services, LLC (GFS), located at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, provides transfer agent and dividend disbursing services pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreements between GFS and the Trust. In such capacities, GFS provides pricing for each Funds portfolio securities, keeps records regarding securities and other assets in custody and in transfer, bank statements, canceled checks, financial books and records, and keeps records of each shareholders account and all disbursement made to shareholders. GFS also maintains all records required pursuant to Administrative Service Agreements with the Trust.
NLD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, serves as principal underwriter for all series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II, except Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. NLD maintains all records required to be maintained pursuant to each Funds Distribution Plan and Agreement adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, provides CCO and compliance services to each Fund of the Trust.
Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC, located at 7110 North Fresno Street, Suite 450, Fresno CA, 93720 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund.
Advisors Preferred, LLC located at 1445 Research Blvd, Suite 530, Rockville, MD 20850 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund.
North Star Investment Management Corp. located at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1416, Chicago, IL 60606 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund.
Monte Capital Group, LLC located at 11 Broadway, Suite 766, New York, New York 10004 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Mariner Managed Futures Strategy Fund.
Water Oak Advisors LLC located at 145 Lincoln Avenue, Suite A, Winter Park, FL 32789 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the WOA All Asset I.
Solutions Funds Group, Inc. located at 300 Village Green Drive, Suite 210, Lincolnshire, IL 60069, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the SFG Futures Strategy Fund.
AFAM Capital, Inc. located at 85 Argonaut, Suite 220, Alisa Viejo, CA 92656 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Innealta Capital Sector Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Country Rotation Fund, Innealta Capital Risk Based Opportunity Moderate Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Conservative Fund, Innealta Risk Based Opportunity Growth Fund, Innealta Capital Tactical Fixed Income Fund, Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund.
Linde Hansen & Co., LLC located at 25B Vreeland Road, Suite 102, Florham Park, New Jersey, 07932 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund.
Milliman Financial Risk Management LLC located at 71 S. Wacker Drive, 31 st Floor, Chicago, IL 60606 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Even Keel Multi-Asset Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Opportunities Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Traveler Managed Risk Fund, Even Keel Explorer Managed Risk Fund.
AIS Capital Management, L.P. located at 187 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the AIS Tactical Asset Allocation Portfolio.
Crow Point Partners, LLC located at 10 New Driftway, Suite 203, Scituate, MA 02066 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Crow Point Defined Risk Global Equity Income Fund.
North Peak Asset Management, LLC located at 457 Washington Street, Duxbury, MA 02332 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Inflation Hedges Strategy Fund.
Braver Wealth Management, LLC located at 117 Kendrick Street, Needham, MA 02494 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Braver Tactical Equity Opportunity Fund.
Longboard Asset Management, LLC located at 2355 E. Camelback Road, Suite 750, Phoenix, Arizona 85016 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund.
Absolute Investment Management, LLC located at 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 750 West Tower, Bethesda, MD 20814 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Aftershock Mutual Fund.
Witherspoon Asset Management, LLC, located at 15 Chambers Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Witherspoon Managed Futures Strategy Fund.
KKM Financial, LLC, located at 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60606 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the KKM ARMOR Fund and KKM U.S. Equity ARMOR Fund.
Price Asset Management, Inc., located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1320A, Chicago, IL 60604 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund.
ITEM 34.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 35.
UNDERTAKINGS.
Not applicable.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No.
170
to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto authorized, in the City of Hauppauge, State of New York, on the
3rd
day of
September,
2014.
NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST II
By: __________________________
Kevin Wolf*
President and Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
|
|
|
Brian Nielsen* |
_________________________ Trustee & Chairman |
|
Thomas Sarkany* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 3,
|
Anthony Lewis* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 3,
|
Keith Rhoades* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 3,
|
Randy Skalla* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 3,
|
Kevin Wolf* |
_________________________ President and Principal Executive Officer |
September 3,
|
Erik Naviloff* |
_________________________ Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
September 3,
|
*By: /s/James Ash _______________
James Ash
*Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to powers of attorney incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 (filed August 3, 2011) and Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 (filed November 2, 2011) and Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 (filed January 30, 2013) each to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.28 (d)(19) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Price Asset Management, Inc., with respect to PCS Commodity Strategy Fund |
99.28 (i)(25) |
Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund |
99.28 (i)(27) |
Consent of Alston & Bird LLP |
99.28 (p)(6) |
Code of Ethics for Monte Capital Group, LLC |
99.28 (p)(30) |
Code of Ethics for Price Asset Management, LLC |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Between
NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST II
and
PRICE ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
AGREEMENT, made as of April 24, 2014 between Northern Lights Fund Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), and Price Asset Management, Inc. , an Illinois corporation (the "Adviser"), located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1320A, Chicago, IL 60604.
