As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2015

 

 Securities Act File No. 33-20827

 Investment Company Act File No. 811-5518

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

x

Pre-Effective Amendment No.       

 

o

Post-Effective Amendment No. 187

 

x

 

and

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

x

Amendment No. 189

 

x

 


 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (302) 791-1851

 

Copies to:

 

SALVATORE FAIA
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

MICHAEL P. MALLOY, ESQUIRE
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square, Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

 

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

 

o immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

x on December 31, 2015 pursuant to paragraph (b)

o 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

o on –December 31, 2014 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

o 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

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

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

o This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

Title of Securities Being Registered                       Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 



ALTAIR SMALLER

COMPANIES FUND

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

Prospectus

December 31, 2015

Investment Adviser:

Altair Advisers LLC

THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE "SEC"). THE SEC, HOWEVER, HAS NOT JUDGED THESE SECURITIES FOR THEIR INVESTMENT MERIT AND HAS NOT DETERMINED THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY SECTION

 

Altair Smaller Companies Fund

   

1

   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

    7    

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Investment Adviser

   

10

   

Sub-Advisers

   

11

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

 

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

14

   

Market Timing

   

14

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

15

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

18

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

19

   

More Information About Taxes

   

20

   

Appendix A—Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts

    24    

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 


i



SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Objective

The Altair Smaller Companies Fund (the "Fund") seeks capital appreciation.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (the "Shares").

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

   

None

   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

   

None

   

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

   

None

   

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

   

None

   

Exchange Fee

   

None

   

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that that you pay each year
as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management (1)

   

0.83

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

   

None

   
Total Other Expenses    

0.32

%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses    

1.15

%

 

(1)  The Fund is currently only available to clients of the Fund's investment adviser, Altair Advisers LLC (the "Adviser") and to other investors at the Fund's discretion. Investors in the Fund who are also clients of the Adviser will incur additional fees based on the total assets of the client under management with the Adviser. The Adviser does not receive a separate management fee from the Fund, although the Adviser is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with its compliance monitoring of Fund trading, up to 0.01% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The management fee shown above reflects the estimated aggregate fees to be paid by the Fund to the Sub-Advisers for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016, plus anticipated reimbursements to the Adviser for out-of-pocket expenses. Investors in the Fund who are also clients of the Adviser should review the information provided separately by the Adviser for a discussion of fees and expenses charged by the Adviser.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

117

   

$

365

   

$

633

   

$

1,398

   


1



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. For the period October 21, 2014 through August 31, 2015 the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 95% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowing for investment purposes) in equity securities of small or micro-cap companies. Small or micro-cap companies are generally considered to be those whose market capitalization are, at the time the Fund makes an investment, within the range of the market capitalization of companies in the Russell Microcap Index ($30 million to $1.00 billion as of May 29, 2015), the Russell 2000 ® Index ($177 million to $4.30 billion as of May 29, 2015), or the S&P SmallCap 600 Index ($44 million to $4.54 billion as of October 30, 2015). Securities of companies whose market capitalization no longer meet this definition after purchase may continue to be held by the Fund.

The Fund utilizes a "multi-manager" approach whereby the Fund's assets are allocated to one or more sub-advisers ("Sub-Advisers") in percentages determined at the discretion of the Fund's investment adviser, Altair Advisers LLC (the "Adviser"). The Adviser also monitors Sub-Adviser trading with the dual objectives of maximizing each Sub-Adviser's investment flexibility and assuring that the Fund as a whole complies with its investment restrictions. Otherwise, each Sub-Adviser acts independently from the others and utilizes its own distinct investment style in selecting securities. However, each Sub-Adviser must operate within the constraints of the Fund's investment objective and strategies and the particular investment restrictions applicable to that Sub-Adviser.

The Sub-Advisers will implement a number of different investment strategies and styles within the small and micro-cap universe. The Sub-Advisers will implement one or more of the following investment strategies summarized below:

•   Small or Micro-Cap Growth — A Sub-Adviser following a growth investment style is expected to invest primarily in small or micro-cap companies with consistent or accelerating growth in earnings, revenues, cash flow, and/or other financial metrics.

•   Small or Micro-Cap Value — A Sub-Adviser following a value investment style is expected to invest primarily in small or micro-cap companies that are out of favor and/or undervalued in comparison to their peers or their growth prospects.

•   Small or Micro-Cap Core — A Sub-Adviser following a core investment style is expected to invest in small or micro-cap companies that have both value characteristics and growth characteristics.

•   Tax Loss Harvesting — A Sub-Adviser following a tax loss harvesting style is expected to hold a portfolio of securities that will have a pre-tax return similar to the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. The Sub-Adviser will seek to generate strong-after tax returns by timing trades to avoid realizing capital gains and to harvest losses when possible. The Fund may use losses generated from the tax loss harvesting Sub-Adviser to offset gains from other Sub-Advisers.

The Fund's Sub-Advisers will invest primarily in equities and equity-related instruments of small and micro-cap companies. Equities and equity-related instruments include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts, warrants and rights. The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPOs"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public. The Fund may also invest in companies that may experience unusual and possibly unique developments, or "special


2



situations", which may create a special opportunity for significant returns. Special situations include: significant technological improvements or important discoveries; reorganizations, recapitalizations or mergers; favorable resolutions of litigation; new management or material changes in company policies; and actual or potential changes in control of a company. The Sub-Advisers may also invest in real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), debt securities, and foreign securities (directly and through depository receipts).

Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders' investments in the Fund are set forth below.

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money.

•   Equity Securities Risk. The Fund is designed for investors who can accept the risks of investing in a portfolio with significant holdings of equity securities. Equity securities tend to be more volatile than other investment choices, such as debt and money market instruments. The value of your investment may decrease in response to overall stock market movements or the value of individual securities held by the Fund.

•   Small and Micro-Cap Risk. The securities of small and micro-cap companies may be more volatile in price, have wider spreads between their bid and ask prices, and have significantly lower trading volumes than the securities of larger capitalization companies. As a result, the purchase or sale of more than a limited number of shares of the securities of a smaller company may affect its market price. The Fund may need a considerable amount of time to purchase or sell its positions in these securities. Some small and micro-cap companies are followed by few, if any, securities analysts, and there tends to be less publicly available information about such companies. Their securities generally have even more limited trading volumes and are subject to even more abrupt or erratic market price movements than are mid and large cap securities, and the Fund may be able to deal with only a few market-makers when purchasing and selling securities. Such companies also may have limited markets, financial resources or product lines, may lack management depth, and may be more vulnerable to adverse business or market developments. Smaller company stocks may fall out of favor relative to mid or large cap stocks, which may cause the Fund to underperform other equity funds that focus on mid or large cap stocks.

•   Growth Stock Risk. Growth stocks are typically priced higher than other stocks, in relation to earnings and other measures, because investors believe they have more growth potential. This potential may or may not be realized and, if it is not realized, may result in a loss to the Fund. Growth stock prices also tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Because different types of stocks go out of favor with investors depending on market and economic conditions, the Fund's return may be adversely affected during a market downturn and when growth stocks are out of favor.

•   Value Stock Risk. Value investing involves buying stocks that are out of favor and/or undervalued in comparison to their peers or their prospects for growth. Typically, their valuation levels are less than those of growth stocks. Because different types of stocks go out of favor with investors depending on market and economic conditions, the Fund's return may be adversely affected during a market downturn and when value stocks are out of favor.

•   REIT Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in


3



small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by an externally managed REIT in which it invests.

•   Special Situations Risk. The Fund will seek to benefit from "special situations," such as mergers, reorganizations, or other unusual events expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the "special situation" might not occur or involve longer time frames than originally expected, which could have a negative impact on the price of the issuer's securities and fail to produce gains or produce a loss for the Fund.

•   Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a high percentage of its assets in a limited number of securities. Since the Fund is non-diversified, its NAV and total returns may fluctuate or fall more than a diversified mutual fund.

•   Allocation Risk. The Fund's overall risk level will depend on the market sectors in which the Sub-Advisers are invested. Although the Fund will not concentrate in any industry, because the Fund may have significant weightings in a particular company, industry or market sector, the value of Shares may be affected by events that adversely affect that company, industry or market sector and may fluctuate more than that of a less focused fund.

•   Multi-Manager Dependence Risk. The success of the Fund's investment strategy depends both on the Adviser's ability to select Sub-Advisers and to allocate assets to those Sub-Advisers and on each Sub-Adviser's ability to execute the relevant strategy and select investments for the Fund. The Sub-Advisers' investment styles may not always be complementary, which could affect the performance of the Fund and lead to higher transaction expenses as compared to a fund using a single investment management style.

•   Sub-Adviser and Strategy Concentration Risk. Because the Adviser will not be subject to fixed limitations upon the amount of Fund assets that may be invested with a single Sub-Adviser or in a single investment strategy, the Fund may be more heavily exposed to the investment judgments of one or more Sub-Advisers or the possible increased risk of investing in a limited number of investment strategies.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Certain securities, assets or markets can become illiquid at times and negatively impact the price of securities if the Fund were to sell during times of illiquidity.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments,


4



such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Adviser and Sub-Advisers will not consider portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies. Therefore, it is possible that the Fund may experience high rates of portfolio turnover. High portfolio turnover will cause the Fund to incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains.

•   New Adviser Risk. The Fund's Sub-Advisers may be newly-formed, newly registered with the SEC and/or have not previously managed a mutual fund. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that a Sub-Adviser's inexperience may limit its effectiveness.

Fund Performance

Because the Fund has less than one full calendar year of performance, no performance information has been included. The Fund evaluates its performance as compared to that of the Russell 2000 ® Index.

Management of the Fund

Investment Advisers and Sub-Advisers

Altair Advisers LLC, 303 W. Madison, Suite 600, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Aperio Group, Driehaus Capital Management LLC, Granite Investment Partners, LLC, Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC, Pier Capital LLC, and River Road Asset Management, LLC each serves as a Sub-Adviser to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers

   

Title

  Portfolio Manager
of Fund since:
 

Altair Advisers LLC

 

Steven B. Weinstein

 

President, Chief Investment Officer

 

October 21, 2014

 

Jason M. Laurie

 

Managing Director

 

October 21, 2014

 

Bryan R. Malis

 

Managing Director

 

October 21, 2014

 

Donald J. Sorota

 

Managing Director

 

October 23, 2015

 

Aaron D. Dirlam

 

Director of Research

 

October 21, 2014

 

Aperio Group

 

Patrick Geddes

 

Partner, Chief Executive Officer

 

October 21, 2014

 

Ran Lesham

 

Chief Investment Officer

 

October 21, 2014

 

Robert Tymoczko

 

Manager of Portfolio Trading and Analytics

 

October 21, 2014

 
Driehaus Capital
Management LLC
 

Jeffrey James

 

Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

Michael Buck

 

Assistant Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 
Granite Investment
Partners, LLC
 

Jeffrey J. Hoo, CFA

 

Lead Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

Peter O. Lopez

 

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

Joshua D. Shaskan, CFA

 

Co-Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 


5



   

Title

  Portfolio Manager
of Fund since:
 
Pacific Ridge Capital
Partners, LLC
 

Mark D. Cooper, CFA

 

President, Senior Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

Dominic R. Marshall, CFA

 

Senior Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

Pier Capital LLC

 

Alexander Yakirevich

 

Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 
River Road Asset
Management, LLC
 

R. Andrew Beck

 

President, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

James Shircliff

 

Co-Chief Investment Officer

 

October 21, 2014

 

J. Justin Akin

 

Portfolio Manager

 

October 21, 2014

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

There is no minimum investment amount for initial or subsequent investments. You can only purchase and redeem Shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Shares of the Fund are currently only available to new and existing clients of the Adviser and to other investors at the Fund's discretion. Shares may be purchased through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals. Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:

Regular Mail:

 

Overnight Delivery:

 
Altair Smaller Companies Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Altair Smaller Companies Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Purchase By Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-844-261-6482 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Fund.

Redemption By Telephone:

Call the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund or the Adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares and other related services. Ask your broker-dealer or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


6




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

This section provides some additional information about the Fund's investments and certain portfolio management techniques that the Fund may use. More information about the Fund's investments and portfolio management techniques, and related risks, is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

The Fund's investment objective is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. However, as a matter of policy, the Fund would not materially change its investment objective without informing shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any such change.

Additional Information About the Fund's Principal Investments and Risks

Equity and Equity-Related Securities. The Fund invests in all types of equity securities. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies and real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and equity participations. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. The value of such securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. State law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a limited partnership than investors in a corporation. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the Fund's net asset value to fluctuate. The number of issuers in the Fund's portfolio will vary over time.

Fixed Income Investments. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in fixed income securities. Fixed income investments include bonds, notes (including structured notes), mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments. Fixed income securities may be issued by corporate and governmental issuers and may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including (without limitation) fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features. The principal debt investments of the Fund will be fixed and floating rate securities with no reset terms.

The credit quality of securities held in the Fund's portfolio is determined at the time of investment. If a security is rated differently by multiple ratings organizations, the Fund treats the security as being rated in the higher rating category.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets) through American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or International Depositary Receipts ("IDRs"). Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights


7



with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.

In addition, the Fund may invest in securities traded or denominated in foreign currencies and in multinational currencies such as the Euro. The Fund will value its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. Investments in securities of foreign entities and securities denominated or traded in foreign currencies involve special risks. These include possible political and economic instability and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other restrictions on investments. Changes in foreign currency rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Emerging market investments offer the potential for significant gains but also involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. Political or economic instability, lack of market liquidity and government actions such as currency controls or seizure of private business or property may be more likely in emerging markets.

Interest Rate Risk. During periods of rising interest rates, the market value of the Fund's fixed-income securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market interest rates. In periods of falling interest rates, the market value of the Fund's fixed-income securities generally will tend to be higher than prevailing market interest rates. Prices of longer-term fixed income securities are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates than prices of shorter-term fixed-income securities.

Credit/Default Risk. The credit rating of an issuer or guarantor of a security in which the Fund invests may be lowered or an issuer or guarantor of a security or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a repurchase agreement may default on its payment obligations.

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. The Fund's investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a ready buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities' resale. Certain securities that were liquid when purchased may later become illiquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress.

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities have characteristics of both equity and fixed income securities. The value of a convertible security tends to move with the market value of the underlying stock, but may also be affected by interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. In particular, when interest rates rise, fixed income securities will decline in value. Convertible securities frequently have speculative characteristics and may be acquired without regard to minimum quality ratings. Lower quality convertible securities, also known as "junk bonds," involve greater risk of default or price changes due to the issuer's creditworthiness. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than those of higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of rising interest rates. Securities in the lowest quality category may present the risk of default, or may be in default.

Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading, resulting in high portfolio turnover. This may lead to the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, increasing their tax liability. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. Frequent trading may also increase transaction costs, which could detract from the Fund's performance.

Temporary Investments. The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of money market and short-term debt securities. In response to such conditions, the Fund may also utilize derivatives, including purchasing put options. A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the seller the obligation to buy, the underlying security, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.


8



Broad-Based Securities Market Index

The Russell 2000 ® Index is an unmanaged index that is comprised of the 2,000 smallest of the 3,000 largest U.S. domiciled corporations, ranked by market capitalizations. As of May 29, 2015, the minimum market capitalization of the Russell 2000 ® Index was $477 million and the largest stock was $4.30 billion. Please note that this information is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The SAI is incorporated herein.


9



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Adviser

Altair Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser located at 303 W. Madison, Suite 600, Chicago, Illinois 60606, provides investment advisory services to the Fund subject to the general supervision of the Company's Board of Directors. The Adviser was founded in June 2002. As of September 30, 2015, the Adviser had over $3.64 billion in assets under management.

The Fund is currently only available to clients of the Adviser and to other investors at the Fund's discretion. The Adviser does not receive a separate management fee from the Fund. However, pursuant to the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser is entitled to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses it incurs in connection with its compliance monitoring of Fund trading, up to 0.01% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

The Fund is managed by the Adviser and one or more Sub-Advisers unaffiliated with the Adviser. The Adviser also has the ultimate responsibility to oversee the Sub-Advisers, and to recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Adviser has an investment team that is jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. The investment team consists of Steven B. Weinstein, Jason M. Laurie, Bryan R. Malis, Donald J. Sorota and Aaron D. Dirlam.

Steven B. Weinstein, President and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Weinstein founded the Adviser in June of 2002. He has been counseling wealthy families, business owners, and senior executives on their investment, tax, retirement and estate planning matters for over 35 years. He is a member of the Adviser's Board of Managers as well as the Adviser's Investment Committee. Mr. Weinstein is a CFA ® charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner TM certificant. He is a member of the Illinois and California bar. Mr. Weinstein graduated with Distinction in Political Science and Communication from Stanford University in 1974, and earned both his MBA and JD degrees, with Distinction, from Northwestern University in 1978.

Jason M. Laurie, Managing Director. Mr. Laurie is a founding partner of the Adviser. His role includes client service, business development, and he is the Chairman of the Adviser's Investment Committee. Mr. Laurie is a CFA ® charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner TM certificant. Mr. Laurie earned his B.B.A. in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame (cum laude).

Bryan R. Malis, Managing Director. Mr. Malis is a founding partner of the Adviser. His role includes serving as a lead adviser to a variety of clients, developing new business, and participating in firm management. He is a member of the Adviser's Board of Managers as well as the Adviser's Investment Committee. Mr. Malis is a CFA ® charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner TM certificant. Mr. Malis earned his B.A. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Donald J. Sorota, Managing Director. Mr. Sorota is a founding partner of the Adviser. His role includes client services business development. He served as the Adviser's Finance Director for the Adviser's first three years due to his tax expertise as a CPA. He is also a member of the Adviser's Investment Committee. Mr. Sorota is a Certified Financial Planner TM and a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Sorota holds a B.S. in accounting from DePaul University.

Aaron D. Dirlam, Director of Research. Mr. Dirlam joined the Adviser in 2005 and is the Director of Research. His role includes monitoring the investment managers currently working with clients as well as conducting research to identify and select new investment managers. As part of his research, Mr. Dirlam also identifies trends and activities in the markets that may impact clients' portfolios. He is a member of the Adviser's Investment Committee. Mr. Dirlam is a CFA ® charterholder and has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation. Mr. Dirlam graduated from Lake Forest College with degrees in Business and Psychology.


10



Sub-Advisers

The Fund and the Adviser have submitted an application with the SEC for an exemptive order with respect to the Fund that would permit the Adviser to engage or terminate a Sub-Adviser, and to enter into and materially amend an existing sub-advisory agreement, upon the approval of the Board of Directors, without obtaining shareholder approval. This arrangement has been approved by the Board of Directors and the Fund's initial shareholder. Consequently, if approved by the SEC, under the exemptive order, the Adviser would have the right to hire, terminate and replace Sub-Advisers when the Board of Directors and the Adviser feel that a change would benefit the Fund. The exemptive order will enable the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of sub-advisory agreements.

The Sub-Advisers provide investment advisory services to the portion of the Fund's portfolio allocated to them by the Adviser. The Adviser and the Fund have entered into sub-advisory agreements with the following Sub-Advisers to manage the Fund, subject to supervision of the Adviser and the Board, and in accordance with the investment goal and restrictions of the Fund. For their services, each Sub-Adviser is entitled to receive a fee based upon a percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets, which will be paid by the Fund and not by the Adviser. The Adviser selects Sub-Advisers based upon the Sub-Adviser's skills in managing assets pursuant to particular investment styles and strategies. The Adviser monitors existing Sub-Advisers based on their investment styles, strategies, and results in managing assets for specific asset classes. Each Sub-Adviser will have discretion to select portfolio securities for its portion of the Fund, but must select those securities according to the Fund's investment objectives and restrictions. The Fund is not required to invest with any minimum number of Sub-Advisers, and does not have minimum or maximum limitations with respect to allocations of assets to any Sub-Adviser. The Adviser may change the allocation of the Fund's assets among the available Sub-Advisers, and may add or remove Sub-Advisers, at any time, which may change the sub-advisory fees payable by the Fund. However, in no event will the total sub-advisory fees exceed the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

Aperio Group ("Aperio"), a registered investment adviser located at Three Harbor Drive, Suite 315, Sausalito, CA 94965, has served as a Sub-Adviser to the Fund since its inception. Patrick Geddes, Ran Leshem and Robert Tymoczko each serve as portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by Aperio. Mr. Geddes is Aperio's Chief Executive Officer and a Partner. Prior to joining Aperio, Mr. Geddes was the Chief Financial Officer of Morningstar, Inc. Mr. Geddes also served on the company's executive committee, overseeing all strategic, policy, and internal investment decisions. Prior to being named Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Geddes served as Morningstar's Director of Quantitative Research. Before Morningstar, he spent five years with Amoco, now part of BP, in the U.S. and Europe providing quantitative analysis, currency hedging and corporate tax optimization. At Amoco, Mr. Geddes was part of a group that modeled the nuances of highly complex international tax structures as part of the company's efforts to manage taxes as effectively as possible, which in the energy sector can provide enormous payoffs to the bottom line and shareholders. He has taught numerous courses in graduate-level finance at the University of California Berkeley Extension. Mr. Geddes received his MBA, with Honors, from the University of Chicago. Mr. Leshem is Aperio's Chief Investment Officer. He oversees the portfolio management and operations of Aperio's US, Foreign, and Global products. Mr. Leshem has extensive expertise in applying quantitative techniques and information technology to complex operational problems. Prior to joining Aperio in 2006, Mr. Leshem was a Manager, Operating Strategy at the GAP, Inc. At the GAP, Mr. Lesham managed the development of a store level forecasting system utilizing clustering and data mining algorithms to predict sales based on historical data. Mr. Lesham received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he received the Hewlett Packard Award for academic excellence, and his MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Tymoczko is Manager of Portfolio Trading and Analytics. Mr. Tymoczko joined Aperio in 2012 and he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day portfolio management and strategy implementation of all investment products. Prior to joining Aperio, Mr. Tymoczko was a Managing Partner at AlphaStream Capital Management, LLC from 2002 to 2011, where he was responsible for quantitative research and portfolio management. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Tymoczko was Lead Portfolio Manager and Co-head of U.S. Quantitative Equity Products at Zurich Scudder Investments. Mr. Tymoczko received a BA in Quantitative Economics from Stanford University and his MBA with concentrations in Finance and Econometrics from the University of Chicago.


11



Driehaus Capital Management LLC ("Driehaus"), a registered investment adviser located at 25 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611, has served as a Sub-Adviser to the Fund since its inception. Jeffrey James serves as the portfolio manager primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by Driehaus. Mr. James joined Driehaus in 1997 as a sector analyst covering the information technology and energy sectors. In 1998, he assumed portfolio management duties for the Driehaus Micro Cap Growth Strategy and in 2006 for the Driehaus Small Cap Growth Strategy. He began his career with Lehman Brothers in 1990. From 1991 through 1997, Mr. James worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as an analyst. Mr. James received his B.S. in Finance from Indiana University in 1990 and an M.B.A. from DePaul University in 1995. Michael Buck supports Mr. James with investment research, security selection and portfolio construction. Mr. Buck has investment decision-making responsibilities subject to Mr. James' approval. Mr. Buck began his career in 2001 with Deloitte Consulting. In 2002, he joined Driehaus, where he also serves as a senior research analyst focusing on U.S. micro-cap and small-cap stocks within the consumer discretionary, consumer staples and financials sectors. Mr. Buck is also the assistant portfolio manager for the Driehaus Small Cap Growth Strategy. Mr. Buck received a B.A. in Economics and Cello Performance from Northwestern University in 2000.

Granite Investment Partners, LLC ("Granite"), a registered investment adviser located at The Plaza at Continental Park, 2121 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 2360, El Segundo, California 90245, has served as Sub-Adviser to the Fund since its inception. Jeffrey J. Hoo, CFA is the portfolio manager primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by Granite. Mr. Hoo joined Granite in 2011. Mr. Hoo is a Principal and Portfolio Manager and manages portfolios in the small cap, small/mid cap and micro-cap equity asset classes. Mr. Hoo has been the Lead Portfolio Manager of the Micro Cap Equity product since inception. He is also the lead portfolio manager for the firm's small/mid cap portfolio and Small Core portfolio. Prior to joining Granite, Mr. Hoo was a Principal and Portfolio Manager at Transamerica Investment Management, LLC (TIM) where he managed mutual funds and institutional accounts. He joined TIM in 2005 when the firm acquired Westcap Investors, LLC where he was a Principal, Portfolio Manager and Equity Analyst specializing in Healthcare and Technology from 1997 through 2005. Prior to Westcap, Mr. Hoo worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment and KPMG. Mr. Hoo has 16 years of investment industry experience. Joshua D. Shaskan, CFA serves as a co-portfolio manager and joined Granite in 2011. Mr Shaskan is a Principal and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Shaskan manages portfolios in the small cap, small/mid cap and all cap equity asset classes. He is the lead portfolio manager for the firm's Small Cap Growth portfolio. Prior to Granite, Mr. Shaskan was a Principal and Portfolio Manager for TIM. He joined TIM in 2005 when the firm acquired Westcap Investors LLC. Prior to Westcap, Mr. Shaskan served as an investment specialist for three years at Wells Fargo Securities and was also previously a financial advisor at Prudential Securities. Mr. Shaskan has 19 years of investment industry experience. Peter O. Lopez serves as a co-portfolio manager and joined Granite in 2011. Mr. Lopez is a Principal and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Lopez manages portfolios in the small cap and all cap equity asset classes. He is the lead portfolio manager for the firm's All Cap portfolio. Prior to joining Granite, Mr. Lopez was CEO and Director of Research for TIM. Prior to joining TIM in 2003, Mr. Lopez was managing director at Centre Pacific, LLC. He previously served as senior fixed income analyst for Transamerica Investment Services, Inc. from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Lopez also served as an assistant vice president at Alliance Capital and an associate at TIAA-CREF. Mr. Lopez has 20 years of investment industry experience.

Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC ("Pacific Ridge"), a registered investment adviser located at 4900 Meadows Rd Suite 320, Lake Oswego, OR 97035, has served as a Sub-Adviser to the Fund since its inception. Mark D. Cooper, CFA and Dominic R. Marshall, CFA are the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by Pacific Ridge. Mr. Cooper has been with Pacific Ridge since 2010 and brings more than 23 years of investment industry experience to the presidency of Pacific Ridge. Previously, Mr. Cooper was a senior portfolio manager at Wells Capital Management from 2003 to 2010 and co-founder and president of Benson Associates from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that, he was employed by Qualivest Capital Management (a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp) as a portfolio manager of the Qualivest Small Companies Value strategy from 1996 to 1997, where he co-managed all of the small cap portfolios. He also served as an associate at Bankers Trust Company in New York and Los Angeles. Mr. Cooper earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1990 and a master's degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. Mr. Marshall has been with Pacific Ridge since 2010


12



and brings 20 years of investment experience to Pacific Ridge. Prior to Pacific Ridge, Mr. Marshall was president and senior portfolio manager at Scott Creek Capital Management from 2006 to 2009. Prior to that, he served as a portfolio manager for the Benson Value Team at Wells Capital Management from 2003 to 2006 and a portfolio manager at Benson Associates from 1998 to 2003. He was also an equity analyst at The Red Chip Review and research associate at CTC Consulting. Mr. Marshall earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1993 and a master's degree in Finance from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame in 1998.

Pier Capital LLC ("Pier Capital"), a registered investment adviser located at 600 Summer Street, Suite 203, Stamford, CT 06901, has served as a Sub-Adviser to the Fund since its inception. Alexander Yakirevich is the portfolio manager primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by Pier Capital. Mr. Yakirevich has been the Portfolio Manager of the Small-Cap Growth Strategy at Pier Capital since 2008. He joined Pier Capital in 2004 as a Research Analyst. Mr. Yakirevich earned his Bachelors of Science degree in 1993 and his MBA in 2003 both from New York University. Prior to joining Pier Capital, Mr. Yakirevich was at Richmond Consulting & Research from 2002 to 2004, Individual Investors Group from 1997 to 2001, and Value Line from 1995 to 1997. Mr. Yakirevich has over 19 years of investment industry experience.

River Road Asset Management, LLC ("River Road"), a registered investment adviser located at 462 S 4th St #1600, Louisville, KY 40202, has served as a Sub-Adviser to the Fund since its inception. James C. Shircliff is the portfolio manager primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by River Road. Mr. Shircliff serves in the role of Chief Investment Officer at River Road. Additionally, Mr. Shircliff serves as Lead Portfolio Manager for River Road's Small Cap Value and Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolios and as Co-Portfolio Manager for River Road's Dividend All-Cap Value Portfolios. Prior to cofounding River Road, Mr. Shircliff served as EVP, Portfolio Manager and Director of Research for SMC Capital, Inc., a registered investment advisor and affiliate of Commonwealth Trust Company (Commonwealth SMC). Mr. Shircliff began his career in 1973 as Research Analyst for First Kentucky Trust, where he later served as Director of Research. In 1983, he joined Oppenheimer Management Company as Special Situations Analyst and, later, Oppenheimer's Target Fund as Portfolio Manager. In 1986, he joined Southeastern Asset Management (Longleaf Funds) as Partner, Portfolio Manager and Director of Research. In 1997, Mr. Shircliff joined SMC Capital, Inc., where he launched River Road's Small Cap Value Portfolio. Mr. Shircliff graduated from the University of Louisville with a B.S. in Finance. Andrew Beck and J. Justin Akin each serve as portfolio managers, assisting Mr. Shircliff in the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund sub-advised by River Road. Mr. Beck serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at River Road. Additionally, Mr. Beck serves as Co-Portfolio Manager for River Road's Small Cap Value and Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolios. Prior to cofounding River Road, Mr. Beck served as Senior Research Analyst and, later, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Commonwealth SMC. Mr. Beck earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Louisville and an M.B.A. from the F.W. Olin School of Business at Babson College. Mr. Akin serves as Portfolio Manager for River Road's Small Cap Value and Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolios. Prior to joining River Road, Mr. Akin worked with the firm's founders at Commonwealth SMC as Equity Research Analyst for the Small Cap Value and Dividend All-Cap Value Portfolios. Mr. Akin earned a B.S. in Economics from Centre College. Mr. Akin is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Louisville.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approval of the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser and sub-advisory agreements with the Sub-Advisers is available in the Fund's semi-annual report to shareholders dated February 28, 2015.


13



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

The Shares are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV per Share of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases of Shares at the NAV next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order in good order. The Fund will effect redemptions of Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Fund's Transfer Agent of your redemption request in good order as described below.

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such service or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If the Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equities securities in the Fund's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser and Sub-Advisers, securities will be valued by the Adviser and Sub-Advisers in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before the Fund prices its Shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded funds, REITs and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke


14



a shareholder's privilege to purchase Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. The Adviser reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information related to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, the Adviser, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, it may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund. The Adviser may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. The Adviser will apply the criteria in a manner that, in its judgment, will be uniform.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares of the Fund are currently only available to new and existing clients of the Adviser and to other investors at the Fund's discretion. Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the "Distributor").

General. You may purchase Shares of the Fund at the NAV per Share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. There is no minimum investment amount for initial or subsequent investments. You can only purchase Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Fund may also be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Certain features of the Shares, such as the initial and subsequent investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose minimum investment requirements. Service Organizations may also impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if Shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption


15



of Shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after such orders are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

For administration, subaccounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Fund or the Adviser may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee"). The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

Initial Investment By Mail. An account may be opened by completing and signing an account application and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to the Altair Smaller Companies Fund. Third party checks will not be accepted.

Regular Mail:

 

Overnight Mail:

 
Altair Smaller Companies Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940
  Altair Smaller Companies Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

The name of the Fund should be designated on the application and should appear on the check. Payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Shares of the Fund may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. For the Fund, notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) Request account information and routing instructions by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time by purchasing Shares of the Fund at the NAV per Share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Altair Smaller Companies Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date.

Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in Shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through an Automatic Investment Plan


16



($250 minimum). Investors desiring to participate in an Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and rollover IRAs. A $20.00 custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to Board approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to Board approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  Persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser;

b.  Existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the closed Fund;

c.  Employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children; and

d.  Directors of the Company.

Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Shares will be made in full and fractional Shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places.

Certificates for Shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional Shares, however, will not be issued.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.


17



Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's Shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem Shares at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. You may redeem Fund Shares by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Altair Smaller Companies Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9841, Providence, RI 02940, or for overnight delivery to Altair Smaller Companies Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 and must include:

a.  Name of the Fund;

b.  Account number;

c.  Your Share certificates, if any, properly endorsed or with proper powers of attorney;

d.  A letter of instruction specifying the number of Shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the Shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

e.  Any required medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s) or (ii) the redemption request is for $50,000 or more. A signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a Medallion Program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three recognized Medallion Programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

f.  Other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of Shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6482 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of


18



unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder's account in the Fund at any time the value of the account falls below $5,000 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in the Fund is less than $5,000 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed. The transaction fee applicable to the Fund will not be charged when Shares are involuntarily redeemed.

The Fund may assert the right to redeem your Shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for Shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option.

Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Fund at least annually.

The Fund may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Fund's distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Shares, are subject to U.S. federal income tax.


19



More Information About Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual United States citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional Shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase Shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your Shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the Shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on Shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the Shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of Shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the Shares disposed of are replaced with


20



other Shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the Shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in Shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the Shares acquired.

The Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when Shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your Shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, Shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such Shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is currently 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares in the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to


21



interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


22




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the period indicated, including per share information results for the Fund. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements and has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

  For the Period Ended
October 21, 2014 to
August 31, 2015 (1)
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

10.00

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

(0.04

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

   

0.63

   

Net increase in assets resulting from operations

   

0.59

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

10.59

   

Total investment return (3)

   

5.90

% (4)

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

212,934

   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

   

1.15

% (5)

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

   

(0.41

)% (5)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

95

% (4)

 

(1)  Commencement of operations.

(2)  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Not annualized.

(5)  Annualized.


23



APPENDIX A

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts

The Sub-Advisers have experience in managing other accounts with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the portion of the Fund's portfolio allocated to them by the Adviser. The tables below are provided to illustrate the past performance of each Sub-Adviser in managing all of its other similarly advised accounts and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Sub-Advisers. This performance history is net of all fees (including any applicable sales loads) charged to investors in the other accounts. The composite includes other accounts that pay lower expenses than those paid by shareholders of the Fund. Higher expenses reduce returns to investors. The use of the Fund's expense structure would have lowered the performance results. The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the other accounts are not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the other accounts. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the other accounts.

The performance of the other accounts is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. These indexes are unmanaged and are not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in any broad-based securities index.

SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended December 31, 2014)
RETURN

   

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

  Inception
(Jan
1996)
 

Driehaus

   

8.53

%

   

28.22

%

   

17.94

%

   

12.57

%

   

22.06

%

 

Russell Micro Cap Growth TR

   

4.30

%

   

22.45

%

   

16.84

%

   

6.38

%

   

n/a

   

Russell 2000 TR

   

4.89

%

   

19.21

%

   

15.55

%

   

7.77

%

   

8.72

%

 

SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended December 31, 2014)
RETURN

   

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

  Inception
(Jan
2004)
 

Granite

   

(3.56

)%

   

21.14

%

   

23.46

%

   

11.41

%

   

13.20

%

 

Russell Micro Cap TR

   

3.65

%

   

21.18

%

   

16.14

%

   

5.96

%

   

6.68

%

 

Russell 2000 TR

   

4.89

%

   

19.21

%

   

15.55

%

   

7.77

%

   

8.69

%

 

SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended December 31, 2014)
RETURN

   

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

  Inception
(Apr
2007)
 
Pacific Ridge    

8.82

%

   

25.60

%

   

19.37

%

   

8.49

%

 
Russell Micro Cap Value TR    

3.15

%

   

21.38

%

   

15.53

%

   

3.96

%

 
Russell 2000 TR    

4.89

%

   

19.21

%

   

15.55

%

   

6.87

%

 


24



SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended December 31, 2014)
RETURN

   

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

  Inception
(July
1987)
 

Pier Capital

   

2.58

%

   

19.37

%

   

14.81

%

   

10.10

%

   

12.56

%

 

Russell 2000 Growth TR

   

5.60

%

   

20.14

%

   

16.80

%

   

8.54

%

   

7.30

%

 

Russell 2000 TR

   

4.89

%

   

19.21

%

   

15.55

%

   

7.77

%

   

9.11

%

 

SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended December 31, 2014)
RETURN

   

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

  Inception
(Jan
1998)
 

River Road

   

0.21

%

   

14.42

%

   

11.98

%

   

7.83

%

   

10.47

%

 

Russell 2000 Value TR

   

4.22

%

   

18.29

%

   

14.26

%

   

6.89

%

   

8.45

%

 

Russell 2000 TR

   

4.89

%

   

19.21

%

   

15.55

%

   

7.77

%

   

7.53

%

 


25




Altair Smaller Companies Fund
of
The RBB Fund, Inc.
(1-844-261-6482)

For More Information:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Altair Smaller Companies Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports will contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes fund strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

The Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders may be obtained by calling 1-844-261-6482.

Statement of Additional Information

The Fund's SAI ("SAI"), dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, may be obtained free of charge, along with the annual and semi-annual reports, by calling 1-844-261-6482. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally part of this Prospectus). The SAI is not available on the Adviser's website, but a copy may be obtained by calling 1-844-261-6482.

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: 1-844-261-6482.

Purchases and Redemptions
Call 1-844-261-6482.

Written Correspondence
Street Address:

Altair Smaller Companies Fund ,
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.,
4400 Computer Drive,
Westborough, MA 01581

P.O. Box Address:

Altair Smaller Companies Fund ,
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.,
P.O. Box 9841,
Providence, RI 02940

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-05518

 

RBBALT

 



ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND
of
THE RBB FUND, INC.

CLASS I SHARES (TICKER: ABYIX)

CLASS A SHARES (TICKER: ABYAX)

CLASS C SHARES (TICKER: ABYCX)

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

Investment Adviser:

ABBEY CAPITAL LIMITED
1-2 Cavendish Row
Dublin 1, Ireland

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

   

PAGE

 

SUMMARY SECTION

   

1

   

Investment Objective

   

1

   

Expenses and Fees

   

1

   

Principal Investment Strategies

   

2

   

Principal Investment Risks

   

4

   

Performance Information

   

7

   

Management of the Fund

   

7

   

Purchase and Sale Information

   

7

   

Taxes

   

8

   

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

   

8

   

FUND INFORMATION

   

9

   

More Information About Fund Investments

   

9

   

More Information About Risks

   

9

   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

   

14

   

More Information About Management of the Fund

   

14

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

23

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

23

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

26

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

28

   

Market Timing

   

30

   

Exchange Privilege

   

31

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

31

   

More Information About Taxes

   

31

   

Distribution Arrangements

   

33

   

Financial Highlights

   

34

   


i



SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (the "Fund") is to seek long-term capital appreciation. Current income is a secondary objective.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (the "Shares"). You may qualify for sales charge discounts on Advisor Class Shares if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section of the Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information – Sales Charges" and in the section of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") entitled "Purchase and Redemption Information – Reducing or Eliminating the Front-End Sales Charge."

   

Class I

 

Class A

 

Class C

 
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
   

None

     

5.75

%

   

None

   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

   

None

     

None (5)

     

None

   
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested
Dividends
   

None

     

None

     

None

   
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed,
if applicable)
   

None

     

None

     

None

   
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay
each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees (4)

   

1.97

%

   

1.97

%

   

1.97

%

 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee

   

None

     

0.25

%

   

1.00

%

 

Interest Expense

   

0.04

%

   

0.04

%

   

0.04

%

 

Other Expenses

   

0.45

%

   

0.45

%

   

0.45

% (3)

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

2.46

%

   

2.71

%

   

3.46

%

 

Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (2)

   

(0.43

)%

   

(0.43

)%

   

(0.43

)%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers
and/or Expense Reimbursements (1)
   

2.03

%

   

2.28

%

   

3.03

%

 

(1)  Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements, excluding interest expenses are:

Class I  

Class A

 

Class C

 
  1.99

%

   

2.24

%

   

2.99

%

 

(2)  The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.99%, 2.24% and 2.99% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares, Class A and Class C Shares, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.99%, 2.24% or 2.99%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. If at any time the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for a year are less than 1.99%, 2.24% and 2.99%, as applicable, the Adviser may recoup any waived or reimbursed amounts from the Fund within three years from


1



the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made by the Adviser if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed expense limitations that were in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.

(3)  Other expenses for Class C Shares, which did not commence operations until October 6, 2015, are estimated for the current fiscal year.

(4)  Management Fees include advisory fees paid to both Abbey Capital Limited (the "Adviser") and one or more trading advisers (the "Trading Advisers"). There are no performance fees charged by the Adviser or Trading Advisers either at the Fund or at the Fund's wholly-owned Subsidiary.

(5)  A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A Shares made within 12 months after purchase where no initial sales charge was paid at time of purchase as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class I Share

 

$

206

   

$

726

   

$

1,272

   

$

2,764

   

Class A Shares

 

$

793

   

$

1,330

   

$

1,891

   

$

3,412

   

Class C Shares

 

$

306

   

$

1,023

   

$

1,761

   

$

3,710

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its assets between a "Managed Futures" strategy and a "Fixed Income" strategy.

The Managed Futures strategy will be achieved by the Fund investing up to 25% of its total assets in Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the "Subsidiary"). The Adviser may allocate assets of the Subsidiary to a single Managed Futures portfolio or multiple Managed Futures portfolios that include investment styles or sub-strategies such as (i) trend following, (ii) discretionary, fundamentals-based investing with a focus on macroeconomic analysis, (iii) strategies that pursue both fundamental and technical trading approaches, (iv) other specialized approaches to specific or individual market sectors such as equities, interest rates, metals, agricultural and soft commodities and (v) systematic trading strategies which incorporate technical and fundamental variables.

The Managed Futures strategy investments are designed to achieve capital appreciation in the financial and commodities futures markets. The Adviser intends to allocate the assets of the Subsidiary to one or more Trading Advisers to manage in percentages determined at the discretion of the Adviser. Each Trading Adviser invests according to a Managed Futures strategy in one or a combination of (i) options, (ii) futures, (iii) forwards, (iv) spot contracts or (v) swaps, including total return swaps, each of which may be tied to (i) commodities, (ii) financial indices and instruments, (iii) foreign currencies, or (iv) equity indices. Each current Trading Adviser is registered with the U.S.


2



Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") as a Commodity Trading Advisor. Trading Advisers that are not registered with the SEC as investment advisers provide advice only regarding matters that do not involve securities.

The Fixed Income strategy invests the Fund's assets primarily in investment grade fixed income securities (of all durations and maturities) in order to generate interest income and capital appreciation, which may add diversification to the returns generated by the Fund's Managed Futures strategy. The Fund must set aside liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or staff-approved measures, to "cover" open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivative instruments. The Fixed Income strategy investments may be used to help cover the Fund's derivative positions.

The Fund's Adviser seeks returns, in part, by (i) using Managed Futures strategy investments that are not expected to have returns that are highly correlated to the broad equity market and (ii) through actively managed Fixed Income strategy investments that are not expected to have returns that are highly correlated to the broad equity market or the Managed Futures strategy. The Adviser believes that utilizing non-correlated strategies may mitigate losses in generally declining markets. However, there can be no assurance that losses will be avoided. Investment strategies that have historically been non-correlated or demonstrated low correlations to one another or to major world financial market indices may become correlated at certain times, such as during a liquidity crisis in global financial markets.

The trading strategies employ several different trading styles using different research and trading methodologies, in a wide range of global financial and commodity markets operating over multiple time frames. Many of the styles use systematic, automated trading systems, using a combination of mathematical, statistical, technical analysis, pattern recognition and macroeconomic models aimed at profiting from market trends of different durations. Trading Advisers may use discretionary approaches aimed at identifying value investments and turning points in trends. All Trading Advisers utilize a disciplined approach to risk management. The Adviser and Trading Advisers from time to time will employ hedging techniques. Key principles of the Fund's sell discipline include predetermined relative-value objectives for sectors, issuers and specific securities, pricing performance or fundamental performance that varies from expectations, deteriorating fundamentals, overvaluation and alternative investments offering the opportunity to achieve more favourable risk-adjusted returns.

The markets traded include bonds, money markets, foreign exchange markets and commodity markets. Most of the trading is done in derivative markets, usually listed futures markets, but some trading in cash markets may take place when this is the most effective way to enter or exit a trading position. Both long and short positions will be taken in all markets traded. Contracts are positioned either long or short based on various characteristics related to their prices. For example, the Fund may short a particular underlying security or instrument if the Adviser or a Trading Adviser believes the price of the underlying security or instrument will decrease. The Fund invests in U.S. and non-U.S. markets and in developed and emerging markets.

As much of the trading within the Fund is in futures markets, the Fund is likely to have cash balances surplus to margin requirements. The cash portfolio will be invested on a short-term, highly liquid, basis, to meet margin calls on the futures positions.

The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund. The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. The Fund's investments in certain derivative instruments and its short selling activities involve the use of leverage.

Generally, the Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity futures, but it may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary's derivative positions. The Fund invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Fund's transactions in derivatives.


3



In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary will not seek to qualify as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary and does not expect shares of the Subsidiary to be offered or sold to other investors.

Principal Investment Risks

Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments.

The principal risk factors affecting shareholders' investments in the Fund (and, indirectly, in the Subsidiary) are set forth below.

•   Commodity Sector Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The prices of energy, industrial metals, precious metals, agriculture and livestock sector commodities may fluctuate widely due to factors such as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies. The commodity-linked securities in which the Fund invests may be issued by companies in the financial services sector, and events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund's Share value to fluctuate.

•   Counterparty Risk: Counterparty risk is the risk that the other party(s) to an agreement or a participant to a transaction, such as a broker or the FCM, might default on a contract or fail to perform by failing to pay amounts due or failing to fulfill the obligations of the contract or transaction.

•   Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer's credit rating or the market's perception of an issuer's creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund's investment in that issuer. Securities rated in the four highest categories by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.

•   Currency Risk: Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit potential gains from a favorable change in value between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated changes in currency pricing may result in poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in these contracts.

•   Derivatives Risk: The Fund's investments in derivative instruments including options, forward currency exchange contracts, swaps and futures, which may be leveraged, may result in losses. Investments in derivative instruments may result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   Emerging Markets Risk: Investment in emerging market securities involves greater risk than that associated with investment in foreign securities of developed foreign countries. These risks include volatile currency exchange rates, periods of high inflation, increased risk of default, greater social, economic and


4



political uncertainty and instability, less governmental supervision and regulation of securities markets, weaker auditing and financial reporting standards, lack of liquidity in the markets, and the significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers.

•   Fixed Income Securities Risk: Fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are subject to certain risks, including: interest rate risk, prepayment risk and credit/default risk. Interest rate risk involves the risk that prices of fixed income securities will rise and fall in response to interest rate changes. Prepayment risk involves the risk that in declining interest rate environments prepayments of principal could increase and require the Fund to reinvest proceeds of the prepayments at lower interest rates. Credit risk involves the risk that the credit rating of a security may be lowered.

•   Foreign Investments Risk: International investing is subject to special risks, including currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers either directly or through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.

•   Forward and Futures Risk: The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Adviser's and Trading Advisers' skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market, and possible regulatory position limits and restrictions, for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser's and Trading Advisers' inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

•   Hedging Transactions Risk: The Adviser and Trading Advisers from time to time employ various hedging techniques. The success of the Fund's hedging strategy will be subject to the Adviser's and Trading Advisers' ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund's hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser's and Trading Advisers' ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser and Trading Advisers may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own cost.

•   High Portfolio Turnover Risk: The risk that when investing on a shorter-term basis, the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.

•   Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of fixed income securities generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when interest rates increase. The Fund may lose money if short term or long term interest rates rise sharply or otherwise change in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser and Trading Advisers. It is likely there will be less governmental action in the near future to maintain low


5



interest rates. The negative impact on fixed income securities from the resulting rate increases for that and other reasons could be swift and significant.

•   Leveraging Risk: Investments in derivative instruments may give rise to a form of leverage. Trading Advisers may engage in speculative transactions which involve substantial risk and leverage, such as making short sales. The use of leverage by the Adviser and Trading Advisers may increase the volatility of the Fund. These leveraged instruments may result in losses to the Fund or may adversely affect the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") or total return, because instruments that contain leverage are more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The Fund may also have to sell assets at inopportune times to satisfy its obligations in connection with such transactions.

•   Manager Risk: If the Adviser and Trading Advisers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the Fund's investment performance.

•   Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.

•   Market Risk: The NAV of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money.

•   Multi-Manager Dependence Risk: The success of the Fund's investment strategy depends both on the Adviser's ability to select Trading Advisers and to allocate assets to those Trading Advisers and on each Trading Adviser's ability to execute the relevant strategy and select investments for the Fund and the Subsidiary. The Trading Advisers' investment styles may not always be complementary, which could affect the performance of the Fund.

•   New Adviser Risk: The Trading Advisers may be newly registered or not registered with the SEC and/or have not previously managed a mutual fund. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that a Trading Adviser's inexperience may limit its effectiveness.

•   Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified. Compared to other funds, the Fund may invest more of its assets in a smaller number of companies. Gains or losses on a single stock may have greater impact on the Fund.

•   Short Sales Risk: Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises. In a rising market, short positions may be more likely to result in losses because securities sold short may be more likely to increase in value. Short selling also involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses; the potential inability to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the possibility of the lender terminating the loan at any time, forcing the Fund to close the transaction under unfavorable circumstances; the additional costs that may be incurred; and the potential loss of investment flexibility caused by the Fund's obligations to provide collateral to the lender and set aside assets to cover the open position. The Fund may engage in short sales that are either "uncovered" or "against the box." A short sale is "against the box" if at all times during which the short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short. Short sales "against the box" may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited.

•   Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary's investments. The derivatives and other investments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that


6



apply to similar investments if held directly by the fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to continue to operate as it does currently and could adversely affect the Fund.

•   Tax Risk: In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must meet certain requirements regarding the source of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has issued a ruling that income realized from certain types of commodity-linked derivatives would not be qualifying income. The Fund's investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the Code for qualification as a RIC, but there is a risk that the IRS could assert that the income derived from the Fund's investment in the Subsidiary and certain commodity-linked structured notes will not be considered qualifying income for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC and became subject to federal income tax, shareholders of the Fund would be subject to diminished returns. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or its Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Performance Information

Because the Fund has less than one full calendar year of performance, no performance information has been included.

Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser and Trading Advisers
Abbey Capital Limited, 1-2 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, Ireland, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Altis Partners (Jersey) Limited, Cantab Capital Partners LLP, Conquest Capital LLC, Eclipse Capital Management, Inc., Graham Capital Management, LP, Harmonic Capital Partners LLP, P/E Investments, LLC, Revolution Capital Management, LLC, and Trigon Investment Advisors LLC each serves as a Trading Adviser to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers
The Fund is managed by the following co-portfolio managers.

   

Title

 

Portfolio Manager Since:

 

Abbey Capital Limited

 

Anthony Gannon

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

Inception (July 1, 2014)

 

Mick Swift

  Deputy Chief Executive Officer and
Research Director
 

Inception (July 1, 2014)

 

Purchase and Sale Information

The minimum initial investment in Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Class I Shares is $2,500, $2,500 and $1,000,000, respectively. There is a minimum amount of $100 for subsequent investment in Class A Shares and Class C Shares and of $1,000 in Class I Shares.


7



You can only purchase and redeem Shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption by Mail:

Regular Mail:
Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041
 
Overnight Delivery:
Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Purchase by Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-844-261-6484 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund.

Redemption by Telephone:

Call the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6484.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


8




FUND INFORMATION

More Information About Fund Investments

This section provides some additional information about the Fund's investments and certain portfolio management techniques that the Fund may use. More information about the Fund's investments and portfolio management techniques, and related risks, is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

The Fund's investment objective is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. However, as a matter of policy, the Fund would not materially change its investment objective without informing shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any such change.

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of money market and short-term debt securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

This Prospectus describes the Fund's principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategy. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund's SAI. Of course, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

More Information About Risks

The following provides additional information about the principal and certain non-principal risks of investing in the Fund and, indirectly, in the Subsidiary. More information about the Fund's risks is included in the SAI.

Principal Risks

Commodity-Linked Derivatives. The Fund may gain exposure to the commodities markets through commodity-linked structured notes, swap agreements and commodity futures and options. These instruments have one or more commodity-dependent components. They are derivative instruments because at least part of their value is derived from the value of an underlying commodity index, commodity futures contract, index or other readily measurable economic variable. The prices of commodity-linked derivative instruments may move in different directions than investments in traditional equity and debt securities when the value of those traditional securities is declining due to adverse economic conditions. As an example, during periods of rising inflation, historically debt securities have tended to decline in value due to the general increase in prevailing interest rates. Conversely, during those same periods of rising inflation, historically the prices of certain commodities, such as oil and metals, have tended to increase. There cannot be any guarantee that derivative instruments will perform in that manner in the future, and at certain times the price movements of commodity-linked investments have been parallel to debt and equity securities.

Counterparties. To the extent the Fund invests in loans or securities traded over-the-counter, swaps, "synthetic" or derivative instruments, repurchase agreements, certain types of options or other customized financial instruments, the Fund takes the risk of non-performance by the other party to the contract. This risk may include credit risk of the counterparty and the risk of settlement default. This risk may differ materially from those entailed in exchange-traded transactions that generally are supported by guarantees of clearing organizations, daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered


9



directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections and expose the parties to the risk of counterparty default.

Credit/Default Risk. The credit rating of an issuer or guarantor of a security in which the Fund invests may be lowered or an issuer or guarantor of a security or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a repurchase agreement may default on its payment obligations. The risk of loss due to default by issuers of lower-rated securities is greater because low-rated securities generally are unsecured and often are subordinated to the rights of other creditors of the issuers of such securities. The Fund also may incur additional expenses in seeking recovery on defaulted securities. The creditworthiness of firms used by the Fund to effect securities transactions in emerging and frontier market countries may not be as strong as in some developed countries. As a result, the Fund could be subject to a greater risk of loss on its securities transactions if a firm defaults on its responsibilities.

Derivative Contracts. The Fund may, but need not, use derivative contracts for any of the following purposes:

•  To seek to hedge against the possible adverse impact of changes in stock market prices, currency exchange rates or interest rates in the market value of its securities or securities to be purchased;

•  As a substitute for buying or selling currencies or securities; or

•  To seek to enhance the Fund's return in non-hedging situations (which is considered a speculative activity).

Examples of derivative contracts include: futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward foreign currency contracts; and interest rate or currency swaps. The Fund may use derivative contracts involving foreign currencies. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle the Fund to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities, currencies or indices. Even a small investment in derivative contracts can have a big impact on the Fund's stock market, currency and interest rate exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. The Fund may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the Fund's holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of default risk as issuers of fixed income securities in that the counterparty may default on its payment obligations or become insolvent. Derivatives can also make the Fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets.

Fixed Income Investments. The Fund invests a portion of its assets in fixed income securities. Fixed income investments include bonds, notes (including structured notes), mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments. Fixed income securities may be issued by corporate and governmental issuers and may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including (without limitation) fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features. The principal debt investments of the Fund will be fixed and floating rate securities with no reset terms.

The credit quality of securities held in the Fund's portfolio is determined at the time of investment. If a security is rated differently by multiple ratings organizations, the Fund treats the security as being rated in the higher rating category. Periods of rising interest rates may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets) through American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or International Depositary Receipts ("IDRs"). Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The


10



depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.

In addition, the Fund may invest in securities traded or denominated in foreign currencies and in multinational currencies such as the Euro. The Fund will value its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. Investments in securities of foreign entities and securities denominated or traded in foreign currencies involve special risks. These include possible political and economic instability and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other restrictions on investments. Changes in foreign currency rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Emerging market investments offer the potential for significant gains but also involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. Political or economic instability, lack of market liquidity and government actions such as currency controls or seizure of private business or property may be more likely in emerging markets.

Interest Rate Risk. During periods of rising interest rates, the market value of the Fund's fixed-income securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market interest rates. In periods of falling interest rates, the market value of the Fund's fixed-income securities generally will tend to be higher than prevailing market interest rates. Prices of longer-term fixed income securities are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates than prices of shorter-term fixed-income securities. Significant upward pressure on domestic interest rates and a corresponding widening of credit spreads could negatively impact the market price of emerging debt markets.

Interest Rate Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Credit Default Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars.

•  Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments.

•  Total return swaps are contracts that obligate one party to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return on a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference during a specified period of time. The underlying asset might be a security or basket of securities or a non-asset reference such as a securities index. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference.

•  Credit default swaps are contracts whereby one party makes periodic payments to a counterparty in exchange for the right to receive from the counterparty a payment equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation in the event of a default by the issuer of the debt obligation.

•  Options on swaps ("swaptions") are options to enter into a swap agreement. The Fund may also purchase and write (sell) swaptions. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms.

•  Interest rate caps entitle the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap.

•  Interest rate floors entitle the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor.

•  Interest rate collars combine a cap and a floor that are designed to preserve a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.


11



The Fund may enter into the transactions described above for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity). The use of swaps, swaptions, and interest rate caps, floors and collars is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Adviser or a Trading Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values and interest rates, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment techniques were not used.

Leveraging Risk. The Fund's use of futures, forward contracts, swaps, other derivative instruments and selling securities short will have the economic effect of financial leverage. The use of leverage by the Adviser and Trading Advisers may increase the volatility of the Fund. These leveraged instruments may result in losses to the Fund or may adversely affect the Fund's NAV or total return, because instruments that contain leverage are more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The Fund may also use borrowed funds to create leverage. Although the use of leverage by the Fund may create an opportunity for increased return, it also results in additional risks and can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and gains earned on the securities and instruments purchased with leverage proceeds are greater than the cost of the leverage, the Fund's return will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income and gains from the securities and instruments purchased with such proceeds does not cover the cost of leverage, the Fund's return will be less than if leverage had not been used. In the event of a sudden, precipitous drop in value of the Fund's assets, the Fund may not be able to liquidate assets quickly enough to pay off its borrowing. Short sales of securities also involve the use of leverage. Using this investment technique may adversely affect the Fund's NAV or total return.

To limit leverage risk, the Fund will segregate assets determined by the Adviser to be liquid in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, or, when permissible, enter into offsetting transactions, to cover its obligations resulting from its use of derivative instruments. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures contract, option or other derivative is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, it is possible that segregating a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Short Sales. The Fund engages in short sales – including those that are not "against the box," which means that the Fund may make short sales where the Fund does not currently own or have the right to acquire, at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short – in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. In a typical short sale, the Fund borrows from a broker a security in order to sell the security to a third party. The Fund is then obligated to return a security of the same issuer and quantity at some future date. The Fund realizes a loss to the extent the security increases in value or a profit to the extent the security declines in value (after taking into account any associated costs). Short sales "against the box" may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited. The Fund will not make a short sale if, immediately before the transaction, the market value of all securities sold short exceeds 95% of the value of the Fund's assets.

Until the Fund closes its short position, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities at such a level that (i) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; and (ii) the amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time the security was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund's short position.

Subsidiary Risk. The Fund will make investments through a wholly-owned Subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary's investments. The derivatives and other investments held by a Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments


12



if held directly by the Fund. These risks are described elsewhere in this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved.

The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board of Directors has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund's role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund.

Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of a fund and/or its Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and in the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Tax Risk. The IRS has issued private letter rulings to registered investment companies concluding that income derived from their investment in a wholly-owned subsidiary and certain commodity-linked structured notes would constitute qualifying income to the fund. The IRS has indicated that the granting of these types of private letter rulings is currently suspended, pending further internal discussion. As a result, the Fund has not received such a private letter ruling. Therefore, there is a risk that the IRS could assert that the income derived from the Fund's investment in the Subsidiary and certain commodity-linked structured notes will not be considered qualifying income for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC and became subject to federal income tax, shareholders of the Fund would be subject to diminished returns.

Non-Principal Risks

Equity and Equity-Related Securities. The Fund may invest in equity securities, including exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies and real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and equity participations. Investments in equity securities and equity derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. State law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a limited partnership than investors in a corporation. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the Fund's NAV to fluctuate. The number of issuers in the Fund's portfolio will vary over time.

Exchange-Traded Funds ("ETFs"). The Fund may invest in ETFs to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and applicable SEC orders. ETFs are registered investment companies whose shares are listed and traded on U.S. stock exchanges or otherwise traded in the over-the-counter market. As a shareholder in an ETF, the Fund will bear its pro rata portion of an ETF's expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares.


13



Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies (including issues that would be investment companies but for sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act), but may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. Among other things, the Fund may invest in money market mutual funds for cash management purposes by "sweeping" excess cash balances into such funds until the cash is invested or otherwise utilized. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by investment companies in which it invests in addition to the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund. Investments in issues that would be investment companies but for sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act will generally be considered illiquid investments and would be subject to the Fund's 15% limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

Redemptions. The Fund may need to sell its holdings in order to meet shareholder redemption requests. The Fund could experience a loss when selling securities to meet redemption requests if the redemption requests are unusually large or frequent, occur in times of overall market turmoil or declining prices for the securities sold, or when the securities the Fund wishes to or is required to sell are illiquid. The Fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities at its desired time or price. Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a ready buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities' resale. Certain securities that were liquid when purchased may later become illiquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress.

Temporary Investments. The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of money market and short-term debt securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's SAI. The SAI is incorporated herein.

More Information About Management of The Fund

Investment Adviser

Abbey Capital Limited, an Irish limited company founded in 2000, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser's principal place of business is located at 1-2 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, Ireland. As of September 30, 2014, the Adviser had over $2.1 billion in assets under management. The Adviser is registered as an Investment Adviser with the SEC and as a Commodity Trading Advisor (or "CTA") and a Commodity Pool Operator (or "CPO") with the CFTC (September 2000), and is a member of the National Futures Association (the "NFA").

The Fund is managed by the Adviser and one or more Trading Advisers unaffiliated with the Adviser. The Adviser also has the ultimate responsibility to oversee the Trading Advisers, and to recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Fund compensates the Adviser for its services at the annual rate of 1.97% of its average annual net assets, payable on a monthly basis in arrears. The Adviser compensates the Trading Advisers out of the advisory fee that it receives from the Fund.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.99%, 2.24% and 2.99% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares, Class A Shares and Class C Shares, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.99%, 2.24% or 2.99%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval


14



of the Board of Directors. If at any time the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for a year are less than 1.99%, 2.24% or 2.99%, as applicable, the Adviser may recoup any waived amount from the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made by the Adviser if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed existing expense limitations. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, after waivers, the Adviser received 1.54% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Adviser would have received 1.97% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund.

Anthony Gannon and Mick Swift are the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

Anthony Gannon (CEO) founded the Adviser in 2000 with a vision to create an alternative investment business providing multi-manager funds in the managed futures, foreign exchange and global market sectors of the hedge fund industry. Over its twelve year history, Mr. Gannon has overseen the Adviser's growth from a start-up to a global company managing in excess of USD 2.3 billion as at March 31, 2014. The Adviser is currently one of the largest independent allocators in the CTA industry globally. Prior to founding the Adviser, Mr. Gannon was a co-founder of Allied Irish Capital Management (AICM), a multi-manager CTA, in conjunction with Allied Irish Banks. He helped to grow the company to become one of the largest European CTAs, with funds under management growing from an initial $50 million to in excess of $1.4 billion. Mr. Gannon has more than 20 years' investment experience in the managed futures industry. He is recognized and acknowledged as a leader in the industry globally. He is a regular guest speaker at alternative investment industry conferences. Mr. Gannon graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Masters in Business Studies with Finance from University College Dublin, Ireland.

Mick Swift is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Research Director at the Adviser. Mr. Swift is a member of the Adviser's Board of Directors and Investment Committee, and is a Principal of the firm. As Research Director, he manages and oversees the Adviser's research and risk management processes as well as portfolio construction. Mr. Swift joined the Adviser in May 2002 after fifteen years as a trader and manager of trading teams. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Swift was a Director at Allied Irish Capital Management (AICM), a Dublin-based CTA from 1998 to 2002. While at AICM, he worked in a trading capacity and also on product research and risk management. Previously, Mr. Swift was the Head of Foreign Exchange and European Interest Rate Trading at Bank of Ireland in Dublin from 1997 to 2002. Previously, Mr. Swift was Treasurer and EVP at Bank of Ireland's New York Branch, where he ran the trading and sales operation from 1994 to 1997. He initially joined the Treasury Division of Bank of Ireland in 1984 where he traded Foreign Exchange and Interest Rate Markets on a proprietary basis. In 1992, he became Head of Interest Rate trading at the bank. A frequent guest speaker and presenter at conferences throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S., Mr. Swift has addressed topics including alternative investment policy development, risk management and the managed futures industry. Mr. Swift graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from University College Galway and holds an ACMA qualification.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund.

Trading Advisers

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with each Trading Adviser to manage a portion of the Subsidiary's assets. Each Trading Adviser makes investment decisions for the assets it has been allocated to manage. The Adviser oversees the Trading Advisers for compliance with the Fund's investment objective, policies, strategies and restrictions, and monitors each Trading Adviser's adherence to its investment style. The Board of Directors supervises the Adviser and the Trading Advisers, establishes policies that they must follow in their management activities, and oversees the hiring, termination and replacement of Trading Advisers recommended by the Adviser.


15



The Fund and the Adviser have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, without shareholder approval and subject to certain conditions, to terminate existing Trading Advisers or hire new Trading Advisers for the Fund, to materially amend the terms of particular agreements with Trading Advisers or to continue the employment of existing Trading Advisers after events that would otherwise cause an automatic termination of a trading advisory agreement. This arrangement has been approved by the Board of Directors and the Fund's initial shareholder. Consequently, under the exemptive order, the Adviser has the right to hire, terminate and replace Trading Advisers when the Board of Directors and the Adviser feel that a change would benefit the Fund. The exemptive order enables the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of trading advisory agreements.

Not all of the Trading Advisers listed for the Subsidiary may be actively managing assets for the Subsidiary at all times. Subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors, the Adviser may temporarily allocate Subsidiary assets away from a Trading Adviser. Situations in which the Adviser may make such a determination include changes in the level of assets in the Fund, changes to the Adviser's view of the Trading Adviser's current opportunities, changes in a Trading Adviser's personnel or a Trading Adviser's adherence to an investment strategy.

The following provides additional information about each Trading Adviser and the Trading Adviser's investment teams.

Altis Partners (Jersey) Limited

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Altis Partners (Jersey) Limited ("Altis") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Altis Emerald Futures Program. Altis is a Limited Company formed in 2000 and based in the States of Jersey, Channel Islands. Altis' main office is located at 2 Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands. Altis is registered as a CTA and CPO with the CFTC, is a member of the NFA and has been trading since July 2001. Altis focuses on systematic and quantitative trading, applying rigorous research into markets combining established scientific principles and advanced technology.

