How
to Invest in a Fund
Opening
an Account
|
Adding
to an Account
|
By
Mail
·
Complete
the
application.
·
Make
check payable to “Prospector Funds, Inc.”
·
Mail
application and check to:
Prospector
Funds, Inc.
c/o
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O.
Box 701
Milwaukee,
WI 53201-0701
By
Overnight Mail
Prospector
Funds, Inc.
c/o
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 Ea
st
Michigan Street, 3
rd
Floor
Milwaukee,
WI 53202-5207
|
·
Make check payable to "Prospector Funds, Inc." Be sure
to include your account number and the Fund in which you intend
to invest
on the check.
·
Fill out investment slip.
·
Mail check with investment slip to the applicable address
on the
left.
|
By
Wire
·
Mail
your
application to the above address, then call) to obtain
an
account number. Wire funds using the instructions
at the right.
·
Include
your Taxpayer
Identification Number
|
Wire funds to:
U.S.
Bank, N.A.
777
East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee,
WI 53202
ABA
#075000022
Credit:
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account
#112-952-137
Further
Credit: Prospector Funds, Inc.
(Your
Name & Account Number)
Prior
to sending subsequent investments, please call Fund Shareholder
Servicing ("Shareholder Services") toll free at
[ ] so that the
Fund knows to expect your wire transfer. This will ensure
prompt and accurate credit upon receipt of your wire.
Wired
funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, to be
eligible
for same day pricing. The Fund and U.S. Bank, N.A. are not
responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking
or
Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring
instructions.
|
By Telephone
·
Please
call Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ].
|
|
By
Automatic Investment Plan (AIP)
·
Mail
your application with
an authorized form to the address above, along with a check for
your
initial investment payable to “Prospector Funds, Inc.”
·
Call
to obtain a
form.
To
begin participating in the AIP, please complete the AIP section
on the
application or call Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ].
|
By
Automatic Investment Plan (AIP)
·
Shares
are
purchased once and/or twice a month, on the
1st, 15th, or both days.
|
By
Electronic Funds Transfer (ACH)
·
Mail
your
application to the above address, then call to obtain an
account number.
·
Include
your Taxpayer Identification Number.
·
We
will
electronically debit your purchase proceeds from your
selected financial institution account.
|
By
Electronic Funds Transfer (ACH)
·
Call
to initiate
your ACH request and provide
banking
instructions for the electronic debit from your
selected financial institution
account.
|
Through
a Financial Professional
Contact
your financial professional. If for any reason a financial
professional is not able to accommodate your purchase request,
please call
Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ] to find out
how you can purchase Fund shares.
|
Through
a Financial Professional
Contact
your financial
professional.
|
Account
Requirements
For further information regarding the Company’s
requirements for opening, and sending instructions for individual, sole
proprietorship, and joint accounts, as well as business entity and trust
accounts please call Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ]and
a representative from Shareholder Services will help you.
Canceled
or Failed Payments
The Company accepts checks and ACH
transfers at full value subject to collection. If the Company does
not receive your payments for shares or you pay with a check or ACH transfer
that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled. You will be responsible
for
any losses or expenses incurred by the Company or its transfer agent, and the
Company may redeem shares you own in the account (or another identically
registered account that you maintain with the transfer agent) as reimbursement.
The Company and its agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase
due
to nonpayment.
Future
Trade Date Requests
The
Company does not accept requests to hold a purchase, redemption, or exchange
transaction for a future date.
Miscellaneous
Purchase Information
The Company reserves the right to
refuse to accept applications or purchase orders and reserves the right to
waive
or reduce the minimum investment amounts. Applications or purchase
orders will not be accepted unless they are in "Proper Form," which is defined
as including all required information and an acceptable form of payment in
U.S.
funds or arrangements for payment in U.S. funds through a broker.
THE
COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIMIT OR SUSPEND THE OFFERING OF ITS SHARES.
THE
INVESTMENT MANAGER MAY DECIDE TO SUSPEND THE OFFERING OF SHARES WHERE IT
DETERMINES THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE NET ASSETS OF THE FUND THROUGH SUBSCRIPTIONS
WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE INTERESTS OF THE EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS.
Investor
Services
Prospector
Funds, Inc.,
c/o U.S. Bancorp
Fund Services, LLC
,
P.O.
Box 701
,
Milwaukee,
WI 53201-0701
(Mailing Address) or
Prospector Funds, Inc.
,
c/o
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
615 East Michigan Street, 3
rd
Floor, Milwaukee,
WI 53202-5207
(Overnight Address).
Call
toll-free from anywhere in the United States:
[ ]
[(Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. To 6:00 P.M., Eastern Time)]
Online
Visit
us
online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at www.prospectorfunds.com
·
|
For
the most complete source of Fund
news
|
·
|
For
literature requests
|
Automatic
Investment Plan
This plan offers a convenient way for you to
invest in a Fund by automatically transferring money from your checking or
savings account each month to buy shares. To sign up, complete the appropriate
section of your account application and mail it to the Company’s transfer agent
at Prospector Funds, Inc., c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East
Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 . If you are opening a new account,
please include the minimum initial investment (please see page 22) with your
application.
Distribution
Options
You may reinvest distributions you receive from a
Fund in an existing account for the Fund. You also can have your distributions
deposited in a bank account, or mailed by check. Deposits to a bank account
may
be made by electronic funds transfer. Please indicate on your application the
distribution option you have chosen, otherwise we will reinvest your
distributions in the relevant Fund.
Telephone
Privileges
You will automatically receive telephone
privileges when you open your account, allowing you to obtain your account
information, and conduct a number of transactions by phone, including buying
or
selling shares of the Company.
As
long
as we follow reasonable security procedures and act on instructions we
reasonably believe are genuine, we will not be responsible for any losses that
may occur from unauthorized requests. We will request passwords or other
information, and also may record calls. To help safeguard your account, keep
your password confidential, and verify the accuracy of your confirmation
statements immediately after you receive them. Contact us immediately if you
believe someone has obtained unauthorized access to your account or password.
Contacting us by phone may be unavailable or delayed during periods of unusual
market activity.
Of
course, you can decline telephone buy or sell privileges on your account
application. If you have telephone privileges on your account and want to
discontinue them, please contact us for instructions. You may reinstate these
privileges at any time in writing.
Security
Considerations
You may give up some level of security by
choosing to buy or sell shares by telephone rather than by mail. The
Company uses procedures designed to give reasonable assurance that telephone
instructions are genuine, including recording the transactions, testing the
identity of the shareholder placing the order and sending prompt written
confirmation of transactions to the shareholder of record. If these
procedures are followed, the Company and its service providers are not liable
for acting upon instructions communicated by telephone that they believe to
be
genuine.
Selling
Shares
You
can
sell your shares at any time. Please keep in mind that a redemption fee may
apply.
What
You Need to Know When Selling Shares
You may sell your
shares on any day the Company is open for business. The Company
processes redemption orders promptly. Redemption proceeds will not be
sent to you until your shares have been paid for in full. This means
if you purchased your shares by check, the redemption payment will be delayed
until the Company has received acknowledgment to its satisfaction that the
check
has cleared and the funds have been posted. This could take up to 15
business days. In times of drastic economic or market conditions, you
may have difficulty selling shares by telephone.
Once
your
request has been “actually received” by the Company in “proper form” the Company
will redeem your shares at the next determined share price. "Proper
form" means that the Company has actually received and processed your account
application, all shares are paid for in full and all documentation including
any
required signature guarantees are included. “Actual receipt” by the
Company, when by mail, means physical receipt at the Company’s address listed
below, or if by telephone, receipt by an authorized Company representative
at
the telephone number listed below. Subject to the foregoing, the Company
generally pays redemption proceeds by check within seven days after the request
is actually received by the Company. Payment is sent to the address
of record.
Selling
Your Shares
By
Phone
:
Be
sure to fill out the appropriate areas of the account
application. You may redeem up to $10,000 per day by calling
Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ]. Shares
held by retirement plans may not be redeemed by telephone.
|
By
Mail:
Send
a letter of instruction including the account number, the Fund from
which
you would like to redeem shares, the dollar value or number of shares
and
any necessary signature guarantees (see next page) to:
Prospector
Funds, Inc.
c/o
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O.
Box 701
Milwaukee,
WI 53201-0701
Overnight
Prospector
Funds, Inc.
c/o
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615
East Michigan Street, 3
rd
Floor
Milwaukee,
WI 53202-5207
|
By
Wire
:
Be
sure to fill out the appropriate areas of the account
application. Proceeds of $5,000 or more may be wired to your
pre-designated bank account.
|
By
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
:
For
further information on a systematic withdrawal plan, please call
Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ].
|
Through
a Financial Professional
:
Contact
your financial professional.
If for any reason
a financial
professional is not able to accommodate your sale request, please
call
Shareholder Services toll free at
[ ] to find out
how you can sell Fund shares.
|
Signature
Guarantees
A signature guarantee must be provided
if:
·
|
you
are making a written request to redeem shares worth more than
$100,000
|
·
|
you
are redeeming from an account for which the address or account
registration has changed within the last 30
days
|
·
|
you
want the proceeds sent to someone other than the owner of the
account
|
·
|
you
want the proceeds to be mailed to an address other than the address
of
record
|
·
|
you
are changing the registered name on the
account
|
·
|
you
are adding or changing ACH or wire instructions, telephone redemption
or
exchange options, or any other election in connection with your
account
|
Signature
guarantees are accepted from most domestic banks and securities
dealers. A notary public cannot provide a signature
guarantee.
Involuntary
Redemption
If your account falls below the stated investment
minimums or if the Company is unable to verify your identity, the Company may
redeem your shares. Your account will not be redeemed if the balance
falls below the minimum due to investment losses. You will receive
notice 30 days prior to an involuntary redemption if the balance in your account
falls below the stated investment minimums. If your account is
redeemed the proceeds will be sent to the address of record.
In-Kind
Redemptions
Although the Company expects to make redemptions
in cash, it reserves the right to make the redemption a distribution
in-kind. This is done to protect the interests of the Company’s
remaining shareholders. An in-kind payment means you receive
portfolio securities rather than cash. If this occurs, you will incur
transaction costs when you sell the securities.
Lost
Accounts
The transfer agent will consider your account “lost” if
correspondence to your address of record is returned as undeliverable on two
consecutive occasions, unless the transfer agent determines your new
address. When an account is “lost,” all distributions on the account
will be reinvested in additional shares of the relevant Fund. In
addition, the amount of any outstanding checks unpaid for six months or more
or
checks that have been returned to the transfer agent will be reinvested at
the
then-current NAV and the checks will be canceled. However, checks
will not be reinvested into accounts with a zero balance.
Systematic
Withdrawal Plan
This plan allows you to automatically sell
your shares and receive regular payments from your account. A redemption fee
may
apply to withdrawals that exceed certain amounts. Certain terms and minimums
apply. To sign up, complete the appropriate section of your
application.
Account
Policies
Calculating
Share Price
The price at which you buy or sell a Fund’s
shares is the net asset per share price or NAV. The NAV is calculated
by dividing a Fund’s net assets by the number of its shares outstanding with
respect to such Fund. The NAV is calculated at the close of regular
trading of the New York Stock Exchange "NYSE" (normally 4:00
p.m. Eastern Time) each business day the NYSE is open. It
is not calculated on days the NYSE is closed for trading. The price
for a purchase or redemption of a Fund’s shares is the NAV next calculated after
receipt of your request. The share price is determined by adding the
value of such Fund’s investments, cash and other assets, deducting liabilities,
and then dividing that amount by the total number of shares
outstanding. A Fund may change the time it calculates its NAV in an
emergency.
A
Fund’s
assets are generally valued at their market value. If market prices are
unavailable, or if an event occurs after the closing of the trading market
that
materially affects the values, assets may be valued at their fair value. If
a
Fund holds securities listed primarily on a foreign exchange that trades on
days
when the Fund is not open for business, the value of shares may change on days
that you cannot buy or sell shares. Requests to buy and sell shares are
processed at the NAV next calculated after we receive your request in proper
form.
Generally,
trading in corporate bonds, U.S. government securities and money market
instruments is substantially completed each day at various times before the
close of the NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing the NAV
is
determined as of such times. Occasionally, events affecting the values of these
securities may occur between the times at which they are determined and the
close of the NYSE that will not be reflected in the computation of the NAV.
A
Fund may rely on third party pricing vendors to monitor for events materially
affecting the value of these securities during this period. If an event occurs
the third party pricing vendors will provide revised values to the
Fund.
The
Funds’ board of directors will maintain a Valuation Committee established for
the purpose of ensuring that the securities, other assets and liabilities of
such Fund are valued properly, fairly and in accordance with the Company’s
Statement
of Procedures for the Valuation of Portfolio Securities, which procedures were
adopted for the Funds and approved by the Board. The Valuation Committee will
meet when necessary.
Fair
Valuation – Individual Securities
Since the Funds may invest
in securities that are traded infrequently, thinly traded, or relatively
illiquid, there is the possibility of a differential between the last available
market prices for one or more of those securities and the latest indications
of
market values for those securities. The Company has procedures to determine
the
fair value of individual securities and other assets for which market prices
are
not readily available or which may not be reliably priced (such as in the case
of trade suspensions or halts, price movement limits set by certain foreign
markets, and thinly traded securities). Some methods for valuing these
securities may include: fundamental analysis (earnings multiple, etc.), matrix
pricing, discounts from market prices of similar securities, or discounts
applied due to the nature and duration of restrictions on the disposition of
the
securities.
The
application of fair value pricing procedures represents a good faith
determination based upon specifically applied procedures. There can be no
assurance that a Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if
it
were able to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund
determines its NAV per share.
Exchange
Traded Securities
Securities traded or dealt on one or more
securities exchange (whether domestic or foreign, including the National
Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”)) and
not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued:
|
(i)
|
at
the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a
sale,
|
(ii) at
the mean of the last bid and asked prices.
Non-Exchange
Traded Securities
Securities not traded or dealt on any
securities exchange for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily
available generally shall be valued at the mean of the current bid and asked
prices.
Money
Market Instruments
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
money market instruments with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be
valued at amortized cost (purchase price or last valuation, as applicable,
adjusted for accretion of discount or amortization of premium) unless the
Investment Manager believes another valuation is more
appropriate. Municipal daily or weekly variable rate demand
instruments may be priced at par plus accrued interest.
Securities
Traded on More Than One Exchange
If a security is traded or
dealt on more than one exchange, or on one or more exchanges and in the
over-the-counter market, quotations from the market in which the security is
primarily traded shall be used.
Currencies
and Related Items
The value of foreign currencies shall be translated
into U.S. dollars based on the mean of the current bid and asked prices by
major
banking institutions and currency dealers.
Options
Each
Fund values portfolio securities underlying actively traded call options at
their market price as determined above. The current market value of any option
a
Fund holds is its last sale price on the relevant exchange before such Fund
values its assets. If there are no sales that day, at the mean of the last
closing bid and ask prices if the Fund believes the valuation fairly reflects
the contract's market value. Options not listed for trading on a
securities exchange or board of trade for which over-the-counter market
quotations are readily available shall be valued at the mean of the current
bid
and asked prices.