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, financial securities and commodities 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 and futures contracts 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 Advisers 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.
2.1 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. The Fund s 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 all Trustees other than those affiliated with the Adviser and all expenses incurred in connection with each of the Trustees' services as Trustees, and all other expenses of meetings of all the Trustees and committees of all 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 of 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.
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 Adviser deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with its proxy voting policy. The Adviser agrees to provide a copy of its proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date and year upon which the Funds listed on Appendix A commence 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.
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.
The Trust is named the Northern Lights Fund Trust II and each Fund may be identified, in part, by the name "Northern Lights."
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. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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.
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.
Name: Kevin Wolf
Title: President
PRICE ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
Name: David Schink
Title: Chief Operating Officer
NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST II
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
APPENDIX A
NAME OF FUND |
ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE AS A % OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS OF THE FUND |
PCS Commodity Strategy Fund |
0.79% |
CONSENT OF ALSTON & BIRD, LLP, COUNSEL FOR THE REGISTRANT
We hereby consent to the use of our name and the references to our firm under the caption Legal Counsel included in or made a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 170 to the Registration Statement of Northern Light Fund Trust II on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Alston & Bird LLP
By: /s/ David J. Baum
A Partner
Washington, DC
September 3, 2014
LEGAL02/33080739v1
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
The Atlantic Building
950 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1404
202-756-3300
Fax:202-756-3333
www.alston.com
David J. Baum
Direct Dial: 202-239-3346
E-mail: david.baum@alston.com
September 3, 2014
Northern Lights Fund Trust II
17605 Wright Street
Omaha NE 68130
Re:
Opinion of Counsel regarding Post-Effective Amendment No. 170 to Northern Lights Fund Trust IIs Registration Statement Filed on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 (File Nos. 333-174926, 811-22549)
We have acted as counsel to Northern Lights Fund Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust), in connection with the filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 170 to the Trusts Registration Statement (Post-Effective Amendment No. 170) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), registering an indefinite number of units of beneficial interest (Shares) of Class A, Class C, Class N, Class I, and Class R shares of the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund, a series of the Trust (the Fund).
You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 170. In connection with rendering that opinion, we have examined the Post-Effective Amendment No. 170, the Declaration of Trust and any amendments thereto, the Certificate of Trust of the Trust, the Trusts Bylaws, the actions of the Trustees of the Trust that authorize the approval of the foregoing documents, securities matters and the issuance of the Shares, and such other documents as we, in our professional opinion, have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. In examining the documents referred to above, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of documents purporting to be originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied (without investigation or independent confirmation) upon the representations contained in the above-described documents.
Our opinion, as set forth herein, is based on the facts in existence and the laws in effect on the date hereof and is limited to the federal laws of the United States of America and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. We express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
Atlanta Brussels Charlotte Dallas Los Angeles New York Research Triangle Silicon Valley Ventura County Washington, D.C.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1.
The Shares of the Fund to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 170 have been duly authorized for issuance by the Trust.
2.
When issued and paid for upon the terms provided in the Post-Effective Amendment No. 170, subject to compliance with the 1933 Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all other laws relating to the sale of securities, the Shares of the Fund to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 170 will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is rendered solely for your use in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 170. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 170.
Sincerely,
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
By:
/s/David J. Baum
A Partner
MONTE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC
CODE OF ETHICS
Fiduciary Duty Statement of Policy
The Firm is a fiduciary of its Clients and owes each Client an affirmative duty of good faith and full and fair disclosure of all material facts. Most violations of fiduciary duty are associated with a violation of the general antifraud provisions contained in Section 206 of the Advisers Act. The SEC has made clear that these general antifraud provisions of Section 206 apply not only to Clients, but also to prospective Clients and in the case of fund(s) advised by the Firm, any investor or prospective investor in the fund. Mere negligence on the part of the Firm in breaching its fiduciary duty to a fund(s), or its investors or prospective investors, is sufficient to establish a violation under the Advisers Act. For example, the Firm must take care not to include false or misleading statements in private placement memoranda, form ADV disclosures, investor reports, responses to requests for proposals, or other disclosures to Clients, investors or prospective Clients or investors.