Zbigniew Hermaszewski – Partner: Mr. Hermaszewski's primary focus is on the development of research and technology. Mr. Hermaszewski received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Imperial College London. Mr. Hermaszewski has over 30 years' experience including stock broking, market making, investment research and the development and implementation of trading systems. Previously, Mr. Hermaszewski was senior researcher at AHL and head of research at Sabre Fund Management before creating the Altis Portfolio Management platform.

Alex Brunwin – Partner: Mr. Brunwin's primary focus is on technology and research. Mr. Brunwin's background is in physics where he received a Bachelor of Science Honours degree from Bristol University. Mr. Brunwin has over 21 years' experience within the technology sector, specialising in front and middle office trading. Previous to Altis, Mr. Brunwin was an analyst programmer at Sabre Fund Management and Director of Information Technology at Quality Capital Management Limited where he managed all IT projects and developed and implemented their system and trading infrastructure.

Stephen Hedgecock – Partner: Mr. Hedgecock task consists of business development and marketing of Altis' business. Mr. Hedgecock has a background in trading, previously working as a trader with Citibank, Moore Capital and Nederlandse Varia Maatschappij. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Hedgecock was Executive Director of Sabre Funds Management before becoming Executive Director at Quality Capital Management where he was responsible for the day to day management of the company and involved in developing, and maintaining client relationships.

Natasha Reeve-Gray – Partner: Ms. Reeve-Gray is primarily focused on business development and the maintaining and developing of client relationships. Ms. Reeve-Gray has over 18 years' experience in trading, middle office management and developing client relationships. Previous to Altis, Ms. Reeve-Gray was a futures broker for Refco Overseas & Refco managing the middle office and client orders. In 1995, Ms. Reeve-Gray


16



became a trader at Quality Capital Management where she managed the general running of the trading department.

Cantab Capital Partners, LLP

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Cantab Capital Partners, LLP ("Cantab") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Core Macro Program. Cantab is a Cambridge-based Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) formed in 2006. Cantab's main office is located at City House, 126-130 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1RE, UK. Cantab is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and CPO and is a member of the NFA. Cantab's investment philosophy is based on a multi-strategy, multi-asset approach looking to identify several distinct sources of return from persistent statistical relationships between assets.

Dr. Ewan Kirk – CEO/CIO and Founding Partner: Dr. Kirk's daily focus is on research and development, risk management and managing Cantab's quantitative team. Dr. Kirk's background is in mathematics where he received a PhD from the University of Southampton, a Certificate in Advanced Study in Applied Mathematics from the University of Cambridge and achieved a First Class degree in Natural Philosophy and Astronomy from the University of Glasgow. Previously, Dr. Kirk ran the Goldman Sachs Strategies Group in Europe where he was responsible for all of Goldman Sachs' quantitative technology.

Erich Schlaikjer – Chief Technology Officer and Founding Partner: Mr. Schlaikjer focuses on creating the software tools which enable the researchers to develop strategies as well as managing Cantab's relationships with its service providers. Mr. Schlaikjer graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Latin and Greek. Previously, Mr. Schlaikjer was Managing Director and European Chief Technology Officer of the Quantitative Strategies Group at Goldman Sachs.

Dr. Tom Howat – Senior Scientist and Partner: Dr. Howat heads the team of programmers responsible for Cantab's ongoing infrastructural development. Prior to joining Cantab, Dr. Howat spent seven years at Trinity College, Cambridge, obtaining degrees in Mathematics and a PhD in Mathematical Biology.

Dr. Matthew Killeya – Senior Scientist and Partner: Dr. Killeya works on all aspects of program and portfolio construction including development of new strategies. Dr. Killeya has a PhD in Bayesian statistics from Durham University where he also obtained a first class Master of Mathematics degree receiving a special prize for the top final year dissertation. Prior to joining Cantab, Dr. Killeya was a senior managing researcher at Winton Capital Management.

Dr. Genia Diamond – Head of Business Development and Partner: Dr. Diamond is responsible for all investor-related activities. Dr. Diamond has a PhD in linguistics from the Moscow State University, an MBA from Erasmus University in the Netherlands and achieved an MA (Honours) in Linguistics & Culture Studies from the Moscow State University. Dr. Diamond started her career in asset management as a senior hedge fund researcher at PAAMCO. Later, Dr. Diamond had positions at Solent Capital, BlueCrest Capital and OMAM UK before joining Cantab in 2011.

Adam Glinsman – Managing Partner: Mr. Glinsman focuses on the management and evolution of all non-investment aspects of the business. After a career in institutional equities, between 2003 and 2009 Mr. Glinsman was COO and Partner of Lansdowne Partners. He was also a member of the Management Committee with primary responsibility for Business Management and Development, and Enterprise Risk. Mr. Glinsman has a BSc (Econ.) with First Class Honours from the London School of Economics and an MPhil in International Relations from Cambridge University.

Fraser McIntyre – Chief Operating Officer and Partner. Mr. McIntyre oversees all operational areas of the business, including finance, operations, legal and compliance. Mr. McIntyre is a qualified Chartered Accountant with fifteen years of experience in the hedge fund industry. Mr. McIntyre started his career in the Prime Broking divisions at Goldman Sachs and UBS, followed by a series of COO/CFO roles at single managers, most recently


17



at Meditor Capital Management in London. Mr. McIntyre has a degree in Business Studies and Accounting from the University of Edinburgh.

Conquest Capital LLC

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Conquest Capital LLC ("Conquest") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Conquest Emerald Futures Program. Conquest is a Delaware Limited Liability Company formed in 2001 and based in New York. Conquest's main office is located at 540 Madison Avenue, 14th Fl, New York, NY 10022. Conquest is registered with the CFTC as both a CTA and a CPO and is a member of the NFA in such capacities. Conquest's philosophy is predominantly focused on capturing short-term directional moves.

Marc H. Malek – Founder and Portfolio Manager: Mr. Malek is the primary decision-maker at Conquest, setting the strategic and investment direction of the firm. Mr. Malek graduated with Honors from the California Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Applied Science, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Reed College. He began his career in 1992 at Salomon Brothers as a financial analyst in the Financial Strategy Group. Following his time at Salomon Brothers, he worked at a $400 million hedge fund and financial advisory firm designing trading systems and trading currency options. After joining UBS in 1995, Mr. Malek held various senior level positions, up to worldwide head of the Exotic FX Derivatives Group and Executive Director in charge of FX Proprietary Trading in Europe. Following UBS, he was a principal in Avalon Asset Management where he was the Co-Portfolio Manager of The Enterprise Fund, a CTA. In 2001, Mr. Malek founded Conquest Capital Group LLC, the parent entity of Conquest, where he continued his role as Portfolio Manager and launched Conquest Macro, a systematic short-term trading CTA.

Jason Ruspini – Portfolio Manager, Research: Mr. Ruspini holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1997. In early 1999, he left his internet start-up to join Goldman Sachs where he served as a senior analyst in firm-wide and fixed income technology for over three years. After departing Goldman Sachs, Mr. Ruspini worked as a floor trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange, at which time he began developing systematic strategies. Mr. Ruspini joined Conquest in July 2003.

Harold Feder – Chief Financial Officer & Compliance Officer: Mr. Feder graduated Summa Cum Laude from Touro College with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He worked in public accounting for seven years, most recently as an audit manager at Grant Thornton's Financial Services Industry Group. While at Grant Thornton, Mr. Feder was in charge of auditing various hedge funds, private equity partnerships and broker-dealers. He was also an instructor in Grant Thornton's Continuing Professional Education Center, where he gave courses on Audit Planning and on Auditing Broker-Dealers. Mr. Feder has also worked as an accountant at Tudor Investment Corp. Mr. Feder is licensed as a CPA in the state of New York. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he has served on the Stock Brokerage committee. Mr. Feder joined Conquest in August 2004.

Eclipse Capital Management, Inc.

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Eclipse Capital Management, Inc ("Eclipse") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Eclipse Emerald Futures Program. Eclipse is a Missouri-based corporation formed in 1983. Eclipse's main office is located at 7700 Bonhomme Ave, Suite 500, St. Louis, MO. Eclipse is registered with CFTC as a CTA and is a member of the NFA. Eclipse Fund Management, Inc. (an affiliate) is registered as a CPO with the CFTC. Eclipse focuses on a systematic approach designed to profit primarily from intermediate- and long-term price trends in multiple market sectors.

Thomas W. Moller – CEO and CIO: Mr. Moller serves as CEO and head of Eclipse's Business Management Group driving the firm's investment management and product development activities. Mr. Moller holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and a Master's in


18



Accounting from the University of Kentucky. Prior to founding Eclipse, Mr. Moller fulfilled a number of roles including Associated Person of Geldermann & Company, principal of Interest Rate Management Inc. and Associated Person of Man International Inc.

Fran Olszweski – Managing Director and Chief Portfolio Manager: Mr. Olszweski's primary responsibility is the research and development, implementation, and maintenance of Eclipse's trading strategies. Mr. Olszweski's background is in Economics where he holds a Bachelor's degree from Washington University. Previously, Mr. Olszweski served as trading manager for Hollingsworth Trading Company before moving to the Capital Markets Group of Nippon Credit Bank where he worked as a proprietary trader. Mr. Olszweski then held the role of Assistant Vice President and proprietary trader within the Derivatives Dealing Team of UFJ Group before joining Eclipse in 2001.

Brent R. Mathus – Managing Director, Trading: Mr. Mathus is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Eclipse's trading desk. Mr. Mathus is a graduate of the University of Missouri where he holds a BSBA degree in Finance and Banking. Mr. Mathus previously served six years with Eclipse from 1998 to 2004 as a Global Trader and Associated Person. Prior to rejoining Eclipse in 2007, Mr. Mathus served roles as an National Futures Association Associate Member, Associated Person and Managing Director/Head Trader at AlphaSimplex Group.

Graham Capital Management, LP

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Graham Capital Management, L.P. ("GCM") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Graham Tactical Trend Program. GCM is a Connecticut based company formed in 1994. GCM's main offices are located at Rock Ledge Financial Centre, 40 Highland Avenue, Rowayton, CT 06853. GCM is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and CPO and is a member of the NFA. GCM is also registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Investment Adviser. GCM offers clients a broad array of quantitative and discretionary global macro trading programs. GCM's quantitative trading programs or models produce trading signals on a largely automated basis when applied to market data. In GCM's discretionary trading programs, trades are determined subjectively on the basis of its traders' assessment of market conditions rather than through application of an automated system.

Kenneth G. Tropin – Chairman: Mr. Tropin founded GCM in May 1994. Mr. Tropin developed the firm's original trading programs and is responsible for the overall management of the organization, including the investment of its proprietary trading capital.

Pablo Calderini – President and Chief Investment Officer: Mr. Calderini is responsible for the management and oversight of the discretionary and systematic trading businesses at GCM. He joined GCM in August 2010 and became an Associated Person and Principal of GCM effective August 13, 2010. Prior to joining GCM, Mr. Calderini worked at Deutsche Bank from June 1997 to July 2010 where he held positions of increasing responsibility, most recently the Global Head of Equity Proprietary Trading. Mr. Calderini commenced his career at Deutsche Bank as Global Head of Emerging Markets. During his tenure at Deutsche Bank, Mr. Calderini also helped manage several groups across the fixed income and equity platforms, including the Global Credit Derivatives Team. Mr. Calderini received a BA in Economics from Universidad Nacional de Rosario in 1987 and a Masters in Economics from Universidad del.

Harmonic Capital Partners LLP

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Harmonic Capital Partners LLP ("HCP") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Harmonic Emerald Futures Program. HCP is a limited liability partnership formed in 2002. HCP's main office is located at 3 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9AA, UK. HCP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and CPO and is a member of the NFA. HCP is also registered with the SEC as an Investment Adviser. HCP uses a systematic multi-strategy approach aiming to capture alpha from futures and currency markets through macro-economic understanding.


19



Richard Conyers – CIO and Investment Partner: Mr. Conyers primary focus is the development and oversight of HCP's research efforts. Prior to founding HCP in 2002, Mr. Conyers worked for Aspect Capital from 2000 to 2002 as Head of Fixed Income and Currencies. From 1992 to 2000 he worked for Schroder Investment Management as a Director of Fixed Income and Head of the European fixed income team and from 1987 to 1992 for Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Investment Management as an International Fixed Income fund manager responsible for multi-asset portfolios. He holds a first class honours degree in Mathematics from Durham University.

David Pendlebury – CEO: Mr. Pendlebury's primary focus is the coordination of HCP's overall business. Prior to founding HCP in 2002, Mr. Pendlebury worked for Aspect Capital from 1999 to 2002. Initially he researched and developed trading systems and more latterly was responsible for overseeing software and IT related projects in his capacity as Software Development Manager. Before joining Aspect, Mr. Pendlebury worked for the Xerox Research Centre in Cambridge from 1994 to 1999 where he designed and implemented innovative mobile telephony applications. He is the co-author of several patents and research papers relating to these systems. He graduated from Cambridge University with a MA degree in Computer Science.

Patrik Säfvenblad – Investment Partner: Dr. Säfvenblad's primary focus is on the research and development of new strategies. Prior to joining HCP in 2009, Dr. Säfvenblad worked for DnB NOR Asset Management as Head of Hedge Fund Research. Before joining DnB NOR in 2007, he was Head of Portfolio Management at RPM Risk and Portfolio Management in Stockholm. In this role he managed the firm's investment team and had overall responsibility for research, due diligence and investment analysis. Before joining RPM in 2000, he was Assistant Professor of Finance at the Stockholm School of Economics. His academic research focused on price formation, in particular the information flow in complex markets. He holds a PhD in Finance from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Samir Sheldenkar – Investment Partner: Mr. Sheldenkar's primary focus is on the research and development of new strategies. Prior to joining HCP in 2006, Mr. Sheldenkar worked at Application Networks/Thomson Reuters as a Risk and Valuation software engineer, developing and delivering a suite of sophisticated risk analytics to financial services clients. Mr. Sheldenkar holds a degree in Mathematics from Cambridge University and a Masters Degree in Computer Science from Oxford University.

Per Ivarsson – Investment Partner: Mr. Ivarsson's primary focus is on the research and development of new strategies. Prior to joining HCP in 2007, Mr. Ivarsson worked at Ocado where he developed software to increase the efficiency of delivering customer orders across the UK. He has a first class honours degree in Engineering Physics from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

P/E Global, LLC

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with P/E Global, LLC ("P/E") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the P/E Emerald Futures Program. P/E is a Boston-based Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed in 2000. P/E's main office is located at 75 State Street, 31st Floor, Boston, MA. P/E is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and CPO, is a member of the NFA and is registered with the SEC as an Investment Adviser. P/E uses fundamental macroeconomic and financial factors in all aspects of its research in order to develop adaptive quantitative processes.

Warren Naphtal – CIO: Mr. Naphtal's primary focus is on the management of P/E's overall investment strategy. Mr. Naphtal is a graduate of both the Sloan School of Management at MIT where he received a SM in Management and the University of California, Berkeley where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. Previously, Mr. Naphtal worked as an equity trader for O'Connor & Associates. Later he joined Continental Bank as Vice President where he was responsible for Derivatives Trading before becoming Managing Director. Mr. Naphtal co-founded P/E in 1995.


20



J. Richard Zecher, PhD – Strategist and Risk Manager: Dr. Zecher focuses on risk management and the oversight of P/E's research and development efforts. Prior to moving to the financial sector, Dr. Zecher served as Director of Policy Research at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Chairman of Economics at Tulane University and Senior Staff Economist at the Council of Economic Advisors to the President. Before joining P/E, Dr. Zecher held the position of Treasurer and Global Risk Manager of the Chase Manhattan Bank, President and CEO of UBS Asset Management, Inc. and is co-founder of Investor Analytics, an internet based risk management company. Dr. Zecher co-founded P/E in 1995.

Mary Stephens Naphtal – COO: Ms. Naphtal oversees all operational areas of P/E's business. Ms. Naphtal co-Founded P/E Investments in 1995, and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Naphtal is a graduate of Sloan School of Management at MIT, where she received a SM in Management and the Colorado College, where she received a BA in Economics, magna cum laude. Prior to P/E, Ms. Naphtal worked for Morgan Stanley & Co., where she participated in corporate finance and mergers & acquisitions transactions. Later, Ms. Naphtal served as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co. in the areas of corporate strategy and organizational effectiveness.

Revolution Capital Management, LLC

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Revolution Capital Management, LLC ("RCM") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Revolution Emerald Futures Program. RCM is a Colorado-based Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed in 2004. RCM's main office is located at 520 Zang Street, Broomfield, Colorado. RCM is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and CPO and is a member of the NFA. RCM has been trading proprietary capital since January 2005. RCM focuses on short-term, systematic and quantitative trading, applying rigorous statistical analysis to all aspects of research, development, and operations.

Michael Mundt – Principal: Mr. Mundt's tasks primarily consist of model development, business/marketing, and coordinating RCM's overall business and trading strategy. Mr. Mundt's background is in engineering and applied science. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1989. He was awarded a PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 1993, also from the University of Colorado; his thesis involved the exploration of chaos and turbulence in simple weather/climate models. After the completion of his academic studies, Mr. Mundt transitioned into the technology industry. He was employed by Seagate Technology, a hard-disk drive company, as an engineer specializing in computational fluid mechanics between March 1998 and July 2007.

T. Robert Olson – Principal: Mr. Olson oversees the architecture and development of the hardware and software computing infrastructure at RCM. Mr. Olson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Arizona in 1989. He received his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado in 1992 and 1996, respectively. Mr. Olson was employed at Raytheon Technology, an aerospace defense contractor, from June 1996 through June 2006. His primary job duties included code/software development, data analysis, and the development of statistical algorithms to process high-frequency real-time data.

Trigon Investment Advisors, LLC

The Adviser has entered into a trading advisory agreement with Trigon Investment Advisors, LLC ("Trigon") to manage a portion of the Fund's assets using the Trigon Emerald Futures Program. Trigon is a New York based company founded in 2002. Trigon's main office is located in Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street, New York. Trigon is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and CPO and is a member of the NFA. Trigon manages both discretionary and systematic investment programs with a focus on top-down analysis of fundamentals.

Paul D. Mastroddi – Principal and Co-Founder: Mr. Mastroddi co-manages Trigon's discretionary portfolios in addition to overseeing their systematic programs. Mr. Mastroddi worked at JPMorgan (1985-96), where he was Managing Director and chief US economist. He was ranked one of the top economists on Wall Street in the mid-1990s in polls conducted by Institutional Investor and Greenwich Associates. Mr. Mastroddi became an investment manager in 1996. He began his career as an investment manager at Lattanzio Group, where he ran the macro overlay for that equity-oriented hedge fund start-up (1996-97). In 1998, the Lattanzio partners joined


21



Omega Advisors as a group and Mr. Mastroddi briefly advised and traded for Omega Advisors (1998). Mr. Mastroddi had sole responsibility for managing up to $100 million in capital at Moore Capital Management (1999-2000). He joined the MLC family of funds in early 2001 to team with Mr. Basic. Mr. Mastroddi graduated from Fordham University in 1981 with a BA in Economics and Philosophy and holds a PhD in Economics from Yale University (1985).

Ante Basic – Principal and Co-Founder: Mr. Basic co-manages Trigon's discretionary portfolios in addition to overseeing their systematic programs. Mr. Basic started his career at the Chase Manhattan Bank (1990-96), where he was the head trader of a quantitative trading group responsible for portfolio management, research and development of systematic and quantitative trading strategies. Mr. Basic was co-founder, President and head trader of Global Capital Markets Strategies, Inc., a fund consultant and Commodity Trading Advisory company (1996-99). From 1999 to 2000, he was Senior Vice President of Refco Fund Holdings, where he traded proprietary capital and oversaw the firm's alternative asset division. Mr. Basic joined the MLC family of funds in 2000 as Managing Director. He graduated from Brooklyn College of City University of New York with a BS in Business Management and Finance and is a Candidate for MS in Global Affairs from New York University.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors' approval of the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser and trading advisory agreements with the Trading Advisers is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended August 31, 2014.


22



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Class I Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund are sold at their net asset value ("NAV"). Class A Shares of the Fund are sold at their NAV, plus a front-end sales charge, if applicable. The NAV of a class of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases of Fund Shares at the NAV next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order in good order as described below. The Fund will effect redemptions of Fund Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your redemption request in good order as described below. If the Fund holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares.

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such service or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Forward exchange contracts are valued by interpolating between spot and forward currency rates as quoted by an independent pricing service. Futures contracts are generally valued using the settlement price determined by the relevant exchange. Options for which the primary market is a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are traded, or, in the absence of any sale, will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Options not traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last quoted bid price for long option positions and the closing ask price for short option positions.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser and Trading Advisers, securities will be valued by the Adviser and Trading Advisers in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded funds, REITs and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price.

Sales Charges

General. Purchases of Class A Shares of the Fund are subject to a front-end sales charge of up to (5.75%) of the total purchase price; however, sales charges may be reduced for large purchases as indicated below. Sales charges


23



are not imposed on Shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions. The table below indicates the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested. The term "offering price" includes the front-end sales charge.

Amount of Purchase of
Advisor Class Shares
  Sales Charge as a
% of Offering Price
  Sales Charge as a
% of Net Amount
Invested
  Dealer Concession as
a Percentage of
Offering Price
 

Less than $25,000

   

5.75

%

   

6.10

%

   

5.00

%

 

At least $25,000 but less than $49,999

   

5.00

%

   

5.26

%

   

4.25

%

 

At least $50,000 but less than $99,999

   

4.75

%

   

4.99

%

   

4.00

%

 

At least $100,000 but less than $249,999

   

3.75

%

   

3.83

%

   

3.25

%

 

At least $250,000 but less than $499,999

   

2.50

%

   

2.56

%

   

2.00

%

 

At least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000

   

2.00

%

   

2.04

%

   

1.75

%

 
$ 1,000,000 or greater    

None

     

None

     

**see below

   

**  No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1,000,000 or more; however, a 1% contingent deferred sales charge is imposed in the event of redemption within 12 months following any such purchase. The Fund's Distributor may pay a commission at the rate of 1% to certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals, including affiliates of the Adviser who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1,000,000 or more.

Combined Purchase Privilege. Certain purchases of Fund Shares made at the same time by you, your spouse and your children under age 25 may be combined for purposes of determining the "Amount of Purchase." The combined purchase privilege may also apply to certain employee benefit plans and trust estates. The following purchases may be combined for purposes of determining the "Amount of Purchase:" (a) individual purchases, if made at the same time, by a single purchaser, the purchaser's spouse and children under the age of 25 purchasing Shares for their own accounts, including Shares purchased by a qualified retirement plan(s) exclusively for the benefit of such individual(s) (such as an IRA, individual-type section 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan) or by a "Company," as defined in Section 2(a)(8) of the 1940 Act, solely controlled, as defined in the 1940 Act, by such individual(s), or (b) individual purchases by trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing Shares (i) for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, including an employee benefit plan, or (ii) concurrently by two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of employers affiliated with each other in accordance with Section 2(a)(3)(c) of the 1940 Act (excluding in either case an employee benefit plan described in (a) above), provided such trustees or other fiduciaries purchase Shares in a single payment. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts may not be combined with purchases made for such other accounts. You may also further discuss the combined purchase privilege with your investment broker, brokerage firm, financial institution, or other industry professional, including affiliates of the Adviser (collectively, "Service Organizations"). In order to take advantage of the combined purchase privilege, the purchases combined must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

Cumulative Quantity Discount. You may combine the value of Shares held in the Fund, along with the dollar amount of Shares being purchased, to qualify for a cumulative quantity discount. The value of Shares held is the higher of their cost or current NAV. For example, if you hold Shares having a value of $225,000 and purchase $25,000 of additional Shares, the sales charge applicable to the additional investment would be 2.50%, the rate applicable to a single purchase of $250,000. In order to receive the cumulative quantity discount, the value of Shares held must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

Letter of Intent. If you anticipate purchasing a specific dollar amount of Class A Shares within a 13-month period, the Shares may be purchased at a reduced sales charge by completing and returning a Letter of Intent (the "Letter"), which can be provided to you by your investment broker or other Service Organization. The reduced sales charge may also be obtained on Shares purchased within the 90 days prior to the date of receipt of the Letter. Shares purchased under the Letter are eligible for the same reduced sales charge that would have been available had all the Shares been purchased at the same time. There is no obligation to purchase the full amount of Shares indicated in


24



the Letter. Should you invest more or less than indicated in the Letter during the 13-month period, the sales charge will be recalculated based on the actual amount purchased. A portion of the amount of the intended purchase normally will be held in escrow in the form of Fund Shares pending completion of the intended purchase.

Sales Charge Waivers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

•  Whether a sales charge waiver is available for your retirement plan or charitable account depends upon the policies and procedures of your Service Organization and if your Service Organization has entered into an agreement with the Company or the Distributor. Please consult your financial adviser for further information.

In order to take advantage of a sales charge waiver, a purchaser must certify to the Service Organization eligibility for a waiver and must notify the Service Organization whenever eligibility for a waiver ceases to exist. A Service Organization reserves the right to request additional information from a purchaser in order to verify that such purchaser is so eligible. Such information may include account statements or other records regarding Shares of the Fund held by you or your immediate family household members.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions. Purchases of $1,000,000 or more are not subject to an initial sales charge; however, a contingent deferred sales charge is payable on these investments in the event of a share redemption within 12 months following the share purchase, at the rate of 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable, and the amount of the charge, it is assumed that shares purchased with reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions and then other shares held the longest are the first redeemed.


25



Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the "Distributor").

General. You may purchase Shares of the Fund at the NAV per Share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment in Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Class I Shares is $2,500, $2,500 and $1,000,000, respectively. There is a minimum amount of $100 for subsequent investment in Class A Shares and Class C Shares and of $1,000 in Class I Shares. The Fund may accept initial investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. You can only purchase Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Fund may also be available through certain Service Organizations. Certain features of the Shares, such as the initial and subsequent investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose minimum investment requirements. Service Organizations may also impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if Shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of Shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after such orders are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

For administration, subaccounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee") based on the average annual NAV of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an Account Application and mailing it to the Fund at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund. Third party endorsed checks or foreign checks will not be accepted.

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041


26



or overnight to:

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per Share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, Shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed Account Application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6484 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.)

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time by purchasing Shares at the NAV per Share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6484 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date. There is a minimum amount of $100 for subsequent investment in Class A Shares and Class C Shares and of $1,000 in Class I Shares.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6484. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to Board of Director's approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to Board of Director's approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes


27



to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser;

b.  existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the Fund;

c.  employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children; and

d.  directors of the Company.

Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Director's discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund's Shares will be made in full and fractional Shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. Certificates for Shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional Shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Adviser and their family members, either directly or through their IRAs, and by any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation. The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial investment requirement.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem Fund Shares at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. You may redeem Fund Shares by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9841, Providence, RI 02940-8041, or for overnight delivery


28



to Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581, and must include:

•  a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of Shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the Shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

•  any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more; or (iii) a Share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three recognized Medallion signature guarantee programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

•  other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of Shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6484 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder's account in the Fund at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as a result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in the Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed. The Fund may assert the right to redeem your Shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for Shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or


29



in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. The Adviser reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information related to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, the Adviser, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, it may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund. The Adviser may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. The Adviser will apply the criteria in a manner that, in its judgment, will be uniform.

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.


30



Exchange Privilege

Beneficial holders with financial intermediary sponsored fee-based programs are eligible to exchange their Shares in a particular share class of the Fund for Shares in a different share class of the Fund if the shareholder meets the eligibility requirements for that class of Shares or the shareholder is otherwise eligible to purchase that class of Shares. Such an exchange will be effected at the NAV of the Shares next calculated after the exchange request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. Shares of each class of the Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. Total return can be expected to differ among classes of the Fund. Shareholders who exercise the exchange privilege will generally not recognize a taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. The Fund reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change or discontinue the exchange privilege, or to temporarily suspend the privilege during unusual market conditions when, in the judgment of management, such change or discontinuance is in the best interests of the Fund.

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Fund at least annually.

The Fund may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Fund's distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Shares, are subject to U.S. federal income tax.

More Information About Taxes

The following is a summary of certain U.S. tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss).

Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as the result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.


31



The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign securities. If more than 50% of the value of the total assets of the Fund consists of stocks and securities (including debt securities) of foreign corporations at the close of a taxable year, the Fund may elect, for federal income tax purposes, to treat certain foreign taxes paid by it, including generally any withholding and other foreign income taxes, as paid by its shareholders. If the Fund makes this election, the amount of those foreign taxes paid by the Fund will be included in its shareholders' income pro rata (in addition to taxable distributions actually received by them), and each such shareholder will be entitled either (1) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against U.S. federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction. If the Fund is not eligible or chooses not to make this election the Fund will be entitled to deduct any such foreign taxes in computing the amounts it is required to distribute.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

The Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a RIC such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.


32



Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the SAI.

Distribution Arrangements

The Board of Directors has adopted a Plan of Distribution for the Class A Shares and the Class C Shares (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan, the Fund's Distributor is entitled to receive from the Fund a distribution fee with respect to the Shares, which is accrued daily and paid monthly, of up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares and up to 1.00% of the Class C Shares. The actual amount of such compensation under the Plan is agreed upon by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Distributor. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Amounts paid to the Distributor under the Plan may be used by the Distributor to cover expenses that are related to (i) the sale of the Shares, (ii) ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of shareholders, and (iii) sub-transfer agency services, subaccounting services or administrative services related to the sale of the Shares, all as set forth in the Fund's 12b-1 Plan. Ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of shareholders may include updating and mailing prospectuses and shareholder reports, responding to inquiries regarding shareholder accounts and acting as agent or intermediary between shareholders and the Fund or its service providers. The Distributor may delegate some or all of these functions to Service Organizations. See "Purchases Through Intermediaries" above.

The Plan obligates the Fund, during the period it is in effect, to accrue and pay to the Distributor on behalf of the Shares the fee agreed to under the Distribution Agreement. Payments under the Plan are not tied exclusively to expenses actually incurred by the Distributor, and the payments may exceed distribution expenses actually incurred.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


33




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Class I Share of the Fund. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements and has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions). There are no financial highlights for Class C Shares of the Fund because Class C Shares commenced operations on October 6, 2015.

  Class A Shares
For the Year Ended
August 31, 2015 (1)
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

10.36

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

(0.27

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

   

2.14

   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   

1.87

   

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

 

 

Net investment income

   

(0.21

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(0.01

)

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

(0.22

)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

12.01

   

Total investment return (3)

   

18.17

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

11,013

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements (including interest expense)
   

2.28

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements (excluding interest expense)
   

2.24

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers
and reimbursements (including interest expense)
   

2.71

%

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

   

(2.23

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

0.00

%

 

(1)  Inception date of Class A Shares of the Fund was August 29, 2014.

(2)  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.


34



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    Class I Shares
For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  Class I Shares
For the
Period Ended
August 31, 2014 (1)
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

10.36

   

$

10.00

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

(0.24

)

   

(0.03

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

   

2.14

     

0.39

   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   

1.90

     

0.36

   

Net investment income

   

(0.22

)

   

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.01

)

   

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

(0.23

)

   

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

12.03

   

$

10.36

   

Total investment return (3)

   

18.46

%

   

3.60

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

220,441

   

$

24,349

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements (including interest expense)
   

2.03

%

   

2.01

% (4)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements (excluding interest expense)
   

1.99

%

   

1.99

% (4)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers
and reimbursements (including interest expense)
   

2.46

%

   

4.71

% (4)

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

   

(1.98

)%

   

(1.99

)% (4)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

0.00

%

   

0.00

% (5)

 

(1)  The Fund commenced investment operations on July 1, 2014.

(2)  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Annualized.

(5)  Not annualized.


35




FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-annual Reports: These reports contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes Fund strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders are available on the Adviser's website at www.abbeycapital.com or by calling 1-844-261-6484.

Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"): The Fund's SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, and the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual reports, may be obtained free of charge by calling 1-844-261-6484. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and is legally considered a part of this Prospectus. The SAI is available on the Adviser's website at www.abbeycapital.com.

Shareholder Inquiries: Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: 1-844-261-6484.

Purchases and Redemptions: Call your registered representative or 1-844-261-6484.

Written Correspondence:
P.O. Box Address:

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PO Box 9841,
Providence, RI 02940-8041

Street Address:

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Securities and Exchange Commission: You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-05518




BOGLE
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
OF THE RBB FUND, INC.