Security
Valuation – Foreign Securities – Computation of U.S. Equivalent
Value
The Funds generally determine the value of a foreign
security as of the close of trading on the foreign stock exchange on which
the
security is primarily traded, or as of the close of trading on the NYSE, if
earlier. The value is then converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the
foreign exchange rate in effect at the close of the NYSE (generally 4:00 PM
Eastern time) on the day that the value of the foreign security is determined.
If no sale is reported at that time, the foreign security will be valued within
the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. Occasionally events
(such as
repatriation
limits or restrictions) may impact the availability or reliability of foreign
exchange rates used to convert the U.S. dollar equivalent value. If such an
event occurs, the foreign exchange rate will be valued at fair value using
procedures established and approved by the Funds’ board of
directors.
Valuation
– Foreign Securities – Potential Impact of Time Zones and Market
Holidays
Trading in securities on foreign securities stock
exchanges and over-the-counter markets, such as those in Europe and Asia, may
be
completed well before the close of business on the NYSE on each day that the
NYSE is open. Occasionally, events occur between the time at which trading
in a
foreign security is completed and the close of the NYSE that might call into
question the availability (including the reliability) of the value of a foreign
portfolio security held by a Fund. As a result, the Funds may be susceptible
to
what is referred to as "time zone arbitrage." Certain investors in the Funds
may
seek to take advantage of discrepancies in the value of the Funds’ portfolio
securities as determined by the foreign market at its close and the latest
indications of value attributable to the portfolio securities at the time the
Funds’ NAV is computed. Trading by these investors, often referred to as
"arbitrage market timers," may dilute the value of a Fund's shares, if such
discrepancies in security values actually exist. To attempt to minimize the
possibilities for time zone arbitrage, and in accordance with procedures
established and approved by the Funds’ board of directors, the Investment
Manager monitors price movements following the close of trading in foreign
stock
markets through a series of country specific market proxies (such as baskets
of
American Depositary Receipts, futures contracts and exchange traded
funds).
These
price movements are measured against established trigger thresholds for each
specific market proxy to assist in determining if an event has occurred that
might call into question the availability (including the reliability) of the
values of foreign securities between the times at which they are determined
and
the close of the NYSE. If such an event occurs, the foreign securities may
be
valued using fair value procedures established and approved by the board. In
certain circumstances these procedures include the use of independent pricing
services. The intended effect of applying fair value pricing is to compute
an
NAV that accurately reflects the value of a Fund's portfolio at the time that
the NAV is calculated, to discourage potential arbitrage market timing in a
Fund’s shares, to mitigate the dilutive impact of such attempted arbitrage
market timing and to be fair to purchasing, redeeming and existing shareholders.
However, the application of fair value pricing procedures may, on occasion,
worsen rather than mitigate the potential dilutive impact of shareholder
trading.
In
addition, trading in foreign portfolio securities generally, or in securities
markets in a particular country or countries, may not take place on every NYSE
business day. Furthermore, trading takes place in various foreign markets on
days that are not business days for the NYSE, and on which a Fund's NAV is
not
calculated. Thus, the calculation of a Fund's NAV does not take place
contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of many of the foreign
portfolio securities used in the calculation. If events affecting the last
determined values of these foreign securities occur (determined through the
monitoring process described above), the securities will be valued at fair
value
determined in good faith in accordance with the Fund's fair value procedures
established and approved by the Fund’s board.
Accounts
with Low Balances
If the value of your account falls below
$25,000
($
10,000
for IRA accounts)
because you sell some of your shares, we may mail you a notice asking you to
bring the account back up to its applicable minimum investment amount. If you
choose not to do so within 30 days, we may close your account and mail the
proceeds to the address of record. You will not be charged a redemption fee
if
your account is closed for this reason.
Statements,
Reports and Prospectuses
You will receive quarterly account
statements that show all your transactions during the quarter. You will also
receive written notification after each transaction affecting your
account.
You
also
will receive financial reports for the Fund(s) in which you are invested every
six months as well as an annual updated prospectus. At any time you may view
current prospectuses and financial reports on our website.
If
you
choose, you may receive your statements, financial reports and prospectuses
through electronic delivery.
Investment
Representative Account Access
If there is a dealer or other
investment representative of record on
your
account, he or she will be able to obtain your account information, conduct
transactions for your account, and also will receive copies of all notifications
and statements and other information about your account directly from the
Company.
Street
or Nominee Accounts
You may transfer your shares from the
street or nominee name account of one dealer to another, as long as both dealers
have an agreement with the Company or the Investment Manager. We will
process the transfer after we receive authorization in proper form from your
delivering securities dealer.
Joint
Accounts
Unless you specify a different registration, shares
issued to two or more owners are registered as "joint tenants with rights of
survivorship" (shown as "Jt Ten" on your account statement). To make
any ownership changes to jointly owned shares, or to sever a joint tenancy
in
jointly owned shares, all owners must agree in writing.
Additional
Policies
Please note that the Company maintains additional
policies and reserves certain rights, including:
·
|
The
Company may restrict, reject or cancel any purchase
orders.
|
·
|
The
Company may modify, suspend, or terminate telephone privileges at
any
time.
|
·
|
The
Company may make material changes to or discontinue the exchange
privilege
on 60 days' notice or as otherwise provided by
law.
|
·
|
The
Company may stop offering shares of a Fund completely or may offer
shares
only on a limited basis, for a period of time or
permanently.
|
·
|
Normally,
redemption proceeds are paid out by the next business day, but payment
may
take up to seven days if making immediate payment would adversely
affect a
Fund.
|
·
|
In
unusual circumstances, we may temporarily suspend redemptions or
postpone
the payment of proceeds, as allowed by federal securities
laws.
|
·
|
For
redemptions over a certain amount, the Company may pay redemption
proceeds
in securities or other assets rather than cash if the manager determines
it is in the best interest of a Fund, consistent with applicable
law.
|
·
|
You
may only buy shares of a Fund if they are eligible for sale in your
state
or jurisdiction.
|
·
|
To
permit investors to obtain the current price, dealers are responsible
for
transmitting all orders to the Company
promptly.
|
Questions
If
you
have any questions about the Funds or your account, you can write to us at
Prospector Funds, Inc., c/o
U.S.
Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee,
WI 53201-0701.
You can also call us toll free from
anywhere in the United States at
[ ]
[(Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. To 6:00 P.M., Eastern Time)] or visit us
online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at www.prospectorfunds.com. For
your protection and to help ensure we provide you with quality service, all
calls may be monitored or recorded.
Prospector
Funds, Inc.
You
can
learn more about the Funds in the following documents:
Annual/Semi-annual
Report to Shareholders
Additional information about each
Fund's investments will be available in such Fund’s annual and semi-annual
reports. In a Fund's annual report you will find a discussion of recent market
conditions and Fund strategies that significantly affected Fund performance
during its last fiscal year, financial statements, detailed performance
information, portfolio holdings and, in the annual report only, report of the
independent registered public accounting firm. You may obtain these reports
at
no cost through your investment representative or by e-mailing or calling us
at
the address and number below. You will also be able to view current
annual/semiannual reports online at www.prospectorfunds.com.
Statement
of Additional Information (SAI)
Contains more information
about the Funds, their investments and policies. It is incorporated by reference
and is legally a part of this prospectus.
For
a
free copy of the SAI, please contact your investment representative, call us
at
the number listed below, or write to us at the address listed below.
You may also download/view the SAI online at
www.prospectorfunds.com.
You
can
also obtain information about the Funds by visiting the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (phone (202) 551-8090) or
the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site at
www.sec.gov. You can obtain copies of this information, after paying a
duplicating fee, by writing to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public
Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102 or by electronic request at the
following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Prospector
Funds, Inc.
[TOLL
FREE NUMBER]
www.prospectorfunds.com
File
Nos.
[ ]
[ ]
SK
02081 0009 732646
v9
STATEMENT
OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PROSPECTOR
CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND
PROSPECTOR
OPPORTUNITY FUND
EACH
A
SERIES OF PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.
_______,
2007
This
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. This
SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities
and
operations of Prospector Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), as well as the Prospector
Capital Appreciation Fund (the "Capital Appreciation Fund"), and the Prospector
Opportunity Fund (the "Opportunity Fund") (each, a "Fund" and, together, the
"Funds"), each a series thereof. The Company’s prospectus, dated
_______, 2007, which we may amend from time to time, contains the basic
information you should know before investing in the Funds. You should
read this SAI together with the Company’s prospectus.
For
a
free copy of the current prospectus or annual report, contact your investment
representative, access the Company online at www.prospectorfunds.com or call
toll free
[ ].
CONTENTS
COMPANY
HISTORY
|
3
|
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES AND RISKS
|
3
|
OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
|
25
|
CODE
OF ETHICS AND PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
|
27
|
INVESTMENT
ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
|
27
|
PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS
|
32
|
TAXATION
OF THE FUNDS
|
34
|
ORGANIZATION,
VOTING RIGHTS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
|
35
|
BUYING
AND SELLING SHARES
|
36
|
PRICING
OF SHARES
|
40
|
APPENDIX
A – MISCELLANEOUS TABLES
|
A-1
|
COMPANY
HISTORY
The
name
of the company is Prospector Funds, Inc. (the “Company”). The
Company, an open-end, management investment company was organized as a
corporation in Maryland on June 6, 2007 and is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Articles of
Incorporation of the Company permit the Company to offer separate series
("Funds") of shares of common stock ("shares"). Each Fund is a newly
established fund of the Company. The Company reserves the right to
create and issue shares of additional funds. Each Fund is a separate
mutual fund, and each share of each Fund represents an equal proportionate
interest in that Fund’s assets. All consideration received by the
Company for shares of any Fund and all assets of such Fund belong solely to
that
Fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. The Company
pays, subject to a contractual waiver by the Investment Manager limiting
expenses to 1.50% of the average net assets of the Fund, in effect until the
earlier of the third anniversary of the date the Funds commence operations
and
the date the net assets of the Fund equal $[ ],
unless the Board of Directors approves its earlier termination or revision,
its
(i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses
of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to
shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under
federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage
costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses and (ii) other
expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable
to a specific Fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that
Fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific Fund are allocated
across all of the Funds on the basis of relative net assets. This SAI relates
only to the Capital Appreciation Fund and the Opportunity Fund, and not to
any
other funds of the Company.
Voting
Rights
. Each share held entitles the shareholder of record
to one vote. Each Fund will vote separately on matters relating
solely to it. Otherwise, all shares have the same voting and other
rights and preferences. The shares have non cumulative voting
rights. For elections of members of the Company’s Board of Directors
(the “Board”), this gives holders of more than 50% of the shares the ability to
elect all of the members of the Board. If this happens, holders of
the remaining shares entitled to vote will not be able to elect anyone to the
Board.
The
Company does not intend to hold annual shareholder meetings and is not required
to do so. Any Fund may hold special meetings, however, for matters
requiring shareholder approval. A special meeting may also be called
by the Board and certain officers in their discretion.
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES AND RISKS
For
purposes of all investment policies: (1) the term “1940 Act”
includes the rules thereunder, SEC interpretations and any exemptive order
upon
which a Fund may rely and (2) the term “Code” includes the rules
thereunder, IRS interpretations and any private letter ruling or similar
authority upon which a Fund may rely.
Generally,
the policies and restrictions discussed in this SAI and in the prospectus apply
when a Fund makes an investment. In most cases, a Fund is not
required to sell a security because circumstances change and the security no
longer meets one or more of such Fund’s policies or restrictions. If
a percentage restriction or limitation is met at the time of investment, a
later
increase or decrease in the percentage due to a change in the value or liquidity
of portfolio securities will not be considered a violation of the restriction
or
limitation.
If
a
bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular security
a Fund owns, the Fund may receive stock, real estate, or other investments
that
such Fund would not, or could not, buy. If this happens, the Fund
intends to sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to maximize
the return to shareholders.
Each
Fund
has adopted certain investment restrictions as fundamental
policies. A fundamental policy may only be changed if the change is
approved by (i) more than 50% of the relevant Fund's outstanding shares or
(ii) 67% or more of the relevant Fund's shares present at a shareholder
meeting if more than 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares are represented at
the
meeting in person or by proxy, whichever is less.
Fundamental
Investment Policies
The
Funds
may not:
1. Purchase
or sell commodities, commodity contracts (except in conformity with regulations
of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission such that the Fund would not
be
considered a commodity pool), or oil and gas interests or real
estate. Securities or other instruments backed by commodities are not
considered commodities or commodity contracts for purposes of this
restriction. Debt or equity securities issued by companies engaged in
the oil, gas, or real estate businesses are not considered oil or gas interests
or real estate for purposes of this restriction. First mortgage loans
and other direct obligations secured by real estate are not considered real
estate for purposes of this restriction.
2. Make
loans, except to the extent the purchase of debt obligations of any type are
considered loans and except that each Fund may lend portfolio securities to
qualified institutional investors in compliance with requirements established
from time to time by the SEC and the securities exchanges on which such
securities are traded.
3. Issue
securities senior to its stock or borrow money or utilize leverage in excess
of
the maximum permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940
Act), which is currently 33 1/3% of total assets (including 5% for emergency
or
other short-term purposes).
4. Invest
more than 25% of the value of its assets in a particular industry (except that
U.S. government securities are not considered an industry).
5. Act
as an underwriter except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an
underwriter when disposing of securities it owns or when selling its own
shares.
6. Except
as may be described in the prospectus, purchase securities on
margin.
The
term
prospectus as referenced in restriction 6 includes this SAI.
General
Each
Fund’s investment objectives and principal investment strategies are described
in the prospectus. The following information supplements, and should
be read in conjunction with, the prospectus. For a description of
certain permitted investments discussed below, see "Description of Permitted
Investments" in this SAI.
Investment
Techniques, Strategies and their Risks
Certain
words or phrases used in the prospectus or this SAI may be used in descriptions
of a Funds’ investment policies and strategies to give investors a general sense
of a Fund’s level of investment. They are broadly identified with,
but not limited to, the following percentages of a Fund’s total
assets:
“small
portion”
|
less
than 10%
|
“portion”
|
10%
to 25%
|
“significant”
|
25%
to 50%
|
“substantial”
|
50%
to 66%
|
“primary”
|
66%
to 80%
|
“predominant”
|
80%
or more
|
The
percentages above are not intended to be precise, nor are they limitations
unless specifically stated as such in the prospectus or elsewhere in this
SAI.
The
value
of your shares in a Fund will increase as the value of the securities owned
by
such Fund increases and will decrease as the value of the Fund’s investments
decrease. In this way, you participate in any change in the value of
the securities owned by a Fund. In addition to the factors that
affect the value of any particular security that a Fund owns, the value of
such
Fund’s shares may also change with movements in the stock and bond markets as a
whole.
Capital
Appreciation Fund
The
Capital Appreciation Fund’s investment objective is capital
appreciation. This goal is fundamental, and may not be changed by the
Board without the consent of shareholders. There can be no assurance
that the Capital Appreciation Fund will be able to achieve its investment
objective. The Capital Appreciation Fund is classified as a
"diversified" investment company under the 1940 Act.