The advisers fiduciary duty is particularly pertinent whenever the adviser is in a situation involving a conflict or potential conflict of interest. The Firm and all Employees must affirmatively exercise authority and responsibility for the benefit of Clients, and may not participate in any activities that may conflict with the interests of Clients except in accordance with this Manual. In addition, Employees must avoid activities, interests and relationships that might interfere or appear to interfere with making decisions in the best interests of the Firms Clients. Accordingly, at all times, we must conduct our business with the following precepts in mind:
Place the interests of Clients first. We may not cause a Client to take action, or not to take action, for our personal benefit rather than the benefit of the Client. For example, causing a Client to purchase a security owned by an Employee for the purpose of increasing the price of that security would be a violation of this Code. Similarly, an Employee investing for himself or herself in a security of limited availability that was appropriate for a Client without first considering that investment for such Client may violate this Code.
Moderate gifts and entertainment. The receipt of investment opportunities, perquisites, or gifts from persons doing or seeking to do business with the Firm could call into question the exercise of our independent judgment. Accordingly, Employees may accept such items only in accordance with the limitations in this Code.
Conduct all personal securities transactions in compliance with this Code of Ethics.
This includes all pre-clearance and reporting requirements and procedures regarding inside information and personal and proprietary trades. While the Firm encourages
Code of Ethics
Employees and their families to develop personal investment programs, Employees must not take any action that could result in even the appearance of impropriety.
Keep information confidential.
Information concerning Client transactions or holdings may be material non-public information and Employees may not use knowledge of any such information to profit from the market effect of those transactions.
Comply with the federal securities law and all other laws and regulations applicable to the Firms business. Make it your business to know what is required of the Firm as an investment adviser and otherwise, and of you as an Employee of the Firm, and integrate compliance into the performance of all duties.
Seek advice when in doubt about the propriety of any action or situation. Any questions concerning this Code of Ethics should be addressed to the Chief Compliance Officer, who is encouraged to consult with outside counsel, outside auditors or other professionals, as necessary.
The Policies and Procedures in this Code of Ethics implement these general fiduciary principles in the context of specific situations.
Code of Ethics
Client Opportunities
Law
No Employee may cause or attempt to cause any Client to purchase, sell or hold any security for the purpose of creating any personal benefit for him or herself. Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act generally prohibit the Firm from employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud Clients or engaging in a transaction, practice or course of business that operates as a fraud or deceit on Clients. While these provisions speak of fraud, they have been construed very broadly by the SEC and used to regulate, through enforcement action, many types of adviser behavior that the SEC deems to be not in the best interest of Clients or inconsistent with fiduciary obligations. One such category of behavior is taking advantage of investment opportunities for personal gain that would be suitable for Clients.
Policy
An Employee may not take personal advantage of any opportunity properly belonging to the Firm or any Client. This principle applies primarily to the acquisition of securities of limited availability for an Employees own account that would be suitable and could be purchased for the account of a Client, or the disposition of securities from an Employees account prior to selling a position from the account of a Client. Under limited circumstances, and only with the prior written approval of the Chief Compliance
Officer, an Employee may participate in opportunities of limited availability that are deemed by the Chief Compliance Officer not to have an adverse effect on any Client. In the case of trades in listed securities in broad and deep markets, where the Employees participation will not affect Client investment opportunities, Employees may participate with Clients in aggregated or combined trades. An Employee may not cause or attempt to cause any Client to purchase, sell or hold any security for the purpose of creating any benefit to Firm accounts or to Employee accounts.
Procedures
Disclosure of Personal Interest. If an Employee believes that he or she (or a related account) stands to benefit materially from an investment decision that the Employee is recommending or making for a Client, the Employee must disclose that interest to the Chief Compliance Officer and obtain approval prior to making the investment.
Restriction on Investment. Based on the information given, the Chief Compliance Officer will decide whether to restrict an Employees participation in the investment decision or investment. In making these determinations, the Chief Compliance Officer will consider the following factors: (i) whether the opportunity was suitable for any Client; (ii) whether any Client was
Code of Ethics
legally and financially able to take advantage of the opportunity; (iii) whether any Client would be disadvantaged by the Employees interest or participation; (iv) whether the Employees interest is de minimis; and (v) whether the Employees interest or participation is clearly not related economically to the securities to be purchased, sold or held by any Client.
Record of Determination and Monitoring.
A memorandum concerning the investment opportunity and the disposition of the approval request will be prepared promptly and maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer will monitor Employees personal securities transactions to identify, and will investigate any instance of, an Employee purchasing or selling a security of limited availability or limited market interest, respectively, prior to making the opportunity available to Clients.