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS: BOGIX
INVESTOR CLASS: BOGLX

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

The securities described in this prospectus have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC, however, has not judged these securities for their investment merit and has not determined the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY SECTION

 

Investment Objective

   

1

   

Expenses and Fees

   

1

   

Principal Investment Strategies

   

2

   

Principal Risks

   

2

   

Risk/Return Information

   

3

   

Management of the Fund

   

4

   

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

   

4

   

Tax Information

   

5

   

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

   

5

   

MORE ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

 
Additional Information on the Fund's Investment Objective
and Principal Strategies
   

6

   

Additional Information on the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

   

7

   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

   

8

   

DETAILS ON THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF THE FUND

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Investment Adviser

   

9

   
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPENING, MAINTAINING
AND CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE FUND
 

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

 

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

10

   

Market Timing

   

10

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

11

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

15

   

Exchange Privilege

   

18

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

18

   

Taxes

   

18

   

Considerations for Taxable Investors

   

21

   

Financial Highlights

   

22

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

   

Back Cover

   



SUMMARY SECTION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The investment objective of the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Fund") is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

EXPENSES AND FEES

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

    INSTITUTIONAL
CLASS
  INVESTOR
CLASS
 
SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
   

None

     

None

   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

   

None

     

None

   

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

   

None

     

None

   
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed,
if applicable)
   

None

     

None

   

Exchange Fee

   

None

     

None

   
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that you
pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees

   

1.00

%

   

1.00

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

   

0.00

%

   

0.00

%

 

Other Expenses

   

0.35

%

   

0.35

%

 

Shareholder Servicing Fee

   

0.00

%

   

0.10

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

1.35

%

   

1.45

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)

   

(0.10

)%

   

(0.10

)%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or
Expense Reimbursement
   

1.25

%

   

1.35

%

 

(1)   Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (the "Adviser") has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.25% and 1.35% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.25% or 1.35%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements any time after December 31, 2016.


1



EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example below shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 in the Fund over the various time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 YEAR

 

3 YEARS

 

5 YEARS

 

10 YEARS

 

Institutional Class

 

$

127

   

$

418

   

$

730

   

$

1,615

   

Investor Class

 

$

137

   

$

449

   

$

783

   

$

1,727

   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 196.15% of the average value of its portfolio.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of the net assets of the portfolio (including borrowings for investment purposes) in the stocks of U.S. companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, that are within the trailing twelve-month range of the market capitalizations of those companies that are included in the Russell 2000 ® Index ("Small Cap Stocks"). For purposes of this investment policy, stocks of U.S. companies are stocks that are listed on a securities exchange or market inside the United States. Because the Russell 2000 ® Index ("Index") is modified ("reconstituted") regularly (usually each year) to replace companies that no longer qualify for inclusion in the Index due to, among other reasons, having market capitalizations that have grown too large, the Adviser uses the trailing twelve-month range of market capitalizations to mitigate the need to trade stocks in the portfolio due to Index reconstitution. Further, the Adviser will not sell from the portfolio any holdings that the Adviser believes are likely to appreciate more than the Index solely because the market capitalizations of such holdings cause the portfolio to hold less than 80% of its net assets within this range. As such, the Fund may, from time to time, hold less than 80% of its net assets within this range. The Fund attempts to achieve its objective by taking long positions in Small Cap Stocks that the Adviser believes are undervalued given their future earnings growth prospects. The Adviser will manage the portfolio such that its median market capitalization is under normal circumstances reasonably close to the median capitalization of the Index. As part of its investment strategy, the Adviser will continue to invest in Small Cap Stocks that the Adviser believes will appreciate more than the Index. Shareholders will be notified by the Fund sixty days in advance of any change in this 80% policy.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

•  Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. Equity markets tend to be cyclical; there are times when stock prices generally increase, and other times when they generally decrease. Therefore, you could lose money by investing in the Fund.


2



•  The Fund will invest in Small Cap Stocks that may be more volatile than investments in issuers with larger market capitalizations. Issuers of Small Cap Stocks are not as diversified in their business activities as issuers with larger market capitalizations and are more susceptible to changes in the business cycle.

•  The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund's portfolio holdings.

•  Although the Fund will invest in stocks that the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•  The Fund may frequently trade its portfolio holdings. High portfolio turnover will cause the Fund to incur higher brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in higher taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high.

RISK/RETURN INFORMATION

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Fund's Investor Class. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information may be obtained at www.boglefunds.com or 1-877-264-5346.

TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31

INVESTOR CLASS


3



Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:  33.33% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

Worst Quarter:  (28.63)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (12.24)%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

The table below compares the Fund's average annual total returns for the past calendar year, the past five calendar years and the past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indicator of how the Fund will perform in the future.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class Before Taxes

   

2.28

%

   

18.32

%

   

8.37

%

 

Investor Class After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

(2.04

)%

   

17.30

%

   

6.94

%

 
Investor Class After Taxes on Distributions (1)
and Sale of Fund Shares
   

3.02

%

   

14.67

%

   

6.53

%

 

Institutional Class Before Taxes

   

2.38

%

   

18.45

%

   

8.48

%

 

Russell 2000 ® Index

   

4.89

%

   

15.55

%

   

7.77

%

 

(1)   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (IRA). After-tax returns are shown for only the Investor Class and may vary for the Institutional Class.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser
Bogle Investment Management, L.P.

Portfolio Manager
John C. Bogle, Jr., President, since inception

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

Class

 

Minimum Initial Investment

 

Institutional shares

  $ 1,000,000  

Investor shares

 

$10,000 ($2,000 minimum for IRA accounts)

 


4



You can only purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open. Institutional Class and Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption by Mail:

Regular Mail:
Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9809
Providence, RI 02940
  Overnight Delivery:
Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Purchase by Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-877-264-5346 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Fund.

Redemption by Telephone:

Call the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


5




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. In seeking this objective, the Fund attempts to achieve a total return greater than the total return of the Russell 2000 ® Index. The Russell 2000 ® Index is an unmanaged index that is comprised of the 2,000 smallest of the 3,000 largest U.S. domiciled corporations, ranked by market capitalizations.

The Fund attempts to achieve its objective by taking long positions in Small Cap Stocks that the Adviser believes are undervalued given their future earnings growth prospects. The Fund will primarily invest in securities principally traded in the U.S. markets. The Fund may also invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts as an alternative to purchasing a specified type of security.

The Adviser will determine the size of each position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") can change the investment objective of the Fund. However, shareholders will be given notice before any change is made.

The Fund's long positions may include (without limit) equity securities of foreign issuers that are traded in the markets of the United States as sponsored American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). ADRs are receipts issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. The ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the foreign securities underlying the ADRs. The Fund will not invest directly in equity securities that are principally traded outside of the United States.

In addition to investments expected to meet the preceding criteria, the Fund may also invest in certain instruments related to the Standard & Poor's 500 ® Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500 ® Index") and the Russell 2000 ® Index (described above). The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, most of which are listed on the NYSE. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in such index. The Fund may invest in S&P 500 ® Index futures, options on S&P 500 ® Index futures, Russell 2000 ® Index futures and equity swap contracts.

The Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker- dealers. Portfolio securities loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by the Fund will not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund. Lending the Fund's portfolio securities involves a variety of risks, not limited to the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral if the value of the securities goes up while they are on loan. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

Sell decisions are generally triggered by an adverse change in either the fundamental outlook for a company or investors' beliefs about future stock price performance. Fundamental signals that could signal a sale include a


6



significant appreciation in price, a poor quarterly earnings announcement or an indication that management is aggressive with its financial accounting. Adverse changes in investors' beliefs about future stock prices are related to investors' behavioral biases. Given the diversified nature of the stock selection process, it is likely that more than one of these signals would have to be declining in order to trigger a sale.

The Fund may hold cash or cash equivalents pending investment or to meet redemption requests. In addition, for defensive purposes due to abnormal market or economic situations, as determined by the Adviser, the Fund may reduce its holdings in other securities and invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or certain short-term (less than twelve months to maturity) and medium-term (not greater than five years to maturity) interest-bearing instruments or deposits of U.S. and foreign issuers. Such investments may include, but are not limited to, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, variable or floating rate notes, bankers' acceptances, time deposits, government securities and money-market deposit accounts. To the extent the Fund employs a temporary investment strategy, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

GENERAL

There can be no assurance that the investment methodology employed will satisfy the Fund's objective of long-term capital appreciation. Additionally, an investment in the Fund will be subject to the risk of poor stock selection by the Adviser. In other words, the Adviser may not be successful in executing its strategy and may invest in stocks that underperform the market.

The value of the fixed income securities held by the Fund, and thus the NAV of the shares of the Fund, generally will vary inversely in relation to changes in prevailing interest rates.

The value of Fund shares may increase or decrease depending on market, economic, political, regulatory and other conditions affecting the Fund's portfolio. Investment in shares of the Fund is more volatile and risky than some other forms of investment.

SECURITIES OF SMALL COMPANIES

Investments in common stocks in general are subject to market, economic and business risks that will cause their price to fluctuate over time. While securities of small market value companies may offer greater opportunity for capital appreciation than the securities of larger companies, investment in smaller companies presents greater risks than investment in larger, more established companies. Historically, small market value stocks have been more volatile in price than larger market value stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of small market value stocks are the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such stocks, and the potentially greater sensitivity of such small companies to changes in or failure of management and changes in competitive, business, industry and economic conditions. Besides exhibiting greater volatility, small company stocks may, to a degree, fluctuate independently of larger company stocks. Small company stocks may decline in price as large company stocks rise, or rise in price as large company stocks decline. You should therefore expect that the price of the Fund's shares will be more volatile than the shares of a fund that invests in larger capitalization stocks. Additionally, such securities may trade less frequently and in smaller volume than more widely held securities. The values of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other


7



securities, and the Fund may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in such securities than in the case of larger companies, and it may take a longer period of time for the prices of such securities to reflect the full value of their issuers' underlying earnings potential or assets. The Fund should not be considered suitable for you if you are unable or unwilling to assume the risks of loss associated with such an investment program, nor should investment in the Fund be considered a balanced or complete investment program.

BROAD-BASED SECURITIES MARKET INDEX

The Russell 2000 ® Index is an unmanaged index that is comprised of the 2,000 smallest of the 3,000 largest U.S. domiciled corporations, ranked by market capitalizations. As of November 30, 2015, the minimum market capitalization of the Russell 2000 ® Index was $28 million and the largest stock was $5.9 billion. Please note that this information is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). The SAI is incorporated herein.


8



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser's principal address is 2310 Washington Street, Suite 310, Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts 02462. The Adviser manages the Fund's investment activities, subject to the authority of the Company's Board of Directors. The Adviser has provided investment management and investment advisory services to the Fund and other institutional accounts since 1999. The Adviser also serves as a shareholder servicing agent to the Investor Class of the Fund pursuant to a Shareholder Servicing Agreement between the Company and the Adviser.

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.25% and 1.35% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.25% or 1.35%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. The Adviser may not recoup waived management fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company's Board of Directors. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, after waivers, the Adviser received 0.92% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Adviser would have received 1.00% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approving the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

John C. Bogle, Jr. serves as portfolio manager of the Fund. Mr. Bogle founded the Adviser in 1999 and currently serves as its President. From 1990 to 1999, Mr. Bogle was a Managing Director of Numeric Investors LLC ® (formerly Numeric Investors L.P.), a quantitative investment management firm.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager's ownership of securities in the Fund.


9



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

PRICING OF FUND SHARES

Shares of a class of the Fund are priced at their NAV. The NAV of a class of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases and redemptions of Fund shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order or redemption request in good order.

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). If the Fund holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares. Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be fair valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price.

MARKET TIMING

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in


10



dilution in the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Company's Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund.

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES

PURCHASE OF INSTITUTIONAL SHARES THROUGH AN INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION

Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be sold to corporations or other institutions such as trusts, foundations or broker-dealers purchasing for the accounts of others ("Institutional Organizations"). If you purchase Institutional Class shares through an Institutional Organization, you may be charged a transaction-based fee or other fee for the services of such organization. Each Institutional Organization is responsible for transmitting to its customers a schedule of any such fees and information regarding any additional or different conditions regarding purchases. Customers of Institutional Organizations should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing accounts with their Institutional Organization. The Fund does not pay compensation to or receive compensation from Institutional Organizations for the sale of Institutional Class shares.

Certain Institutional Organizations may have agreements with the Fund and may be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Fund in accordance with such


11



agreements. An Institutional Organization or, if applicable, its designee that has entered into such an agreement with the Fund or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Fund's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Institutional Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an Institutional Organization, or if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order. Orders received by the Fund in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after they are accepted by the Institutional Organization or its authorized designee. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the Institutional Organization to determine the status of the purchase order.

PURCHASE OF INVESTOR SHARES THROUGH A SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT

Purchase orders for Investor Class shares may be placed through a financial intermediary ("Shareholder Servicing Agent"). Investor Class shares are subject to such investment minimums and other terms and conditions as may be imposed by Shareholder Servicing Agents from time to time. Shareholder Servicing Agents may offer additional services to their customers. For further information as to how to direct a Shareholder Servicing Agent to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund on your behalf, you should contact your Shareholder Servicing Agent or the Fund's Distributor.

Certain Shareholder Servicing Agents may have agreements with the Fund and may be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Fund in accordance with such agreements. A Shareholder Servicing Agent or, if applicable, its designee that has entered into such an agreement with the Fund or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Fund's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Shareholder Servicing Agent could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the Shareholder Servicing Agent, or if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order. Orders received by the Fund in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after they are accepted by the Shareholder Servicing Agent or its authorized designee. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the Shareholder Servicing Agent to determine the status of the purchase order.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan that allows Investor Class shares of the Fund to pay service fees to Shareholder Servicing Agents, including the Adviser. Under the Shareholder Servicing Plan, if a Shareholder Servicing Agent provides shareholder services, including responding to shareholder inquiries and assisting shareholders with their accounts, the Fund may pay shareholder service fees to the Shareholder Servicing Agent at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of the Investor Class shares beneficially owned by the Shareholder Servicing Agent's clients.

PURCHASE OF INSTITUTIONAL AND INVESTOR SHARES THROUGH THE FUND'S TRANSFER AGENT

You may also purchase Institutional Class and Investor Class shares directly from the Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on


12



each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Fund's records, which will show all of your transactions and the balance of the shares you own. You can only purchase shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an account application and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check ($1,000,000 minimum for Institutional Class shares and $10,000 minimum for Investor Class shares ($2,000 minimum for IRA accounts accepted for Investor Class shares)) payable to Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund:

Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9809
Providence, RI 02940

or overnight to:
Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt. Such payment need not be converted into federal funds (monies credited to the Fund's custodian bank by a Federal Reserve Bank) before acceptance by the Fund. No third party endorsed checks (including checks issued by credit card companies) or foreign checks will be accepted as payment for shares.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds ($1,000,000 minimum for Institutional Class shares and $10,000 minimum for Investor Class shares ($2,000 minimum for IRA accounts accepted for Investor Class shares)) to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed account application should be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment By Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day prior to the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) For current wire instructions, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time ($5,000 minimum for Institutional Class shares and $250 minimum for Investor Class shares ($100 minimum for IRA accounts accepted for Investor Class shares)) by purchasing shares at the NAV per share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted under "Initial Investment By Mail" (payable to Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment By Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day prior to the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date.


13



Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through the Automatic Investment Plan. Investors who would like to participate in the Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346, or complete the appropriate section of the account application. The minimum initial investment for the Automatic Investment Plan is $10,000 for Investor Class shares and $1,000,000 for Institutional Class shares. Minimum monthly payments are $100 for Investor Class shares and $1,000 for Institutional Class shares, and minimum quarterly payments are $300 and $3,000 respectively.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and rollover IRAs. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per Investor Class IRA account per year. The Adviser may reimburse a portion of this fee, thereby reducing the charge to the retirement investor. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

OTHER PURCHASE INFORMATION

The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Institutional Class and Investor Class shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and, subject to Board of Directors approval, may decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to Board of Directors approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser;

b.  existing and future clients of the Adviser and of Financial Advisers and Planners whose clients already hold shares of the closed Fund;

c.  employees of the Adviser and their families (including, among others, spouses, parents and children); and

d.  Directors of the Company.


14



Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund's shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Adviser, and by their family members, either directly or through their IRAs and by any pension and profit- sharing plan of the Adviser, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation. The Company's officers are authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM

Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

You may redeem Institutional Class and Investor Class shares of the Fund at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

You may redeem Institutional Class and Investor Class shares of the Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone (excluding retirement accounts where BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company acts as custodian). The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the portfolio holdings held by the Fund.


15



Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to:

Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9809
Providence, RI 02940

or for overnight delivery to:
Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

and must include:

•  the share certificates, if issued;

•  a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

•  any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $50,000 or more, or (iii) a share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker-dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three recognized signature guarantee Medallion Programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

•  other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the Telephone Redemption Option, you must indicate that option on your account application. Please note that the Telephone Redemption Option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. Shares cannot be redeemed by telephone if share certificates are held for those shares. If the Telephone Redemption Option is authorized, the Fund and its Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with


16



transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder's account in the Fund (other than those in an IRA account) at any time the value of the account falls below $500. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account is below $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the involuntary redemption is processed.

The Fund may assert the right to redeem your shares at the current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or for which you subscribed.

INVESTOR CLASS

If you purchased Investor Class shares through a Shareholder Servicing Agent, you must place all redemption orders for Investor Class shares through that Shareholder Servicing Agent in accordance with instructions or limitations pertaining to your account with your Shareholder Servicing Agent. Redemption orders for Investor Class shares are effected at the NAV next determined after the order is received by the Transfer Agent. While no redemption fee is imposed by the Fund, Shareholder Servicing Agents may charge your account for redemption services. You should contact your Shareholder Servicing Agent or the Transfer Agent for further information regarding redemption of Investor Class shares, including the availability of wire or telephone redemption privileges, or whether you may elect to participate in a systematic withdrawal plan.

OTHER REDEMPTION INFORMATION

Redemption proceeds for shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Redemption proceeds will ordinarily be paid within seven business days after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE or the bond market is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, the Fund may pay the redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of readily marketable securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.


17



EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

Upon request, beneficial shareholders of Investor Class shares are eligible to exchange their shares for Institutional Class shares if the accumulated value of their shares exceeds the minimum initial investment amount for Institutional Class shares ($1,000,000). The Fund will determine the eligibility of an investor to exercise the exchange privilege based on the current NAV of Investor Class shares. Such an exchange will be effected at the NAV of the Investor Class shares next calculated after the exchange request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. Shares of each class of the Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. The total return on Institutional Class shares can be expected to differ from the total return on Investor Class shares. The Fund reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change or discontinue its exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend the privilege during unusual market conditions when, in the judgment of management, such change or discontinuance is in the best interests of the Fund. Shareholders who exercise the exchange privilege will generally not recognize a taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on an exchange of Investor Class shares for Institutional Class shares.

You may make an exchange request by sending a written request to the Transfer Agent or, if authorized, by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-877-264-5346.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund declares and pays dividends of substantially all of its net investment income annually. The Fund distributes, at least annually, substantially all net realized capital gains, if any, earned. The Fund will inform shareholders of the amount and nature of all such income or gains.

Dividends are paid in the form of additional shares of the same class of the Fund, unless you have elected prior to the date of distribution to receive payment in cash. Such election, or any revocation thereof, must be made in writing to the Transfer Agent and will become effective with respect to dividends paid after its receipt. Dividends that are otherwise taxable are taxable to you whether received in cash or in additional shares of the Fund. It is anticipated that expenses incurred by each class of shares of the Fund will differ and, accordingly, that the dividends distributed with respect to each class may differ.

TAXES

The following is a summary of certain U.S. tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Federal Taxes of Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund


18



distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced


19



with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a United States corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the U.S. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.


20



The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the Fund's SAI.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR TAXABLE INVESTORS

Those investment strategies that require periodic changes to portfolio holdings with the expectation of outperforming equity indices are typically referred to as "active" strategies. These strategies contrast with "passive" ("index") strategies that buy and hold only the stocks in the equity indices. Passive strategies tend to trade infrequently — only as the stocks in the indices change (largely due to changes in the sizes of the companies in the indices, takeovers or bankruptcies). Most equity mutual funds pursue active strategies, which have higher portfolio turnover than passive strategies.

The generally higher portfolio turnover of active investment strategies can adversely affect taxable investors, especially those in higher marginal tax brackets, in two ways. First, fund short-term capital gains, which often accompany higher turnover investment strategies, are currently taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Ordinary income tax rates are higher than long-term capital gain tax rates for middle and upper income taxpayers. Thus, the tax liability is often higher for investors in active strategies. Second, the more frequent realization of gains caused by higher turnover investment strategies means that taxes will be paid sooner. Such acceleration of the tax liability is financially more costly to investors. Less frequent realization of capital gains allows the payment of taxes to be deferred until later years, allowing more of the gains to compound before taxes are paid. Consequently, after-tax compound rates of return will generally be higher for taxable investors using investment strategies with very low turnover, compared with high turnover strategies. The difference is particularly large when the general market rates of return are higher than average.

Although tax considerations should not typically drive investment decisions, the Adviser recommends that all of its investors consider their ability to allocate tax-deferred or non-taxable assets (such as IRAs and other retirement plans) to active strategies, and taxable assets to lower turnover passive strategies, when considering their investment options.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


21




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Fund share. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting

firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 

  Institutional
Class
  Investor
Class
  Institutional
Class
  Investor
Class
  Institutional
Class
  Investor
Class
  Institutional
Class
  Investor
Class
  Institutional
Class
  Investor
Class
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of year

 

$

38.07

   

$

37.45

   

$

29.49

   

$

29.00

   

$

21.76

   

$

21.42

   

$

19.38

   

$

19.10

   

$

14.81

   

$

14.61

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.21

)

   

(0.23

)

   

(0.26

)

   

0.10

     

0.07

     

(0.04

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.10

)

   

(0.12

)

 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments
   

(3.09

)

   

(3.04

)

   

8.87

     

8.74

     

7.63

     

7.51

     

2.42

     

2.39

     

4.67

     

4.61

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(3.27

)

   

(3.25

)

   

8.64

     

8.48

     

7.73

     

7.58

     

2.38

     

2.32

     

4.57

     

4.49

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

(0.06

)

   

(0.03

)

   

     

     

     

     

     

   

Net realized capital gain

   

(4.80

)

   

(4.80

)

   

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(4.80

)

   

(4.80

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.03

)

   

     

     

     

     

     

   

Net asset value, end of year

 

$

30.00

   

$

29.40

   

$

38.07

   

$

37.45

   

$

29.49

   

$

29.00

   

$

21.76

   

$

21.42

   

$

19.38

   

$

19.10

   

Total investment return (1)

   

(8.99

)%

   

(9.09

)%

   

29.34

%

   

29.28

%

   

35.52

%

   

35.39

%

   

12.28

%

   

12.15

%

   

30.86

%

   

30.73

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of year
(000 's omitted)
 

$

88,086

   

$

92,181

   

$

117,923

   

$

116,669

   

$

98,898

   

$

77,584

   

$

48,526

   

$

58,011

   

$

38,274

   

$

74,155

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements
   

1.25

%

   

1.35

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.35

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.35

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.35

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.35

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and
reimbursements
   

1.35

%

   

1.45

%

   

1.32

%

   

1.43

%

   

1.39

%

   

1.49

%

   

1.51

%

   

1.60

%

   

1.44

%

   

1.54

%

 
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
to average net assets
   

(0.53

)%

   

(0.63

)%

   

(0.66

)%

   

(0.76

)%

   

0.37

%

   

0.27

%

   

(0.21

)%

   

(0.36

)%

   

(0.48

)%

   

(0.58

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

196.15

%

   

196.15

%

   

175.06

%

   

175.06

%

   

237.59

%

   

237.59

%

   

288.88

%

   

288.88

%

   

302.71

%

   

302.71

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(1)   Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.


22




BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

P.O. BOX 9809
PROVIDENCE, RI 02940
1-877-264-5346

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS

These reports contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes Fund strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders may be obtained free of charge by calling 1-877-264-5346 and are available on the Adviser's website at www.boglefunds.com.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

An SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, and the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports, may be obtained free of charge by calling 1-877-264-5346. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is legally considered a part of this Prospectus. The SAI is available on the Adviser's website at www.boglefunds.com.

SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: 1-877-264-5346

PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

Call your registered representative or 1-877-264-5346.

WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE

Post Office Address:
 
  Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., PO Box 9809, Providence, RI 02940
 
Street Address:
 
 
  Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive,
Westborough, MA 01581
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov , or by sending your request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518

 



CAMPBELL CORE TREND FUND
of
THE RBB FUND, INC.

INSTITUTIONAL SHARES (TICKER: CCTFX)

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

Investment Manager:

CAMPBELL & COMPANY INVESTMENT ADVISER LLC
2850 Quarry Lake Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21209

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY SECTION

    1    
Investment Objective    

1

   
Expenses and Fees    

1

   
Principal Investment Strategies    

2

   
Principal Investment Risks    

3

   
Performance Information    

8

   
Management of the Fund    

8

   
Purchase and Sale Information    

8

   

Taxes

   

9

   

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

   

9

   

FUND INFORMATION

    10    

More Information About Fund Investments

   

10

   

More Information About Risks

   

10

   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

   

19

   

More Information About Management of the Fund

   

19

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

    21    

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

21

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

21

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

24

   

Market Timing

   

25

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

26

   

More Information About Taxes

   

26

   
Financial Highlights    

30

   


i



SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the Campbell Core Trend Fund (the "Fund") is to seek capital appreciation.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (the "Shares").

 

Institutional Shares

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay
each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees

   

1.05

%

 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee

   

None

   
Interest Expense    

0.01

%

 
Other Expenses    

3.33

%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses    

4.39

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)

   

3.13

%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
   

1.26

%

 

(1)  Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC ("Campbell" or the "Manager") has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. In determining the Manager's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.25%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. If at any time the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for a year are less than 1.25%, the Manager may recoup from the Fund any waived amount or other payments remitted by the Manager within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed expense limitations that were in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.


1



This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Shares

 

$

128

   

$

1,045

   

$

1,972

   

$

4,341

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 (the Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2014), the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its investment objective by (i) investing its assets pursuant to the Campbell Core Carry Program; (ii) allocating up to 25% of its assets in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Campbell Core Offshore Limited (the "Subsidiary"), which is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and employs the Manager's Campbell Core Trend Program (as described below), and (iii) allocating the remainder of its assets directly in a portfolio of investment grade securities (including government securities) for cash management purposes. Securities rated in the four highest categories by the ratings agencies are considered investment grade.

The Fund seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns by exploiting the tendency of asset markets to exhibit persistent trends. The Fund is diversified across global futures and forward markets and can be either long or short, resulting in a low long-term correlation to traditional investments.

Campbell's investment philosophy is driven by a belief that markets are broadly efficient but trends emerge and remain due to shifts in supply, demand, and other economic factors. Asset mispricing can occur as a result of instability and uncertainty in markets, strongly-held opinions by market participants, or an unreliable flow of market information.

The Fund invests pursuant to the Manager's Core Trend Program, which uses quantitative modeling to develop and maintain systematic trading strategies driven by scientific analysis of technical data across global financial and commodity markets. The Campbell Core Trend Program is designed to analyze market data to identify trends occurring within and across markets and asset classes globally. Once identified, these trends are converted into mathematical models that can be historically tested. Once a model is developed and thoroughly tested, it undergoes a rigorous peer review process to evaluate strength of theory and robustness. Model assumptions and other criteria are also analyzed, including tail risk, broad level risk factor exposures, market diversification, correlation, and volatility as well as transaction costs. New models must demonstrate efficacy on a stand-alone basis while complimenting the existing portfolio.

Forecasts for each asset are created by evaluating its historical risk-adjusted performance over a number of time horizons, considering the balance between potential trend reversals, measurement accuracy, and portfolio turnover. Positions are taken in direct proportion to market forecasts, while portfolio leverage varies to target a constant level of volatility. Execution is controlled by Campbell's intraday risk management and execution platform.


2



The Fund may use futures, forwards and other derivatives, such as swaps and options, each of which may be tied to equity and fixed income indices, financial instruments and indices, commodities, and currencies, across global markets, including emerging markets. The Fund will also invest in cash, cash equivalents or securities issued by the U.S. government with one year or less term to maturity for liquidity purposes, and to serve as margin or collateral for the derivatives positions of the Fund or the Subsidiary to the extent necessary.

The Fund is "non-diversified" for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") which means that the Fund may invest in fewer securities at any one time than a diversified fund. The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

Investments in the Subsidiary, which has the same investment objective as the Fund, are intended to provide the Fund with indirect exposure to futures contracts and commodities in a manner consistent with the limitations and requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") that apply to the Fund, which limit the amount of income the Fund may receive from certain sources. Applicable federal tax requirements generally limit the degree to which the Fund may invest in the Subsidiary to an amount not exceeding 25% of its total assets. To the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund.

Principal Investment Risks

Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments.

The principal risk factors affecting shareholders' investments in the Fund (and, indirectly, in the Subsidiary) are set forth below.

•   Strategy Risk. The profitability of any Fund investment depends primarily on the ability of the Manager to anticipate price movements in the relevant markets and underlying derivative instruments and futures contracts. Such price movements may be influenced by, among other things:

•  changes in interest rates;

•  governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies;

•  weather and climate conditions;

•  natural disasters, such as hurricanes;

•  changing supply and demand relationships;

•  changes in balances of payments and trade;

•  U.S. and international rates of inflation and deflation;

•  currency devaluations and revaluations;

•  U.S. and international political and economic events; and

•  changes in philosophies and emotions of various market participants.

The Fund may not take all of these factors into account.

The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Manager's skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures and forward contracts are:

•  Futures and forward contracts have a high degree of price variability and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial changes;


3



•  the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the forward or futures contracts and the market value of the underlying instrument or reference assets with respect to such contracts;

•  possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired;

•  possible market disruption or other extraordinary events, including but not limited to, governmental intervention;

•  potentially unlimited losses caused by unanticipated market movements;

•  the Fund's inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors;

•  the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and

•  if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may either have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements with respect to its derivative instruments or close certain positions at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

The use of futures contracts, forward contracts and derivative instruments will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset class underlying an investment and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater losses than if the Fund did not employ leverage in its investment activity. Leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund's exposure to an asset class and may cause the value of the Fund's securities or related derivatives instruments to be volatile. Accordingly, the Fund's NAV may be volatile because of its investment exposure to the Fund.

There is no assurance that the Fund's investment in a derivative instrument with leveraged exposure to certain investments and markets will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.

•   Commodities Risk. Exposure to the commodities markets (including financial futures markets) may subject the Fund through its investment in the Subsidiary to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Prices of commodities and related contracts may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of reasons, including changes in interest rates, supply and demand relationships and balances of payments and trade; weather and natural disasters; and governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies. The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions and other disruptions. U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur during a single business day. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices.

•   Derivatives Risk. Derivatives include instruments and contracts that are based on, and are valued in relation to, one or more underlying securities, financial benchmarks or indices, such as futures, options, swap agreements and forward contracts. Derivatives typically have economic leverage inherent in their terms. Such leverage will magnify any losses. See "Leverage/Volatility Risk" below. The primary types of derivatives in which the Fund or its Subsidiary invest in are swap agreements, futures contracts and forward contracts. Futures contracts, forward contracts and swap agreements can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value, and changes in the value of such instruments held directly or indirectly by the Fund may not correlate with the underlying instrument or reference assets, or the Fund's other investments. Although the value of futures contracts, forward contracts and swap agreements depend largely upon price movements in the underlying instrument or reference asset, there are additional risks associated with futures contracts, forward contracts and swap agreements that are possibly greater than the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying instruments or reference assets, including illiquidity risk, leveraging risk and counterparty credit risk. A small position in futures contracts, forward contracts or


4



swap agreements could have a potentially large impact on the Fund's performance. Trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange, and government regulations may restrict trading in swap agreements, futures contracts and options and forward contracts.

•   Fixed-Income Risk. Fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasuries, or derivatives based on fixed income securities, are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk, as described more fully below, refers to the possibility that the issuer of a debt security will be unable to make interest payments or repay principal when it becomes due. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. Prices of fixed income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect fixed income security prices and, accordingly, the Fund's returns and share price. In addition, the Fund may be subject to "call" risk, which is the risk that during a period of falling interest rates the issuer may redeem a security by repaying it early (which may reduce the Fund's income if the proceeds are reinvested at lower interest rates), and "extension" risk, which occurs during a rising interest rate environment because certain obligations will be paid off by an issuer more slowly than anticipated (causing the value of those securities held by the Fund to fall).

•   Counterparty Risk. The derivative contracts entered into by the Fund or its Subsidiary may be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.

•   Credit Risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security or a counterparty in respect of a derivative instrument will not be able to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund when due. Changes in an issuer's credit rating or the market's perception of an issuer's creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund's investment in that issuer. Securities rated in the four highest categories by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value or default. In addition, the credit quality of securities may be lowered if an issuer's financial condition changes.

•   Currency Risk. The Fund's exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar, or, in the case of short positions, that the U.S. Dollar will decline in value relative to the currency that the Fund is short. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for any number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

•   Emerging Market Risk. The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets due to the Fund's investments in certain stock index futures and foreign exchange instruments. Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging financial markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.


5



•   Foreign Market Risk. As a general rule, there is less legal and regulatory protection for investors in foreign markets than that available domestically. Additionally, trading on foreign exchanges is subject to the risks presented by exchange controls, expropriation, increased tax burdens and exposure to local economic declines and political instability. Some foreign derivative markets are so-called principals' markets in which performance is the responsibility only of the individual counterparty with whom the trader has entered into a commodity interest transaction and not of the exchange or clearing corporation. International trading activities are subject to foreign exchange risk.

•   General Market Risk. The Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, or the Fund could underperform other investments.

•   Government Agency Risk: Direct obligations of the U.S. Government such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds are supported by its full faith and credit. Indirect obligations issued by Federal agencies and government-sponsored entities generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Accordingly, while U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities may be chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Some of these indirect obligations may be supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's obligations; still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.