The
general investment policy of the Capital Appreciation Fund is to invest in
securities using a value orientation consisting of bottom-up fundamental value
analysis with an emphasis on balance sheet strength. In pursuit of
its value oriented strategy, the Capital Appreciation Fund will invest without
regarding to market capitalization.
Opportunity
Fund
The
Opportunity Fund’s investment objective is capital appreciation. This
goal is fundamental, and may not be changed by the Board without the consent
of
shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Opportunity Fund
will be able to achieve its investment objective. The Opportunity
Fund is classified as a "diversified" investment company under the 1940
Act.
The
general investment policy of the Opportunity Fund is to invest using the same
value orientation as the Capital Appreciation Fund. In pursuit of its
value-oriented strategy, the Opportunity Fund will invest significantly in
small-to-mid capitalization companies with market capitalizations at the time
of
investment in the range of between $150 million and $15 billion.
Description
of Permitted Investments
Each
Fund
will invest in equity securities, including securities convertible, exchangeable
for, or expected to be exchanged into common stock (including convertible
preferred and convertible debt securities). There are no limitations
on the percentage of each Fund’s assets that may be invested in equity
securities, debt securities, or convertible securities. The Funds
reserve freedom of action to invest in these securities in such proportions
as
the Funds’ investment manager, Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC, (the
“Investment Manager,” or alternatively, “Prospector Partners Asset Management”)
deems advisable. In addition, the Funds also may invest in foreign
securities, and in other investment company securities.
Each
Fund
may invest in any industry although it will not concentrate its investments
in
any one industry.
Each
Fund
may invest in securities that are traded on U.S. or foreign securities
exchanges, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System (Nasdaq) national market system or in any domestic or foreign
over-the-counter (OTC) market. U.S. or foreign securities exchanges
typically represent the primary trading market for U.S. and foreign
securities. A securities exchange brings together buyers and sellers
of the same securities. The Nasdaq national market system also brings
together buyers and sellers of the same securities through an electronic medium
which facilitates a sale and purchase of the security. Many companies
whose securities are traded on the Nasdaq national market system are smaller
than the companies whose securities are traded on a securities
exchange. The OTC market refers to all other avenues whereby brokers
bring together buyers and sellers of securities.
The
following is a description of the various types of securities the Fund may
buy
and techniques it may use.
Equity
Securities
Equity
securities represent a proportionate share of the ownership of a company; their
value is based on the success of the company’s business and the value of its
assets, as well as general market conditions. The purchaser of an
equity security typically receives an ownership interest in the company as
well
as certain voting rights. The owner of an equity security may
participate in a company’s success through the receipt of dividends, which are
distributions of earnings by the company to its owners. Equity
security owners also may participate in a company’s success or lack of success
through increases or decreases in the value of the company’s shares as traded in
the public trading market for such shares. Equity securities
generally are either common stock or preferred stock, as well as securities
convertible into common stocks. Preferred stockholders usually
receive greater dividends but may receive less appreciation than common
stockholders and may have different voting rights as well. Equity
securities may also include convertible securities, warrants, or
rights. Warrants or rights give the holder the right to buy an equity
security at a given time for specified price.
Convertible
Securities
Convertible
securities are debt securities, or in some cases preferred stock, that have
the
additional feature of converting into, exchanging or expecting to be exchanged
for, common stock of a company after certain periods of time or under certain
circumstances. Holders of convertible securities gain the benefits of
being a debt holder or preferred stockholder and receiving regular interest
payments, in the case of debt securities, or higher dividends, in the case
of
preferred stock, with the possibility of becoming a common stockholder in the
future. A convertible security’s value normally reflects changes in
the company’s underlying common stock value.
As
with a
straight fixed-income security, a convertible security tends to increase in
market value when interest rates decline and decrease in value when interest
rates rise. Like a common stock, the value of a convertible security
also tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, and
it
tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying stock
declines. Because both interest rate and market movements can
influence its value, a convertible security is not as sensitive to interest
rates as a similar fixed-income security, nor is it as sensitive to changes
in
share price as its underlying stock.
A
convertible security tends to be senior to the issuer’s common stock, but
subordinate to other types of fixed-income securities issued by that
company. A convertible security may be subject to redemption by the
issuer, but only after a specified date and under circumstances established
at
the time the security is issued. When a convertible security issued
by an operating company is “converted,” the issuer often issues new stock to the
holder of the convertible security. However, if the convertible
security is redeemable and the parity price of the convertible security is
less
than the call price, the issuer may pay out cash instead of common
stock.
Smaller
Companies
Each
Fund
may invest in securities issued by smaller companies. Historically,
smaller company securities have been more volatile in price than larger company
securities, especially over the short term. Among the reasons for the
greater price volatility are the less certain growth prospects of smaller
companies, the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities,
and
the greater sensitivity of smaller companies to changing economic
conditions.
In
addition, smaller companies may lack depth of management, may be unable to
generate funds necessary for growth or development, their products or services
may be concentrated in one area or they may be developing or marketing new
products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never
become established.
Hedging
and Income Transactions
Each
Fund
may use various hedging strategies. Hedging is a technique designed
to reduce a potential loss to a Fund as a result of certain economic or market
risks, including risks related to fluctuations in interest rates, currency
exchange rates between U.S. and foreign securities or between different foreign
currencies, and broad or specific market movements. The hedging
strategies that a Fund may use are also used by many mutual funds and other
institutional investors. When pursuing these hedging strategies, each
Fund will primarily engage in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts. However, each Fund also may engage in the following
currency transactions: currency futures contracts, currency swaps,
options on currencies, or options on currency futures. In addition,
each Fund may engage in other types of transactions, such as the purchase and
sale of exchange-listed and OTC put and call options on securities, equity
and
fixed-income indices and other financial instruments; and the purchase and
sale
of financial and other futures contracts and options on futures contracts
(collectively, all of the above are called Hedging Transactions).
Some
examples of situations in which Hedging Transactions may be used
are: (i) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the
market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a Fund’s portfolio
resulting from changes in securities markets or currency exchange rate
fluctuations; (ii) to protect a Fund’s gains in the value of portfolio
securities which have not yet been sold; (iii) to facilitate the sale of
certain securities for investment purposes; and (iv) as a temporary
substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities.
Any
combination of Hedging Transactions may be used at any time as determined by
the
Investment Manager. Use of any Hedging Transaction is a function of
numerous variables, including market conditions and the Investment Manager’s
expertise in utilizing such techniques. The ability of a Fund to
utilize Hedging Transactions successfully cannot be assured. Each
Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing
these
strategies, including the segregation of assets by proper notation on the books
of the custodian bank. Hedging Transactions involving futures and
options on futures will be purchased, sold or entered into generally for
hedging, risk management or portfolio management purposes.
The
various techniques described above as Hedging Transactions also may be used
by
each Fund for non-hedging purposes. For example, these techniques may
be used to produce income to a Fund where the Fund’s participation in the
transaction involves the payment of a premium to the Fund. Each Fund
also may use a Hedging Transaction if the Investment Manager has a view about
the fluctuation of certain indices, currencies or economic or market changes
such as a reduction in interest rates.
Hedging
Transactions, whether entered into as a hedge or for income, have risks
associated with them. The three most significant risks associated
with Hedging Transactions are: (i) possible default by the other
party to the transaction; (ii) illiquidity; and (iii) to the extent
the Investment Manager’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the
risk that the use of such Hedging Transactions could result in losses greater
than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options may
(i) result in losses to a Fund, (ii) force the purchase or sale of
portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than or lower
than current market values, (iii) limit the amount of appreciation a Fund
can realize on its investments, (iv) increase the cost of holding a
security and reduce the returns on securities or (v) cause a Fund to hold a
security it might otherwise sell.
Although
the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize
the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, these
transactions also tend to limit any potential gain which might result from
an
increase in value of the position taken. As compared to options
contracts, futures contracts create greater ongoing potential financial risks
to
a Fund because the Fund is required to make ongoing monetary deposits with
futures brokers. Losses resulting from the use of Hedging
Transactions can reduce NAV, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater
than if the Hedging Transactions had not been utilized. The cost of
entering into Hedging Transactions also may reduce a Fund’s total return to
investors.
When
conducted outside the U.S., Hedging Transactions may not be regulated as
rigorously as in the U.S., may not involve a clearing mechanism and related
guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting
trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other
instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely
affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and
economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on
which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a Fund’s ability to act
upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during nonbusiness hours
in
the U.S., (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms
and procedures and margin requirements than in the U.S., and (v) lower
trading volume and liquidity.
Foreign
Securities
Each
Fund
may purchase securities of non-U.S. issuers whose values are quoted and traded
in any currency in addition to the U.S. dollar. Such investments
involve certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities
of U.S. issuers. Such risks include: fluctuations in the
value of the currency in which the security is traded or quoted as compared
to
the U.S. dollar; unpredictable political, social and economic developments
in
the foreign country where the security is issued or where the issuer of the
security is located; and the possible imposition by a foreign government of
limits on the ability of a Fund to obtain a foreign currency or to convert
a
foreign currency into U.S. dollars; or the imposition of other forei
gn
laws
or restrictions.
Since
each Fund may invest in securities issued, traded or quoted in currencies other
than the U.S. dollar, changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect
the
value of securities in a Fund’s portfolio. When deemed advantageous
to a Fund, the Investment Manager may attempt, from time to time, to reduce
such
risk, known as “currency risk,” by “hedging,” which attempts to reduce or
eliminate changes in a security’s value resulting from changing currency
exchange rates. Hedging is further described above. In
addition, in certain countries, the possibility of expropriation of assets,
confiscatory taxation, or diplomatic developments could adversely affect
investments in those countries. Expropriation of assets refers to the
possibility that a country’s laws will prohibit the return to the U.S. of any
monies which a Fund has invested in the country. Confiscatory
taxation refers to the possibility that a foreign country will adopt a tax
law
which has the effect of requiring a Fund to pay significant amounts, if not
all,
of the value of the Fund’s investment to the foreign country’s taxing
authority. Diplomatic developments means that because of certain
actions occurring within a foreign country, such as significant civil rights
violations or because of the United States’ actions during a time of crisis in
the particular country, all communications and other official governmental
relations between the country and the United States could be
severed. This could result in the abandonment of any U.S. investors’,
such as a Fund’s, money in the particular country, with no ability to have the
money returned to the United States.
There
may
be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a
U.S.
company. Foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing
and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to, or as uniform
as, those of U.S. issuers. The number of securities traded, and the
frequency of such trading, in non-U.S. securities markets, while growing in
volume, is for the most part, substantially less than in U.S.
markets. As a result, securities of many foreign issuers are less
liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S.
issuers. Transaction costs, the costs associated with buying and
selling securities, on non-U.S. securities markets may be higher than in the
U.S. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of
exchanges, brokers and issuers than there is in the U.S. A Fund’s
foreign investments may include both voting and non-voting securities, sovereign
debt and participations in foreign government deals. A Fund may have
greater difficulty taking appropriate legal action with respect to foreign
investments in non-U.S. courts than with respect to domestic issuers in U.S.
courts.
Rule
144A Securities
Each
Fund
may invest in unregistered securities which may be sold under Rule 144A under
the Securities Act of 1933 (144A securities). 144A securities are
restricted, which generally means that a legend has been placed on the share
certificates representing the securities which states that the securities were
not registered with the SEC when they were initially sold and may not be resold
except under certain circumstances. In spite of the legend, certain
securities may be sold to other institutional buyers provided that the
conditions of Rule 144A are met. In the event that there is an active
secondary institutional market for 144A securities, the 144A securities may
be
treated as liquid. As permitted by the federal securities laws, the
board of directors has adopted procedures in accordance with Rule 144A which
govern when specific 144A securities may be deemed to be liquid. Due
to changing markets or other factors, 144A securities may be subject to a
greater possibility of becoming illiquid than securities that have been
registered with the SEC for sale.
Borrowing
Each
Fund
is permitted to borrow under certain circumstances, as described under
“Fundamental Investment Policies” above. Under no circumstances will
either Fund make additional investments while any amounts borrowed exceed 5%
of
the Fund's total assets.
Cash
Equivalent Investments
Cash
equivalent investments are investments in certain types of short-term debt
securities. A Fund making a cash equivalent investment expects to
earn interest at prevailing market rates on the amount invested and there is
little, if any, risk of loss of the original amount invested. A
Fund’s cash equivalent investments are typically made in obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. or other governments, their agencies or instrumentalities
and high-quality commercial paper issued by banks, corporations or
others. Commercial paper consists of short-term debt securities which
carry fixed or floating interest rates. A fixed interest rate means
that interest is paid on the investment at the same rate for the life of the
security. A floating interest rate means that the interest rate
varies as interest rates on newly issued securities in the marketplace
vary.
Debt
Securities
A
debt
security typically has a fixed payment schedule which obligates the company
to
pay interest to the lender and to return the lender’s money over a certain time
period. A company typically meets its payment obligations associated
with its outstanding debt securities before it declares and pays any dividends
to holders of its equity securities. While most debt securities are
used as an investment to produce income to an investor as a result of the fixed
payment schedule, debt securities also may increase or decrease in
value.
The
market value of debt securities generally varies in response to changes in
interest rates and the financial condition of each issuer. During
periods of declining interest rates, the value of debt securities generally
increases. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the
value of such securities generally declines. These changes in market
value will be reflected in a Fund’s net asset value per share
(“NAV”). These increases or decreases are more significant for longer
duration debt securities.
Each
Fund
may invest in a variety of debt securities, including bonds and notes issued
by
domestic or foreign corporations and the U.S. or foreign governments and their
agencies and instrumentalities. Bonds and notes differ in the length
of the issuer’s repayment schedule. Bonds typically have a longer
payment schedule than notes. Typically, debt securities with a
shorter repayment schedule pay interest at a lower rate than debt securities
with a longer repayment schedule.
The
debt
securities which each Fund may purchase may either be unrated, or rated in
any
rating category established by one or more independent rating organizations,
such as Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (S&P) or Moody’s Investors
Service (Moody’s). Securities are given ratings by independent rating
organizations, which grade the company issuing the securities based upon its
financial soundness. Each Fund may invest in securities that are
rated in the medium to lowest rating categories by S&P and
Moody’s. Generally, lower rated and unrated debt securities are
riskier investments. Debt securities rated BB or lower by S&P or
Moody’s are considered to be high yield, high risk debt securities, commonly
known as “junk bonds.” The lowest rating category established by Moody’s is “C”
and by S&P is “D.” Debt securities with a D rating are in default as to the
payment of principal and interest, which means that the issuer does not have
the
financial soundness to meet its interest payments or its repayment schedule
to
security holders. These ratings represent the opinions of the rating
services with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and repay
principal. They do not purport to reflect the risk of fluctuations in
market value and are not absolute standards of quality.
If
the
rating on an issue held in a Fund’s portfolio is changed by the rating service
or the security goes into default, this event will be considered by the
Investment Manager in its evaluation of the overall investment merits of that
security, but will not generally result in an automatic sale of the
security.