Code of Ethics
Insider Trading
Law
In the course of business, the Firm and its Employees may have access to various types of material non-public information about issuers, securities or the potential effects of the Firms own investment and trading on the market for securities. Trading while in possession of material non-public information or communicating such information to others who may trade on such information is a violation of the securities laws. This conduct is frequently referred to as insider trading (whether or not one is an insider).
While the law concerning insider trading is not static, it is generally understood to prohibit:
·
trading by an insider while in possession of material non-public information, and in the case of an investment adviser, information pertaining to the advisers positions or trades for its clients may be material non-public information;
·
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 insiders duty to keep it confidential or was misappropriated;
·
communicating material non-public information to others; or
·
trading ahead of research reports or recommendations prepared by the Firm.
Concerns about the misuse of material non-public information by the Firm or Employees may arise primarily in two ways. First, the Firm may come into possession of material non-public information about another company, such as an issuer in which it is investing for Clients or in which its own personnel might be investing for their own accounts.
Second, the Firm as an investment adviser has material non-public information in relation to its own business. The SEC has stated that the term material non-public information may include information about an investment advisers securities recommendations, as well as securities holdings and transactions of Clients.
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 companys affairs and as a result is given access to information solely for the companys purposes. A temporary insider can include, among others, a companys attorneys, accountants, consultants, and bank and the employees of such organizations. In addition, a person who advises or otherwise performs services for a company may become a temporary insider of that company. An Employee of the Firm could become a temporary insider to a company because of the Firms and/or Employees relationship to the company ( e.g. , by having contact with company executives while researching the company). A company must expect the outsider to keep the disclosed non-public information
Code of Ethics
confidential and the relationship must at least imply such a duty before the outsider will be considered an insider or temporary insider.
What is Material Information? Trading on non-public 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 security. Information that Employees should consider 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, liquidation problems, knowledge of an impending default on debt obligations, knowledge of an impending change in debt rating by a statistical rating organization, and extraordinary management developments.
Material information does not have to relate to the issuers business. For example, in one case 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 reporter at The Wall Street Journal was found criminally liable for disclosing to others the date that reports on various companies would appear in The Wall Street Journal and whether those reports would be favorable or not. In addition, as indicated, the SEC has stated that information concerning an investment advisers holdings or transactions may be material non-public information.
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.
What is Tipping? Tipping involves providing material non-public information to anyone who might be expected to trade while in possession of that information. An Employee may become a tippee by acquiring material non-public information from a tipper, which would then require the Employee to follow the procedures below for reporting and limiting use of the information.
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, and may include fines or damages up to three times the amount of any profit gained or loss avoided. A person can be subject to some or all of the applicable penalties even if he or she does not personally benefit from the violation.
Code of Ethics
Policy
The Firm forbids any Employee to trade, either personally or on behalf of others, including Clients, while in possession of material non-public information or to communicate material nonpublic information to others in violation of the law. The Firms insider trading prohibitions apply to all Employees and extend to activities within and outside their duties as Employees of the Firm.
In addition, it is the policy of the Firm that all information about Client securities holdings and transactions is to be kept in strict confidence by those who receive it, and such information may be divulged only within the Firm and to those who have a need for it in connection with the performance of services to Clients. Despite this blanket prohibition, some trades in securities in which the Firm has also invested for Clients may be permitted because the fact that the Firm has made such investments may not be viewed as material information ( e.g ., trades in highly liquid securities with large market capitalization). The personal trading procedures set forth below establish circumstances under which such trades will be considered permissible and the procedures to follow in making such trades.
Procedures
Identification and Protection of Insider Information. If an Employee believes that he or she is in possession of information that is material and non-public, or has questions as to whether information is material and non-public, he or she should take the following steps:
·
Report the matter immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer, who will document the matter.
·
Refrain from purchasing or selling the securities on behalf of himself or herself or others.
·
Refrain from communicating the information inside or outside the Firm other than to the Chief Compliance Officer.
If the Chief Compliance Officer determines that an Employee is in possession of material nonpublic information, he or she will notify all Employees that the security is restricted. All decisions about whether to restrict a security, or remove a security from restriction, will be made by the Chief Compliance Officer. Restrictions on such securities also extend to options, rights and warrants relating to such securities. When a security is restricted, all new trading activity of such security shall cease, unless approved in writing by the Chief Compliance Officer. If trading in a security is restricted, Employees are prohibited from communicating that fact to anyone outside the Firm. A security will be removed from restriction if the Chief Compliance Officer determines that no insider trading issue remains with respect to such security (for example, if the information becomes public or no longer is material).