•   Government Intervention and Regulatory Changes. The recent instability in financial markets has led the government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that are exposed to extreme volatility and in some cases lack of liquidity. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") (which was passed into law in July 2010) significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of federal bank, securities and commodities regulators. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not adversely impact the Fund. Major changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act or other legislative or regulatory actions could materially affect the profitability of the Fund or the value of investments made by the Fund or force the Fund to revise its investment strategy or divest certain of its investments. Any of these developments could expose the Fund to additional costs, taxes, liabilities, enforcement actions and reputational risk.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act established a new regulatory structure for derivatives. If more restrictive position limits are imposed on investors in the commodity futures and other derivative markets, the Fund may be adversely affected. Similarly, changes in the regulation of foreign currency-related trading arising from the Dodd-Frank Act may make such trading more expensive for the Fund, and otherwise limit the Fund's ability to engage in such trading, which could adversely affect the Fund.

•   Leverage/Volatility Risk. Although the Fund will not borrow funds for trading, the Fund should be considered highly leveraged and is suitable only for investors with high tolerance for investment risk. Leverage embedded in the various derivative instruments traded may result in the Fund or its Subsidiary holding positions whose face or notional value may be many times the Fund's net asset value. For example, the amount of margin funds necessary to be deposited in order to enter into a futures, forward or option contract position is typically from 2% to 10% of the total face or notional value of the contract. As a result of this leveraging, even a small movement in the price of a commodity can cause a correspondingly large profit or loss. Losses incurred on leveraged investments increase in direct proportion to the degree of leverage employed.


6



Furthermore, derivative instruments and futures contracts are highly volatile and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial fluctuations. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund should the Fund's trading positions suddenly turn unprofitable.

The Fund's NAV is expected over short-term periods to be volatile because of the significant use of direct and indirect investments that have a leveraging effect. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. Rapid and dramatic price swings will result in high volatility. The Fund's returns are expected to be volatile; however, the actual or realized volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions and investors may suffer a significant and possibly a complete loss on their investment in the Fund.

•   Liquidity Risk. The Fund is subject to liquidity risk primarily due to its investments in derivatives. Investments in derivative instruments involve the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell the derivative instrument or sell it at a reasonable price.

•   Management Risk. The Manager employs systematic modeling to make investment decisions about the attractiveness, value and potential positive or negative performance of the Fund. The models employed by the Manager may prove to be inaccurate and may not produce the desired results.

•   Limited Operating History Risk. The Fund has a limited operating history upon which prospective investors can evaluate its performance.

•   New Fund Risk. As a new Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain economically viable size.

•   Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company, which means that more of the Fund's assets may be invested in the securities of a single issuer than could be invested in the securities of a single issuer by a diversified investment company. The Fund has a greater potential to realize losses upon the occurrence of adverse events affecting a particular issuer.

•   OTC Trading Risk. Certain of the derivatives in which the Fund may invest may be traded (and privately negotiated) in the "over-the-counter" or "OTC" market. While the OTC derivatives market is the primary trading venue for many derivatives, it is largely unregulated. As a result and similar to other privately negotiated contracts, the Fund is subject to counterparty credit risk with respect to such derivative contracts.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may frequently buy and sell portfolio securities and other assets to rebalance the Fund's exposure to various market sectors. Higher portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Fund's performance to be less than you expect.

•   Regulatory Risk. Governments, agencies or other regulatory bodies may adopt or change laws or regulations that could adversely affect the issuer, or market value, of an instrument held by the Fund or its Subsidiary or that could adversely impact the Fund's performance.

•   Short Sales Risk: The Fund may take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap or security. A short position on a derivative instrument or security involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument. Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential Fund gains and increase potential Fund losses.

•   Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary's investments. The derivatives and other investments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the


7



inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to continue to operate as it does currently and could adversely affect the Fund.

•   Tax Risk: In order to qualify as a regulated investment company ("RIC"), the Fund must meet certain requirements regarding the source of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has issued a ruling that income realized from certain types of commodity-linked derivatives would not be qualifying income. The Fund's investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the Code for qualification as a RIC, but there is a risk that the IRS could assert that the income derived from the Fund's investment in the Subsidiary and certain commodity-linked structured notes will not be considered qualifying income for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC and became subject to federal income tax, shareholders of the Fund would be subject to diminished returns. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or its Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Performance Information

Because the Fund has less than one full calendar year of performance, no performance information has been included.

Management of the Fund

Investment Manager
Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209, serves as the investment manager to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers
The Fund is managed by Campbell's Investment Committee, which includes members from Campbell's Executive Committee and Research Department. G. William Andrews and Xiaohua Hu are co-chairs of the Investment Committee and have been responsible for the daily management of the Fund since its inception.

Purchase and Sale Information

The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000,000. There is a minimum amount of $100,000 for subsequent investment.

You can only purchase and redeem Shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") by the means described below.


8



Purchase and Redemption by Mail:

Regular Mail:
Campbell Core Trend Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041

Overnight Delivery:
Campbell Core Trend Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Purchase by Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-844-261-6488 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Campbell Core Trend Fund.

Redemption by Telephone:

Call the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6488.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund may pay the intermediary for the sale of Shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


9




FUND INFORMATION

More Information About Fund Investments

This section provides some additional information about the Fund's investments and certain portfolio management techniques that the Fund may use. More information about the Fund's investments and portfolio management techniques, and related risks, is included in the SAI.

The Fund's investment objective is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. However, as a matter of policy, the Fund would not materially change its investment objective without informing shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any such change.

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

This Prospectus describes the Fund's principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities and other instruments described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategy. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund's SAI. Of course, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

More Information About Risks

The following provides additional information about the principal and certain non-principal risks of investing in the Fund and, indirectly, in the Subsidiary. More information about the Fund's risks is included in the SAI.

Principal Risks

Strategy Risk: The Fund's strategy involves actively trading derivative instruments using a variety of strategies and investment techniques that involve significant risks. Such derivative instruments may include futures, options and forward contracts and other derivative instruments that have inherent leverage and price volatility that result in greater risk than instruments used by a typical mutual fund, and the systematic programs used to trade them may rely on proprietary investment strategies that are not fully disclosed, which may in turn result in risks that are not anticipated.

The use of futures contracts, forward contracts and derivative instruments will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset class underlying an investment and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund, through its investment in a derivative instrument, will have the potential for greater losses than if the Fund did not employ leverage in its investment activity. Leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund's exposure to an asset class and may cause the value of the Fund's investment to be volatile.

There is no assurance that the Fund's investment in a derivative instrument with leveraged exposure to certain investments and markets will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets (including financial futures markets) may subject the Fund through its investment in the Subsidiary to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The values of commodities and commodity-linked investments are affected by events that might have less impact on the values of stocks and bonds and have recently experienced periods of significant volatility. Prices of commodities


10



and related contracts may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of reasons, including: changes in interest rates, supply and demand relationships and balances of payments and trade; weather and natural disasters; governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; acts of terrorism, tariffs and U.S. and international economic, political, military and regulatory developments.

The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions. U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices, which may occur during a single business day. Once a limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the value of the Fund's commodity-linked investments.

Derivatives Risk: Derivatives include instruments and contracts that are based on, and are valued in relation to, one or more underlying securities, financial benchmarks or indices, such as futures, options, swap agreements and forward contracts. The value of a derivative depends largely upon price movements in the underlying instrument. Many of the risks applicable to trading the underlying instrument are also applicable to derivatives trading. However, derivatives trading is subject to a number of additional risks. Transactions in certain derivatives are subject to clearance on a U.S. national exchange and to regulatory oversight, while other derivatives are subject to risks of trading in the over-the-counter markets or on non-U.S. exchanges. A small investment in derivative instruments could have a potentially large impact on the Fund's performance. Over-the-counter derivatives are subject to the risk of mispricing or improper valuation of the derivative.

Liquidity of Futures Contracts . The Fund utilizes futures as part of its strategy. Futures positions may be illiquid because certain commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as "daily price fluctuation limits" or "daily limits." Under such daily limits, during a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limits. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that contract can neither be entered into nor liquidated unless traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved beyond the daily limits for several consecutive days with little or no trading. OTC instruments generally are not as liquid as instruments traded on recognized exchanges. These constraints could prevent the Fund from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions, thereby subjecting the Fund to substantial losses. In addition, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and various exchanges limit the number of positions that the Fund may indirectly hold or control in particular commodities.

Non-U.S. Futures Transactions . Foreign futures transactions involve the execution and clearing of trades on a foreign exchange. This is the case even if the foreign exchange is formally "linked" to a domestic exchange, whereby a trade executed on one exchange liquidates or establishes a position on the other exchange. No domestic organization regulates the activities of a foreign exchange, including the execution, delivery, and clearing of transactions on such an exchange, and no domestic regulator has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of the foreign exchange or the laws of the foreign country. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the transaction occurs. For these reasons, the Fund may not be afforded certain of the protections that apply to domestic transactions. In particular, funds received from the Fund to margin (collateralize) foreign futures transactions may not be provided the same protections as funds received to margin futures transactions on domestic exchanges. In addition, the price of any foreign futures or option contract and, therefore, the resulting potential profit or loss, may be affected by any fluctuation in the foreign exchange rate between the time the order is placed and the foreign futures contract is liquidated or the foreign option contract is liquidated or exercised.

Forward Contracts . The Fund may utilize forward contracts that are not traded on exchanges and may not be regulated. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Banks and other dealers with which the Fund maintains accounts may require that the Fund deposit margin with respect to such trading. The Fund's counterparties are not required to continue making markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices


11



with an unusually wide spread (the price at which the counterparty is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell). Arrangements to trade forward contracts may be made with only one or a few counterparties, and liquidity problems therefore might be greater than if such arrangements were made with numerous counterparties. The imposition of credit controls by governmental authorities might limit such forward trading to less than the amount that the Manager would otherwise recommend, to the possible detriment of the Fund.

Swap Agreements . The Fund may enter into swap agreements. Swap agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to long-term or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, baskets of securities, or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. The Fund is not limited to any particular form of swap agreement if the Manager determines that other forms are consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies.

Swap agreements will tend to shift the Fund's investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if the Fund agrees to exchange payments in dollars for payments in foreign currency, the swap agreement would tend to decrease the Fund's exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to foreign currency and interest rates. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund's portfolio. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, individual equity values or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, the value of a swap agreement is likely to decline if the counterparty's creditworthiness declines. Such a decrease in value might cause the Fund to incur losses.

Recent market developments related to swaps have prompted increased scrutiny with respect to these instruments. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, swaps may in the future be subject to increased regulation. Such regulation may limit the Fund's ability to use swaps and increase the cost of using swaps.

Fixed-Income Risk: A substantial portion of the Fund's assets may be invested in securities issued by the U.S. Government. When interest rates change, the value of the Fund's fixed-income investments will be affected. Prices of fixed income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect fixed income security prices and, accordingly, the Fund's share price. The longer the effective maturity and duration of the Fund's portfolio, the more the Fund's share price is likely to react to interest rates. Some fixed income securities give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity dates. If an issuer calls its security during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, and therefore might not benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates. During periods of market illiquidity or rising interest rates, prices of callable issues are subject to increased price fluctuation. In addition, the Fund may be subject to extension risk, which occurs during a rising interest rate environment because certain obligations will be paid off by an issuer more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of those securities held by the Fund to fall.

Fixed income investments are also subject to "Credit Risk" discussed below.

Counterparty Risk: Some of the derivatives entered into by the Fund or the Subsidiary are not traded on an exchange but instead will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. This means that these instruments are traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships. Relying on a counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If a counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. In addition, to the extent the Fund deals with a limited number of counterparties, it will be more susceptible to the credit risks associated with those counterparties. The Fund is neither restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty nor from concentrating any or all of its


12



transactions with one counterparty. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or number of counterparties and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund. In situations in which the Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, including with a futures commission merchant or a clearing organization for futures or other derivative contracts, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty's own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty's bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund's collateral may be subject to the conflicting claims of the counterparty's creditors and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of being treated as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.

The Fund is subject to the risk that issuers of the instruments in which it invests and trades may default on their obligations, and that certain events may occur that have an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of those instruments. There can be no assurance that an issuer will not default, or that an event that has an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of an instrument will not occur, and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result.

Transactions entered into by the Fund may be executed on various U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges, and may be cleared and settled through various clearing houses, custodians, depositories and prime brokers throughout the world. A failure by any such entity may lead to a loss to the Fund.

Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer's credit rating or the market's perception of an issuer's creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund's investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation. Securities rated in the four highest categories (Standard & Poor's ("S&P") (AAA, AA, A and BBB), Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") (AAA, AA, A and BBB) or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") (Aaa, Aa, A and Baa)) by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics, meaning that they carry more risk than higher rated securities and may have problems making principal and interest payments in difficult economic climates. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value or default.

If a security issuer defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. Lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and in shares of the Fund. Lower credit quality also may affect liquidity and make it difficult to sell the security. Default, or the market's perception that an issuer is likely to default, could reduce the value and liquidity of securities, thereby reducing the value of your investment in Fund shares. In addition, default may cause the Fund to incur expenses in seeking recovery of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings.

When the Fund invests in over-the-counter derivatives (including options), it is assuming a credit risk with regard to the party with which it trades and also bears the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from risks associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily mark-to-market and settlement, segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. Relying on any counterparty exposes the Fund to the risk that such counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. If any counterparty defaults on its payment obligations to the Fund, this default will cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease.

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


13



Although U.S. Government Securities are generally considered to be among the safest type of investment in terms of credit risk, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, such as the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, while obligations by others, such as Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") and Federal Home Loan Banks ("FHLBs"), are backed solely by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the entity's own resources. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obliged to do so by law.

On September 7, 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (collectively the "GSEs") were placed under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to provide stability in the financial markets, mortgage availability and taxpayer protection by preserving the GSEs' assets and property and putting them in a sound and solvent condition. Under the conservatorship, the management of the GSEs was replaced. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on the securities issued or guaranteed by the GSEs is unclear.

Currency Risk: The Fund's exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar, or, in the case of short positions, that the U.S. Dollar will decline in value relative to the currency that the Fund is short. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. In addition, the Fund may incur transaction costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.

Emerging Market Risk: The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets due to its investments in certain stock index futures and foreign exchange instruments. Investing in emerging markets will, among other things, expose the Fund to all the risks described below in the Foreign Market Risk section, and you should review that section carefully. However, there are greater risks involved in investing in emerging market countries and/or their financial markets than there are in more developed countries and/or markets. Generally, economic structures in these countries are less diverse and mature than those in developed countries, and their political systems are less stable. Investments in emerging market countries may be affected by national policies that restrict foreign investment in certain issuers or industries. The small size of their financial markets and low trading volumes can make investments illiquid and more volatile than investments in developed countries and such securities may be subject to abrupt and severe price declines. The Fund may be required to establish special custody or other arrangements before investing. In addition, because the securities settlement procedures are less developed in these countries, the Fund may be required to deliver securities before receiving payment and may also be unable to complete transactions during market disruptions. The possible establishment of exchange controls or freezes on the convertibility of currency might adversely affect an investment in assets traded in foreign markets.

Foreign Market Risk: A substantial portion of the trades of the Fund are expected to take place on markets or exchanges outside the United States. There is no limit to the amount of assets of the Fund that may be committed to trading on foreign markets. The risk of loss in trading foreign futures and options on futures contracts can be substantial. Participation in foreign futures and options on futures contracts involves the execution and clearing of trades on, or subject to the rules of, a foreign board of trade or exchange. Some of these foreign markets, in contrast to U.S. exchanges, are so-called principals' markets in which performance is the responsibility only of the individual counterparty with whom the trader has entered into a commodity interest transaction and not of the exchange or clearing corporation. In these kinds of markets, there is risk of bankruptcy or other failure or refusal to perform by the counterparty.

Some foreign markets present additional risk, because they are not subject to the same degree of regulation as their U.S. counterparts. No U.S. regulatory agency or any domestic exchange regulates activities on any foreign boards of trade or exchanges (such as the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions) or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign board of trade or exchange or of any applicable foreign laws. Similarly, the


14



rights of market participants, in the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of a foreign market or broker are also likely to be more limited than in the case of U.S. markets or brokers. As a result, in these markets, there is less legal and regulatory protection than that available domestically.

Additionally, trading on foreign exchanges is subject to the risks presented by exchange controls, expropriation, increased tax burdens and exposure to local economic declines and political instability. An adverse development with respect to any of these variables could reduce the profit or increase the loss earned on trades in the affected international markets. International trading activities are subject to foreign exchange risk.

General Market Risk: The Fund's NAV and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. The market value of securities in which the Fund or the Subsidiary invests is based upon the market's perception of value and is not necessarily an objective measure of a security's value. There is no assurance that the Fund will realize its investment objective, and an investment in the Fund is not, by itself, a complete or balanced investment program. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, or the Fund could underperform other investments.

Government Intervention and Regulatory Changes: The recent instability in financial markets has led government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that are exposed to extreme volatility and in some cases lack of liquidity. For example, the Dodd-Frank Act significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of federal bank, securities and commodities regulators. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. Possible regulatory actions taken under these revised and expanded powers may include actions related to financial consumer protection, proprietary trading and derivatives. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not adversely impact the Fund. Legislators and regulators in the United States are currently considering a wide range of proposals beyond the Dodd-Frank Act that, if enacted, could result in major changes to the way banking operations are regulated. Some of these major changes could materially affect the profitability of the Fund or the value of investments made by the Fund or force the Fund to revise its investment strategy or divest certain of its investments. Any of these developments could expose the Fund to additional costs, taxes, liabilities, enforcement actions and reputational risk.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act established a new regulatory structure for derivatives. The new legislation requires regulators to set minimum capital requirements and minimum initial and variation margin requirements, repeals prior regulatory exemptions for OTC derivatives, provides substantial authority to the SEC and the CFTC with respect to position limits for certain swaps and may change the standards for determining manipulation. Much of the required rulemaking and regulations have yet to be implemented. Accordingly, the effect of the new legislation and its impact on the Fund cannot yet be known. If more restrictive position limits are imposed on investors in the commodity futures and other derivative markets the Fund may be adversely affected. Similarly, changes in the regulation of foreign currency-related trading arising from the Dodd-Frank Act may make it more expensive for the Fund and otherwise limit the Fund's ability to engage in such trading, which could adversely affect the Fund.

In 2012, the CFTC adopted certain rule amendments that significantly affected the exemptions from CFTC regulations that were available to the Fund and its Subsidiary. The Fund and its Subsidiary are subject to CFTC regulations because of these changes. At the time of the CFTC's adoption of the rule amendments, Campbell & Company, LP, the Manager's parent company, was (and continues to be) registered as a commodity pool operator ("CPO") and, accordingly, is subject to CFTC regulations. On August 13, 2013, the CFTC adopted final rules to "harmonize" the compliance obligations of CPOs with respect to commodity pools that are also registered investment companies under the 1940 Act. Under the final harmonization rules, the CPOs of such commodity pools may elect "substituted compliance" whereby such CPOs will be deemed to have substantially satisfied the CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping obligations by complying with the SEC's disclosure, reporting and


15



recordkeeping regime under the 1940 Act, in lieu of complying with the CFTC's alternative requirements. The Fund intends to utilize the substituted compliance option.

Leverage/Volatility Risk: Although the Fund will not borrow funds for trading, the Fund should be considered highly leveraged and is suitable only for investors with high tolerance for investment risk. Leverage embedded in the various derivative instruments traded may result in the Fund or its Subsidiary holding positions whose face or notional value may be many times the Fund's net asset value. For example, the amount of margin funds necessary to be deposited in order to enter into a futures, forward or option contract position is typically from 2% to 10% of the total face or notional value of the contract. As a result of this leveraging, even a small movement in the price of a commodity can cause a correspondingly large profit or loss. Losses incurred on leveraged investments increase in direct proportion to the degree of leverage employed.

Furthermore, derivative contracts are highly volatile and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial fluctuations. Consequently, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment in the Fund should the trading positions of the Fund suddenly turn unprofitable.

The Fund's NAV is expected over short-term periods to be volatile because of the significant use of direct and indirect investments that have a leveraging effect. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. Rapid and dramatic price swings will result in high volatility. The Fund's returns are expected to be volatile; however, the actual or realized volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions and investors may suffer a significant and possibly a complete loss on their investment in the Fund.

Liquidity Risk: The Fund may be subject to liquidity risk primarily due to investments in derivatives. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities or instruments. Derivatives, such as swaps, options and warrants, may not be readily marketable and, therefore, may be deemed to be illiquid. An asset is not readily marketable if it cannot be sold within seven business days in the ordinary course of business for approximately the amount at which it is valued. Investments in illiquid assets involve the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell the asset or sell it at a reasonable price. In addition, the Fund may be required to liquidate positions or close out derivatives on unfavorable terms at a time contrary to the interests of the Fund in order to raise cash to pay redemptions.

An investment in derivatives is also subject to the risk that the Fund may not be able to terminate the derivatives effective on whatever date it chooses, or that the settlement of any early termination may depend on subsequent market movements. As a result, the Fund may be exposed to the risk of additional losses due to such delays.

Management Risk: The Manager's judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential positive or negative performance of any particular security or derivative in which the Fund invests or sells short may prove to be inaccurate and may not produce the desired results. The Manager's trading is highly model driven, and is materially subject to possible flaws in the models. As market dynamics (for example, due to changed market conditions and participants) shift over time, a previously highly successful model often becomes outdated or inaccurate, sometimes without the Manager recognizing that fact before substantial losses are incurred. In particular, the Fund may incur major losses in the event of disrupted markets and other extraordinary events that cause the Manager's pricing models to generate prices which deviate from the market. The risk of loss to the Fund in the case of disrupted markets is compounded by the number of different investment models of pricing, each of which may independently become wholly unpredictable during market disruptions. In addition, in disrupted derivatives markets, many positions may become illiquid, making it difficult or impossible to close out positions against which the markets are moving.

Even if the basic concepts of our models are sound, the Manager may make errors in developing algorithms for integrating the numerous factors and variables into them or in programming the algorithms. Those errors may cause the model to generate results different from those intended. They may be difficult to detect in many market conditions, possibly influencing outcomes only in periods of stress or change in market conditions.


16



The Manager anticipates the continued modification, enhancement and development of models. Each new generation of models (including incremental improvements to current models) exposes the Fund to the possibility of unforeseen losses from a variety of factors, including conceptual failures and implementation failures. There can be no assurance that the models used by the Manager will be effective or that they will be effectively utilized by the Manager. Moreover, these can be no assurance that the Manager will be able to continue to develop, maintain and update the models so as to effectively implement its trading strategy.

Limited Operating History Risk: The Fund has a limited operating history upon which prospective investors can evaluate its performance. The personnel of the Manager responsible for managing the Fund's investment portfolio have substantial experience in managing investments and private investment funds and have provided and continue to provide advisory and management services to clients and private and registered investment funds that have similar investment programs to that of the Fund. However, the past performance of the Fund or the Manager may not be construed as an indication of the future results of an investment in the Fund.

Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is a non-diversified investment company, which means that more of the Fund's assets may be invested in the securities of a single issuer than could be invested in the securities of a single issuer by a diversified investment company. This may make the value of the Fund's shares more susceptible to certain risks than shares of a diversified investment company. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund has a greater potential to realize losses upon the occurrence of adverse events affecting a particular issuer.

OTC Trading Risk: Certain of the derivatives in which the Fund may invest, including swap agreements, may be traded (and privately negotiated) in the OTC market. While the OTC derivatives market is the primary trading venue for many derivatives, it is largely unregulated and lacks transparency with respect to the terms of OTC transactions. OTC derivatives are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to the Fund. In addition, such derivative instruments are often highly customized and tailored to meet the needs of the counterparties. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price. As a result and similar to other privately negotiated contracts, the Fund is subject to counterparty credit risk with respect to such derivative contracts.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: The Fund may frequently buy and sell portfolio securities and other assets to rebalance the Fund's exposure to various market sectors. Higher portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Fund's performance to be less than you expect.

Regulatory Risk: Governments, agencies or other regulatory bodies may adopt or change laws or regulations that could adversely affect the issuer, or market value, of an instrument held by the Fund or the Fund's performance.

Short Sales Risk: The Fund engages in short sales of derivative instruments and securities – including those that are not "against the box," which means that the Fund may make short sales where the Fund does not currently own or have the right to acquire, at no added cost, instruments identical to those sold short – in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. In a typical short sale, the Fund borrows from a broker an instrument in order to sell the instrument to a third party. The Fund then is obligated to replace the instrument borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The Fund realizes a loss to the extent the instrument increases in value or a profit to the extent the instrument declines in value (after taking into account any associated costs). Until the Fund closes its short position, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash or liquid assets at such a level that (i) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the instrument sold short; and (ii) the amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the instrument at the time the instrument was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund's short position.

Subsidiary Risk: The Fund will make investments through a wholly-owned Subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated


17



with the Subsidiary's investments. The derivatives and other investments held by a Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. These risks are described elsewhere in this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved.

The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board of Directors has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund's role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund.

Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or its Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and in the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Tax Risk: The IRS has issued private letter rulings to registered investment companies concluding that income derived from their investment in a wholly-owned subsidiary and certain commodity-linked structured notes would constitute qualifying income to the fund. The IRS has indicated that the granting of these types of private letter rulings is currently suspended, pending further internal discussion. As a result, the Fund has not received such a private letter ruling. Therefore, there is a risk that the IRS could assert that the income derived from the Fund's investment in the Subsidiary and certain commodity-linked structured notes will not be considered qualifying income for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC and became subject to federal income tax, shareholders of the Fund would be subject to diminished returns.

Non-Principal Risks

Cyber Security Issues. With the increased use of technologies such as the internet to conduct business, the Fund and Subsidiary are susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through "hacking" or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). Cyber security failures or breaches by the Fund's adviser and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the Fund's accountant, custodian, transfer agent and administrator), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund's ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Manager has established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Fund and issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

Redemptions. The Fund may need to sell its holdings in order to meet shareholder redemption requests. The Fund could experience a loss when selling securities to meet redemption requests if the redemption requests are unusually large or frequent, occur in times of overall market turmoil or declining prices for the securities sold, or


18



when the securities the Fund wishes to or is required to sell are illiquid. The Fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities at its desired time or price. Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a ready buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities' resale. Certain securities that were liquid when purchased may later become illiquid, particularly in times of overall economic distress.

Temporary Investments. The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures of the Company with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's SAI. The SAI is incorporated herein.

More Information About Management of the Fund

Investment Manager

Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC ("Campbell" or "Manager"), a Delaware corporation founded in January 2005, serves as the investment manager to the Fund. The Manager's principal place of business is located at 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209. As of August 31, 2015, the Manager together with its affiliates had approximately $4.9 billion in assets under management. The Manager is registered as an Investment Adviser with the SEC and as a Commodity Trading Advisor ("CTA") with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is a member of the National Futures Association.

The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, LP ("Campbell & Company"). Campbell & Company and its predecessor organization, Campbell & Company, Inc., were organized in 1972 and have over forty years of experience in creating and managing alternative investment vehicles. The Manager has appointed Campbell & Company as the Fund's Commodity Pool Operator ("CPO"). Campbell & Company is registered with the CFTC as a CPO and a CTA. Campbell & Company is a member of the NFA in such capacities.

The Fund compensates the Manager for its services at the annual rate of 1.05% of its average annual net assets, payable on a monthly basis in arrears. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. In determining the Manager's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.25%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. If at any time the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for a year are less than 1.25%, the Manager may recoup from the Fund any waived amount or other payments remitted by the Manager within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed expense limitations that were in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. For the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 (the Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2014) after waivers and reimbursements, the Manager did not receive investment advisory fees from the Fund. Had fee waivers and reimbursement not been in place, the Manager would have received 1.05% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors' approval of the investment advisory agreement with the Manager is available in the Fund's first semi-annual report to shareholders dated February 28, 2015.


19



The Fund is managed by Campbell's Investment Committee. The seven-member team, led by co-chairs G. William Andrews and Xiaohua Hu, is responsible for portfolio risk management, capital allocation and portfolio construction, and approves all changes to the portfolio, including new models and enhancements.

G. William Andrews, Chief Executive Officer, joined Campbell in April 1997, and in November 2012 he was appointed to the Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer. He formerly held the positions of Co-Director of Research from November 2011 to October 2012, Chief Operating Officer from January 2010 to May 2012, Vice President & Director of Operations from April 2007 to January 2010, Vice President & Director of Research Operations from March 2006 to April 2007, and Research Assistant from April 1997 to February 2006. In March 2010, Mr. Andrews was appointed a Co-Chair of Campbell's Investment Committee.

Xiaohua Hu, Chief Research Officer, PhD, joined Campbell in April 1994 and has served as Chief Research Officer, formerly Director of Research, since November 2012. Dr. Hu formerly served as the Co-Director of Research from November 2011 to October 2012. Since joining the firm, Dr. Hu has had a major role in the ongoing research and development of Campbell's trading systems, models, and systematic algorithms. He was appointed as Co-Chair of the Investment Committee in March 2010. As Director of Research, Dr. Hu is responsible for the management of the research and investment process.

The SAI provides additional information about the co-chairs' compensation, other accounts managed by the co-chairs, and the co-chairs' ownership of securities in the Fund.


20



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Shares of the Fund are sold at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases of Fund Shares at the NAV next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order in good order as described below. The Fund will effect redemptions of Fund Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your redemption request in good order as described below. If the Fund holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares.

If available, the Fund's investments in securities and other exchange traded assets are generally valued based on market quotations. If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Manager securities will be valued by the Manager in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. The Fund will regularly value its investments in derivative instruments at fair value. The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the value of the Fund's portfolio holdings. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Applicable federal tax requirements generally limit the degree to which the Fund may invest in the Subsidiary to an amount not exceeding 25% of its total assets. The Subsidiary prices its portfolio investments pursuant to the same pricing and valuation methodologies and procedures employed by the Fund. The Subsidiary offers to redeem all or a portion of its shares at the current net asset value per share every day the Fund is open for business. The value of shares of the Subsidiary will fluctuate with the value of the Subsidiary's portfolio investments.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the "Distributor").

General. You may purchase Shares of the Fund at the NAV per Share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000,000. There is a minimum amount of $100,000 for subsequent investments. The Fund may accept initial investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. You can only purchase Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Fund may also be available through certain Service Organizations. Certain features of the Shares, such as the initial and subsequent investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose minimum investment recquirements. Service Organizations may also impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if Shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of Shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting


21



client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after such orders are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

For administration, subaccounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Manager, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee") based on the average annual NAV of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an Account Application and mailing it to the Fund at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Campbell Core Trend Fund. Third party endorsed checks or foreign checks will not be accepted.

Campbell Core Trend Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041

or overnight to:

Campbell Core Trend Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per Share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, Shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed Account Application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6488 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.)

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time by purchasing Shares at the NAV per Share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Campbell Core Trend Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6488 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date. There is a minimum amount of $100,000 for subsequent investment.


22



Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6488. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Manager or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund. The Manager will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to Board of Director's approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Manager, subject to Board of Director's approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Manager;

b.  existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the Fund;

c.  employees of the Manager and their spouses, parents and children; and

d.  directors of the Company.

Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Manager, subject to the Board of Director's discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund's Shares will be made in full and fractional Shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. Certificates for Shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional Shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Manager and their family members, either directly or through their IRAs, and by any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Manager, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation. The Advisor is authorized to waive the minimum initial investment requirement.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.


23



Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem Fund Shares at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. You may redeem Fund Shares by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Campbell Core Trend Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9841, Providence, RI 02940-8041, or for overnight delivery to Campbell Core Trend Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581, and must include:

•  a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of Shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the Shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

•  any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more; or (iii) a Share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three recognized Medallion signature guarantee programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

•  other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of Shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-844-261-6488 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of


24



unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder's account in the Fund at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as a result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in the Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed. The Fund may assert the right to redeem your Shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for Shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Manager reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Manager will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Manager), the Company (or the Manager) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Manager's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading,


25



in the judgment of the Company (or the Manager), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Manager or any affiliated person or associated person of the Manager.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Manager has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. The Manager reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information related to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, the Manager, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. If, in its judgment, the Manager detects excessive, short-term trading, it may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund. The Manager may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. The Manager will apply the criteria in a manner that, in the its judgment, will be uniform.

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Fund at least annually.

The Fund may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Fund's distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvestment in additional Shares, are subject to U.S. federal tax.

More Information About Taxes

The following is a summary of certain U.S. tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.


26



Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as the result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign securities. If more than 50% of the value of the total assets of the Fund consists of stocks and securities (including debt securities) of foreign corporations at the close of a taxable year, the Fund may elect, for federal income tax purposes, to treat certain foreign taxes paid by it, including generally any withholding and other foreign income taxes, as paid by its shareholders. If the Fund makes this election, the amount of those foreign taxes paid by the Fund will be included in its shareholders' income pro rata (in addition to taxable distributions actually received by them), and each such shareholder will be entitled either (1) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against U.S. federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction. If the Fund is not eligible or chooses not to make this election the Fund will be entitled to deduct any such foreign taxes in computing the amounts it is required to distribute.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

The Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.


27



Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

Taxation of the Subsidiary. There is, at present, no direct taxation in the Cayman Islands and interest, dividends and gains payable to the Subsidiary will be received free of all Cayman Islands taxes. The Subsidiary is registered as an "exempted company" pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended). The Subsidiary has applied for, and expects to receive, an undertaking from the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands to the effect that, for a period of twenty years from the date of the undertaking, no law that thereafter is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax or duty to be levied on profits, income or on gains or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, will apply to any property comprised in or any income arising under the Subsidiary, or to the shareholders thereof, in respect of any such property or income.