Each
Fund
generally will invest in debt securities under circumstances similar to those
under which they will invest in equity securities; namely, when, in the
Investment Manager’s opinion, such debt securities are available at prices less
than their intrinsic value. Investing in fixed-income securities
under these circumstances may lead to the potential for capital
appreciation. Consequently, when investing in debt securities, a debt
security’s rating is given less emphasis in the Investment Manager’s investment
decision-making process. Each Fund may invest in debt securities
issued by domestic or foreign companies that are, or are about to be, involved
in reorganizations, financial restructurings or bankruptcy (Distressed
Companies), because such securities often are available at less than their
intrinsic value. Debt securities of such companies typically are
unrated, lower rated, in default or close to default. While posing a
greater risk than higher rated securities with respect to payment of interest
and repayment of principal at the price at which the debt security was
originally issued, a Fund will generally purchases these debt securities at
discounts to the original principal amount. Such debt typically ranks
senior to the equity securities of Distressed Companies and may offer the
potential for capital appreciation and additional investment
opportunities.
Medium
and Lower Rated Corporate Debt Securities
Each
Fund
may invest in securities of Distressed Companies when the intrinsic values
of
such securities, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, warrant such
investment. Each Fund may invest in securities that are rated in the
medium to lowest rating categories by S&P and Moody’s, some of which may be
so-called “junk bonds.” Corporate debt securities rated Baa are regarded by
Moody’s as being neither highly protected nor poorly
secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate to
Moody’s for the present, but certain protective elements may be lacking or may
be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such
securities are regarded by Moody’s as lacking outstanding investment
characteristics and having speculative characteristics. Corporate
debt securities rated BBB are regarded by S&P as having adequate capacity to
pay interest and repay principal. Such securities are regarded by
S&P as normally exhibiting adequate protection parameters, although adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for securities in this
rating category than in higher rated categories. Companies issuing
lower rated higher yielding debt securities are not as strong financially as
those with higher credit ratings. These companies are more likely to
encounter financial difficulties and are more vulnerable to changes in the
economy, such as a recession or a sustained period of rising interest rates,
that could prevent them from making interest and principal
payments. If an issuer is not paying or stops paying interest and/or
principal on its securities, payments on the securities may never
resume.
Corporate
debt securities that are rated B are regarded by Moody’s as generally lacking
characteristics of the desirable investment. In Moody’s view,
assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms
of
the security over any long period of time may be small. Corporate
debt securities rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded by S&P on balance as
predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay
principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. In
S&P’s view, although such securities likely have some quality and protective
characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk
exposures to adverse conditions. BB and B are regarded by S&P as
indicating the two lowest degrees of speculation and CC and CCC the two highest
degrees of speculation in this group of ratings.
Securities
rated D by S&P or C by Moody’s are in default and are not currently
performing.
Each
Fund
may also invest in unrated securities. Each Fund will rely on the
Investment Manager’s judgment, analysis and experience in evaluating such debt
securities. In this evaluation, the Investment Manager will take into
consideration, among other things, the issuer’s financial resources, its
sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, its operating history, the
quality of the issuer’s management and regulatory matters as well as the price
of the security. The Investment Manager also may consider, although
it does not rely primarily on, the credit ratings of Moody’s and S&P in
evaluating lower rated corporate debt securities. Such ratings
evaluate only the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value
risk. Additionally, because the creditworthiness of an issuer may
change more rapidly than is able to be timely reflected in changes in credit
ratings, the Investment Manager monitors the issuers of corporate debt
securities held in a Fund’s portfolios. The credit rating assigned to
a security is a factor considered by the Investment Manager in selecting a
security for a Fund, but the intrinsic value in comparison to market price
and
the Investment Manager’s analysis of the fundamental values underlying the
issuer are generally of greater significance. Because of the nature
of medium and lower rated corporate debt securities, achievement by a Fund
of
its investment objective when investing in such securities is dependent on
the
credit analysis of the Investment Manager. If a Fund purchased
primarily higher rated debt securities, such risks would be substantially
reduced.
A
general
economic downturn or a significant increase in interest rates could severely
disrupt the market for medium and lower grade corporate debt securities and
adversely affect the market value of such securities. Securities in
default are relatively unaffected by such events or by changes in prevailing
interest rates. In addition, in such circumstances, the ability of
issuers of medium and lower grade corporate debt securities to repay principal
and to pay interest, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional
financing may be adversely affected. Such consequences could lead to
an increased incidence of default for such securities and adversely affect
the
value of the corporate debt securities in a Fund’s portfolio. The
secondary market prices of medium and lower grade corporate debt securities
are
less sensitive to changes in interest rates than are higher rated debt
securities, but are more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual
corporate developments. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions,
whether or not based on rational analysis, also may affect the value and
liquidity of medium and lower grade corporate debt securities, although such
factors also present investment opportunities when prices fall below intrinsic
values. Yields on debt securities in a Fund’s portfolio that are
interest rate sensitive can be expected to fluctuate over time. In
addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes in interest rates can
be
expected to result in increased volatility of market price of any medium to
lower grade corporate debt securities in a Fund’s portfolio and thus could have
an effect on the NAV of the Fund if other types of securities did not show
offsetting changes in values. The prices of high yield debt
securities fluctuate more than higher-quality securities. Prices are
often closely linked with the company’s stock prices and typically rise and fall
in response to factors that affect stock prices. In addition, the
entire high yield securities market can experience sudden and sharp price swings
due to changes in economic conditions, stock market activity, large sustained
sales by major investors, a high-profile default, or other factors.
High
yield securities are also generally less liquid than higher-quality
bonds. Many of these securities do not trade frequently, and when
they do trade their prices may be significantly higher or lower than previously
quoted market prices. At times, it may be difficult to sell these
securities promptly at an acceptable price, which may limit a Fund’s ability to
sell securities in response to specific economic events or to meet redemption
requests. The secondary market value of corporate debt securities
structured as zero coupon securities or payment in kind securities may be more
volatile in response to changes in interest rates than debt securities which
pay
interest periodically in cash. Because such securities do not pay
current interest, but rather, income is accreted, to the extent that a Fund
does
not have available cash to meet distribution requirements with respect to such
income, it could be required to
dispose
of portfolio securities that it otherwise would not. Such disposition
could be at a disadvantageous price. Failure to satisfy distribution
requirements could result in a Fund failing to qualify as a pass-through entity
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(Code). Investment in such securities also involves certain other tax
considerations.
The
Investment Manager values each Fund’s investments pursuant to guidelines adopted
and periodically reviewed by the Board. To the extent that there is
no established retail market for some of the medium or lower grade or unrated
corporate debt securities in which a Fund may invest, there may be thin or
no
trading in such securities and the ability of the Investment Manager to
accurately value such securities may be adversely affected. Further,
it may be more difficult for a Fund to sell such securities in a timely manner
and at their stated value than would be the case for securities for which an
established retail market did exist. The effects of adverse publicity
and investor perceptions may be more pronounced for securities for which no
established retail market exists as compared with the effects on securities
for
which such a market does exist. During periods of reduced market
liquidity and in the absence of readily available market quotations for medium
and lower grade and unrated corporate debt securities held in a Fund’s
portfolio, the responsibility of the Investment Manager to value the Fund’s
securities becomes more difficult and the Investment Manager’s judgment may play
a greater role in the valuation of the Fund’s securities due to a reduced
availability of reliable objective data.
Depositary
Receipts
Each
Fund
may invest in securities commonly known as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs),
European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) of
non-U.S. issuers. Such depositary receipts are interests in a
non-U.S. company’s securities which have been deposited with a bank or trust
company. The bank or trust company then sells interests to investors
in the form of depositary receipts. Depositary receipts can be
unsponsored or sponsored by the issuer of the underlying securities or by the
issuing bank or trust company. ADRs are certificates issued by a U.S.
bank or trust company and represent the right to receive securities of a foreign
issuer deposited in a domestic bank or foreign branch of a U.S. bank and traded
on a U.S. exchange or in an over-the-counter market. EDRs are
receipts issued in Europe generally by a non-U.S. bank or trust company that
evidence ownership of non-U.S. or domestic securities. Generally,
ADRs are in registered form and EDRs are in bearer form. There are no
fees imposed on the purchase or sale of ADRs or EDRs although the issuing bank
or trust company may impose charges for the collection of dividends and the
conversion of ADRs and EDRs into the underlying
securities. Investment in ADRs may have certain advantages over
direct investment in the underlying non-U.S. securities,
since: (i) ADRs are U.S. dollar denominated investments which
are often easily transferable and for which market quotations are generally
readily available and (ii) issuers whose securities are represented by ADRs
are subject to the same auditing, accounting and financial reporting standards
as domestic issuers. EDRs are not necessarily denominated in the
currency of the underlying security.
Depositary
receipts of non-U.S. issuers may have certain risks, including trading for
a
lower price, having less liquidity than their underlying securities and risks
relating to the issuing bank or trust company. Holders of unsponsored
depositary receipts have a greater risk that receipt of corporate information
and proxy disclosure will be untimely, information may be incomplete and costs
may be higher.
Emerging
Markets Investments
Investments
by each Fund in companies domiciled in emerging market countries may be subject
to potentially higher risks than investments in developed
countries. These risks include (i) less economic stability;
(ii) political and social uncertainty (for example, regional conflicts and
risk of war); (iii) pervasiveness of corruption and crime; (iv) the
small current size of the markets for such securities and the currently low
or
nonexistent volume of trading, which result in a lack of liquidity and in
greater price volatility; (v) delays in settling portfolio transactions;
(vi) risk of loss arising out of the system of share registration and
custody; (vii) certain national policies that may restrict a Fund’s
investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or
industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (viii) foreign taxation;
(ix) the absence of developed legal structures governing private or foreign
investment or allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property;
(x) the absence of a capital market structure or market-oriented economy;
and (xi) the possibility that recent favorable economic developments may be
slowed or reversed by unanticipated political or social events.
In
addition, many countries in which a Fund may invest have experienced
substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many
years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had
and may continue to have negative effects on the economies and securities
markets of certain countries. Moreover, the economies of some
developing countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy
in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation,
currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and
balance of payments position.
Currency
Transactions
Each
Fund
may from time to time engage in currency transactions with securities dealers,
financial institutions or other parties (each a Counterparty and collectively,
Counterparties) in order to hedge the value of portfolio holdings denominated
in
particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value between those
currencies and the U.S. dollar. Currency transactions include forward
foreign currency exchange contracts, exchange-listed currency futures,
exchange-listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps.
A
forward
foreign currency exchange contract involves a privately negotiated obligation
to
purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) 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. A currency swap is an agreement between a Fund and,
typically, a brokerage firm, bank or other institutional party, to exchange
cash
flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative
value
differential among them. In some currency swap agreements, the swap
agreement may include the delivery of the entire principal value of one
designated currency for the other designated currency.
Each
Fund
will usually enter into swaps on a net basis, which means the two payment
streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates
specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case
may
be, only the net amount of the two payments. Each Fund will accrue
its obligations under a swap agreement daily (offset by any amounts the
counterparty owes the Fund). If the swap agreement provides for other
than a net basis, the full amount of the Fund’s obligations will be accrued on a
daily basis. To limit potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio,
each Fund has adopted procedures to cover any accrued but unpaid net or full
amounts owed to a swap counterparty by designating, on a daily basis, as
segregated, liquid assets (not otherwise encumbered) equal in current market
value to such swap amounts owed. Under the procedures, each Fund
designates the segregated assets by appropriate notation on the books of the
Fund or its custodian. To the extent a Fund enters into swap
agreements for good faith hedging purposes and the Fund’s swap obligations are
fully covered by an offsetting asset or right of the Fund, the obligations
will
not be subject to the Fund’s segregated assets procedures. The
Investment Manager and each Fund believe that swap agreement obligations that
are covered, either by an offsetting asset or right or by the Fund’s segregated
assets procedures (or a combination thereof), are not senior securities under
the 1940 Act and are not subject to the Fund’s borrowing
restrictions.
The
use
of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment
techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio
securities transactions. Whether a Fund will be successful in using
swap agreements to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability
of
the Investment Manager correctly to predict which types of investments are
likely to produce greater returns. If the Investment Manager, in
using swap agreements, is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest
rates, currency exchange rates or other applicable factors, the investment
performance of a Fund will be less than its performance would be using other
investments.
The
risk
of loss to a Fund for swap transactions on a net basis depends on which party
is
obligated to pay the net amount to the other party. If the
counterparty is obligated to pay the net amount to the Fund, the risk of loss
to
the Fund is loss of the entire amount that the Fund is entitled to
receive. If the Fund is obligated to pay the net amount, the Fund’s
risk of loss is limited to that net amount. If the swap agreement
involves the exchange of the entire principal value of a security, the entire
principal value of that security is subject to the risk that the other party
to
the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.
Because
swap agreements may have terms of greater than seven days, they may be illiquid
and, therefore, subject to the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid
securities. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the
relevant market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to establish or liquidate
a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant
losses. The swap markets have grown substantially in recent years,
however, with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both
as principals and agents, utilizing standardized swap
documentation. As a result, the swap markets have become relatively
liquid in comparison with markets for other derivative instruments that are
traded in the interbank market.
Swap
agreements are not traded on exchanges and are not subject to government
regulation like exchange markets. As a result, swap participants are
not as protected as participants on organized exchanges. Performance
of a swap agreement is the responsibility only of the swap counterparty and
not
of any exchange or clearinghouse. As a result, each Fund is subject
to the risk of the inability or refusal to perform such agreement by the
counterparty. No limitations on daily price movements or speculative
position limits apply to swap transactions. Counterparties may,
however, limit the size or duration of positions to the Fund as a consequence
of
credit considerations. Each Fund risks the loss of the accrued but
unpaid amount under a swap agreement, which could be substantial, in the event
of default by or insolvency or bankruptcy of a swap counterparty. In
such an event, each Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the swap
agreements, but bankruptcy and insolvency laws could affect the Fund’s rights as
a creditor. If the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the
value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting
in
losses.
Each
Fund
may enter into currency transactions with counterparties which have received
(or
the guarantors of the obligations of such counterparties have received) a credit
rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an
equivalent rating from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization
(NRSRO) or are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Investment
Manager. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Fund may have
contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the
transaction.
Each
Fund
will limit its dealings in forward foreign currency exchange contracts and
other
currency transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps
to
either specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction
hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets
or liabilities of a Fund, which will generally arise in connection with the
purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income from
portfolio securities. Position hedging is entering into a
currency
transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or
generally quoted in that currency.
A
Fund
will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure if the Fund’s
exposure, after netting all transactions intended to wholly or partially offset
other transactions, is greater than the aggregate market value (at the time
of
entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that
are
denominated or generally quoted in, or whose value is based on, that foreign
currency or currently convertible into such currency other than with respect
to
proxy hedging, which is described below.
Each
Fund
also may cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or
sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative
to
other currencies to which the Fund has, or in which the Fund expects to have,
portfolio exposure.