Code of Ethics
Restricting Access to Material Non-public Information. Documents and files that contain material non-public information must be secure in order to minimize the possibility that such information will be transmitted to an unauthorized person. Such documents and files must be stored in locked file cabinets or other secure locations and confidential information accessible by computer should be maintained in computer files that are password protected or otherwise secure against access by unauthorized persons. Employees may not discuss material non-public information with, or in the presence of, persons who are not affiliated with the Firm or authorized to receive such information, and should thus avoid discussions of material non-public information in hallways, elevators, trains, subways, airplanes, restaurants and other public places
generally. The use of speaker phones or cellular telephones also should be avoided in
circumstances where such information may be overheard by unauthorized persons.
Use of Expert Networks. The Firm does not permit the use of expert networks for research purposes.
Detecting Insider Trading. To detect insider trading, the Chief Compliance Officer will review the trading activity of Client accounts, Employee accounts and other Firm accounts. It is also the responsibility of each Employee to notify the Chief Compliance Officer of any potential insider trading issues. The Chief Compliance Officer will investigate any instance of possible insider trading and fully document the results of any such investigation. At a minimum, an investigation record should include the following: (i) the name of the security; (ii) the date the investigation commenced; (iii) an identification of the account(s) involved; and (iv) a summary of the investigation disposition.
Code of Ethics
Personal Securities Transactions
Law
Employee investments must be consistent with the mission of the Firm always to put Client interests first and with the requirements that the Firm and its Employees not trade on the basis of material non-public information concerning the Firms investment decisions for Clients or Client transactions or holdings.
Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act requires in effect that a registered investment advisers access persons (Access Persons) report their transactions and holdings periodically to the Chief Compliance Officer and that the adviser review these reports.
Under the SEC definition, the term Access Person includes any Employee who has access to non-public information regarding Clients purchase or sale of securities, is involved in making securities recommendations to (or in the case of a discretionary manager like the Firm, investment decisions on behalf of) Clients or who has access to such recommendations that are non-public.
Transaction Reporting Requirements. All Access Persons must file with the Chief
Compliance Officer initial and annual holdings reports and quarterly transaction reports with respect to all securities of which he or she is a Beneficial Owner, except holdings or transactions in the following securities (Exempt Securities):
·
direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
·
money market instruments bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit,
commercial paper, repurchase agreements and other high quality short-term debt
instruments;
·
money market fund shares;
·
shares of other types of mutual funds (although if the Firm acts as the investment adviser for a registered fund, Access Person transactions in shares of such fund will become reportable); and
·
units of a unit investment trust if the unit investment trust is invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds; and
·
hard or soft commodities and currency futures.
Beneficial Owner of securities means any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the securities. The term pecuniary interest means the opportunity to profit or share in any profit from a transaction in the security. An Access Person is presumed to be the Beneficial Owner of accounts of the Access Person and immediate family members who share the Access Persons household. All such accounts are referred to as Access Person Accounts. The Firm has determined to consider Access Person Accounts also to include accounts of
Code of Ethics
others who share the Access Persons household, anyone to whose support the Access Person materially contributes and other accounts over which the Access Person exercises discretion or a controlling influence. To exclude such an account from the reporting requirements, the Access Person must provide the Chief Compliance Officer with written documentation showing that someone else has been retained or has been granted investment discretion over the account or otherwise demonstrating that the account should not be considered an Access Person account. Reports need not be filed with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan or in an account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control.
Policy
It is the Firms policy that all Employees of the Firm are Access Persons for purposes of Rule 204A-1 and must file all required reports, initial and annual holdings reports, and quarterly reports of transactions in Access Person Accounts. In addition, Access Persons must adhere to the following requirements in connection with their personal trading.
Pre-clearance - Initial Public Offerings and Private Placements. Access Persons must obtain the written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer prior to investing in shares of initial public offerings or private placements. In approving any such transaction, the Chief Compliance Officer must cite the reasons for such approval. Employees must furnish any prospectus, private placement memoranda, subscription documents and other materials about the investment as the Chief Compliance Officer may request.
Pre-clearance - Other Transactions. All transactions by Access Persons are subject to preclearance by the Chief Compliance Officer according to the procedures set forth below, except for transactions in Exempt Securities.