More information about taxes is contained in the SAI.


28



NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


29



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the period indicated, including per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the period. This information has been derived from information provided in the consolidated financial statements and has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request.

 

Institutional Class

 
Per Share Operating Performance   For the Period
Ended to
August 31, 2015 (1)
 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

10.00

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

(0.08

)

 

Net realized and unrealized loss from investments

   

(0.21

)

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   

(0.29

)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

9.71

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(2.90

)%

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

9,715

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements
(including interest expense)
   

1.26

% (5)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements
(excluding interest expense)
   

1.25

% (5)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and reimbursements
(including interest expense)
   

4.39

% (5)

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

   

(1.25

)% (5)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

0.00

% (4)

 

(1)  The Fund commenced investment operations on December 31, 2014.

(2)  Calculated based on average shares outstanding method for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any. Periods less than one year are not annualized.

(4)  Not annualized.

(5)  Annualized.


30




FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund will be available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-annual Reports These reports will contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report will include Fund strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") The Fund's SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, and the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports, may be obtained free of charge by calling 1-844-261-6488 or by visiting www.campbell.com/CoreTrend. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and is legally considered a part of this Prospectus.

Shareholder Inquiries Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: 1-844-261-6488.

Purchases and Redemptions Call your registered representative or 1-844-261-6488.

Written Correspondence
P.O. Box Address:

Campbell Core Trend Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PO Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041

Street Address:

Campbell Core Trend Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Securities and Exchange Commission You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-05518




FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND
FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND
of
THE RBB FUND, INC.

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

Investment Adviser:

MATSON MONEY, INC.
5955 Deerfield Blvd.
Mason, OH 45040

The securities described in this Prospectus have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The SEC, however, has not judged these securities for their investment merit and has not determined the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.

Ticker Symbols

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

–FMUEX

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

–FMNEX

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

–FMFIX

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

   

PAGE

 

SUMMARY SECTIONS

   

1

   

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   

1

   

Free Market International Equity Fund

   

6

   

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

   

12

   

MORE ABOUT EACH FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

   

18

   

Investment Strategies

   

18

   

More About Underlying Investment Company Investments

   

19

   

Investment Risks

   

22

   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

   

24

   

Broad-Based and Composite Indices

   

24

   

Credit Ratings

   

26

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

   

27

   

Investment Adviser

   

27

   

Portfolio Managers

   

27

   

Management Fees

   

27

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

28

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

28

   

Market Timing

   

28

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

29

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

30

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

32

   

Taxes

   

32

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

35

   

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   

35

   

Free Market International Equity Fund

   

36

   

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

   

37

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MATSON MONEY FAMILY OF FUNDS

   

Back Cover

   


i



FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

 

FMUEX

 

Investment Objective

The Free Market U.S. Equity Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Expenses and Fees

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

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage
of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

   

0.49

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) and/or Service Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

0.11

%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

   

0.32

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

0.92

%

 

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

94

   

$

293

   

$

509

   

$

1,131

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered, open-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") (collectively, "investment companies") that have either adopted policies to invest at least 80% of their assets in equity securities, such as common stocks, preferred stocks or securities convertible into stocks, of U.S. companies, or invest substantially all of their assets in such equity securities. The Fund will diversify its investments by investing primarily in investment companies focusing on different segments of the equity markets, including large ("large-cap"), small ("small-cap") and micro-capitalization ("micro-cap") equity securities that the Fund's investment adviser ("Adviser") believes offer the prospect of long-term capital appreciation. The purchase of shares of investment companies may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.


1



Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Fund's net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies that invest in the types of securities described in each asset class below, with less than 2% of the net assets invested in cash or money market instruments.

U.S. Large Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of large cap companies that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014 large cap companies generally were those companies with a market capitalization of $3.543 billion or greater. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

U.S. Small Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of small cap companies that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014 small cap companies generally were those companies with a market capitalization of $3.543 billion or less. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

U.S. Large Company Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase all of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 ® Index in approximately the proportions they are represented in the S&P 500 ® Index. Generally, these are the U.S. stocks with the largest market capitalizations and, as a group, they represent approximately 75% of the total market capitalization of all publicly traded U.S. stocks.

U.S. Small Cap Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of small cap companies primarily based on market capitalization. As of December 2014 small cap companies were generally those with a market capitalization of $3.543 billion or less. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions. There may be some overlap in the companies in which the U.S. small cap asset class and the U.S. micro cap asset class invest.

U.S. Micro Cap Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of micro cap companies. As of December 2014 micro cap companies were generally those companies with a market capitalization of $1.961 billion or less. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions. There may be some overlap in the companies in which the U.S. micro cap asset class and the U.S. small cap asset class invest.

The underlying investment companies may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Underlying index-based ETFs may use derivatives, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options and swaps to help the ETF track its underlying index.

The Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets as a temporary defensive measure in cash and money market instruments such as U.S. Government securities, bank obligations and commercial paper. To the extent the Fund employs a temporary defensive measure, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Periodically the Adviser will review the allocations for the Fund in each underlying investment company and may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of the Fund in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders.


2



Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Fund involves the same investment risks as those of the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. These risks may adversely affect the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and investment performance. The Fund is subject to the following principal risks:

•  Stocks of large cap, small cap or micro cap companies in which the Fund's underlying investment companies invest or in which the Fund invests directly may temporarily fall out of favor with investors or may be more volatile than the rest of the U.S. market as a whole.

•  The smaller the capitalization of a company, generally the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records and are more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

•  Although the Fund will invest in other investment companies that follow a value oriented strategy, value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and such a strategy may cause the Fund at times to underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

•  Companies in which the Fund's underlying investment companies invest may suffer unexpected losses or lower than expected earnings or their securities may become difficult or impossible to sell at the time and for the price that the underlying investment adviser(s) would like.

•  The Adviser's judgment about the attractiveness or potential appreciation of a particular underlying investment company security could prove to be wrong or the Fund could miss out on an investment opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of such opportunity are tied up in less advantageous investments.

•  Because under normal circumstances the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in shares of registered investment companies that emphasize investments in U.S. equity securities, the NAV of the Fund will change with changes in the share prices of the investment companies in which the Fund invests.

•  There is a risk that large, small or micro capitalization stocks may not perform as well as other asset classes or the U.S. stock market as a whole. In the past, large, small and micro capitalization stocks have gone through cycles of doing better or worse than the stock market in general.

•  There is a risk that the Fund, which is passively managed, may not perform as well as funds with more active methods of investment management, such as selecting securities based on economic, financial, and market analysis.

•  The derivative instruments in which the underlying investment companies may invest are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and it is possible to lose more than the principal amount invested.

•  The performance of the Fund will depend on how successfully the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies pursue their investment strategies.

More information about the Fund's investments and risks is contained under the section entitled "More About Each Fund's Investments and Risks."


3



Performance Information

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information is available at www.matsonmoney.com or by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above)

Best Quarter: 22.80% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter: (22.63)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year to Date Total Return as of September 30, 2015: (7.97)%

 

Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns of the Fund before and after taxes for the past calendar year, the past five calendar years and since inception to the average total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns for the
Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Year

  Since
Inception*
(December 31,
2007)
 

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

6.21

%

   

16.14

%

   

9.72

%

 

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions*

   

5.20

%

   

15.61

%

   

9.31

%

 
Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares*
   

4.37

%

   

13.07

%

   

7.83

%

 
Russell 2500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

7.07

%

   

16.36

%

   

8.86

%

 

Composite Index**

   

9.12

%

   

15.24

%

   

7.47

%

 

*  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

**  The Composite Index is comprised of the S&P 500 ® Index, Russell 1000 ® Value Index, Russell 2000 ® Index and Russell 2000 ® Value Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Additional information


4



about the Composite Index can be found under the section entitled "More About Each Fund's Investments and Risks."

Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser
Matson Money, Inc.

Portfolio Managers
Mark E. Matson: Chief Executive Officer and Director, since 1991
Steven B. Miller: President and Portfolio Manager, since 2004
Kenneth E. Gatliff: Portfolio Manager, since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

The Fund has no minimum initial investment or minimum subsequent investment. The Fund is exclusively available to clients or customers of service organizations approved by the Adviser, including certain brokerage firms, investment advisers, financial institutions and other industry professionals ("Service Organizations"). Only persons or entities having relationships with these Service Organizations may invest in the Fund. You may submit redemption requests on any business day to your Service Organization in person or by telephone, mail or wire.

You can only purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


5



FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

 

FMNEX

 

Investment Objective

The Free Market International Equity Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Expenses and Fees

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

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

   

0.50

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) and/or Service Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

0.14

%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

   

0.50

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

1.14

%

 

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

116

   

$

362

   

$

628

   

$

1,386

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 3% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered, open-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") (collectively, "investment companies") that have either adopted policies to invest at least 80% of their assets in equity securities, such as common stocks, preferred stocks or securities convertible into stocks, of foreign companies, or invest substantially all of their assets in such equity securities. The Fund will diversify its investments by investing primarily in investment companies that focus on different segments of the foreign equity markets, including emerging markets, with little or no focus on domestic equity markets. The purchase of shares of investment companies may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.


6



Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Fund's net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies that invest in the types of securities described in each asset class below, with less than 5% of the net assets invested in cash or money market instruments.

International Small Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of small companies in foreign countries with developed markets that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which an underlying investment company invested was $5.218 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

International Large Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of large companies in foreign countries with developed markets that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which an underlying investment company invested was $1.394 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

International Small Company Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of small companies in foreign countries with developed markets. As of December 2014, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which an underlying investment company invested was $5.218 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

International Large Cap Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of large companies in foreign countries with developed markets. As of December 2014, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which an underlying investment company invested was $1.394 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

Emerging Markets Asset Class, Emerging Markets Value Asset Class, and Emerging Markets Small Cap Asset Class (collectively, the "Emerging Markets Asset Classes"): Underlying investment companies comprising each Emerging Markets Asset Class generally will purchase stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of companies located in emerging market countries. The underlying investment companies investing in securities of the Emerging Markets Asset Class and the Emerging Markets Small Cap Asset Class will generally purchase the equity securities of larger and smaller companies, respectively, within each country. The underlying investment adviser(s) determine company size primarily based on market capitalization. As of December 2014 companies in the Emerging Markets Small Cap Asset Class generally were those companies with a market capitalization of $3.936 billion or less in the largest country and $194 million in the smallest country. This threshold will vary by country or region. These dollar amounts will change from time to time due to market conditions.


7



The underlying investment companies in the Emerging Markets Value Asset Class generally will purchase emerging market equity securities that are deemed by the underlying investment adviser(s) to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

The underlying investment companies may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Underlying index-based ETFs may use derivatives, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts, options and swaps to help the ETF track its underlying index.

The Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets as a temporary defensive measure in cash and money market instruments such as U.S. Government securities, bank obligations and commercial paper. To the extent the Fund employs a temporary defensive measure, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Periodically the Adviser will review the allocations for the Fund in each underlying investment company and may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of the Fund in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders.

Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Fund involves the same investment risks as those of the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. These risks may adversely affect the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and investment performance. The Fund is subject to the following principal risks:

•  The value of particular foreign equity securities which the Fund's underlying investment companies may purchase or foreign stock markets on which the securities they may purchase are traded may decline in value.

•  Stocks of large cap or small cap foreign companies in which the Fund's underlying investment companies may invest may temporarily fall out of favor with investors or may be more volatile than particular foreign stock markets or foreign stock markets as a whole.

•  The smaller the capitalization of a company, generally the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records and are more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

•  Stocks of large cap or small cap foreign companies in which the Fund's underlying investment companies may invest may suffer unexpected losses or lower than expected earnings or such securities may become difficult or impossible to sell at the time and for the price the underlying investment advisers would like.

•  Because the Fund owns shares of underlying investment companies that invest in foreign issuers, the Fund is subject to risks presented by investments in such issuers. Securities of foreign issuers may be negatively affected by political events, economic conditions, or inefficient, illiquid or unregulated markets in foreign countries. Foreign issuers may be subject to inadequate regulatory or accounting standards.

•  Investments in emerging market securities by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests are subject to higher risks than those in developed market countries because there is greater uncertainty in less established markets and economics.

•  Currency risk is the risk that exchange rates for currencies in which securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests are denominated will fluctuate daily. In general, the


8



underlying investment companies do not hedge currency risk. As a result, if currencies in which foreign holdings are denominated depreciate against the U.S. Dollar, the value of your investment in the Fund may be adversely affected.

•  The Adviser's judgment about the attractiveness or potential appreciation of a particular underlying investment company security could prove to be wrong or the Fund could miss out on an investment opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of such opportunity are tied up in less advantageous investments.

•  Because under normal circumstances the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in shares of registered investment companies that emphasize investments in equity securities of foreign companies, the NAV of the Fund will change with changes in the share prices of the investment companies in which the Fund invests.

•  There is a risk that the Fund, which is passively managed, may not perform as well as funds with more active methods of investment management, such as selecting securities based on economic, financial, and market analysis.

•  The derivative instruments in which the underlying investment companies may invest are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and it is possible to lose more than the principal amount invested.

•  The performance of the Fund will depend on how successfully the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies pursue their investment strategies.

More information about the Fund's investments and risks is contained under the section entitled "More Information About Each Fund's Investments and Risks."

Performance Information

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information is available at www.matsonmoney.com or by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above)

Best Quarter: 33.53% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)
Worst Quarter: (22.38)% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)
Year to Date Total Return as of September 30, 2015: (5.85)%
 


9



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns of the Fund before and after taxes for the past calendar year, the past five calendar years and since inception to the average total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns for the
Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Year

  Since
Inception*
(December 31,
2007)
 

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

(5.52

)%

   

5.49

%

   

1.76

%

 

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions*

   

(6.47

)%

   

4.85

%

   

1.24

%

 
Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares*
   

(2.33

)%

   

4.34

%

   

1.39

%

 
MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index (reflects no deduction
for fees, expenses or taxes)
   

(4.32

)%

   

5.21

%

   

(0.39

)%

 
Composite Index**    

(3.93

)%

   

5.53

%

   

0.44

%

 

*  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

**  The Composite Index is comprised of the MSCI EAFE Index, MSCI EAFE Value Index, MSCI EAFE Small Company Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Additional information about the Composite Index can be found under the section entitled "more about Each Fund's Investments and Risks."

Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser
Matson Money, Inc.

Portfolio Managers
Mark E. Matson: Chief Executive Officer and Director, since 1991
Steven B. Miller: President and Portfolio Manager, since 2004
Kenneth E. Gatliff: Portfolio Manager, since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

The Fund has no minimum initial investment or minimum subsequent investment. The Fund is exclusively available to clients or customers of service organizations approved by the Adviser, including certain brokerage firms, investment advisers, financial institutions and other industry professionals ("Service Organizations"). Only persons or entities having relationships with these Service Organizations may invest in the Fund. You may submit redemption requests on any business day to your Service Organization in person or by telephone, mail or wire.

You can only purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.


10



Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


11



FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

 

FMFIX

 

Investment Objective

The Free Market Fixed Income Fund seeks total return (consisting of current income and capital appreciation).

Expenses and Fees

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

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

   

0.50

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) and/or Service Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

0.10

%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

   

0.19

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

0.79

%

 

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

81

   

$

252

   

$

439

   

$

978

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered, open-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") (collectively, "investment companies") that have either adopted policies to invest at least 80% of their assets in fixed income securities that the Adviser believes offer the prospect of providing total return, or invest substantially all of their assets in such fixed income securities. The purchase of shares of investment companies may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.

Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Fund's net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies that invest in the types of securities described in each asset class below, with less than 2% of the net assets invested in cash or money market instruments.

One-Year Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers


12



issued in the U.S., foreign government and agency obligations, bank obligations, including the obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, and obligations of supranational organizations such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Generally, obligations comprising this asset class will mature within one year from the date of settlement, but substantial investments may be made in obligations maturing within two years from the date of settlement when greater returns are available.

Two-Year Global Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, and other debt obligations of domestic and foreign issuers. Generally, obligations comprising this asset class have a weighted average maturity not exceeding two years, but investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight to less than two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the investments of the underlying investment companies in this asset class will be denominated in foreign currencies, the underlying investment companies may also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to attempt to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another.

Intermediate Government Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase debt obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies. Generally, investment companies in the asset class will purchase securities with maturities of between five and fifteen years, however such investment companies ordinarily will have an average weighted maturity of between three and ten years.

Five-Year Global Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, and obligations of supranational organizations. Generally, obligations comprising this asset class have a weighted average maturity not exceeding five years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight to less than five years from the date of settlement.) Because many of the investments of the underlying investment companies in this asset class will be denominated in foreign currencies, the underlying investment companies may also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to attempt to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another.

The underlying investment companies may also use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Underlying index-based ETFs may use derivatives, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts, options and swaps to help the ETF track its underlying index.

Certain underlying investment companies may concentrate their investments (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. While the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry, the Fund may be focused on banking sectors under certain circumstances.

The Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets as a temporary defensive measure in cash and money market instruments such as U.S. Government securities, bank obligations and commercial paper. To the extent the Fund employs a temporary defensive measure, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. Periodically the Adviser will review the allocations for the Fund in each underlying investment company and may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of the Fund in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders.


13



Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Fund involves the same investment risks as those of the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. These risks may adversely affect the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and investment performance. The Fund is subject to the following principal risks:

•  Fixed income securities in which the Fund's underlying investment companies may invest are subject to certain risks, including: interest rate risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit/default risk, and the risks associated with investing in repurchase agreements.

•  Interest rate risk involves the risk that prices of fixed income securities will rise and fall in response to interest rate changes.

•  Reinvestment risk involves the risk that proceeds from matured investments may be re-invested at lower interest rates.

•  Prepayment risk involves the risk that in declining interest rates environments prepayments of principal could increase and require the Fund to reinvest proceeds of the prepayments at lower interest rates.

•  Extension risk involves the risk that prepayments of principal will decrease when interest rates rise resulting in a longer effective maturity of a security.

•  Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. Credit risk also involves the risk that the credit rating of a security may be lowered.

•  Repurchase agreement risk involves the risk that the other party to a repurchase agreement will be unable to complete the transaction and the underlying investment company in which the Fund invests may suffer a loss as a result.

•  Because the Fund owns shares of underlying investment companies that invest in foreign issuers, the Fund is subject to risks presented by investments in such issuers. Securities of foreign issuers may be negatively affected by political events, economic conditions, or inefficient, illiquid or unregulated markets in foreign countries. Foreign issuers may be subject to inadequate regulatory or accounting standards.

•  Currency risk is the risk that exchange rates for currencies in which securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests are denominated will fluctuate daily. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit potential gains from a favorable change in value between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated changes in currency pricing may result in poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in these contracts.

•  The Adviser's judgment about the attractiveness or potential appreciation of a particular underlying investment company security could prove to be wrong or the Fund could miss out on an investment opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of such opportunity are tied up in less advantageous investments.

•  Because under normal circumstances the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in shares of registered investment companies that emphasize investments in fixed income securities, the NAV of the Fund will change with changes in the share prices of the investment companies in which the Fund invests.

•  Not all obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Accordingly, there may be some risk of default by the issuer in such cases.


14



•  There is a risk that the Fund, which is passively managed, may not perform as well as funds with more active methods of investment management, such as selecting securities based on economic, financial, and market analysis.

•  The derivative instruments in which the underlying investment companies may invest are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and it is possible to lose more than the principal amount invested.

•  The performance of the Fund will depend on how successfully the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies pursue their investment strategies.

•  Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank's borrowers and the borrowers' failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank's financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

  More information about the Fund's investments and risks is contained under the section entitled "More About Each Fund's Investments and Risks."

Performance Information

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated information is available at www.matsonmoney.com or by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above)

Best Quarter: 3.54% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)
Worst Quarter: (1.44)% (quarter ended June 30, 2013)
Year to Date Total Return as of September 30, 2015: 0.88%
 


15



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns of the Fund before and after taxes for the past calendar year, the past five calendar years and since inception to the average total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns for the
Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Year

  Since
Inception*
(December 31,
2007)
 

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

1.11

%

   

1.48

%

   

1.84

%

 

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions*

   

0.73

%

   

1.03

%

   

1.32

%

 
Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares*
   

0.68

%

   

1.00

%

   

1.25

%

 
CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency
Hedged U.S. Dollar Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

1.90

%

   

1.78

%

   

2.53

%

 
Composite Index**    

2.31

%

   

2.19

%

   

2.70

%

 

*  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

**  The Composite Index is comprised of the Three-Month Treasury Bill Index, Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index, Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Government/Corporate Index and Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Additional information about the Composite Index can be found under the section entitled "Shareholder Information."

Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser
Matson Money, Inc.

Portfolio Managers
Mark E. Matson: Chief Executive Officer and Director, since 1991
Steven B. Miller: President and Portfolio Manager, since 2004
Kenneth E. Gatliff: Portfolio Manager, since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

The Fund has no minimum initial investment or minimum subsequent investment. The Fund is exclusively available to clients or customers of service organizations approved by the Adviser, including certain brokerage firms, investment advisers, financial institutions and other industry professionals ("Service Organizations"). Only persons or entities having relationships with these Service Organizations may invest in the Fund. You may submit redemption requests on any business day to your Service Organization in person or by telephone, mail or wire.

You can only purchase and redeem shares of a Fund on days the NYSE is open.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.


16



Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


17




MORE ABOUT EACH FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

Investment Strategies

The Summary of Principal Investment Strategies and Summary of Principal Investment Risks sections describe the investment objective and principal investment strategies and risks of each Fund. This section provides some additional information about the Funds and the underlying investment companies in which the Funds may invest and certain portfolio management techniques that such underlying investment companies may use. More information about the Funds' investments and related risks is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

Each Fund's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") upon prior written notice to shareholders. Shareholders will be given at least 60 days' prior written notice of any change to a Fund's investment objective.

Each Fund pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered investment companies and ETFs. The Adviser focuses on the returns of investment companies within each of the asset classes while keeping trading costs to a minimum. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Funds net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies with less than 2% of the net assets of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund, and 5% of the net assets of the Free Market International Equity Fund invested in cash or money market instruments.

Periodically, the Adviser will review the allocations for each Fund in each underlying investment company. From time to time, the Adviser may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of a Fund in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders. In addition, when the Adviser determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the underlying investment companies, the Adviser may modify the allocations of the Fund. To maintain allocation ranges, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the underlying investment companies or applying future investments and redemptions by the Fund in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the underlying investment companies.

Each Fund may invest directly in individual securities. However, the Adviser will not invest directly in individual securities without prior approval of the Company's Board of Directors, except as described in this Prospectus.

Investments in Investment Companies and the Investment Company Industry. Each Fund invests exclusively in investment companies that are not affiliated with it. These investment companies may be within the same fund complex and/or advised by the same investment adviser. The Funds invest primarily in securities of registered investment companies and will attempt to identify investment companies that have demonstrated superior management, favorable investment results, and relatively lower costs and expenses. There can be no assurance that this result will be achieved. Each Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by the investment companies in which it invests including the advisory and administration fees paid by the underlying fund. Fees and expenses related to each Fund's investments in underlying funds during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 are disclosed in each Fund's expense table under "Acquired Fund fees and expenses." Some underlying investment companies may concentrate their investments in various industries or industry sectors and may use options, futures, or options on futures in their investment programs.

Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying investment companies are made independently of the Funds and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying investment company may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another underlying investment company. The result of this would be an indirect expense to a Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.


18



Each Fund expects that it will select the investment companies in which it will invest based, in part, upon an analysis of the past and projected performance and investment structure of the underlying investment companies. However, each Fund may consider other factors in the selection of investment companies. These other factors include, but are not limited to the investment company's size, shareholder services, liquidity, investment objective and investment techniques. Each Fund will be affected by the losses of its underlying investment companies and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of such investment companies and has no control over the risks taken by such investment companies.

Investing in investment companies does not eliminate investment risk. When the Adviser has identified a significant upward trend in a particular asset class, each Fund retains the right to invest in investment companies that invest primarily in that particular asset class. Investment companies may have greater fluctuations in value when compared to other categories of investment companies that are not invested primarily in the particular asset class selected by the Adviser.

Each Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective will depend largely on the Adviser's ability to select the appropriate mix of underlying investment companies. In addition, achieving each Fund's investment objective will depend on the performance of the underlying investment companies, which depends on the ability of the underlying investment companies to meet their investment objectives. There can be no assurance that either the Funds or their underlying investment companies will achieve their investment objectives.

ETFs are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. A Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares.

More About Underlying Investment Company Investments

Underlying Investment Companies. The underlying investment companies in which the Funds may invest reflect a broad spectrum of investment opportunities including equities, fixed income, domestic, foreign and emerging markets. These investment companies may invest in various obligations and employ various investment techniques. The following describes these obligations and techniques:

Derivative Contracts. The underlying investment companies in which each of the Funds invests may, but need not, use derivative contracts to seek to hedge against the possible adverse impact of changes in stock market prices, currency exchange rates (with respect to the Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund only) or interest rates in the market value of its securities or securities to be purchased.

Examples of derivative contracts include: futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward foreign currency contracts, and interest rate or currency swaps. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle an underlying investment company to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities, currencies or indices. Even a small investment in derivative contracts can have a big impact on an underlying investment company's stock market, currency and interest rate exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. An underlying investment company may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the investment company's holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of default risk as issuers of fixed income securities in that the counterparty may default on its payment obligations or become insolvent. Derivatives can also make an underlying investment company less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets. The underlying investment companies may also utilize derivative contracts to gain market


19



exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The underlying investment companies of the Free Market International Equity Fund and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund may also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to transfer balances from one currency to another. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments.

Equity Investments. The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and Free Market International Equity Fund invest may purchase all types of equity securities. The Free Market Fixed Income Fund may invest a portion of its assets in underlying investment companies that invest in equity securities, although these investments are not part of the Fund's Principal Investment Strategies. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, and equity participations. Investments in equity securities and equity derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that an underlying investment company could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. The value of such securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. State law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a limited partnership than investors in a corporation.

Fixed Income Investments. The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invests may purchase all types of fixed income securities. The Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and the Free Market International Equity Fund may invest a portion of their assets in underlying investment companies that invest in fixed income securities, although these investments are not part of such Funds' principal investment strategies. Fixed income investments include bonds, notes (including structured notes), mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments. Fixed income securities may be issued by corporate, governmental and foreign issuers and may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including (without limitation) fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features.

Foreign Securities. The securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Free Market International Equity Fund invests are generally traded or denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, many of the securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invests are traded or denominated in foreign currencies. Investments in securities of foreign entities and securities denominated or traded in foreign currencies involve special risks. These include possible political and economic instability and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other restrictions on investments. Changes in foreign currency rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of an underlying investment company's assets denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Emerging market investments offer the potential for significant gains but also involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. Political or economic instability, lack of market liquidity and government actions such as currency controls or seizure of private business or property may be more likely in emerging markets.

The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market International Equity Fund invests may purchase depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.


20



The underlying investment companies investing in stocks and other equity securities of issuers located in developed markets may invest in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The investment adviser(s) of the underlying investment companies may also invest from time to time in securities of issuers located in other developed countries, at their discretion.

The underlying investment companies investing in stocks and other equity securities of issuers located in emerging market countries may invest in the following countries: Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. The investment adviser(s) of the underlying investment companies may also invest from time to time in securities of issuers located in other emerging market countries, at their discretion.

Mortgage-Backed Securities. The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invests may purchase mortgaged-backed securities as part of their principal investment strategies. Mortgage-backed securities in which the underlying investment companies invest may be issued by private companies or by agencies of the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participation in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property.

Certain debt instruments may only pay principal at maturity or may only represent the right to receive payments of principal or payments of interest on underlying pools of mortgage or government securities, but not both. The value of these types of instruments may change more drastically than debt securities that pay both principal and interest during periods of changing interest rates. Principal only mortgage-backed securities are particularly subject to prepayment risk. An underlying investment company may obtain a below market yield or incur a loss on such instruments during periods of declining interest rates. Interest only instruments are particularly subject to extension risk, which is the risk that principal repayments will not occur as quickly as anticipated, causing the expected maturity of a security to increase and making its price more sensitive to rate changes and more volatile. Mortgage derivatives and structural securities often employ features that have the effect of leverage. As a result, small changes in interest or prepayment rates may cause large and sudden price movements, especially compared to an investment in a security that is not leveraged. Mortgage derivatives can also become illiquid and hard to value in declining markets. Mortgage-backed securities also include mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through certificates, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs).

The market for mortgage related securities has previously experienced substantial, often dramatic volatility with lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. These instruments may be subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates, and therefore may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse impact on the Funds to the extent underlying investment companies invest in mortgage-related or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.

Securities Lending. The underlying investment companies of the Funds may seek to increase their income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. Portfolio securities loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by the underlying investment company will not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the value of the investment company's total assets. The underlying investment company may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the investment company. Lending portfolio securities involves the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral if the value of the securities goes up while they are on loan.


21



Borrowing. The underlying investment companies of the Funds may borrow money for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes. A Fund will not make any additional investments in an investment company while such investment company's borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

Temporary Investments. The Funds may depart from their principal investment strategies in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions by taking temporary defensive positions in cash or money market instruments. If a Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable to achieve its investment objective.

Investment Risks

The following provides additional information about the risks of investing in the Funds:

Other Investment Companies. Each Fund's NAV will fluctuate due to business developments concerning a particular issuer or industry as well as general market and economic conditions affecting securities held by the particular underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying investment companies in which the Funds invest are made independently of the Funds and the Adviser. Each Fund will be affected by the losses of its underlying investment companies and the risks involved in the investment practices of such investment companies. Neither the Funds nor the Adviser has any control over the risks taken by such investment companies. Some underlying investment companies may concentrate their investments in various industries or sectors and may invest in derivative securities, options or futures.

Small Company Securities. While the securities of small capitalization companies in which the Free Market U.S. Equity and Free Market International Equity Funds' underlying investment companies invest may offer greater opportunity for capital appreciation than larger companies, investment in such companies presents greater risks than investment in larger, more established companies. Historically, small capitalization stocks have been more volatile in price than larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these securities are the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such stocks, and the potentially greater sensitivity of such small companies to changes in or failure of management, and to many other changes in competitive, business, industry and economic conditions, including risks associated with limited product lines, markets, management depth, or financial resources. Besides exhibiting greater volatility, micro and small company stocks may, to a degree, fluctuate independently of larger company stocks. Small company stocks may decline in price as large company stocks rise, or rise in price as large company stocks decline. Additionally, while the markets in securities of small companies have grown rapidly in recent years, such securities may trade less frequently and in smaller volume than more widely held securities. The values of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other securities, and the underlying investment companies in which the Funds invest may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in such securities than in the case of larger companies and it may take a longer period of time for the prices of such securities to reflect the full value of their issuers' underlying earnings potential or assets.

Stock Market. Underlying investment companies in which the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and Free Market International Equity Fund may invest are subject to fluctuations in the stock markets, which have periods of increasing and decreasing values. Equity securities typically have greater volatility than fixed income securities.

Foreign Investing. Foreign securities in which the Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund's underlying investment companies may invest pose additional risks over U.S.-based securities for a number of reasons. Investments in foreign securities may adversely affect the value of an investment in certain underlying investment companies. Foreign economic, governmental, and political systems may be less favorable than those of the U.S. Foreign governments and may exercise greater control over their economies, industries, and citizens' rights. Specific risk factors related to foreign securities include: inflation, structure and regulation of financial markets, liquidity and volatility of investments, currency exchange rates and regulations, and accounting


22



standards. Foreign companies may also be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies, including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing their earnings potential, and amounts realized on foreign securities may be subject to high levels of foreign taxation and withholding. In addition, these underlying investment companies may incur higher costs and expenses when making foreign investments, which will affect the underlying investment companies' total return.

Currency Risk. With respect to investments in foreign securities by underlying investment companies in which the Free Market International Equity Fund and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invest, exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S. Foreign securities are usually denominated in a foreign currency; therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the NAV of an underlying investment company. Diversification among foreign currencies will not protect the underlying investment companies against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

Emerging Market Securities. Underlying investment companies in which the Free Market International Equity Fund invests may purchase the securities of issuers located in developing or emerging market countries. The risks of foreign investments are typically increased in less developed countries, which are sometimes referred to as emerging markets, because there is greater uncertainty in less established markets and economies. These risks include political, social or economic systems, smaller securities markets, lower trading volume, and substantial rates of inflation. To the extent an underlying investment company is invested in emerging market securities, it will be subject to higher risk than those investing in securities of developed market countries.

Interest Rate Risk. The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invests purchase fixed income securities as part of their Principal Investment Strategies. During periods of rising interest rates, an underlying investment company's yield and the market value of the investment company's fixed-income securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market interest rates. Periods of rising interest rates may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. In periods of falling interest rates, the underlying investment company's yield and the market value of the underlying investment company's fixed-income securities generally will tend to be higher than prevailing market interest rates. Prices of longer-term fixed income securities are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates than prices of shorter-term fixed-income securities.

Cash Flow Risk. The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invests purchase fixed income securities as part of their Principal Investment Strategies. Payment of principal on the mortgages or other assets underlying a particular fixed income security in which an underlying investment company invests may be faster or slower than estimated. Interest only instrument are particularly subject to extension risk, which is the risk that principal repayment will not occur as quickly as anticipated, causing the expected maturity of a security to increase and making its price more sensitive to rate change and more volatile. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages or other loans sooner than expected and will typically shorten the average life of these instruments. This is known as prepayment risk.