To
reduce
the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated
holdings of portfolio securities, each Fund also may engage in proxy
hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which the
Fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the U.S.
dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a forward contract to
sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be linked
to
a currency or currencies in which some or all of the Fund’s portfolio securities
are or are expected to be denominated, and to buy U.S. dollars. The
amount of the contract would not exceed the value of the Fund’s securities
denominated in linked currencies. Proxy hedging involves some of the
same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar
instruments.
Currency
transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio
transactions. Currency transactions can result in losses to a Fund if
the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree, or in a direction,
that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the
perceived linkage between various currencies may not be present during the
particular time that a Fund is are engaging in proxy hedging. If a
Fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the Fund will comply with
the
asset segregation requirements described above.
Because
currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and
influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and
related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls,
blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by
governments. These can result in losses to the Fund if it is unable
to deliver or receive a specified currency or funds in settlement of obligations
and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless,
resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction
costs.
The
use
of currency transactions also can result in a Fund incurring losses due to
the
inability of foreign securities transactions to be completed with the security
being delivered to the Fund. Buyers and sellers of currency futures
are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures
generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the
purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing
nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and
the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject
to
the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be
available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors
extrinsic to that country’s economy.
Options
Put
options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics
and
operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they
are
purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to
each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail
below. In addition,
many
Hedging Transactions involving options require segregation of Fund assets by
appropriate notation on the books of the Fund or its custodian, as described
above.
A
put
option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right
to sell, and the seller of the option, the obligation to buy, the underlying
security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise
price. For instance, a Fund’s purchase of a put option on a security
might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or,
in
some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market
value by giving the Fund the right to sell such instrument at the option
exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the
purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to
sell,
the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A Fund’s purchase of
a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other
instrument might be intended to protect the Fund against an increase in the
price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future
by
fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument.
An
American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option
period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon
expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. Each Fund is
authorized to purchase and sell exchange-listed options and over-the-counter
options (OTC options). Exchange-listed options are issued by a
regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), which
guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such
options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but the
discussion is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.
With
certain exceptions, OCC-issued and exchange-listed options generally settle
by
physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future
cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar
instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option
is
“in-the-money” (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in
the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the
exercise price of the option) at the time the option is
exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the
underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed
options are closed by entering into offsetting option transactions.
The
ability of a Fund to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an
OCC-issued or exchange-listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon
the
liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the
absence of a liquid option market on an exchange
are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options;
(ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange;
(iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect
to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities, including
reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of
the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or
OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more
exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series
of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange
would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would
generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their
terms.
The
hours
of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which
the
underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the
option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial
instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the
underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
OTC
options are purchased from or sold to counterparties through a direct bilateral
agreement with the counterparty. In contrast to exchange-listed
options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics,
all
the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term,
exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are negotiated by the
parties. A Fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency
options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting the Fund to require
the counterparty to sell the option back to the Fund at a formula price within
seven days. Each Fund expects to enter into OTC options that have
cash settlement provisions, although they are not required to do
so.
Unless
the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function
in
an OTC option. As a result, if the counterparty fails to make or take
delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option
it has entered into with a Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment
due
in accordance with the option, the Fund will lose any premium it paid for the
option as well as any anticipated benefit of the
transaction. Accordingly, the Investment Manager must assess the
creditworthiness of each such counterparty or any guarantor or credit
enhancement of the counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the
terms of the OTC option will be satisfied.
Each Fund
will engage in OTC option transactions only with U.S. government securities
dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as “primary dealers”
or broker-dealers, domestic or foreign banks or other financial institutions
which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations of which have
received) a short-term credit rating of “A-l” from S&P or “P-l” from
Moody’s, an equivalent rating from any NRSRO or which the Investment Manager
determines is of comparable credit quality. The staff of the SEC
currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a Fund, and
portfolio securities “covering” the amount of the Fund’s obligation pursuant to
an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money
amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to the Fund’s limitations on
investments in illiquid securities.
If
a Fund
sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge,
to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the
underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase the
Fund’s income. The sale of put options also can provide
income.
Each
Fund
may purchase and sell call options on securities, including U.S. Treasury and
agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate debt securities, equity
securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that
are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter
markets and on securities indices, currencies and futures
contracts. All calls sold by a Fund must be “covered” (i.e., the Fund
must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet
the asset segregation requirements described below as long as the call is
outstanding. Even though the Fund will receive the option premium to
help protect it against loss, a call sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during
the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation
in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require
the
Fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have
sold.
Each
Fund
may purchase and sell put options on securities, including U.S. Treasury and
agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate debt securities, equity
securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments
(whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio) and on
securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on
individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. A Fund
will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the Fund’s assets
would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under
such
put options other than those with respect to futures and options
thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that the Fund may be
required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the
market price.
A
Fund
will only invest in options contracts after complying with the requirements
of
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).
Each
Fund
has filed a notice with the National Futures Association claiming exclusion
from
the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity
Exchange Act (the “Act”) and therefore the Funds are not subject to registration
or regulation as a commodity pool operators under the
Act
.
Options
on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices
Each
Fund
also may purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other
financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it
would achieve through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities
or other instruments. Options on securities indices and other
financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument
except that, instead of settling by physical delivery of the underlying
instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives
the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of
cash
if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in
the
case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of
the
option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is
specified). This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing
price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be
multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated,
in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this
amount. The gain or loss on an index depends on price movements in
the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other
composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements
in
individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on
securities.
Futures
Each
Fund
may enter into financial and other futures contracts or purchase or sell put
and
call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate,
currency or equity market changes, for duration management and for risk
management purposes. Futures are generally bought and sold on the
commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and
variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures contract
creates a firm obligation by a Fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the
specific type of financial instrument or other commodity called for in the
contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect
to
index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash
amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on
securities, except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser
the
right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract
and obligates the seller to deliver such option.
The Funds’
use of futures and options on futures will be consistent with applicable
regulatory requirements and, in particular, the rules of the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission and such transactions will be entered into only for hedging,
risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio management
purposes. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an
option on a futures contract, requires the relevant Fund to deposit
with a financial intermediary, as security for its obligations, an amount of
cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically
1%
to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some
circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be
required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the mark-to-market
value
of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on futures
involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation
on
the part of the Fund. If a Fund exercises an option on a futures
contract, it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent
variation margin) for the resulting futures positions just as it would for
any
position. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts are
generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction, but there can
be
no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an
advantageous price nor that delivery will occur.
Each
Fund
will only invest in futures contracts after complying with the requirements
of
the CFTC.
Combined
Transactions
Each
Fund
may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions,
multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward
foreign currency exchange contracts) and any combination of futures, options
and
currency transactions (each individually a Transaction and collectively in
combinations of two or more, Combined Transactions), instead of a single Hedging
Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion
of
the Investment Manager, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do
so. A Combined Transaction will usually contain elements of risk that
are present in each of its component transactions.
Although
Combined Transactions are normally entered into based on the Investment
Manager’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise
more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible
that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement
of
the portfolio management objective.
Segregation
of Assets
Many
Hedging Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that the
particular Fund segregate liquid assets by proper notation on its books or
on
the books of its custodian bank to the extent Fund obligations are not otherwise
“covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or
currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a
Fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by
the
securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to
any
regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid securities at least equal
to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated by proper notation
on
the Fund’s books or on the books of the custodian bank. The
segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are
substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate
them. For example, a call option written by a Fund will require the
Fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible
into
the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate liquid
securities sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is
exercised. A call option sold by a Fund on an index will require the
Fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate
liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price
on
a current basis. A put option written by a Fund requires the Fund to
segregate liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
A
currency contract which obligates a Fund to buy or sell currency will generally
require the Fund to hold an amount of the currency or liquid securities
denominated in that currency equal to the Fund’s obligations or to segregate
liquid assets equal to the amount of the Fund’s obligation. However,
the segregation requirement does not apply to currency contracts which are
entered in order to “lock in” the purchase or sale price of a trade in a
security denominated in a foreign currency pending settlement within the time
customary for such securities.
OTC
options entered into by a Fund, including those on securities, currency,
financial instruments or indices and OCC-issued and exchange-listed index
options will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when
the Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of assets
equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment
or
delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will
equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a noncash settled put, the
same
as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by the Fund, or the in-the-money amount
plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or
call. In addition, when a Fund sells a call option on an index at a
time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will
segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents
equal in value to such excess. OCC-issued and exchange-listed options
sold by the Fund other than those above generally settle with physical delivery,
or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement, and the
Fund
will segregate an
amount
of
assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling
with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or
cash
settlement, will be treated the same as other options settling with physical
delivery.
In
the
case of a futures contract or an option thereon, the particular Fund must
deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to
segregating assets sufficient to meet its obligation to purchase or provide
securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an
index-based futures contract. Such assets may consist of cash, cash
equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable
assets.
Hedging
Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable
regulatory policies. Each Fund also may enter into offsetting
transactions so that a combined position, coupled with any segregated assets,
equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Hedging
Transactions. For example, a Fund could purchase a put option if the
strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of
a put
option sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead of segregating assets if a
Fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on
the
same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than
the
price of the contract held. Other Hedging Transactions also may be
offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at
the time of or after the primary transaction, no segregation is required, but
if
it terminates prior to such time, assets equal to any remaining obligation
would
need to be segregated.
Illiquid
Securities
An
illiquid security is a security that cannot be sold within seven days in the
normal course of business for approximately the amount at which the particular
Fund has valued the security and carries such value on its financial
statements. Examples of illiquid securities include most private
placements and other restricted securities, and repurchase agreements which
terminate more than seven days from their initial purchase date, as further
described below. A Fund may not purchase an illiquid security if, at
the time of purchase, the Fund would have more than 15% of its net assets
invested in such securities.
Investment
Company Securities
Each
Fund
may invest from time to time in other investment company securities, subject
to
applicable law which restricts such investments. Such laws generally
restrict a registered investment company’s purchase of another investment
company’s voting securities to 3% of the other investment company’s securities,
no more than 5% of a registered investment company’s assets in any single
investment company’s securities and no more than 10% of a registered investment
company’s assets in all investment company securities, subject to certain
exceptions.
Investors
should recognize that a Fund’s purchase of the securities of investment
companies results in layering of expenses. This layering may occur
because investors in any investment company, such as a Fund, indirectly bear
a
proportionate share of the expenses of the investment company, including
operating costs, and investment advisory and administrative fees.
Loans
of Portfolio Securities
To
generate additional income, each Fund may lend certain of its portfolio
securities to qualified banks and broker-dealers. These loans may not
exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the relevant Fund’s total assets, measured at the
time of the most recent loan, but neither Fund presently anticipates loaning
more than 20% of its portfolio securities. For each loan, the
borrower must maintain with the particular Fund’s custodian collateral
(consisting of any combination of cash, securities issued by the U.S. government
and
its
agencies and instrumentalities, or irrevocable letters of credit) with a value
at least equal to 100% of the current market value of the loaned
securities. The Fund retains all or a portion of the interest
received on investment of the cash collateral or receives a fee from the
borrower. The Fund also continues to receive any distributions paid
on the loaned securities. A Fund may terminate a loan at any time and
obtain the return of the securities loaned within the normal settlement period
for the security involved.
Where
voting rights with respect to the loaned securities pass with the lending of
the
securities, the Investment Manager intends to call the loaned securities to
vote
proxies, or to use other practicable and legally enforceable means to obtain
voting rights, when the Investment Manager has knowledge that, in its opinion,
a
material event affecting the loaned securities will occur or the Investment
Manager otherwise believes it necessary to vote. As with other
extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of
rights in collateral in the event of default or insolvency of the
borrower. Each Fund will loan its securities only to parties who meet
creditworthiness standards approved by the Funds’ board of directors, i.e.,
banks or broker-dealers that the Investment Manager has determined present
no
serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy proceedings within the time
frame contemplated by the loan.
Repurchase
Agreements
Each
Fund
generally will have a portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalents for
a
variety of reasons, including satisfying redemption requests from shareholders,
waiting for a suitable investment opportunity or taking a defensive
position. To earn income on this portion of its assets, each Fund may
invest up to 50% of its assets in repurchase agreements. Under a
repurchase agreement, a Fund agrees to buy securities guaranteed as to payment
of principal and interest by the U.S. government or its agencies from a
qualified bank or broker-dealer and then to sell the securities back to the
bank
or broker-dealer after a short period of time (generally, less than seven days)
at a higher price. The bank or broker-dealer must transfer to the
Fund’s custodian securities with an initial market value of at least 102% of the
dollar amount invested by the relevant Fund in each repurchase
agreement. The Investment Manager will monitor the value of such
securities daily to determine that the value equals or exceeds the repurchase
price.
Repurchase
agreements may involve risks in the event of default or insolvency of the bank
or broker-dealer, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s
ability to sell the underlying securities. Each Fund will enter into
repurchase agreements only with parties who meet certain creditworthiness
standards, i.e., banks or broker-dealers that the Investment Manager has
determined present no serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy
proceedings within the time frame contemplated by the repurchase
transaction.
Securities
of Companies in the Financial Services Industry
Certain
provisions of the federal securities laws permit investment portfolios,
including each Fund, to invest in companies engaged in securities-related
activities (securities issuers) only if certain conditions are
met. Purchases of securities of a company that derived 15% or less of
gross revenues during its most recent fiscal year from securities-related
activities (i.e., broker, dealer, underwriting, or investment advisory
activities) are subject only to the same percentage limitations as would apply
to any other security the Fund may purchase.
Each
Fund
also may purchase securities of an issuer that derived more than 15% of its
gross revenues in its most recent fiscal year from securities-related
activities, if the following conditions are met: (1) immediately
after the purchase of any securities issuer’s equity and debt securities, the
purchase cannot cause more than 5% of the relevant Fund’s total assets to be
invested in securities of that securities
issuer;
(2) immediately after a purchase of equity securities of a securities
issuer, the relevant Fund may not own more than 5% of the outstanding securities
of that class of the securities issuer’s equity securities; and
(3) immediately after a purchase of debt securities of a securities issuer,
the relevant Fund may not own more than 10% of the outstanding principal amount
of the securities issuer’s debt securities.
In
applying the gross revenue test, an issuer’s gross revenues from its own
securities-related activities should be combined with its ratable share of
the
securities-related activities of enterprises of which it owns a 20% or greater
voting or equity interest. All of the above percentage limitations
are applicable at the time of purchase as well as the issuer’s gross revenue
test. With respect to warrants, rights, and convertible securities, a
determination of compliance with the above limitations must be made as though
such warrant, right, or conversion privilege had been exercised.
The
following transactions would not be deemed to be an acquisition of securities
of
a securities-related business: (i) receipt of stock
dividends on securities acquired in compliance with the conditions described
above; (ii) receipt of securities arising from a stock-for-stock split on
securities acquired in compliance with the conditions described above;
(iii) exercise of options, warrants, or rights acquired in compliance with
the federal securities laws; (iv) conversion of convertible securities
acquired in compliance with the conditions described above; and (v) the
acquisition of demand features or guarantees (puts) under certain
circumstances.