Short-Term Trading. Short-term trading in securities of issuers in which an Employee is an officer or director or the owner of 10% or more of a class of equity securities is subject to significant restrictions under the securities laws. Although other short-term trading activity is not strictly prohibited, as a matter of policy, the Firm strongly discourages short-term trading by Employees.
Prohibited Transactions. No Access Person may trade in any account in any security subject to a restriction on trading issued by the Chief Compliance Officer under the Firms insider trading policies and procedures set forth in this Code of Ethics.
Maintaining Access Person Accounts. While the Firm encourages Employees to develop personal investment programs, it must be in a position to properly oversee the trading activity undertaken by its Employees. As a result, the Firm requires all Employees to provide duplicate account statements and confirmations for all Access Person Accounts.
Code of Ethics
Procedures
Duplicate Statements. For any account opened or maintained at a broker-dealer, bank or similar financial institution, each Employee shall be responsible for arranging for duplicate account statements and confirmations to be sent directly to the Chief Compliance Officer at the following address:
Monte Capital Group LLC
420 Park Ave
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514-2702
Attention: Chief Compliance Officer
Such statements must be provided upon issuance for the Employees Access Person Accounts, and all such statements must be received no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter, except for accounts in which the Employee only transacts in Exempt Securities. Duplicate confirmations must be provided upon issuance.
Initial and Annual Holdings Reports. Each Access Person must file a holdings report disclosing all securities (other than Exempt Securities and those that have been previously reported on account statements received by the Firm) in any Access Person Account on the Annual Personal Securities Holdings Report (see Appendix 3) or any substitute acceptable to the Chief Compliance Officer, no later than 10 days after becoming an Access Person, and annually thereafter during the month of January. Each such report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before the report is submitted.
Quarterly Trade Reporting Requirements. Each Access Person must submit to the Chief Compliance Officer within 30 days after the end of each quarter a report of all securities transactions (other than transactions in Exempt Securities) effected in each Access Person Account during such quarter. The report must include the name of the security, date of the transaction, quantity, price, nature of the transaction and name of the bank, broker-dealer or financial institution through which the transaction was effected. Information regarding such transactions need not be reported if duplicate account statements and confirmations for all Access Person Accounts have been provided to the Chief Compliance Officer. Employees must independently report securities that do not appear on the account statements or confirmations ( e.g. , any securities acquired in private placements or by gift or inheritance) on the Quarterly Securities Transaction Report (see Appendix 4). Even if no transactions are required to be reported, each Employee must submit such a report certifying that all transactions have been reported.
Pre-clearance. Each Employee who wishes to effect a transaction in any initial public offering or private placement and in any publicly traded securities except Exempt Securities must first obtain written pre-clearance of the transaction from the Chief Compliance Officer. A decision on permissibility of the trade generally will be rendered by the end of the trading day on which
Code of Ethics
the request is received. Pre-clearance will be effective for a 24-hour period, unless otherwise specified.
Review and Availability of Personal Trade Information. All information supplied under these procedures, including quarterly transaction and initial and annual holdings reports, will be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer for compliance with the policies and procedures in this Code of Ethics. The Chief Compliance Officer will review all account statements within 45 days after the end of the quarter to which they apply. The Chief Compliance Officer shall:
·
address whether Employees followed internal procedures, such as pre-clearance;
·
compare Employee transactions to any restrictions in effect at the time of the trade;
·
assess whether the Employee is trading for his or her own account in the same financial instrument he or she is trading for Clients, and if so, whether Clients are receiving terms as favorable as those of the Employees trades; and
·
periodically analyze the Employees trading for patterns that may indicate abuse.
The Chief Compliance Officer will document such review by initialing Employee statements or otherwise indicating the statements that have been reviewed and will maintain copies of the Employee reports and account statements received.
Confidentiality. The Chief Compliance Officer will maintain records in a manner to safeguard their confidentiality. Each Employees records will be accessible only to the Employee, the Chief Compliance Officer, senior officers and appropriate human resources personnel.
Code of Ethics
Gifts, Entertainment and Contributions
Law
The giving or receiving of gifts or other items of value to or from persons doing business or seeking to do business with the Firm could call into question the independence of its judgment as a fiduciary of its Clients. If the Firm and/or Employee were found to be acting in a position of undisclosed conflict of interest, it could be sanctioned under Section 206 of the Advisers Act.
In addition, ERISA prohibits the acceptance of fees, kickbacks, gifts, loans, money, and anything of value that are given with the intent of influencing decision-making with respect to any employee benefit plan. The acceptance or offering of gifts, entertainment or other items may be viewed as influencing decision-making and therefore unlawful under ERISA. Many public employee benefit plans are subject to similar restrictions.