Credit/Default Risk. The underlying investment companies in which the Free Market Fixed Income Fund invests purchase fixed income securities as part of their Principal Investment Strategies. The credit rating of an issuer or guarantor of a security in which an underlying investment company invests may be lowered or an issuer or guarantor of a security or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a repurchase agreement may default on its payment obligations.

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although a Fund's investments in U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by certain U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, such as the Government National Mortgage Association, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, while obligations issued by others, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") and Federal Home Loan Banks, are backed solely by the ability


23



of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the entity's own resources. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA") announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange's minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

Derivatives Risk. The underlying investment companies of each Fund may utilize derivatives as part of their principal investment strategies. Loss may result from an underlying investment company's investments in futures, swaps, options and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes in value may produce disproportionate losses to the underlying investment company. Using derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. An underlying investment company's investment in a derivative instrument could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the underlying investment company will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when they would be beneficial. Pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and its rules and SEC interpretations thereunder, the registered investment companies in which the Funds invest are required to segregate cash or liquid securities or otherwise "cover" their positions in certain derivatives.

Non-diversified Investments. The performance of large positions in certain equity or fixed income securities may significantly impact the performance of an underlying investment company of a Fund, resulting in greater volatility.

Concentration. Concentration of investments within one industry or market sector may subject an underlying investment company to greater market fluctuations. The Funds will not knowingly concentrate their investments, directly or indirectly, in any industry.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds' portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The SAI is incorporated herein.

Broad-Based and Composite Indices

Each Fund intends to evaluate its performance as compared to that of a broad-based index and a Composite Index. The information below reflects the most current information available to the Company as of the date of this Prospectus:

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund. The broad-based index is the Russell 2500 ® Index. The Composite Index is comprised of the S&P 500 ® Index, Russell 1000 ® Value Index, Russell 2000 ® Index and Russell 2000 ® Value Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. The following is a description of the broad-based index and each index comprising the Composite Index:

The Russell 2500 ® Index consists of the small- to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe, commonly referred to as "smid" cap. The Russell 2500 ® Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small to mid-cap segment and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the Index. The Russell 2500 ® Index includes the smallest 2,500 securities in the Russell 3000 ® Index. The Russell 3000 ® Index is made up of 3,000 of the biggest U.S. stocks. As


24



of December 31, 2014, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 2500 ® Index was $1.087 billion and the largest stock was $13.862 billion.

The S&P 500 ® Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry grouping, among other factors. The S&P 500 ® Index is designed to be a leading indicator of U.S. equities and is meant to reflect the risk/return characteristics of the large-cap universe. The S&P 500 ® Index is a market-value weighted index and each stock's weight in the index is proportionate to its market value.

The Russell 1000 ® Value Index consists of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 1000 ® Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer of the large-cap value market.

The Russell 2000 ® Index consists of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000 ® Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased small-cap barometer and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the Index. The Russell 2000 ® Index includes the smallest 2000 securities in the Russell 3000 ® Index.

The Russell 2000 ® Value Index consists of the small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer of the small-cap value market.

Free Market International Equity Fund. The broad-based index is the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index. The Composite Index is comprised of the MSCI EAFE Index, MSCI EAFE Value Index, MSCI EAFE Small Company Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. The following is a description of the broad-based index and each index comprising the Composite Index:

The MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index is a stock market index of 'world' stocks maintained by Morgan Stanley Capital International ("MSCI"). The index includes a selection of stocks of developed markets, as defined by MSCI. This index contains securities from the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. As of December 31, 2014, the median capitalization of the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index was $8.936 billion and the weighted average market capitalization was $59.535 billion.

The MSCI Europe, Australasia, and Far East ("EAFE") Index is a stock market index of foreign stocks that covers 85% of the equity market of the following developed countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

The MSCI EAFE Value Index is a subset of the EAFE Index and includes securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia) and the Far East. The Index generally represents approximately 50% of the market capitalization of the EAFE Index and consists of those securities classified by MSCI as most representing the value style.

The MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index targets 40% of the eligible small cap universe within each industry group, within each country. MSCI defines the small cap universe as all listed securities that have a market capitalization in the range of $200 million to $1.5 billion. The small cap segment covers the 85% – 99% range of each market's free float-adjusted market capitalization.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index is designed to measure equity market performance in global emerging markets. The Index contains securities from the following emerging market countries: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey.


25



Free Market Fixed Income Fund. The broad-based index is the CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index. The Composite Index is comprised of the Three-Month Treasury Bill Index, Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index, Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Government/Corporate Index and Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. The following is a description of the broad-based index and each index comprising the Composite Index:

CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index includes the most significant and liquid government bond markets globally that carry at least an investment grade rating. Currently, this includes the 23 government bond markets of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Three Month Treasury-Bill Index consists of three-month Treasury bills purchased at the beginning of each of three consecutive months. As each bill matures, all proceeds are rolled over or reinvested in a new three-month bill. The income used to calculate the monthly return is derived by subtracting the original amount invested from the maturity value. The index is rebalanced monthly by market capitalization.

Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index is a weighted index of U.S. government and government agency securities (other than mortgage securities) with maturities of one year or more.

Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year U.S. Government/Corporate Index is an unmanaged index of short-term U.S. government securities and short-term domestic investment-grade corporate bonds with maturities between 1 and 2.99 years.

Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index is a market capitalization-weighted index, meaning the securities in the index are weighted according to the market size of each bond type. Most U.S. traded investment grade bonds are represented. Municipal bonds and Treasury Inflation-Protected securities are excluded. The Index includes Treasury securities, Government agency bonds, mortgage-backed bonds, corporate bonds, and a small amount of foreign bonds traded in the U.S. The Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index is an intermediate term index. The average maturity is 7.91 years as of November 30, 2015.

Credit Ratings

Corporate debt obligations and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. in which the underlying investment companies of the Free Market Fixed Income Fund may invest will be (i) rated Aa3 or better by Moody's, or AA- or better by S&P, or AA- or better by Fitch; or (ii) if there is no rating for the debt security, (ii) determined by the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies to be of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA- or Aa3.


26



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Adviser

Matson Money, Inc. ("Matson Money" or the "Adviser") is located at 5955 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, OH 45040. Matson Money was founded in 1991 and provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, non-profit organizations, retirement plans and foundations. Mark E. Matson, President, Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Matson Money, owns approximately 90% of Matson Money's outstanding voting securities. Matson Money had approximately $6.25 billion in assets under management as of November 30, 2015.

Subject to the general supervision of the Company's Board of Directors, Matson Money manages the Funds' portfolios and is responsible for the selection and management of all investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds' respective investment objectives and policies.

Portfolio Managers

A team of portfolio managers, led by Kenneth E. Gatliff, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Funds. Mark E. Matson and Steven B. Miller assist Mr. Gatliff in managing the assets of the Funds.

Mark E. Matson, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Adviser, founded the Adviser in 1991 and serves as head portfolio manager at the Adviser.

Steven B. Miller, President of Operations and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has been employed by the Adviser since April 2004 as a portfolio manager and then as Vice President of Operations. Prior thereto, he was a senior financial analyst with F+W Publications Inc. from November 2002 to April 2004, and a financial analyst with Midland Enterprises, Inc. from April 2002 to November 2002.

Kenneth E. Gatliff, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has been employed by the Adviser since April 2007 as an Investment Services Coordinator, then as an Assistant Portfolio Manager from June 2008 to February 2014. He is responsible for research, portfolio design, and management of the Funds.

Management Fees

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each Fund's average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Fund's average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Fund's average daily net assets over $5 billion, computed daily and payable monthly. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund paid 0.49%, and the Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund each paid 0.50% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to Matson Money for its services. The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund, respectively. The Adviser may not recoup waived advisory fees or reimbursed expenses. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements at any time. A discussion regarding the basis for Board of Directors' approving the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Funds is available in the Funds' annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.


27



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

The Funds' shares ("Shares") are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV per Share of each Fund is calculated as follows:

Each Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Funds will effect purchases and redemptions of Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Fund's Transfer Agent of your purchase order or redemption request in good order (as described below). If a Fund holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's Shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's Shares.

Investments in underlying open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies at the close of business that day. Investments in ETFs and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price. A Fund's direct investments in equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange will be valued at the last sale price for all exchanges, except the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price for NASDAQ. Direct investments in equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. A Fund's direct investments in fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Direct investments in fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. Direct investments in foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If a Fund holds foreign securities, the calculation of the Fund's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equity securities in the Fund's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Funds' administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, the Fund's investments will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before a Fund prices its shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. The use of a pricing service and fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by a Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other mutual funds and investors to price the same investments.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt Fund management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount


28



of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise their right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company or the Adviser, has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm a Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of a Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with a Fund.

There is no assurance that the Funds will be able to identify market timing, particularly if shareholders invest through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Funds. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Fund Shares

General. Shares of the Funds are offered continuously for sale at NAV by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the "Underwriter"). You can only purchase Shares through the means described below. The Funds have no minimum initial investment or minimum subsequent investment.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. The Funds are exclusively available to clients or customers of service organizations approved by the Adviser, including certain brokerage firms, investment advisers, financial institutions and other industry professionals ("Service Organizations"). Only persons or entities having relationships with these Service Organizations may invest in the Funds. If a shareholder terminates his or her relationship with a Service Organization, the shareholder will not be permitted to purchase additional Fund Shares except for Shares purchased as a result of the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which would not be imposed if shares of the Fund were purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, investors should contact the Service Organization acting on their behalf concerning the fees, if any, charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of shares of the Funds and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing their accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations may impose minimum initial and minimum subsequent investment requirements with respect to their clients' or customers' investments in the Funds and will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company and with clients and customers. A Service Organization or, if applicable, its designee that has entered into such an agreement with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Fund's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses.

Good Order. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order. Orders received by a Service Organization in good order will be executed at the Fund's next determined NAV after they are accepted by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.


29



Retirement Plans. Shares of a Fund may be purchased in connection with various retirement plans, including Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), section 403(b) plans and retirement plans for self-employed individuals, partnerships and corporations and their employees. Detailed information concerning retirement plans is available from your Service Organization. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact your Service Organization. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.

Other Purchase Information: The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of a Fund. The Adviser will monitor each Fund's total assets and may decide to close any of the Funds at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of a Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. Subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, the Adviser may also choose to reopen a Fund to new investments at any time and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If a Fund closes to new investments, the Fund would be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who are generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company,

b.  existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the closed Fund,

c.  employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children, and

d.  directors of the Company.

Other persons who are shareholders of the other Free Market Funds are not permitted to acquire Shares of the closed Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of a closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchases limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Customer Identification Program: Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Fund or to involuntarily redeem an investor's Shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

General: You may submit redemption requests to your Service Organization in person or by telephone, mail or wire. Redemption requests are effected at the NAV next calculated after receipt of the redemption request by your Service Organization in proper form and transmission of the request to the Transfer Agent. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares of a Fund on days the NYSE is open. Your Service Organization may refuse a telephone redemption request if it believes it is advisable to do so. You will bear the risk of loss from fraudulent or unauthorized instructions received over the telephone provided your Service Organization reasonably


30



believes that the instructions are genuine. Shareholders requesting redemptions by wire are charged a transaction fee of $7.50.

Telephone Redemptions: During periods of dramatic economic or market changes, you may experience difficulty in implementing a telephone redemption with your Service Organization because of increased telephone volume.

Involuntary Redemption: Each Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder's account in the Fund at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in a Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

Each Fund may assert the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Other Redemption Information: Redemption proceeds for Shares of a Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by purchasing shares electronically through a wire transfer.

Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC. If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of a Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholders will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so that a Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order: A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Exchange Privilege

The exchange privilege is available to shareholders residing in any state in which the Shares being acquired may be legally sold. A shareholder may exchange Shares of any Free Market Fund for Shares of another Free Market Fund up to six (6) times per year (one exchange per calendar month). Such an exchange will be effected at the NAV of the exchanged Shares and the NAV of the Shares to be acquired next determined after a Service Organization's receipt of a request for an exchange. An exchange of Shares will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes. A shareholder may make an exchange, if authorized, by telephone. Defined contribution plans and IRA accounts are not subject to the above exchange limitations.

If the exchanging shareholder does not currently own Shares of the Fund, a new account will be established with the same registration, dividend and capital gain options as the account from which Shares are exchanged, unless otherwise specified in writing by the shareholder. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated at any time, or from time to time, by the Funds, upon 60 days' written notice to shareholders. If a shareholder wants to exchange Shares into a new account in a Fund, the dollar value of the Shares acquired must equal or exceed the Fund's minimum investment requirement for a new account. If a shareholder wants to exchange Shares into an existing account, the dollar value of the shares must equal or exceed the Fund's minimum investment requirement


31



for additional investments. If an amount remains in the Fund from which the exchange is being made that is below the minimum account value required, the account will be subject to involuntary redemption.

The Funds' exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the market. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege, which may potentially disrupt the management of the Funds and increase transaction costs, the Funds have established a policy of limiting excessive exchange activity. Shareholders are entitled to six (6) exchange redemptions (one exchange per calendar month) from each Fund during any twelve-month period. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase request that is deemed to be disruptive to efficient portfolio management.

Dividends and Distributions

Each Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and the Free Market International Equity Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. The Free Market Fixed Income Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income quarterly. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Funds at least annually.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the summary assumes you are a U.S. citizen or resident or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to their specific situations.

Each Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of a Fund (including distributions attributable to net capital gains of underlying investment companies) will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your Shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). Other Fund distributions will generally be taxable as ordinary income, except as discussed below. A portion of those distributions, however, may be treated as "qualified dividend income" taxable to non-corporate U.S. shareholders at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. A distribution is treated as qualified dividend income to the extent a Fund or an underlying investment company receives dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that the holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund, the underlying investment company and the shareholder. Additionally, a portion of the distributions paid by a Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional Shares. You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions from a Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by a Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

It is expected that the underlying funds of the Free Market International Equity Fund will be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign income taxes with respect to dividends or interest received from (and, in some cases, gains recognized on shares of stock of) non-U.S. companies. These underlying funds and the Free Market International Equity Fund may, to the extent eligible, make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would allow you either (1) to credit that proportionate


32



amount of taxes against U.S. federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit, subject to applicable limitations, or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction.

You should note that if you purchase Shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of a portion of your purchase price. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale, exchange or redemption of your Shares, based on the difference, if any, between your tax basis in the Shares and the amount you receive for them. This gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss if you hold your Fund Shares as capital assets and will be long-term if you held your Shares for more than twelve months at the time you dispose of them. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of Shares of a Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the Shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the Shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in Shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the Shares acquired.

Any loss realized on Shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the Shares.

For Shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Funds (or relevant broker or financial adviser) are required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such Shares are sold or exchanged. The Funds have elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Funds to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your Shares at the time of each sale or exchange. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Funds and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans: One major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such Shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

The Funds may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders: Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of regulated investment companies such as the Funds, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% witholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Funds' net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Funds' interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Funds.


33



Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of Shares in the Funds, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Funds.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in a Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Funds will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Funds will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Funds.

State and Local Taxes: Shareholders may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund Shares. Shareholders should consult their advisers regarding the tax status of distributions in their state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the Funds' SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUNDS' SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


34




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Fund's financial performance for the periods indicated. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Funds' financial statements which, together, with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2011
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 
Net asset value, beginning
of period
 

$

17.37

   

$

14.66

   

$

11.70

   

$

10.33

   

$

8.65

   

Net investment income (1)

   

0.13

     

0.09

     

0.12

     

0.08

     

0.06

   
Net realized and unrealized
gain/(loss) on investments
   

(0.71

)

   

3.18

     

3.07

     

1.43

     

1.68

   
Net increase/(decrease) in
net assets resulting
from operations
   

(0.58

)

   

3.27

     

3.19

     

1.51

     

1.74

   
Dividends and distributions
to shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.11

)

   

(0.10

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.06

)

 

Net realized capital gains

   

(0.60

)

   

(0.46

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(2)

 
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders
   

(0.71

)

   

(0.56

)

   

(0.23

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.06

)

 

Net asset value, end of year

 

$

16.08

   

$

17.37

   

$

14.66

   

$

11.70

   

$

10.33

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(3.55

)%

   

22.49

%

   

27.61

%

   

14.77

%

   

20.11

%

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of period
(000 's omitted)
 

$

1,971,430

   

$

1,943,442

   

$

1,355,653

   

$

933,514

   

$

679,147

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (4)
   

0.60

%

   

0.60

%

   

0.62

%

   

0.64

%

   

0.64

%

 
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (4)
   

0.74

%

   

0.54

%

   

0.91

%

   

0.73

%

   

0.55

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

6

%

   

3

%

   

6

%

   

4

%

   

9

%

 

(1)  The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.

(2)  Amount less than $(0.005) per share.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.


35



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2011
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 
Net asset value, beginning
of period
 

$

10.92

   

$

9.36

   

$

8.04

   

$

8.78

   

$

7.97

   
Net investment income (1)    

0.17

     

0.19

     

0.18

     

0.18

     

0.16

   
Net realized and unrealized
gain/(loss) on investments
   

(1.39

)

   

1.71

     

1.36

     

(0.64

)

   

0.78

   
Net increase/(decrease) in
net assets resulting
from operations
   

(1.22

)

   

1.90

     

1.54

     

(0.46

)

   

0.94

   
Dividends and distributions
to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income    

(0.22

)

   

(0.19

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.17

)

   

(0.13

)

 
Net realized capital gains    

(0.20

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.11

)

   

   
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders
   

(0.42

)

   

(0.34

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.28

)

   

(0.13

)

 
Net asset value, end of year  

$

9.28

   

$

10.92

   

$

9.36

   

$

8.04

   

$

8.78

   
Total investment return (2)    

(11.25

)%

   

20.49

%

   

19.44

%

   

(4.98

)%

   

11.60

%

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of period
(000 's omitted)
 

$

1,443,094

   

$

1,414,618

   

$

964,096

   

$

648,710

   

$

516,073

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (3)
   

0.64

%

   

0.62

%

   

0.65

%

   

0.65

%

   

0.66

%

 
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (3)
   

1.72

%

   

1.84

%

   

1.96

%

   

2.21

%

   

1.66

%

 
Portfolio turnover rate    

3

%

   

2

%

   

3

%

   

3

%

   

4

%

 

(1)  The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.

(2)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(3)  The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.


36



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2011
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 
Net asset value, beginning
of period
 

$

10.31

   

$

10.24

   

$

10.54

   

$

10.48

   

$

10.50

   
Net investment income (1)    

0.06

     

0.04

     

0.05

     

0.11

     

0.12

   
Net realized and unrealized
gain on investments
   

(0.02

)

   

0.09

     

(0.21

)

   

0.09

     

0.09

   
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations
   

0.04

     

0.13

     

(0.16

)

   

0.20

     

0.21

   
Dividends and distributions
to shareholders from:
 
Net investment income    

(0.07

)

   

(0.04

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.22

)

 
Net realized capital gains    

(0.03

)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(2)

   

(2)

 
Tax return of capital    

     

     

     

     

(0.01

)

 
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders
   

(0.10

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.23

)

 
Net asset value, end of year  

$

10.25

   

$

10.31

   

$

10.24

   

$

10.54

   

$

10.48

   
Total investment return (3)    

0.37

%

   

1.34

%

   

(1.50

)%

   

1.90

%

   

2.06

%

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of period
(000 's omitted)
 

$

2,004,504

   

$

1,824,633

   

$

1,316,799

   

$

946,975

   

$

761,683

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (4)
   

0.60

%

   

0.61

%

   

0.62

%

   

0.63

%

   

0.65

%

 
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (4)
   

0.55

%

   

0.37

%

   

0.52

%

   

1.08

%

   

1.12

%

 
Portfolio turnover rate    

2

%

   

0

%

   

0

%

   

1

%

   

0

%

 

(1)  The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.

(2)  Amount less than $(0.005) per share.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.


37




FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MATSON MONEY FAMILY OF FUNDS

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Funds is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Funds' investments, describe the Funds' performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The Annual Report includes market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds' performance during the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information ("SAI")

The Funds' SAI, dated December 31, 2015 has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Funds, may be obtained free of charge, along with the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports when available, by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863 or at the Adviser's website at http://hosted.rightprospectus.com/matsonmoney. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally part of the Prospectus).

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.

Purchases and Redemptions
Call (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863

Written Correspondence
Street Address:

Matson Money, Inc. Family of Funds
c/o BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may also view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-202 -942-8090.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-05518




MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO
MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO
MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO
of
THE RBB FUND, INC.

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

Investment Adviser:

MATSON MONEY, INC.
5955 Deerfield Blvd.
Mason, OH 45040

The securities described in this Prospectus have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The SEC, however, has not judged these securities for their investment merit and has not determined the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.

Shares of the Portfolios are offered to separate accounts of participating life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Shares of the Portfolios are not offered directly to the general public.

Ticker Symbols

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

 

–FMVUX

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

 

–FMVIX

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

 

–FMVFX

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

   

PAGE

 

SUMMARY SECTIONS

   

1

   

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   

1

   

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

   

5

   

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

   

10

   

MORE ABOUT EACH PORTFOLIO'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

   

15

   

Investment Strategies

   

15

   

More About Underlying Investment Company Investments

   

16

   

Investment Risks

   

19

   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

   

21

   

Broad-Based and Composite Indices

   

21

   

Credit Ratings

   

23

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

   

24

   

Investment Adviser

   

24

   

Portfolio Managers

   

24

   

Management Fees

   

24

   

PRIOR PERFORMANCE OF SIMILAR ACCOUNTS

   

25

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

29

   

Pricing of Portfolio Shares

   

29

   

Market Timing

   

29

   

Purchase of Portfolio Shares

   

30

   

Redemption of Portfolio Shares

   

31

   

Voting Rights

   

32

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

32

   

Taxes

   

32

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

33

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MATSON MONEY FAMILY OF PORTFOLIOS

   

Back Cover

   


i



MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

 

FMVUX

 

Investment Objective

The Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. This table does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Portfolio as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, overall fees and expenses would be higher.

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage
of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

   

0.50

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) and/or Service Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

0.94

%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

   

0.30

%

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

   

1.74

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)

   

(0.31

)%

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   

1.43

%

 

(1)  Matson Money, Inc. has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses for the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.13%. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.13%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements any time after December 31, 2016.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This Example does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Portfolio as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, the costs shown below would be higher.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

146

   

$

518

   

$

915

   

$

2,026

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes


1



when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 13.65% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered, open-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") (collectively, "investment companies") that have either adopted policies to invest at least 80% of their assets in equity securities, such as common stocks, preferred stocks or securities convertible into stocks, of U.S. companies, or invest substantially all of their assets in such equity securities. The Portfolio will diversify its investments by investing primarily in investment companies focusing on different segments of the equity markets, including large ("large-cap"), small ("small-cap") and micro-capitalization ("micro-cap") equity securities that the Portfolio's investment adviser ("Adviser") believes offer the prospect of long-term capital appreciation. The purchase of shares of investment companies may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Portfolio's own expenses.

Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Portfolio's net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies, including other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts, that invest in the types of securities described in each asset class below, with less than 2% of the net assets invested in cash or money market instruments.

U.S. Large Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of large cap companies that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014, large cap companies generally were those companies with a market capitalization of $3.543 billion or greater. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

U.S. Small Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of small cap companies that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014, small cap companies generally were those companies with a market capitalization of $3.543 billion or less. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

U.S. Large Company Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase all of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 ® Index in approximately the proportions they are represented in the S&P 500 ® Index. Generally, these are the U.S. stocks with the largest market capitalizations and, as a group, they represent approximately 75% of the total market capitalization of all publicly traded U.S. stocks.

U.S. Small Cap Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of small cap companies primarily based on market capitalization. As of December 2014, small cap companies were generally those with a market capitalization of $3.543 billion or less. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions. There may be some overlap in the companies in which the U.S. small cap asset class and the U.S. micro cap asset class invest.


2



U.S. Micro Cap Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase common stocks and other equity securities of micro cap companies. As of December 2014, micro cap companies were generally those companies with a market capitalization of $1,961 billion or less. This dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions. There may be some overlap in the companies in which the U.S. micro cap asset class and the U.S. small cap asset class invest.

The underlying investment companies may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Underlying index-based ETFs may use derivatives, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options and swaps to help the ETF track its underlying index.

The Portfolio reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets as a temporary defensive measure in cash and money market instruments such as U.S. Government securities, bank obligations and commercial paper. To the extent the Portfolio employs a temporary defensive measure, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. Periodically the Adviser will review the allocations for the Portfolio in each underlying investment company and may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of the Portfolio in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders or the holders of the variable annuity or variable life insurance policies.

Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Portfolio involves the same investment risks as those of the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests. These risks may adversely affect the Portfolio's net asset value ("NAV") and investment performance. The Portfolio is subject to the following principal risks:

•  Stocks of large cap, small cap or micro cap companies in which the Portfolio's underlying investment companies invest or in which the Portfolio invests directly may temporarily fall out of favor with investors or may be more volatile than the rest of the U.S. market as a whole.

•  The smaller the capitalization of a company, generally the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records and are more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

•  Although the Portfolio will invest in other investment companies that follow a value oriented strategy, value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and such a strategy may cause the Portfolio at times to underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

•  Companies in which the Portfolio's underlying investment companies invest may suffer unexpected losses or lower than expected earnings or their securities may become difficult or impossible to sell at the time and for the price that the underlying investment adviser(s) would like.

•  The Adviser's judgment about the attractiveness or potential appreciation of a particular underlying investment company security could prove to be wrong or the Portfolio could miss out on an investment opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of such opportunity are tied up in less advantageous investments.

•  Because under normal circumstances the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in shares of registered investment companies that emphasize investments in U.S. equity securities, the NAV of the Portfolio will change with changes in the share prices of the investment companies in which the Portfolio invests.

•  There is a risk that large, small or micro capitalization stocks may not perform as well as other asset classes or the U.S. stock market as a whole. In the past, large, small and micro capitalization stocks have gone through cycles of doing better or worse than the stock market in general.


3



•  There is a risk that the Portfolio, which is passively managed, may not perform as well as funds with more active methods of investment management, such as selecting securities based on economic, financial, and market analysis.

•  The derivative instruments in which the underlying investment companies may invest are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and it is possible to lose more than the principal amount invested.

•  The performance of the Portfolio will depend on how successfully the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies pursue their investment strategies.

More information about the Portfolio's investments and risks is contained under the section entitled "More About Each Portfolio's Investments and Risks."

Performance Information

Because the Portfolio has less than one full calendar year of performance, no performance information has been included.

Management of the Portfolio

Investment Adviser
Matson Money, Inc.

Portfolio Managers
Mark E. Matson: Chief Executive Officer and Director, since 1991
Steven B. Miller: President and Portfolio Manager, since 2004
Kenneth E. Gatliff: Portfolio Manager, since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Portfolio shares are not sold directly to the public. Portfolio shares may be purchased and redeemed by separate accounts that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by participating insurance companies. Orders received from separate accounts to purchase or redeem Portfolio shares are effected on business days. Individual investors may purchase or redeem Portfolio shares indirectly through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts.

Taxes

Provided that the Portfolio and separate accounts investing in the Portfolio satisfy applicable tax requirements, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal tax, and the separate accounts will not be taxable on distributions from, or gains with respect to, the Portfolio. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the prospectus for the applicable contract.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio may pay participating insurance companies and securities dealers for the sale of Portfolio shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the insurance company and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your insurance company's website for more information.


4




MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

 

FMVIX

 

Investment Objective

The Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio (the "Portfolio") seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. This table does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Portfolio as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, overall fees and expenses would be higher.

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage
of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

   

0.50

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) and/or Service Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

1.17

%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

   

0.49

%

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

   

2.16

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)

   

(0.32

)%

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   

1.84

%

 

(1)  Matson Money, Inc. has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses for the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.35%. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.35%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements any time after December 31, 2016.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This Example does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Portfolio as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, the costs shown below would be higher.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

187

   

$

645

   

$

1,130

   

$

2,468

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio


5



Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 14.90% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered, open-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") (collectively, "investment companies") that have either adopted policies to invest at least 80% of their assets in equity securities, such as common stocks, preferred stocks or securities convertible into stocks, of foreign companies, or invest substantially all of their assets in such equity securities. The Portfolio will diversify its investments by investing primarily in investment companies that focus on different segments of the foreign equity markets, including emerging markets, with little or no focus on domestic equity markets. The purchase of shares of investment companies may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Portfolio's own expenses.

Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Portfolio's net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies, including other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts, that invest in the types of securities described in each asset class below, with less than 5% of the net assets invested in cash or money market instruments.

International Small Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of small companies in foreign countries with developed markets that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which an underlying investment company invested was $5.218 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

International Large Cap Value Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of large companies in foreign countries with developed markets that the underlying investment adviser(s) determine to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of December 2014, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which an underlying investment company invested was $1.394 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

International Small Company Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of small companies in foreign countries with developed markets. As of December 2014, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which an underlying investment company invested was $5.218 billion. This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

International Large Cap Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase the stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of large companies in foreign countries with developed markets. As of December 2014, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which an underlying investment company invested was $1.394 billion.


6



This threshold will vary by country or region, and the dollar amount will change from time to time due to market conditions.

Emerging Markets Asset Class, Emerging Markets Value Asset Class, and Emerging Markets Small Cap Asset Class (collectively, the "Emerging Markets Asset Classes"): Underlying investment companies comprising each Emerging Markets Asset Class generally will purchase stocks and other equity securities, directly or through sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts, of companies located in emerging market countries. The underlying investment companies investing in securities of the Emerging Markets Asset Class and the Emerging Markets Small Cap Asset Class will generally purchase the equity securities of larger and smaller companies, respectively, within each country. The underlying investment adviser(s) determine company size primarily based on market capitalization. As of December 2014, companies in the Emerging Markets Small Cap Asset Class generally were those companies with a market capitalization of $3.936 billion or less in the largest country and $194 million in the smallest country. This threshold will vary by country or region. These dollar amounts will change from time to time due to market conditions.

The underlying investment companies in the Emerging Markets Value Asset Class generally will purchase emerging market equity securities that are deemed by the underlying investment adviser(s) to be value stocks at the time of purchase. An issuer's securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value (a "book to market ratio"). In assessing value, the underlying investment adviser(s) may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer's industry. The criteria used for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

The underlying investment companies may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Underlying index-based ETFs may use derivatives, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts, options and swaps to help the ETF track its underlying index.

The Portfolio reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets as a temporary defensive measure in cash and money market instruments such as U.S. Government securities, bank obligations and commercial paper. To the extent the Portfolio employs a temporary defensive measure, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. Periodically the Adviser will review the allocations for the Portfolio in each underlying investment company and may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of the Portfolio in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders or the holders of the variable annuity or variable life insurance policies.

Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Portfolio involves the same investment risks as those of the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests. These risks may adversely affect the Portfolio's net asset value ("NAV") and investment performance. The Portfolio is subject to the following principal risks:

•  The value of particular foreign equity securities which the Portfolio's underlying investment companies may purchase or foreign stock markets on which the securities they may purchase are traded may decline in value.

•  Stocks of large cap or small cap foreign companies in which the Portfolio's underlying investment companies may invest may temporarily fall out of favor with investors or may be more volatile than particular foreign stock markets or foreign stock markets as a whole.


7



•  The smaller the capitalization of a company, generally the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records and are more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

•  Stocks of large cap or small cap foreign companies in which the Portfolio's underlying investment companies may invest may suffer unexpected losses or lower than expected earnings or such securities may become difficult or impossible to sell at the time and for the price the underlying investment advisers would like.

•  Because the Portfolio owns shares of underlying investment companies that invest in foreign issuers, the Portfolio is subject to risks presented by investments in such issuers. Securities of foreign issuers may be negatively affected by political events, economic conditions, or inefficient, illiquid or unregulated markets in foreign countries. Foreign issuers may be subject to inadequate regulatory or accounting standards.

•  Investments in emerging market securities by underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests are subject to higher risks than those in developed market countries because there is greater uncertainty in less established markets and economics.

•  Currency risk is the risk that exchange rates for currencies in which securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests are denominated will fluctuate daily. In general, the underlying investment companies do not hedge currency risk. As a result, if currencies in which foreign holdings are denominated depreciate against the U.S. Dollar, the value of your investment in the Portfolio may be adversely affected.

•  The Adviser's judgment about the attractiveness or potential appreciation of a particular underlying investment company security could prove to be wrong or the Portfolio could miss out on an investment opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of such opportunity are tied up in less advantageous investments.

•  Because under normal circumstances the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in shares of registered investment companies that emphasize investments in equity securities of foreign companies, the NAV of the Portfolio will change with changes in the share prices of the investment companies in which the Portfolio invests.

•  There is a risk that the Portfolio, which is passively managed, may not perform as well as funds with more active methods of investment management, such as selecting securities based on economic, financial, and market analysis.

•  The derivative instruments in which the underlying investment companies may invest are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and it is possible to lose more than the principal amount invested.

•  The performance of the Portfolio will depend on how successfully the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies pursue their investment strategies.

More information about the Portfolio's investments and risks is contained under the section entitled "More Information About Each Portfolio's Investments and Risks."

Performance Information

Because the Portfolio has less than one full calendar year of performance, no performance information has been included.


8



Management of the Portfolio

Investment Adviser
Matson Money, Inc.

Portfolio Managers
Mark E. Matson: Chief Executive Officer and Director, since 1991
Steven B. Miller: President and Portfolio Manager, since 2004
Kenneth E. Gatliff: Portfolio Manager, since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Portfolio shares are not sold directly to the public, Portfolio shares may be purchased and redeemed by separate accounts that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by participating insurance companies. Orders received from separate accounts to purchase or redeem Portfolio shares are effected on business days. Individual investors may purchase or redeem Portfolio shares indirectly through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts.