Neither
Fund is permitted to acquire any security issued by the Investment Manager
or
any affiliated company. The purchase of a general partnership
interest in a securities-related business is also prohibited.
In
addition, each Fund is generally prohibited from purchasing or otherwise
acquiring any security (not limited to equity or debt individually) issued
by
any insurance company if the Fund and any company controlled by the Fund own
in
the aggregate or, as a result of the purchase, will own in the aggregate more
than 15% of the total outstanding voting stock of the insurance
company. Certain state insurance laws impose similar
limitations.
Temporary
Investments
When
the
Investment Manager believes market or economic conditions are unfavorable for
investors, the Investment Manager may invest up to 100% of each Fund’s assets in
a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a substantial portion of its
assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term
investments. Unfavorable market or economic conditions may include
excessive volatility or a prolonged general decline in the securities markets,
the securities in which the particular Fund normally invests, or the economies
of the countries where the Fund invests.
Temporary
defensive investments generally may include short-term debt securities such
as
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities and high quality commercial paper issued by banks or other
U.S. and foreign issuers, as well as money market mutual funds. The
Investment Manager also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash
while looking for suitable investment opportunities.
Policies
and Procedures Regarding the Release of Portfolio Holdings
Information
The
Company believes that the ideas of the Investment Manager’s investment staff
should benefit the Funds and their shareholders, and does not want to afford
speculators an opportunity to profit by anticipating a Fund’s trading strategies
or using Fund information for stock picking. However, the Company
also believes that knowledge of a Fund’s portfolio holdings can assist
shareholders in monitoring their investment, making asset allocation decisions,
and evaluating portfolio management techniques.
The
Company has adopted policies and procedures relating to disclosure of each
Fund’s portfolio securities. The policies and procedures relating to
disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities are designed to allow disclosure
of portfolio holdings information where necessary to a Fund's operation or
useful to a Fund's shareholders without compromising the integrity or
performance of such Fund
.
The
Company’s overall policy with respect to the release of portfolio holdings
information is to release such information consistent with applicable legal
requirements and the fiduciary duties owed to shareholders. Subject
to the limited exceptions described below, the Investment Manager will not
make
available to anyone non-public information with respect to a Fund’s portfolio
holdings, until such time as the information is made available to all
shareholders or the general public.
Consistent
with current law, the Investment Manager releases complete portfolio holdings
information each fiscal quarter through regulatory filings with no more than
a
60-day lag.
Exceptions
to the portfolio holdings release policy described above will be made only
when: (1) a Fund has a legitimate business purpose for releasing
portfolio holdings information in advance of release to all shareholders or
the
general public; (2) the recipient is subject to a duty of confidentiality
pursuant to a signed non-disclosure agreement; and (3) the release of such
information would not otherwise violate the antifraud provisions of the federal
securities laws or the Company’s fiduciary duties.
The
eligible third parties to whom portfolio holdings information may be released
in
advance of general release fall into the following categories: data
consolidators (including rating agencies), fund rating/ranking services and
other data providers, service providers to the Company and municipal securities
brokers using the Investor Tools product which brings together buyers and
sellers of municipal securities in the normal operation of the municipal
securities markets (collectively, “Service Providers”). Each of these
parties is contractually and ethically prohibited from sharing the Fund’s
portfolio holdings information unless specifically authorized. The
frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed to a Service
Provider, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information
and the date on which the information is disclosed to the Service Provider,
is
determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation,
the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk
of
harm to the particular Fund and its shareholders, and the legitimate business
purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure to a
Service Provider varies and may be as frequent as daily, with no
lag.
In
all
cases, eligible third parties are required to execute a non-disclosure
agreement. Non-disclosure agreements include the following
provisions:
|
·
|
The
recipient agrees to keep confidential any portfolio holdings information
received.
|
|
·
|
The
recipient agrees not to trade on the nonpublic information
received.
|
|
·
|
The
recipient agrees to refresh its representation as to confidentiality
and
abstention from trading upon request from the Investment
Manager.
|
In
no
case does the Company, a Fund or the Investment Manager receive any compensation
in connection with the arrangements to release portfolio holdings information
to
any of the above-described recipients of the information.
Before
any non-public disclosure of information about a Fund's portfolio holdings
is
permitted, the Company’s President or Executive Vice President (“collectively,
an Executive Officer”) must determine that the Fund has a legitimate business
purpose for providing the portfolio holdings information, that the disclosure
is
in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders, and that the recipient agrees
or has a duty to keep the information confidential and agrees not to trade
directly or indirectly based on the information or to use the information to
form a specific recommendation about whether to invest in the Fund or any other
security.
The
Company has established procedures to ensure that its portfolio holdings
information is only disclosed in accordance with these policies. Only
an Executive Officer of the Company may approve the disclosure, and then only
after considering the anticipated benefits and costs to the relevant Fund and
its shareholders, the purpose of the disclosure, any conflicts of interest
between the interests of the Fund and its shareholders and the interests of
the
Company’s affiliates, and whether the disclosure is consistent with the policies
and procedures governing disclosure. Only someone approved by the
Executive Officer may make approved disclosures of portfolio holdings
information to authorized recipients. The Company reserves the right
to request certifications from senior officers of authorized recipients that
the
recipient is using the portfolio holdings information only in a manner
consistent with the Company's policy and any applicable non-disclosure
agreement.
The
Company’s CCO monitors the Company’s compliance with this disclosure policy and
annually reviews information regarding the identity of each service provider
or
other authorized party that receives information regarding a Fund’s portfolio
holdings prior to public dissemination. With exception of those
Service Providers identified above, who receive information on an ongoing or
as
needed basis in order to perform their contractual or fiduciary duties to a
Fund, the CCO also reviews the frequency with which the authorized party
receives such information and the business purpose for which the disclosure
is
made.
In
order
to help facilitate the Board’s determination that nonpublic portfolio holdings
disclosure to Service Providers prior to public dissemination is in the best
interests of a Fund’s shareholders, the CCO will make an annual report to the
Board on such disclosure and any recommended material changes to the
policy. In addition, the Board will receive any interim reports that
CCO may deem appropriate. The Company’s portfolio holdings release
policy has been initially reviewed and approved by the Board and any material
amendments shall also be reviewed and approved by the Board. Any
conflict of interest identified between the interests of shareholders on the
one
hand and those of the Investment Manager, the Distributor, or any affiliated
person of the Company, the Investment Manager or the Distributor, on the other,
that are not resolved under the Codes and that may arise as a result of the
disclosure of nonpublic portfolio holdings information will be reported to
the
Board for appropriate action.
Officers
and Directors
The
Board
is responsible for managing the business affairs of the Company and the Funds
and exercising all of their powers except those reserved for
shareholders. The following table gives information about each Board
member and the senior officers of the Company. Each Director and
officer holds office until the person resigns, is removed, or
replaced. Unless otherwise noted, the persons have held their
principal occupations for more than five years. The address for all
Directors and officers is 370 Church Street, Guilford, Connecticut 06437, unless
otherwise indicated.
Name,
Birth Date and Address
|
|
|
Principal
Occupation During Past 5 Years
|
Other
Directorships Served
|
Independent
Board Members
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
Interested
Board Members
|
|
|
|
|
John
D. Gillespie
|
Director
|
Since
[ ] 2007
|
|
|
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation
The
Company intends to pay each Board member $[ ]
per year. The Company is a newly formed entity. In
addition, Board members are reimbursed by the Company for expenses incurred
in
connection with attending board meetings.
Fund
Shares Owned by Board Members.
The
Company is a newly formed entity. As of the date of this SAI, no
shares of the Company had been offered to the public. Therefore, no
director owned Fund shares as of such date.
Board
Committees
The
Board
maintains three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the
Valuation Committee and the Nominating Committee. The Audit Committee
is generally responsible for recommending the selection of the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm (auditors), including evaluating
their independence and meeting with such auditors to consider and reviewing
matters relating to the Company’s financial reports and internal
accounting. The Nominating Committee is generally responsible for
nominating candidates for noninterested Board member positions and presenting
such nominations to the Board. The Valuation Committee is generally
responsible for (among other things) determining and monitoring the value of
the
Funds’ assets.
When
vacancies arise or elections are held, the Nominating Committee considers
qualified nominees.
|
|
Audit
Committee
|
|
Valuation
Committee
|
[John
D. Gillespie]
|
Nominating
Committee
|
[John
D. Gillespie]
|
CODE
OF ETHICS AND PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Code
of Ethics
The
Company, the Investment Manager and the Distributor have each adopted codes
of
ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics
restrict personnel from investing in securities that are being considered for
the Funds or that are currently held by the Funds.
Proxy
Voting Policies and Procedures
The
Board
of Directors has delegated the responsibility to vote proxies for securities
held in the Funds’ portfolios to the Investment Manager, subject to the Board’s
oversight. The Investment Manager’s proxy voting policies, attached as
Appendix B, are reviewed periodically, and, accordingly are subject to
change. Each Fund’s voting record relating to portfolio securities for the
period ended June 30, 2008, may be obtained upon request and without charge
by
calling toll free
[TOLL FREE NUMBER]
, on the Fund’s website at
www.prospectorfunds.com and on the SEC’s website at
http://www.sec.gov.
INVESTMENT
ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
INVESTMENT
MANAGER AND SERVICES PROVIDED
The
Fund’s Investment Manager is Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company controlled by John D. Gillespie and owned
by
Prospector Partners, LLC and Richard P. Howard. Mr. John D. Gillespie
is the managing member of Prospector Partners, LLC, and together with Kevin
R.
O’Brien, owns
[ ]
of that entity. Subject to the general supervision of the Directors,
the Investment Manager provides investment advisory services to each Fund
pursuant to an Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Investment
Manager. The Investment Manager, located at 370 Church Street,
Guilford, CT 06437, has filed an application for registration as an investment
adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Investment
Manager is responsible for developing the investment policies and guidelines
for
each of the Funds.
The
Investment Manager provides investment research and portfolio management
services, and selects the securities for each Fund to buy, hold or
sell. The Investment Manager also selects the brokers who execute
each Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Investment Manager provides
periodic reports to the
Board,
which reviews and supervises the Investment Manager’s investment
activities. To protect each Fund, the Investment Manager and its
officers, directors and employees are covered by fidelity
insurance.
Each
Advisory Agreement remains in effect for a period of two years from the date
of
its effectiveness. Subsequently, the Advisory Agreement must be
approved at least annually by the Board or by majority vote of the shareholders,
and in either case, by a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the
Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party.
Each
Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Board or by majority
vote of the relevant Fund’s outstanding voting securities (as defined by the
1940 Act) on 60 days' written notice by either party and will terminate
automatically upon assignment.
The
Investment Manager and its affiliates manage other institutional client
accounts, including private pooled investment funds (collectively, “Other Client
Accounts”). The Investment Manager may give advice and take action
with respect to any of the Other Client Account it manages, or for its own
account, that may differ from action taken by the Investment Manager on behalf
of a Fund. Similarly, with respect to the Funds, the Investment
Manager is not obligated to recommend, buy or sell, or to refrain from
recommending, buying or selling any security that the Investment Manager and
access persons, as defined by applicable federal securities laws, may buy or
sell for its or their own account or for Other Client Accounts. The
Investment Manager is not obligated to refrain from investing in securities
held
by a Fund or Other Client Accounts it manages.
The
Company and the Investment Manager have each adopted a code of ethics, as
required by federal securities laws. Under the code of ethics,
employees who are designated as access persons may engage in personal securities
transactions, but are restricted from purchasing securities that are being
considered for the Funds or that are currently held by the Funds. The
personal securities transactions of access persons of the Funds and the
Investment Manager will be governed by the code of ethics. The code
of ethics is on file with, and available from, the SEC.
Management
Fees
Each
Fund
pays the Investment Manager a fee equal to an annual rate of
[ ]% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The
fee
is computed at the close of business on the last business day of each month
according to the terms of the management agreement.
PORTFOLIO
MANAGERS
The
Capital Appreciation Fund is managed by a team of John D. Gillespie, Richard
P.
Howard and Kevin R. O’Brien. Each team member manages a portion of
each Fund based on market conditions, which may vary from time to time.
Allocations among the team members are made collectively by the team
members.
The
Opportunity Fund is managed by a team of John D. Gillespie, Kevin R. O’Brien and
Richard P. Howard. Each team member manages a portion of each Fund
based on market conditions, which may
vary
from
time to time. Allocations among the team members are made collectively by the
team members.
The
portfolio management team of each of the Capital Appreciation Fund and the
Opportunity Fund will be assisted by Julienne Cassarino, Dominic A. DellaVolpe,
Robert P. Howard, Jason A. Kish, Daniel M. O’Neill and Mark G. Silverman, each
of whom is an analyst at the Investment Manager.
The
portfolio managers that comprise each portfolio management team are responsible
for managing other accounts, including proprietary accounts, separate accounts
and other pooled investment vehicles. The members of the portfolio
management team do not presently manage any other registered investment
companies. They manage separate accounts or other pooled investment
vehicles which may have materially higher or different fee arrangements than
the
registrant and may also be subject to performance-based fees.
Each
Fund
pays the Investment Manager a fee based on the assets under management of the
Fund as set forth in the Advisory Agreement. The Investment Manager
and its affiliates pay its investment professionals out of its total revenues
and other resources, including the advisory fee earned with respect to the
Funds. The compensation structure of the Investment Manager and its
affiliates is designed to attract and retain high caliber investment
professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services
to its clients. The compensation of the portfolio managers includes a
fixed base salary and incentive components. It is expected that the
portfolio managers will receive an incentive payment based on the revenues
earned by the Investment Manager and its affiliates from the Funds and from
Other Client Accounts. It is expected that the incentive compensation
component with respect to all portfolios managed by the portfolio manager can,
and typically will, represent a significant portion of the portfolio manager’s
overall compensation, and can vary significantly from year to year.
Ownership
of Fund Shares
|
Dollar
Range of Beneficial Ownership in the Fund as of
_______
|
John
D. Gillespie
|
|
Richard
P. Howard
|
|
Kevin
R. O’Brien
|
|
CONFLICTS
As
an
investment adviser and fiduciary, Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC,
the
Investment Manager, owes its clients a duty of loyalty. In
recognition of the fact that conflicts of interest are inherent in the
investment management business, the Investment Manager has adopted policies
and
procedures reasonably designed to identify and manage the effects of actual
or
potential conflicts of interest in the areas of employee personal trading,
managing multiple accounts for multiple clients and allocation of investment
opportunities. All employees of the Investment Manager and its
affiliates are subject to these policies.
The
Investment Manager has adopted a Code of Ethics that is designed to detect
and
prevent conflicts of interest when personnel own, buy or sell securities which
may be owned, bought or sold for clients. Personal securities
transactions may raise a potential conflict of interest when an employee owns
or
trades in a security that is owned or considered for purchase or sale by a
client, or recommended for purchase or sale by a client. The
Investment Manager's personnel are not permitted to engage in transactions
for
their
personal
accounts in securities that are owned by clients, being bought, sold or
considered for purchase or sale by clients. Subject to reporting
requirements and other limitations in the Code of Ethics, the Investment Manager
permits its employees to engage in personal securities transactions in
non-client securities and to acquire shares of the Funds. The
Investment Manager's Code of Ethics requires disclosure of all personal accounts
and preclearance of all securities transactions.