Other federal laws and regulations prohibit firms and their employees from giving anything of value to employees of various financial institutions in connection with attempts to obtain any business transaction with the institution, which is viewed as a form of bribery. Finally, providing gifts and entertainment to foreign officials may violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act.
Regarding political contributions, the SEC has stated that investment advisers who seek to influence the award of advisory contracts by public entities by making political contributions to public officials may cause such officials to compromise their fiduciary duty to such entities.
Policy
Accepting Gifts and Entertainment. On occasion, because of an Employees position with the Firm, the Employee may be offered, or may receive, gifts or other forms of non-cash compensation from Clients, brokers, vendors, or other persons that do business with the Firm. Extraordinary or extravagant gifts ( i.e. , gifts that have an aggregate value of more than $500 annually from a single giver) are not permissible and must be declined or returned, absent approval by the Chief Compliance Officer. Gifts of nominal value ( i.e. , gifts that have an aggregate value of no more than $500 annually from a single giver) and promotional items ( e.g. , pens, mugs) may be accepted. Gifts should be sent to Employees at the Firms offices and may not be sent to an Employees home.
Entertainment having a reasonable value of no more than $500 at which both the Employee and the giver are present ( e.g. , business lunches and dinners, and sporting and cultural events) also may be accepted. Employees may not accept entertainment having a value in excess of $500 unless (i) there is a specific business purpose for such event; (ii) both the Employee and the giver
Code of Ethics
are present; and (iii) the Employees participation in the event has been approved in advance by the Chief Compliance Officer.
Giving Gifts and Providing Entertainment. Employees may not give any gift(s) with an aggregate value in excess of $500 per year to any person associated with a securities or financial organization, including brokerage firms or other investment management firms, to members of the news media, or to Clients or prospective Clients of the Firm. Employees may provide reasonable entertainment to such persons provided that both the Employee and the recipient are present and there is a business purpose for the entertainment. It is anticipated that Employees will not entertain the same person more than four times per year or spend more than $500 per person on business meals on such occasions. Employees may not provide entertainment having a reasonable value in excess of $500 to such persons unless (i) there is a specific business purpose for such event; (ii) both the Employee and the recipient are present; and (iii) the provision of such entertainment has been approved in advance by the Chief Compliance Officer.
Cash. No Employee may give or accept cash gifts or cash equivalents to or from Clients, brokers, vendors, or other persons that do business with the Firm.
Solicitation of Gifts. All solicitation of gifts or gratuities is unprofessional and is strictly
prohibited.
Political Contributions: Pay-to-Play. Political contributions to public officials may not exceed limits established under SEC rules for contributions to any one official per election. See Marketing Practices Pay-to-Play Arrangements below.
Charitable Contributions. Employees may not solicit charitable contributions from Clients, brokers, vendors, or other persons that do business with the Firm without the prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer, who shall maintain a record of each such solicitation.
Client Complaints. Employees may not make any payments or other account adjustments to Clients in order to resolve any type of complaint. All such matters must be handled by the Chief Compliance Officer.
ERISA Considerations. Employees should never offer gifts or other favors for the purpose of influencing ERISA Client or prospective Client decision-making. Entertainment of ERISA or public plan trustees may be permissible if there is a business purpose for the entertainment ( e.g. , review of account performance), but any such entertainment must be consistent with any Code of Conduct of the plan.
Code of Ethics
Procedures
Prohibited Gifts and Entertainment. If an Employee has been offered a gift with an aggregate value exceeding $500 from any Client, broker, vendor, or other person that does business with the Firm or has been invited to participate in an event having a value in excess of $500, the Employee must seek the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer in order to accept or retain such gift or entertainment. If an Employee wishes to provide any such gift or entertainment above the value of $500 to any person associated with a securities or financial organization, including brokerage firms or other investment management firms, to members of the news media, or to Clients or prospective Clients of the Firm, the Employee must seek the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer prior to providing such gift or entertainment. All approvals of gifts and entertainment will be recorded in a gift and entertainment log. If there is any question about the appropriateness of any particular gift, Employees should consult the Chief Compliance Officer.
Expense Reports. The Chief Compliance Officer will review all reports or other documentation regarding Employee expense reimbursement quarterly to monitor compliance with this policy.
Political Contributions. See "Marketing Practices Pay-to-Play Arrangements" below.