The
portfolio managers manage multiple portfolios for multiple
clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts
and private pooled investment vehicles (commonly referred to as “hedge
funds”). Each portfolio managers may have responsibility for managing
the investments of multiple accounts with a common investment strategy or
several investment styles. Accordingly, client portfolios may have
investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk
profiles that differ from those of the Funds. The portfolio managers
make investment decisions for each Fund based on the Fund’s investment
objective, policies, practices, cash flows, tax and other relevant investment
considerations. Consequently, the portfolio managers may purchase or
sell securities for one client portfolio and not another client portfolio,
and
the performance of securities purchased for one portfolio may vary from the
performance of securities purchased for other portfolios. The
portfolio managers may place transactions on behalf of other clients or a Fund
that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf
of the other Fund, which has the potential to adversely impact such Fund,
depending on market conditions. In addition, some of these Other
Client Account structures have fee structures, such as performance based fees,
that differ (and may be higher than) the Funds. Accordingly,
conflicts of interest may arise when the Investment Manager has a particular
financial incentive, such as a performance-based fee, relating to an
account.
The
Investment Manager has adopted and implemented policies and procedures intended
to address conflicts of interest relating to the management of multiple accounts
and the allocation of investment opportunities. The Investment
Manager reviews investment decisions for the purpose of ensuring that all
accounts with substantially similar investment objectives are treated
equitably. The performance of similarly managed accounts is also
regularly compared to determine whether there are any unexplained significant
discrepancies. In addition, the Investment Manager's allocation
procedures specify the factors that are taken into account in making allocation
decisions and require that, to the extent that orders are aggregated, the client
orders are price averaged. Finally, the Investment Manager's
procedures also require objective allocation for limited opportunities (such
as
initial public offerings and private placements) to ensure fair and equitable
allocation among accounts. These areas are monitored by the
Investment Manager’s chief compliance officer.
DISTRIBUTOR
On
[DATE], Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of U.S.
Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, was approved to serve as distributor for the Fund effective
[DATE]. The Distribution Agreement is effective for an initial term of two
years
and shall continue in effect for successive one-year periods, provided such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board, including
a
majority of the Independent Directors, or vote of a majority of outstanding
shares of the Fund. The offering of the Fund's shares is continuous. The
Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection
with the distribution of the Fund shares, will use its best efforts to
distribute the Fund's shares. The Distributor is a Delaware limited liability
company that is wholly owned by U.S. Bancorp.
Distribution
Plan
In
accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each Fund has adopted a
distribution plan (the "Plan"), which provides for the reimbursement by the
Fund
of distribution expenses incurred by Quasar
Distributors,
LLC on behalf of the Fund at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily
net assets of the Fund.
The
Plan
provides that Quasar Distributors, LLC may incur expenses for any
distribution-related purpose it deems necessary or appropriate,
including: (i) any sales, marketing and other activities
primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the
Funds, (ii)reviewing the activity in Funds’ accounts;
(iii) providing training and supervision of the Company’s personnel;
(iv) maintaining and distributing current copies of prospectuses and
shareholder reports; (v) advertising the availability of its services and
products; (vi) providing assistance and review in designing materials to
send to customers and potential customers and developing methods of making
such
materials accessible to customers and potential customers; (vii) responding
to customers’ and potential customers' questions about the Funds; and
(viii) providing ongoing account services to shareholders (including
establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts, answering shareholder
inquiries, and providing other personal services to
shareholders). Expenses for such activities include compensation to
employees, and expenses, including overhead and telephone and other
communication expenses, of Distributor and various financial institutions or
other persons who engage in or support the distribution of shares of the Funds,
or who respond to shareholder inquiries regarding the Funds’ operations; the
incremental costs of printing (excluding typesetting) and distributing
prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual reports and other
periodic reports for use in connection with the offering or sale of shares
of
the Funds to any prospective investors; and the costs of preparing, printing
and
distributing sales literature and advertising materials used by Distributor
or
others in connection with the offering of shares of the Funds for sale to the
public.
The
Plan
requires the Funds and Quasar Distributors, LLC to prepare and submit to the
Board, at least quarterly, and the Board to review, written reports setting
forth all amounts expended under the Plan and identifying the activities for
which those expenditures were made.
The
Plan
provides that it will remain in effect for one year from the date of its
adoption and thereafter shall continue in effect provided it is approved at
least annually by the Board, including a majority of the independent
Directors. The Plan further provides that it may not be amended to
materially increase the costs, which the Funds bear for distribution pursuant
to
the Plan without shareholder approval and that other material amendments of
the
Plan must be approved by the independent Directors. The Plan may be
terminated at any time by a majority of the independent Directors or by
shareholders of the Funds.
Distribution
fee information is not provided because the Funds have not commenced operations
prior to the date of this SAI.
CUSTODIAN
U.S.
Bank, N.A. (“Custodian”), 1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, 53212, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund.
Under the Custody Agreement, the Custodian holds the Fund's portfolio
securities in safekeeping and keeps all necessary records and documents relating
to its duties.
TRANSFER
AGENT
USBFS
serves as Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent to the Fund pursuant to a Fund
Accounting Servicing Agreement and a Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement among
the Company, the Adviser (with respect to the compensation section only), and
USBFS. Under the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement, USBFS will
provide portfolio accounting services, expense accrual and payment services,
fund
valuation and financial reporting services, tax accounting services and
compliance control services. USBFS will receive a fund accounting fee which
will be billed to the Adviser on a monthly basis.
Under
the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement, USBFS will provide all of the customary
services of a transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent including, but not
limited to: (1) receiving and processing orders to purchase or redeem
shares; (2) mailing shareholder reports and prospectuses to current
shareholders; and (3) providing blue sky services to monitor the number of
Fund shares sold in each state. USBFS will receive a transfer agent
fee which will be billed to the Adviser on a monthly basis.
ADMINISTRATOR
USBFS
serves as Fund Administrator pursuant to a Fund Administration Servicing
Agreement among the Fund, the Adviser (with respect to the compensation section
only), and USBFS. USBFS, which is affiliated with the Fund's distributor,
provides the following services under the Fund Administration Servicing
Agreement. USBFS (i) facilitates general Fund management; (ii) monitors Fund
compliance with federal and state regulations; (iii) supervises the maintenance
of the Fund's general ledger and prepares the Fund's monthly financial
statements; and (iv) prepares other specified financial and tax reports and
information.
Effective
[DATE], under the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement, USBFS receives an
administration fee from the Fund at an annual rate of [0.01% on the first $3.5
billion and 0.0075% on the balance above $3.5 billion]. Fees are billed to
the
Adviser on a monthly basis.
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[ ]
is the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm will audit the financial
statements included in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders.
The
Investment Manager selects brokers and dealers to execute each Fund’s portfolio
transactions in accordance with criteria set forth in the Advisory Agreement
and
any directions that the board may give.
When
placing a portfolio transaction, the Investment Manager seeks to obtain “best
execution” -- the best combination of high quality transaction execution
services, taking into account the services and products to be provided by the
broker or dealer, and low relative commission rates with the view of maximizing
value for the Fund and the Investment Manager’s other clients. For
most transactions in equity securities, the amount of commission paid is
negotiated between the Investment Manager and the broker executing the
transaction. The determination and evaluation of the reasonableness
of the brokerage commissions paid are based to a large degree on the
professional opinions of the investment personnel of the Investment Manager
responsible for placement and review of the transactions. These
opinions are based on the experience of these individuals in the securities
industry and information available to them about the level of commissions being
paid by other institutional investors. The Investment Manager may
also place orders to buy and sell equity securities on a principal rather than
agency basis if the Investment Manager believes that trading on a principal
basis will provide best execution. Purchases of portfolio securities
from underwriters will include a commission or concession paid by the issuer
to
the underwriter, and purchases from dealers will include a spread between the
bid and ask price.
The
Investment Manager may cause a Fund to pay certain brokers commissions that
are
higher than those another broker may charge, if the Investment Manager
determines in good faith that the amount paid is reasonable in relation to
the
value of the brokerage and research services it receives. This may be
viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or the Investment Manager’s
overall responsibilities to client accounts over which it exercises investment
discretion. The brokerage commissions that are used to acquire
services other than brokerage are known as “soft dollars.” Research provided can
be either proprietary (created and provided by the broker-dealer, including
tangible research products as well as access to analysts and traders) or third
party (created by a third party but provided by the
broker-dealer). To the extent permitted by applicable law, the
Investment Manager may use soft dollars to acquire both proprietary and third
party research.
The
research services that brokers may provide to the Investment Manager include,
among others, supplying information about particular companies, markets,
countries, or local, regional, national or transnational economies, statistical
data, quotations and other securities pricing information, and other information
that provides lawful and appropriate assistance to the Investment Manager in
carrying out its investment advisory responsibilities. These services
may not always directly benefit the Fund. They must, however, be of
value to the Investment Manager in carrying out its overall responsibilities
to
its clients.
It
is not
possible to place an accurate dollar value on the special execution or on the
research services the Investment Manager receives from dealers effecting
transactions in portfolio securities. The allocation of transactions
to obtain additional research services allows the Investment Manager to
supplement its own research and analysis activities and to receive the views
and
information of individuals and research staffs from many securities
firms. It is not anticipated that the receipt of these products and
services will reduce the Investment Manager’s research activities in providing
investment advice to the Funds.
As
long
as it is lawful and appropriate to do so, the Investment Manager and its
affiliates may use this research and data in their investment advisory
capacities with other clients. Each Fund may obtain other services
from brokers in connection with the Fund’s investment transactions with such
brokers. Such services will be limited to services that would
otherwise be a Fund expense.
If
purchases or sales of securities of a Fund and one or more other clients managed
by the Investment Manager are considered at or about the same time, transactions
in these securities will be allocated among the several clients in a manner
deemed equitable to all by the Investment Manager, taking into account the
respective sizes of the accounts and the amount of securities to be purchased
or
sold. In some cases this procedure could have a detrimental effect on
the price or volume of the security so far as the Fund is
concerned. In other cases it is possible that the ability to
participate in volume transactions may improve execution and reduce transaction
costs to the Funds.
Because
each Fund may, from time to time, invest in broker-dealers, it is possible
that
the Fund will own more than 5% of the voting securities of one or more
broker-dealers through whom the Fund placed portfolio brokerage
transactions. In such circumstances, the broker-dealer would be
considered an affiliated person of such Fund. To the extent a Fund
places brokerage transactions through such a broker-dealer at a time when the
broker-dealer is considered to be an affiliate of the Fund, the Fund will be
required to adhere to certain rules relating to the payment of commissions
to an
affiliated broker-dealer. These rules require the Fund to adhere to
procedures adopted by the board to ensure that the commissions paid to such
broker-dealers do not exceed what would otherwise be the usual and customary
brokerage commissions for similar transactions.
TAXATION
OF THE FUNDS
Qualification
as a Regulated Investment Company
Each
Fund
will elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter
M of
the Code. A regulated investment company qualifying under Subchapter
M of the Code is required to distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of
its
investment company taxable income (including the excess of net short-term
capital gain over net long-term capital losses) and generally is not subject
to
federal income tax to the extent that it distributes annually 100% of its
investment company taxable income and net capital gain (that is, the excess
of
net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) in the manner
required under the Code. Each Fund intends to distribute annually all
of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain and therefore
does
not expect to pay federal income tax, although in certain circumstances, a
Fund
may determine that it is in the interest of shareholders to distribute less
than
that amount.
To
be
treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, each
Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale
or
other disposition of 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 securities
or currencies, or net income derived from interests in certain qualified
publicly traded partnerships, and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at
the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of
each Fund's assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and
securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for
purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer,
to
an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund's assets and
10%
of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than
25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than
U.S.
government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies)
any one issuer or two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are
determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or
businesses.
If
for
any taxable year a Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company,
all
of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without
any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends will be
taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's
current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a
regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on a Fund's
income and performance.
Excise
Tax
Under
the
Code, a nondeductible excise tax of 4% is imposed on the excess of a regulated
investment company's "required distribution" for the calendar year ending within
the regulated investment company's taxable year over the "distributed amount"
for such calendar year. The term "required distribution" means the
sum of (a) 98% of ordinary income (generally net investment income) for the
calendar year, (b) 98% of capital gain (both long-term and short-term) for
the one-year period ending on October 31 (as though the one-year period ending
on October 31 were the regulated investment company's taxable year) and
(c) the sum of any untaxed, undistributed net investment income and net
capital gains of the regulated investment company for prior
periods. The term "distributed amount" generally means the sum of
(a) amounts actually distributed by a Fund from its current year's ordinary
income and capital gain net income and (b) any amount on which a Fund pays
income tax for the taxable year ending in the calendar year. Although
each Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net capital gains
so as to avoid excise tax liability, a Fund may determine that it is in the
interest of shareholders to distribute a lesser amount.
Certain
Tax Rules Applicable to the Funds’ Transactions
Certain
listed options, regulated futures contracts, and forward foreign currency
contracts are considered “section1256 contracts” for federal income tax
purposes. Section1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of each
taxable year will be “marked to market” and treated for federal income tax
purposes as though sold for fair market value on the last business day of such
taxable year. Gain or loss realized by a Fund on section1256
contracts (other than certain foreign currency contracts) generally will be
considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss.
Under
the
Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which
occur
between the time a Fund accrues interest or other receivables or accrues
expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time
the
Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities are treated
as
ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, gains or losses from the
disposition of foreign currencies, from the disposition of debt securities
denominated in a foreign currency, or from the disposition of a forward contract
denominated in a foreign currency which are attributable to fluctuations in
the
value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the asset
and
the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary income or
loss. These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as “section
988” gains or losses, increase or decrease the amount of a Fund’s investment
company taxable income available to be distributed to its shareholders as
ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of such Fund’s
net capital gain.
Sale
or Redemption of Shares
In
general, you will recognize a gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares
of a Fund in an amount equal to the difference between the proceeds of the
sale
or redemption and your adjusted tax basis in the Fund shares. All or
a portion of any loss so recognized may be disallowed if you purchase (for
example, by reinvesting dividends) other shares of the Fund within 30 days
before or after the sale or redemption (a so called "wash sale"). If
disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis
of
the shares acquired. In general, any gain or loss arising from the
sale or redemption of shares of a Fund will be capital gain or loss and will
be
long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for longer than one
year. Any capital loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares
held for six months or less, however, is treated as a long-term capital loss
to
the extent of the amount of distributions of net capital gain received on such
shares. In determining the holding period of such shares for this
purpose, any period during which your risk of loss is offset by means of
options, short sales or similar transactions is not counted. Capital
losses in any year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus,
in
the case of a noncorporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.
ORGANIZATION,
VOTING RIGHTS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
The
Company is an open-end management investment company. The Company was
organized as a Maryland corporation on June 6, 2007, and is registered with
the SEC. The Company offers separate series ("Funds") of shares of
common stock.