Charitable Contributions. Prior to soliciting charitable contributions from any Client, broker, vendor, or other person that does business with the Firm, an Employee must receive the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer. The Employee must notify the Chief Compliance Officer of amounts received from such persons as a result of such solicitation. All such approvals must be documented and include information regarding the Employee, the charity, the date of the solicitation and the amounts received.
Code of Ethics
Outside Business Activities
Law
The Firms fiduciary duties to Clients dictate that the Firm and its Employees devote their professional attention to Client interests above their own and those of other organizations.
Policy
Employees may not engage in any of the following outside business activities without the prior written consent of the Chief Compliance Officer. Employees may not:
·
be engaged in any other business;
·
be an officer of or employed or compensated by any other person for business-related activities;
·
serve as general partner, managing member or in a similar capacity with partnerships, limited liability companies or private funds other than those managed by the Firm or its affiliates;
·
engage in personal investment transactions to an extent that diverts an Employees attention from or impairs the performance of his or her duties in relation to the business of the Firm and its Clients;
·
have any direct or indirect financial interest or investment in any dealer, broker or other current or prospective supplier of goods or services to the Firm (other than ownership of publicly traded securities) from which the Employee might benefit or appear to benefit materially; or
·
serve on the board of directors (or in any similar capacity) of another company, including not-for-profit corporations. Authorization for board service will normally require that the Firm not hold or purchase any securities of the company on whose board the Employee sits.
Restrictions on Activities. With respect to any outside activities engaged in by an Employee, the following restrictions shall be in effect: (i) the Employee is prohibited from implying that he or she is acting on behalf of, or as a representative of, the Firm; (ii) the Employee is prohibited from using the Firms offices, equipment or stationery for any purpose not directly related to the Firms business, unless such Employee has obtained prior approval from the Chief Compliance Officer; and (iii) if the activity was required to be and has been approved by the Chief Compliance Officer, the Employee must report any material change with respect to such activity.
Procedures
Approval. Before undertaking any of the activities listed above, the Employee must provide to the Chief Compliance Officer detailed information regarding all aspects of the proposed activity.
Code of Ethics
The Employee may not undertake such activity until the Employee has obtained written approval from the Chief Compliance Officer.
Code of Ethics
Confidentiality
Law
During the course of employment with the Firm, an Employee may be exposed to or acquire Confidential Information. Confidential Information is any and all non-public, confidential or proprietary information in any form concerning the Firm, its affiliates, their investments and investment strategies, or its Clients or any other information received by the Firm from a third party to whom the Firm has an obligation of confidentiality, regardless of when such information was produced or obtained by the Firm. Confidential Information includes documentation in any medium or format whatsoever, and all reproductions, copies, notes and excerpts of any documentation comprising or including any Confidential Information, as well as information orally conveyed to the Employee.
Confidential Information shall not include (i) any information which the Employee can prove by documentary evidence is generally available to the public or industry other than as a result of a disclosure by the Employee; or (ii) any information that the Employee obtains from a third party who is not subject to a confidentiality agreement with the Firm and who did not obtain that information directly or indirectly from the Firm.
Policy
Employees (including Employees secunded to or providing services to the Firm who are deemed subject to this Manual) shall not at any time while employed or at any time after being employed (i) disclose, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information to anyone other than personnel of the Firm; or (ii) use or appropriate any Confidential Information.
Procedures
Restrictions on Communications of Confidential Information. Each Employee agrees to inform the Chief Compliance Officer promptly if he or she (i) is seeking an exception in order to disclose Confidential Information in contravention of Firm policy; or (ii) discovers that someone else is making or threatening to make unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information.
Physical Security of Information. Employees should avoid discussions of Confidential Information in hallways, elevators, trains, subways, airplanes, restaurants and other public places generally. Use of speaker phones or cellular telephones also shall be avoided in circumstances where Confidential Information may be overheard by unauthorized persons. Documents and files that contain Confidential Information must be kept secure in order to minimize the possibility that such Confidential Information will be transmitted to an unauthorized person. Confidential documents should be stored in locked file cabinets or other secure locations. Confidential databases and other Confidential Information accessible by computer should be
Code of Ethics
maintained in computer files that are password protected or otherwise secure against access by unauthorized persons. All Employees should lock their computers at the end of each work day.
Company Property. Employees may not physically remove Confidential Information from the premises of the Firm except consistent with and in furtherance of the performance of their duties to the Firm. All originals and copies of Confidential Information are the sole property of the Firm. Upon the termination of employment for any reason, or upon the request of the Firm at any time, each Employee promptly will deliver all copies of such materials to the Firm.