The
Company has noncumulative voting rights. For Board member elections,
this gives holders of more than 50% of the shares the ability to elect all
of
the members of the Board. If this happens, holders of the remaining
shares entitled to vote will not be able to elect anyone to the
Board.
The
Funds
do not intend to hold annual shareholder meetings and are not required
to. The Funds may hold special meetings, however, for matters
requiring shareholder approval. A special meeting also may be called
by the Board and certain officers in their discretion.
Fund
Ownership
It is anticipated that Prospector Partners Asset
Management, LLC will be the initial shareholder of each Fund. Such
shares will be acquired for investment and can only be disposed of by
redemption. It is expected that the Funds will bear some or all of
their offering and/or organizational expenses. To the extent the
organizational expenses of a Fund are paid by the Fund, they will be expensed
and immediately charged to net asset value. Prior to the offering of
a Fund’s shares, Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC will be the Fund's
sole shareholder and deemed a controlling person of the Fund.
As
of
___, 2007, the officers and board members, as a group, owned of record and
beneficially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Fund. The
board members may own shares in other pooled investment vehicles or management
accounts managed by Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC.
From
time
to time, certain shareholders may own a large percentage of the shares of a
Fund. Accordingly, those shareholders may be able to greatly affect
(if not determine) the outcome of a shareholder vote. As of
[ ], 2007, there were no shareholders that
may be deemed to control either Fund. “Control” for this purpose is
the beneficial ownership of 25% or more of a Fund’s voting
securities.
BUYING
AND SELLING SHARES
For
investors outside the U.S., the offering of Fund shares may be limited in many
jurisdictions. An investor who wishes to buy shares of a Fund should
determine, or have a broker-dealer determine, the applicable laws and
regulations of the relevant jurisdiction. Investors are responsible
for compliance with tax, currency exchange or other regulations applicable
to
redemption and purchase transactions in any jurisdiction to which they may
be
subject. Investors should consult appropriate tax and legal advisors
to obtain information on the rules applicable to these
transactions.
All
checks, drafts, wires and other payment mediums used to buy or sell shares
of a
Fund must be denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company may, in its
sole discretion, either (a) reject any order to buy or sell shares
denominated in any other currency or (b) honor the transaction or make
adjustments to your account for the transaction as of a date and with a foreign
currency exchange factor determined by the drawee bank. We may deduct
any applicable banking charges imposed by the bank from your
account.
When
you
buy shares, if you submit a check or a draft that is returned unpaid to the
Company we may impose a $10 charge against your account for each returned
item.
If
you
buy shares through the reinvestment of dividends, the shares will be purchased
at the NAV determined on the business day following the dividend record date
(sometimes known as the “ex-dividend date”). The processing date for
the reinvestment of dividends may vary and does not affect the amount or value
of the shares acquired.
Investment
by Asset Allocators
The
Fund
permits investment in the Funds by certain asset allocators (Asset Allocators)
who represent underlying clients that have granted a power of attorney to the
Asset Allocators to invest on their behalf. The Asset Allocators
typically make asset allocation decisions across similarly situated underlying
accounts that are invested in the Funds. As a result of adjustments
in such asset allocation decisions, the Funds may experience relatively large
purchases and redemptions when the Asset Allocators implement their asset
allocation adjustment decisions. The Company, based on monitoring of
the trading activity of such Asset Allocator accounts, reserves the right to
treat such Asset Allocators as market timers. In such circumstances,
the Company may restrict or reject trading activity by Asset Allocators if,
in
the judgment of the Investment Manager, such trading may interfere with the
efficient management of a Fund’s portfolio, may materially increase a Fund’s
transaction costs or taxes, or may otherwise be detrimental to the interests
of
a Fund and its shareholders. Neither the Company, the Funds, nor the
Investment Manager nor any other affiliated party receives any compensation
or
other consideration in return for permitting investments by Asset
Allocators.
Other
Payments
From
time
to time, Prospector Partners Asset Management, at its expense, may provide
additional compensation to dealers which sell or arrange for the sale of shares
of a Fund. Such compensation may include financial assistance to
dealers that enable Prospector Partners Asset Management to participate in
and/or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for
invited registered representatives and other employees, client and investor
events and other dealer-sponsored events. These payments may vary
depending upon the nature of the event.
Other
compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by state laws or any
self-regulatory agency, such as the NASD. Prospector Partners Asset
Management makes payments for events it deems appropriate, subject to Prospector
Partners Asset Management guidelines and applicable law.
You
can
ask your dealer for information about any payments it receives from Prospector
Partners Asset Management and any services provided.
Systematic
Withdrawal Plan
Our
systematic withdrawal plan allows you to sell your shares and receive regular
payments from your account on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual
basis. The value of your account must be at least $25,000 if you hold
a regular account and $10,000 if you are an IRA and the minimum payment amount
for each withdrawal must be at least $50. For retirement plans
subject to mandatory distribution requirements, the $50 minimum will not
apply. There are no service charges for establishing or maintaining a
systematic withdrawal plan.
Each
month in which a payment is scheduled, we will redeem an equivalent amount
of
shares in your account on the day of the month you have indicated on your
account application or, if no day is indicated, on the 20th day of the
month. If that day falls on a weekend or holiday, we will process the
redemption on the next business day. Available processing dates
currently are the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th days of the
month. When you sell your shares under a systematic withdrawal plan,
it is a taxable transaction.
Shares
sold under the plan may be subject to a redemption fee.
Redeeming
shares through a systematic withdrawal plan may reduce or exhaust the shares
in
your account if payments exceed distributions received from a
Fund. This is especially likely to occur if there is a market
decline. If a withdrawal amount exceeds the value of your account,
your account will be closed and the remaining balance in your account will
be
sent to you. Because the amount withdrawn under the plan may be more
than your actual yield or income, part of the payment may be a return of your
investment.
To
discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan, change the amount and schedule of
withdrawal payments, or suspend one payment, we must receive instructions from
you at least three business days before a scheduled payment. The
Company may discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan by notifying you in writing
and will discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan automatically if all shares
in
your account are withdrawn or if the Company receives notification of the
shareholder’s death or incapacity.
Redemptions
in Kind
In
the
case of redemption requests, the board reserves the right to make payments
in
whole or in part in securities or other assets of a Fund, in case of an
emergency, or if the payment of such a redemption in cash would be detrimental
to the existing shareholders of the Fund. In these circumstances, the
securities distributed would be valued at the price used to compute the Fund’s
net assets and you may incur brokerage fees in converting the securities to
cash. The Company does not intend to redeem illiquid securities in
kind. If this happens, however, you may not be able to recover your
investment in a timely manner.
Share
Certificates
We
will
credit your shares to your Fund account. We do not issue share
certificates. This eliminates the costly problem of replacing lost,
stolen or destroyed certificates.
General
Information
The
proceeds from distributions will be either paid in cash or reinvested in
additional shares at NAV. If you do not make an election as to the
form in which you whish to receive distributions, distribution proceeds will
be
reinvested in additional shares at NAV.
Interest
or income earned on redemption checks sent to you during the time the checks
remain uncashed will be retained by the relevant Fund. The Company
and the Funds will not be liable for any loss caused by your failure to cash
such checks. The Funds are not responsible for tracking down uncashed
checks, unless a check is returned as undeliverable.
In
most
cases, if mail is returned as undeliverable we are required to take certain
steps to try to find you free of charge. If these attempts are
unsuccessful, however, we may deduct the costs of any additional efforts to
find
you from your account. These costs may include a percentage of the
account when a search company charges a percentage fee in exchange for its
location services.
Sending
redemption proceeds by wire or electronic funds transfer (ACH) is a special
service that we make available whenever possible. By offering this
service to you, the Company is not bound to meet any redemption request in
less
than the seven-day period prescribed by law. Neither the Funds, the
Company nor their agents shall be liable to you or any other person if, for
any
reason, a redemption request by wire or ACH is not processed as described in
the
prospectus.
There
are
special procedures for banks and other institutions that wish to open multiple
accounts. An institution may open a single master account by filing
one application form with the Company, signed by personnel authorized to act
for
the institution. Individual sub-accounts may be opened when the
master account is opened by listing them on the application, or by providing
instructions to the Company at a later date. These sub-accounts may
be registered either by name or number. Each Fund’s investment
minimums apply to each sub-account. The Company will send
confirmation and account statements for the sub-accounts to the
institution.
If
you
buy or sell shares through your securities dealer, we use the NAV next
calculated after your securities dealer receives your request, which is promptly
transmitted to the Fund. If you sell shares through your securities
dealer, it is your dealer’s responsibility to transmit the order to the Fund in
a timely fashion. Your redemption proceeds will not earn interest
between the time we receive the order from your dealer and the time we receive
any required documents. Any loss to you resulting from your dealer’s
failure to transmit your redemption order to the Fund in a timely fashion must
be settled between you and your securities dealer.
Certain
shareholder servicing agents may be authorized to accept your transaction
request.
For
institutional and bank trust accounts, there may be additional methods of buying
or selling Fund shares than those described in this SAI or in the
prospectus. Institutional and bank trust accounts include accounts
opened by or in the name of a person (includes a legal entity or an individual)
that has signed an Institutional Account Application or Bank Trust Account
Application accepted by Prospector Partners Asset Management or entered into
a
selling agreement and/or servicing agreement with Prospector Partners Asset
Management or USBFS. For example, the Company permits the owner of an
institutional account to make a same day wire purchase if a good order purchase
request is received (a) before the close of the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) or (b) through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s
automated system for processing purchase orders (Fund/SERV), even though funds
are delivered by wire after the close of the NYSE. If funds to be
wired are not received as scheduled, the purchase order may be cancelled or
reversed and the institutional account owner could be liable for any losses
or
fees the Company, Prospector Partners Asset Management and/or USBFS may
incur.
In
the
event of disputes involving conflicting claims of ownership or authority to
control your shares, the Company has the right (but has no obligation)
to: (i) restrict the shares and require the written agreement of
all persons deemed by the Company to have a potential interest in the shares
before executing instructions regarding the shares; or (ii) interplead
disputed shares or the proceeds from the court-ordered sale thereof with a
court
of competent jurisdiction.
Should
the Company be required to defend against joint or multiple shareholders in
any
action relating to an ownership dispute, you expressly grant the Company the
right to obtain reimbursement for costs and expenses including, but not limited
to, attorneys’ fees and court costs, by unilaterally redeeming shares from your
account.
The
Company may be required (i) pursuant to a validly issued levy, to turn your
shares over to a levying officer who may, in turn, sell your shares at a public
sale; or (ii) pursuant to a final order of forfeiture to sell your shares
and remit the proceeds to the U.S. or state government as directed.
Clients
of financial advisors whose firms have a Selling Agreement with Prospector
Partners Asset Management, and who are eligible for the Financial Advisor
Service Team (FAST) may be eligible for the Valued Investor Program which offers
enhanced service and transaction capabilities. Please call
Shareholder Services toll free at [ ] for
additional information on this program.
Quasar
Distributors, LLC may be entitled to payments from the Fund under the Rule
12b-1
plans, as discussed below. Quasar Distributors, LLC receives no other
compensation from the Fund for acting as underwriter.
When
you
buy shares, you pay the NAV per Share. The number of Fund shares you
will be issued will equal the amount invested divided by the applicable offering
price for those shares, calculated to three decimal places using standard
rounding criteria.
When
you
sell shares, you receive the NAV minus any applicable redemption
fees.
The
value
of a mutual fund is determined by deducting the Fund's liabilities from the
total assets of the portfolio. The NAV per share is determined by
dividing the total NAV of the Fund by the applicable number of shares
outstanding.
Each
Fund
calculates its NAV per share each business day at the close of trading on the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (normally 4:00 PM Eastern time). The
Funds do not calculate the NAV on days the NYSE is closed for trading, which
include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day.
When
determining its NAV, each Fund values cash and receivables at their realizable
amounts, and records interest as accrued and dividends on the ex-dividend
date. Each Fund may utilize independent pricing services to assist in
determining a current market value for each security. If market
quotations are readily available for portfolio securities listed on a securities
exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System, each Fund values those
securities at the last quoted sale price or the official closing price of the
day, respectively, or, if there is no reported sale, at the last quoted bid
price. Each Fund values over-the-counter portfolio securities at the
last quoted bid price. If a security is traded or dealt in on more
than one exchange, or on one or more exchanges and in the over-the-counter
market, quotations from the market in which the security is primarily traded
shall be used.
Requests
to buy and sell shares are processed at the NAV next calculated after we receive
your request in proper form.
Generally,
trading in corporate bonds, U.S. government securities and money market
instruments is substantially completed each day at various times before the
close of the NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing
the NAV is determined as of such times. Occasionally, events
affecting the values of these securities may occur between the times at which
they are determined and the close of the NYSE that will not be reflected in
the
computation of the NAV. Each Fund may rely on third party pricing
vendors to monitor for events materially affecting the value of these securities
during this period. If an event occurs the third party pricing
vendors will provide revised values to the relevant Fund.
APPENDIX
A – MISCELLANEOUS TABLES
Part
C
Item
23. Exhibits
|
|
A
|
Articles
of Incorporation
|
B
|
By-Laws
|
C*
|
Share
Certificate
|
D*
|
Investment
Advisory Contract
|
E
|
Not
Applicable
|
F
|
Not
Applicable
|
G*
|
Custodian
Agreement
|
H*
|
Other
Material Contracts
|
I*
|
Legal
Opinion of Seward & Kissel
|
J*
|
Other
Opinions
|
K*
|
Not
Applicable
|
L*
|
Initial
Capital Agreements
|
M*
|
Rule
12b-1 Plan
|
N*
|
Not
Applicable
|
O*
|
Reserved
|
P*
|
Codes
of Ethics
|
|
|
* To be filed by
amendment
Item
24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the
Fund
Not
applicable.
Item
25. Indemnification
[To
Be Provided By Pre-Effective Amendment]
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933
may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with 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 or appropriate jurisdiction the question
whether
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item
26. Business and Other Connections of the Investment
Manager
[To
Be Provided By Pre-Effective Amendment]
Item
27. Principal Underwriters
Not
applicable
Item
28. Location of Accounts and Records.
All
accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder will be
maintained at the offices of Prospector Funds, Inc., located at 370 Church
Street, Guilford, Connecticut 06437, or at c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
LLC,
P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701.
Item
29. Management Services
Not
applicable.
Item
30. Undertakings
Not
applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company
Act
of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Guilford,
and
State of Connecticut, on the 12th day of June, 2007.
|
PROSPECTOR
FUNDS,
INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Peter
N. Perugini, Jr.
|
|
|
|
Name:
Peter
N. Perugini, Jr.
|
|
|
|
Title:
President
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has
been
signed below by the following persons in the capacities and date(s)
indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
Principal
Executive Officer
|
|
President
|
|
June 12,
2007
|
By:
/s/ Peter N. Perugini, Jr.
Name: Peter
N. Perugini, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer
|
|
|
|
|
By:
/s/
Peter N. Perugini, Jr.
Name: Peter
N. Perugini, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
/s/
Peter N. Perugini, Jr.
Name: Peter
N. Perugini, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
A-3