Taxes

Provided that the Portfolio and separate accounts investing in the Portfolio satisfy applicable tax requirements, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal tax, and the separate accounts will not be taxable on distributions from, or gains with respect to, the Portfolio. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the prospectus for the applicable contract.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio may pay participating insurance companies and securities dealers for the sale of Portfolio shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the insurance company and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your insurance company's website for more information.


9



MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

 

FMVFX

 

Investment Objective

The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio seeks total return (consisting of current income and capital appreciation).

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. This table does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Portfolio as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, overall fees and expenses would be higher.

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage
of the value of your investment)

Management Fees

   

0.50

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) and/or Service Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

0.87

%

 

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

   

0.19

%

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

   

1.56

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)

   

(0.37

)%

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   

1.19

%

 

(1)  Matson Money, Inc. has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses for the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.00%. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.00%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements any time after December 31, 2016.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This Example does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Portfolio as an investment option. Had those fees and expenses been included, the costs shown below would be higher.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

121

   

$

456

   

$

815

   

$

1,825

   


10



Portfolio Turnover

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate was 10.90% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered, open-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") (collectively, "investment companies") that have either adopted policies to invest at least 80% of their assets in fixed income securities that the Adviser believes offer the prospect of providing total return, or invest substantially all of their assets in such fixed income securities. The purchase of shares of investment companies may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Portfolio's own expenses.

Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Portfolio's net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies, including other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts, that invest in the types of securities described in each asset class below, with less than 2% of the net assets invested in cash or money market instruments.

One-Year Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S., foreign government and agency obligations, bank obligations, including the obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, and obligations of supranational organizations such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Generally, obligations comprising this asset class will mature within one year from the date of settlement, but substantial investments may be made in obligations maturing within two years from the date of settlement when greater returns are available.

Two-Year Global Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, and other debt obligations of domestic and foreign issuers. Generally, obligations comprising this asset class have a weighted average maturity not exceeding two years, but investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight to less than two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the investments of the underlying investment companies in this asset class will be denominated in foreign currencies, the underlying investment companies may also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to attempt to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another.

Intermediate Government Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase debt obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies. Generally, investment companies in the asset class will purchase securities with maturities of between five and fifteen years, however such investment companies ordinarily will have an average weighted maturity of between three and ten years.

Five-Year Global Fixed Income Asset Class: The underlying investment companies generally will purchase obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, and obligations of supranational organizations. Generally, obligations comprising this asset class have a weighted average maturity not exceeding five years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight to less than five years from the date of settlement.) Because many of the investments of the underlying investment companies in this asset class will be denominated in foreign currencies, the underlying investment


11



companies may also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to attempt to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another.

The underlying investment companies may also use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Underlying index-based ETFs may use derivatives, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts, options and swaps to help the ETF track its underlying index.

Certain underlying investment companies may concentrate their investments (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. While the Portfolio will not concentrate its investments in any one industry, the Portfolio may be focused on banking sectors under certain circumstances.

The Portfolio reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets as a temporary defensive measure in cash and money market instruments such as U.S. Government securities, bank obligations and commercial paper. To the extent the Portfolio employs a temporary defensive measure, the Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective. Periodically the Adviser will review the allocations for the Portfolio in each underlying investment company and may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of the Portfolio in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders or the holders of the variable annuity or variable life insurance policies.

Summary of Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. An investment in the Portfolio involves the same investment risks as those of the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests. These risks may adversely affect the Portfolio's net asset value ("NAV") and investment performance. The Portfolio is subject to the following principal risks:

•  Fixed income securities in which the Portfolio's underlying investment companies may invest are subject to certain risks, including: interest rate risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit/default risk, and the risks associated with investing in repurchase agreements.

•  Interest rate risk involves the risk that prices of fixed income securities will rise and fall in response to interest rate changes.

•  Reinvestment risk involves the risk that proceeds from matured investments may be re-invested at lower interest rates.

•  Prepayment risk involves the risk that in declining interest rates environments prepayments of principal could increase and require the Portfolio to reinvest proceeds of the prepayments at lower interest rates.

•  Extension risk involves the risk that prepayments of principal will decrease when interest rates rise resulting in a longer effective maturity of a security.

•  Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. Credit risk also involves the risk that the credit rating of a security may be lowered.

•  Repurchase agreement risk involves the risk that the other party to a repurchase agreement will be unable to complete the transaction and the underlying investment company in which the Portfolio invests may suffer a loss as a result.


12



•  Because the Portfolio owns shares of underlying investment companies that invest in foreign issuers, the Portfolio is subject to risks presented by investments in such issuers. Securities of foreign issuers may be negatively affected by political events, economic conditions, or inefficient, illiquid or unregulated markets in foreign countries. Foreign issuers may be subject to inadequate regulatory or accounting standards.

•  Currency risk is the risk that exchange rates for currencies in which securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests are denominated will fluctuate daily. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit potential gains from a favorable change in value between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated changes in currency pricing may result in poorer overall performance for the Portfolio than if it had not engaged in these contracts.

•  The Adviser's judgment about the attractiveness or potential appreciation of a particular underlying investment company security could prove to be wrong or the Portfolio could miss out on an investment opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of such opportunity are tied up in less advantageous investments.

•  Because under normal circumstances the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its net assets in shares of registered investment companies that emphasize investments in fixed income securities, the NAV of the Portfolio will change with changes in the share prices of the investment companies in which the Portfolio invests.

•  Not all obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Accordingly, there may be some risk of default by the issuer in such cases.

•  There is a risk that the Portfolio, which is passively managed, may not perform as well as funds with more active methods of investment management, such as selecting securities based on economic, financial, and market analysis.

•  The derivative instruments in which the underlying investment companies may invest are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and it is possible to lose more than the principal amount invested.

•  The performance of the Portfolio will depend on how successfully the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies pursue their investment strategies.

•  Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank's borrowers and the borrowers' failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank's financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

More information about the Portfolio's investments and risks is contained under the section entitled "More About Each Portfolio's Investments and Risks."

Performance Information

Because the Portfolio has less than one full calendar of performance, no performance information has been included.


13



Management of the Portfolio

Investment Adviser
Matson Money, Inc.

Portfolio Managers
Mark E. Matson: Chief Executive Officer and Director, since 1991
Steven B. Miller: President and Portfolio Manager, since 2004
Kenneth E. Gatliff: Portfolio Manager, since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares

Portfolio shares are not sold directly to the public. Portfolio shares may be purchased and redeemed by separate accounts that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by participating insurance companies. Orders received from separate accounts to purchase or redeem Portfolio shares are effected on business days. Individual investors may purchase or redeem Portfolio shares indirectly through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts.

Taxes

Provided that the Portfolio and separate accounts investing in the Portfolio satisfy applicable tax requirements, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal tax, and the separate accounts will not be taxable on distributions from, or gains with respect to, the Portfolio. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the prospectus for the applicable contract.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

The Portfolio may pay participating insurance companies and securities dealers for the sale of Portfolio shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the insurance company and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your insurance company's website for more information.


14




MORE ABOUT EACH PORTFOLIO'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

Investment Strategies

The Summary of Principal Investment Strategies and Summary of Principal Investment Risks sections describe the investment objective and principal investment strategies and risks of each Portfolio. This section provides some additional information about the Portfolios and the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolios may invest and certain portfolio management techniques that such underlying investment companies may use. More information about the Portfolios' investments and related risks is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

Each Portfolio's investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") upon prior written notice to shareholders. Shareholders will be given at least 60 days' prior written notice of any change to a Portfolio's investment objective.

Each Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in shares of registered investment companies and ETFs. The Adviser focuses on the returns of investment companies within each of the asset classes while keeping trading costs to a minimum. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser expects substantially all of the Portfolios' net assets to be invested in the securities of investment companies, including other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts, with less than 2% of the net assets of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, and 5% of the net assets of the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio invested in cash or money market instruments.

Periodically, the Adviser will review the allocations for each Portfolio in each underlying investment company. From time to time, the Adviser may add or remove underlying investment companies and/or change the investment allocation percentages of a Portfolio in the underlying investment companies without notice to shareholders or the holders of the variable annuity or variable life insurance policies. In addition, when the Adviser determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the underlying investment companies, the Adviser may modify the allocations of the Portfolio. To maintain allocation ranges, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the underlying investment companies or applying future investments and redemptions by the Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the underlying investment companies.

Each Portfolio may invest directly in individual securities. However, the Adviser will not invest directly in individual securities without prior approval of the Company's Board of Directors, except as described in this Prospectus.

Investments in Investment Companies and the Investment Company Industry. Each Portfolio invests exclusively in investment companies that are not affiliated with it. These investment companies may be within the same fund complex and/or advised by the same investment adviser. The Portfolios invest primarily in securities of registered investment companies and will attempt to identify investment companies that have demonstrated superior management, favorable investment results, and relatively lower costs and expenses. There can be no assurance that this result will be achieved. Each Portfolio will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by the investment companies in which it invests including the advisory and administration fees paid by the underlying fund. Fees and expenses related to each Portfolio's investments in underlying funds for the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 are disclosed in each Portfolio's expense table under "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses." Some underlying investment companies may concentrate their investments in various industries or industry sectors and may use options, futures, or options on futures in their investment programs.

Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying investment companies are made independently of the Portfolios and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying investment company may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of


15



another underlying investment company. The result of this would be an indirect expense to a Portfolio without accomplishing any investment purpose.

Each Portfolio expects that it will select the investment companies in which it will invest based, in part, upon an analysis of the past and projected performance and investment structure of the underlying investment companies. However, each Portfolio may consider other factors in the selection of investment companies. These other factors include, but are not limited to the investment company's size, shareholder services, liquidity, investment objective and investment techniques. Each Portfolio will be affected by the losses of its underlying investment companies and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of such investment companies and has no control over the risks taken by such investment companies.

Investing in investment companies does not eliminate investment risk. When the Adviser has identified a significant upward trend in a particular asset class, each Portfolio retains the right to invest in investment companies that invest primarily in that particular asset class. Investment companies may have greater fluctuations in value when compared to other categories of investment companies that are not invested primarily in the particular asset class selected by the Adviser.

Each Portfolio's ability to achieve its investment objective will depend largely on the Adviser's ability to select the appropriate mix of underlying investment companies. In addition, achieving each Portfolio's investment objective will depend on the performance of the underlying investment companies, which depends on the ability of the underlying investment companies to meet their investment objectives. There can be no assurance that either the Portfolios or their underlying investment companies will achieve their investment objectives.

ETFs are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment Adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to risk of poor investment selection. A Portfolio may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares.

More About Underlying Investment Company Investments

Underlying Investment Companies. The underlying investment companies in which the Portfolios may invest reflect a broad spectrum of investment opportunities including equities, fixed income, domestic, foreign and emerging markets. These investment companies may invest in various obligations and employ various investment techniques. The following describes these obligations and techniques:

Derivative Contracts. The underlying investment companies in which each of the Portfolios invests may, but need not, use derivative contracts to seek to hedge against the possible adverse impact of changes in stock market prices, currency exchange rates (with respect to the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio only) or interest rates in the market value of its securities or securities to be purchased.

Examples of derivative contracts include: futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward foreign currency contracts, and interest rate or currency swaps. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle an underlying investment company to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities, currencies or indices. Even a small investment in derivative contracts can have a big impact on an underlying investment company's stock market, currency and interest rate exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. An underlying investment company may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the investment company's holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of default risk as issuers of fixed income securities in that the counterparty may default on its payment obligations or become


16



insolvent. Derivatives can also make an underlying investment company less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets.

The underlying investment companies may also utilize derivative contracts to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The underlying investment companies of the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio may also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to transfer balances from one currency to another. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments.

Equity Investments. The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio invest may purchase all types of equity securities. The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in underlying investment companies that invest in equity securities, although these investments are not part of the Portfolio's principal investment strategies. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, and equity participations. Investments in equity securities and equity derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that an underlying investment company could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. The value of such securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. State law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a limited partnership than investors in a corporation.

Fixed Income Investments. The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invests may purchase all types of fixed income securities. The Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio may invest a portion of their assets in underlying investment companies that invest in fixed income securities, although these investments are not part of such Portfolios' principal investment strategies. Fixed income investments include bonds, notes (including structured notes), mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments. Fixed income securities may be issued by corporate, governmental and foreign issuers and may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including (without limitation) fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features.

Foreign Securities. The securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio invests are generally traded or denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, many of the securities held by the underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invests are traded or denominated in foreign currencies. Investments in securities of foreign entities and securities denominated or traded in foreign currencies involve special risks. These include possible political and economic instability and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other restrictions on investments. Changes in foreign currency rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of an underlying investment company's assets denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Emerging market investments offer the potential for significant gains but also involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. Political or economic instability, lack of market liquidity and government actions such as currency controls or seizure of private business or property may be more likely in emerging markets.

The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio invests may purchase depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of


17



the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.

The underlying investment companies investing in stocks and other equity securities of issuers located in developed markets may invest in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The investment adviser(s) of the underlying investment companies may also invest from time to time in securities of issuers located in other developed countries, at their discretion.

The underlying investment companies investing in stocks and other equity securities of issuers located in emerging market countries may invest in the following countries: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. The investment adviser(s) of the underlying investment companies may also invest from time to time in securities of issuers located in other emerging market countries, at their discretion.

Mortgage-Backed Securities. The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invests may purchase mortgage-backed securities as part of their principal investment strategies. Mortgage-backed securities in which the underlying investment companies invest may be issued by private companies or by agencies of the U.S. Government. Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participation in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property.

Certain debt instruments may only pay principal at maturity or may only represent the right to receive payments of principal or payments of interest on underlying pools of mortgage or government securities, but not both. The value of these types of instruments may change more drastically than debt securities that pay both principal and interest during periods of changing interest rates. Principal only mortgage-backed securities are particularly subject to prepayment risk. An underlying investment company may obtain a below market yield or incur a loss on such instruments during periods of declining interest rates. Interest only instruments are particularly subject to extension risk, which is the risk that principal repayments will not occur as quickly as anticipated, causing the expected maturity of a security to increase and making its price more sensitive to rate changes and more volatile. Mortgage derivatives and structural securities often employ features that have the effect of leverage. As a result, small changes in interest or prepayment rates may cause large and sudden price movements, especially compared to an investment in a security that is not leveraged. Mortgage derivatives can also become illiquid and hard to value in declining markets. Mortgage-backed securities also include mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through certificates, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs).

The market for mortgage related securities has previously experienced substantial, often dramatic volatility with lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. These instruments may be subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates, and therefore may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse impact on the Portfolios to the extent underlying investment companies invest in mortgage-related or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.

Securities Lending. The underlying investment companies of the Portfolios may seek to increase their income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. Portfolio securities loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by the underlying investment company will not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the value of the investment company's total assets. The underlying investment company may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the investment company.


18



Lending portfolio securities involves the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral if the value of the securities goes up while they are on loan.

Borrowing. The underlying investment companies of the Portfolios may borrow money for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes. A Portfolio will not make any additional investments in an investment company while such investment company's borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

Temporary Investments. The Portfolios may depart from their principal investment strategies in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions by taking temporary defensive positions in cash or money market instruments. If a Portfolio were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable to achieve its investment objective.

Investment Risks

The following provides additional information about the risks of investing in the Portfolios:

Other Investment Companies. Each Portfolio's NAV will fluctuate due to business developments concerning a particular issuer or industry as well as general market and economic conditions affecting securities held by the particular underlying investment companies in which the Portfolio invests. Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolios invest are made independently of the Portfolios and the Adviser. Each Portfolio will be affected by the losses of its underlying investment companies and the risks involved in the investment practices of such investment companies. Neither the Portfolios nor the Adviser has any control over the risks taken by such investment companies. Some underlying investment companies may concentrate their investments in various industries or sectors and may invest in derivative securities, options or futures.

Small Company Securities. While the securities of small capitalization companies in which the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio's and Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio's underlying investment companies invest may offer greater opportunity for capital appreciation than larger companies, investment in such companies presents greater risks than investment in larger, more established companies. Historically, small capitalization stocks have been more volatile in price than larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these securities are the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such stocks, and the potentially greater sensitivity of such small companies to changes in or failure of management, and to many other changes in competitive, business, industry and economic conditions, including risks associated with limited product lines, markets, management depth, or financial resources. Besides exhibiting greater volatility, micro and small company stocks may, to a degree, fluctuate independently of larger company stocks. Small company stocks may decline in price as large company stocks rise, or rise in price as large company stocks decline. Additionally, while the markets in securities of small companies have grown rapidly in recent years, such securities may trade less frequently and in smaller volume than more widely held securities. The values of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other securities, and the underlying investment companies in which the Portfolios invest may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in such securities than in the case of larger companies and it may take a longer period of time for the prices of such securities to reflect the full value of their issuers' underlying earnings potential or assets.

Stock Market. Underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio may invest are subject to fluctuations in the stock markets, which have periods of increasing and decreasing values. Equity securities typically have greater volatility than fixed income securities.

Foreign Investing. Foreign securities in which the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio's and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio's underlying investment companies may invest pose additional risks over U.S.-based securities for a number of reasons. Investments in foreign securities may adversely affect the value of an investment in


19



certain underlying investment companies. Foreign economic, governmental, and political systems may be less favorable than those of the U.S. Foreign governments and may exercise greater control over their economies, industries, and citizens' rights. Specific risk factors related to foreign securities include: inflation, structure and regulation of financial markets, liquidity and volatility of investments, currency exchange rates and regulations, and accounting standards. Foreign companies may also be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies, including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing their earnings potential, and amounts realized on foreign securities may be subject to high levels of foreign taxation and withholding. In addition, these underlying investment companies may incur higher costs and expenses when making foreign investments, which will affect the underlying investment companies' total return.

Currency Risk. With respect to investments in foreign securities by underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invest, exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S. Foreign securities are usually denominated in a foreign currency; therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the NAV of an underlying investment company. Diversification among foreign currencies will not protect the underlying investment companies against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

Emerging Market Securities. Underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio invests may purchase the securities of issuers located in developing or emerging market countries. The risks of foreign investments are typically increased in less developed countries, which are sometimes referred to as emerging markets, because there is greater uncertainty in less established markets and economies. These risks include political, social or economic systems, smaller securities markets, lower trading volume, and substantial rates of inflation. To the extent an underlying investment company is invested in emerging market securities, it will be subject to higher risk than those investing in securities of developed market countries.

Interest Rate Risk. The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invests purchase fixed income securities as part of their principal investment strategies. During periods of rising interest rates, an underlying investment company's yield and the market value of the investment company's fixed-income securities will tend to be lower than prevailing market interest rates. Periods of rising interest rates may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. In periods of falling interest rates, the underlying investment company's yield and the market value of the underlying investment company's fixed-income securities generally will tend to be higher than prevailing market interest rates. Prices of longer-term fixed income securities are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates than prices of shorter-term fixed-income securities.

Cash Flow Risk. The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invests purchase fixed income securities as part of their principal investment strategies. Payment of principal on the mortgages or other assets underlying a particular fixed income security in which an underlying investment company invests may be faster or slower than estimated. Interest only instrument are particularly subject to extension risk , which is the risk that principal repayment will not occur as quickly as anticipated, causing the expected maturity of a security to increase and making its price more sensitive to rate change and more volatile. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages or other loans sooner than expected and will typically shorten the average life of these instruments. This is known as prepayment risk.

Credit/Default Risk. The underlying investment companies in which the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio invests purchase fixed income securities as part of their principal investment strategies. The credit rating of an issuer or guarantor of a security in which an underlying investment company invests may be lowered or an issuer or guarantor of a security or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a repurchase agreement may default on its payment obligations.


20



U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although a Portfolio's investments in U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by certain U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, such as the Government National Mortgage Association, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, while obligations issued by others, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") and Federal Home Loan Banks, are backed solely by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the entity's own resources. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to U.S. Government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA") announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange's minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

Derivatives Risk. The underlying investment companies of each Portfolio may utilize derivatives as part of their principal investment strategies. Loss may result from an underlying investment company's investments in futures, swaps, options and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes in value may produce disproportionate losses to the underlying investment company. Using derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. An underlying investment company's investment in a derivative instrument could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the underlying investment company will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when they would be beneficial. Pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and its rules and SEC interpretations thereunder, the registered investment companies in which the Portfolios invest are required to segregate cash or liquid securities or otherwise "cover" their positions in certain derivatives.

Non-diversified Investments. The performance of large positions in certain equity or fixed income securities may significantly impact the performance of an underlying investment company of a Portfolio, resulting in greater volatility.

Concentration. Concentration of investments within one industry or market sector may subject an underlying investment company to greater market fluctuations. The Portfolios will not knowingly concentrate their investments, directly or indirectly, in any industry.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios' portfolio securities is available in the SAI. The SAI is incorporated herein.

Broad-Based and Composite Indices

Each Portfolio intends to evaluate its performance as compared to that of a broad-based index and a Composite Index. The information below reflects the most current information available to the Company as of the date of this Prospectus:

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio. The broad-based index is the Russell 2500 ® Index. The Composite Index is comprised of the S&P 500 ® Index, Russell 1000 ® Value Index, Russell 2000 ® Index and Russell 2000 ®


21



Value Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. The following is a description of the broad-based index and each index comprising the Composite Index:

The Russell 2500 ® Index consists of the small- to mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe, commonly referred to as "smid" cap. The Russell 2500 ® Index is constructed on a market-cap weighted basis to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small to mid-cap segment and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the Index. The Russell 2500 ® Index includes the smallest 2,500 securities in the Russell 3000 ® Index. The Russell 3000 ® Index is made up of 3,000 of the biggest U.S. stocks on a market-cap weighted basis. As of December 31, 2014, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 2500 ® Index was $1.087 billion and the largest stock was $13.862 billion.

The S&P 500 ® Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry grouping, among other factors. The S&P 500 ® Index is designed to be an indicator of U.S. equities and is meant to reflect the risk/return characteristics of the large-cap universe. The S&P 500 ® Index is a market-value weighted index and each stock's weight in the index is proportionate to its market value.

The Russell 1000 ® Value Index consists of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 1000 ® Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer of the large-cap value market.

The Russell 2000 ® Index consists of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000 ® Index is constructed on a market-cap weighted basis to provide a comprehensive and unbiased small-cap barometer and is completely reconstituted annually to ensure larger stocks do not distort the performance and characteristics of the Index. The Russell 2000 ® Index includes the smallest 2000 securities in the Russell 3000 ® Index.

The Russell 2000 ® Value Index consists of the small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer of the small-cap value market.

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio. The broad-based index is the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index. The Composite Index is comprised of the MSCI EAFE Index, MSCI EAFE Value Index, MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. The following is a description of the broad-based index and each index comprising the Composite Index:

The MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index is a stock market index of 'world' stocks maintained by Morgan Stanley Capital International ("MSCI"). The index includes a selection of stocks of developed markets, as defined by MSCI. As of December 31, 2014, this index contained securities from the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. As of December 31, 2014, the median capitalization of the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index was $8.936 billion and the weighted average market capitalization was $59.535 billion.

The MSCI Europe, Australasia, and Far East ("EAFE") Index is a stock market index of foreign stocks that generally covers 85% of the equity market of the following developed countries as of December 31, 2014: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

The MSCI EAFE Value Index is a subset of the EAFE Index and includes securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia) and the Far East. The Index generally represents approximately 50% of the market capitalization of the EAFE Index and consists of those securities classified by MSCI as most representing the value style.

The MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index generally covers the bottom 85% – 99% range of each market's free float-adjusted market capitalization.


22



The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is designed to measure equity market performance in global emerging markets. As of December 31, 2014, the Index contained securities from the following emerging market countries: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey.

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio. The broad-based index is the CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index. The Composite Index is comprised of the Three-Month Treasury Bill Index, Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index, Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Government/Corporate Index and Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. The following is a description of the broad-based index and each index comprising the Composite Index:

CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index includes the most significant and liquid government bond markets globally that carry at least an investment grade rating. Currently, this includes the 23 government bond markets of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Three Month Treasury-Bill Index consists of three-month Treasury bills purchased at the beginning of each of three consecutive months. As each bill matures, all proceeds are rolled over or reinvested in a new three-month bill. The income used to calculate the monthly return is derived by subtracting the original amount invested from the maturity value. The index is rebalanced monthly by market capitalization.

Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index is a weighted index of U.S. government and government agency securities (other than mortgage securities) with maturities of one year to ten years.

Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year U.S. Government/Corporate Index is an unmanaged index of short-term U.S. government securities and short-term domestic investment-grade corporate bonds with maturities between 1 and 2.99 years.

Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a market capitalization-weighted index, meaning the securities in the index are weighted according to the market size of each bond type. Most U.S. traded investment grade bonds are represented. Municipal bonds and Treasury Inflation-Protected securities are excluded. The Index includes Treasury securities, Government agency bonds, mortgage-backed bonds, corporate bonds, and a small amount of foreign bonds traded in the U.S. The Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an intermediate term index. The average maturity is 7.91 years as of November 30, 2015.

Credit Ratings

Corporate debt obligations and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. in which the underlying investment companies of the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio may invest will be (i) rated Aa3 or better by Moody's, or AA- or better by S&P, or AA- or better by Fitch; or (ii) if there is no rating for the debt security, (ii) determined by the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies to be of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA- or Aa3.

Commercial paper in which the underlying investment companies may invest will be rated, at the time of purchase, A-1 or better by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody's, or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody's or AAA by S&P.


23



MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Investment Adviser

Matson Money, Inc. ("Matson Money" or the "Adviser") is located at 5955 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, OH 45040. Matson Money was founded in 1991 and provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, non-profit organizations, retirement plans and foundations. Mark E. Matson, President, Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Matson Money, owns approximately 90% of Matson Money's outstanding voting securities. Matson Money had approximately $6.25 billion in assets under management as of November 30, 2015.

Subject to the general supervision of the Company's Board of Directors, Matson Money manages the Portfolios' portfolios and is responsible for the selection and management of all investments of the Portfolios in accordance with the Portfolios' respective investment objectives and policies.

Portfolio Managers

A team of portfolio managers, led by Kenneth E. Gatliff, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Portfolios. Mark E. Matson and Steven B. Miller assist Mr. Gatliff in managing the assets of the Portfolios.

Mark E. Matson, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Adviser, founded the Adviser in 1991 and serves as head portfolio manager at the Adviser.

Steven B. Miller, President of Operations and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has been employed by the Adviser since April 2004 as a portfolio manager and then as Vice President of Operations. Prior thereto, he was a senior financial analyst with F+W Publications Inc. from November 2002 to April 2004, and a financial analyst with Midland Enterprises, Inc. from April 2002 to November 2002.

Kenneth E. Gatliff, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has been employed by the Adviser since April 2007 as an Investment Services Coordinator, then as an Assistant Portfolio Manager from June 2008 to February 2014. He is responsible for research, portfolio design, and management of the Portfolios.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Portfolios.

Management Fees

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each Portfolio's average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Portfolio's average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Portfolio's average daily net assets over $5 billion. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses to 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. The Adviser may not recoup waived management fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company's Board of Directors. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, after waivers, the Adviser received 0.19%, 0.18% and 0.13% of the average daily net assets of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, respectively. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Adviser would have received 0.50% of each Portfolio's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Portfolio.

A discussion regarding the basis for Board of Directors' approving the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Portfolios is available in the Portfolio's annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.


24



PRIOR PERFORMANCE OF SIMILAR ACCOUNTS

The following performance information is of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, the Free Market International Equity Fund and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, each an investment portfolio of the Company (collectively, the "Free Market Funds"). The Adviser serves as investment adviser to both the Matson Money Portfolios and the Free Market Funds. The Matson Money Portfolios and the Free Market Funds also share the same portfolio managers. Each Matson Money Portfolio's portfolio will be managed substantially similarly to that of the corresponding Free Market Fund and therefore the following performance information below indicates some of the risks of investing in the Free Market Portfolios.

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund, and therefore the Free Market U.S. Equity Portfolio. The performance for the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio would differ from the information below only to the extent that the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund do not have the same expenses. If the fees and expenses imposes by the investment vehicle through which an investment in the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio is made were reflected, they would reduce returns. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total returns would have been lower had certain fees and expenses not been waived or reimbursed. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund or the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio will perform in the future.

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above)

Best Quarter: 22.80% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter: (22.63)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year to Date Total Return as of September 30, 2015: (7.97)%

 


25



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns of the Fund before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns for the
Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Year

  Since
Inception*
(December 31,
2007
 

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

6.21

%

   

16.14

%

   

9.72

%

 

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions*

   

5.20

%

   

15.61

%

   

9.31

%

 
Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares*
   

4.37

%

   

13.07

%

   

7.83

%

 
Russell 2500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

7.07

%

   

16.36

%

   

8.86

%

 
Composite Index**    

9.12

%

   

15.24

%

   

7.47

%

 

*  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

**  The Composite Index is comprised of the S&P 500 ® Index, Russell 1000 ® Value Index, Russell 2000 ® Index and Russell 2000 ® Value Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Additional information about the Composite Index can be found under the section entitled "More About Each Portfolio's Investments and Risks."

Free Market International Equity Fund

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Free Market International Equity Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund, and therefore the Free Market International Equity Portfolio. The performance for the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio would differ from the information below only to the extent that the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and the Free Market International Equity Fund do not have the same expenses. If the fees and expenses imposes by the investment vehicle through which an investment in the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio is made were reflected, they would reduce returns. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total returns would have been lower had certain fees and expenses not been waived or reimbursed. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Free Market International Equity Fund or the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio will perform in the future.


26



Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above)

Best Quarter: 33.53% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter: (22.38)% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)

 

Year to Date Total Return as of September 30, 2015: (5.85)%

 

Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns of the Fund before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns for the
Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Year

  Since
Inception*
(December 31,
2007
 

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

(5.52

)%

   

5.49

%

   

1.76

%

 

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions*

   

(6.47

)%

   

4.85

%

   

1.24

%

 
Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares*
   

(2.33

)%

   

4.34

%

   

1.39

%

 
MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index (reflects no deduction
expenses or taxes)
   

(4.32

)%

   

5.21

%

   

(0.39

)%

 
Composite Index**    

(3.93

)%

   

5.53

%

   

0.44

%

 

*  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

**  The Composite Index is comprised of the MSCI EAFE Index, MSCI EAFE Value Index, MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Additional information about the Composite Index can be found under the section entitled "more about Each Portfolio's Investments and Risks."

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Free Market Fixed Income Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund, and therefore the Free Market Fixed Income Portfolio. The performance for the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio would differ from the information below only to the extent that the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund do not have the same expenses. If the fees and expenses imposes by the investment vehicle through which an investment in the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio is made were reflected, they would reduce returns. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. Total returns would have been lower had certain fees and expenses not been waived or reimbursed. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Free Market Fixed Income Fund or the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio will perform in the future.


27



Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above)

Best Quarter: 3.54% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Worst Quarter: (1.44)% (quarter ended June 30, 2013)

 

Year to Date Total Return as of September 30, 2015: 0.88%

 

Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns of the Fund before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns for the
Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Year

  Since
Inception*
(December 31,
2007
 

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

1.11

%

   

1.48

%

   

1.84

%

 

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions*

   

0.73

%

   

1.03

%

   

1.32

%

 
Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares*
   

0.68

%

   

1.00

%

   

1.25

%

 
CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency
Hedged U.S. Dollar Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

1.90

%

   

1.78

%

   

2.53

%

 
Composite Index**    

2.31

%

   

2.19

%

   

2.70

%

 

*  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

**  The Composite Index is comprised of the Three-Month Treasury Bill Index, Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index, Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Government/Corporate Index and Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, each weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Additional information about the Composite Index can be found under the section entitled "More About Each Portfolio's Investments and Risks."


28



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Portfolio Shares

The Portfolios' shares ("Shares") are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV per Share of each Portfolio is calculated as follows:

Each Portfolio's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Portfolios will effect purchases and redemptions of Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Portfolio's Transfer Agent of your purchase order or redemption request in good order as (described below). If a Portfolio holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Portfolio's Shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Portfolio's Shares.

Investments in underlying open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies at the close of business that day. Investments in ETFs and closed-end Portfolios will be valued at their market price. A Portfolio's direct investments in equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange will be valued at the last sale price for all exchanges, except the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price for NASDAQ. Direct investments in equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. A Portfolio's direct investments in fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Direct investments in fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. Direct investments in foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If a Portfolio holds foreign securities, the calculation of the Portfolio's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign securities in the Portfolio's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Portfolios' administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, the Portfolio's investments will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before a Portfolio prices its shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. The use of a pricing service and fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by a Portfolio to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other mutual funds and investors to price the same investments.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt Portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Portfolio performance and result in dilution in the value of Portfolio Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar


29



days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Portfolio Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Portfolio Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise their right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company or the Adviser, has been or may be disruptive to a Portfolio. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm a Portfolio and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of a Portfolio and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with a Portfolio.

Portfolio shares are generally held through omnibus arrangements maintained by participating insurance companies or other intermediaries. There is no assurance that the Portfolios will be able to identify market timing, particularly if shareholders invest through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Portfolio shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Portfolios. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Portfolio Shares

General. Shares of the Portfolio are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Portfolio shares are sold to separate accounts that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by participating insurance companies. You may purchase or sell (redeem) shares of the Portfolio through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through separate accounts. The variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies are described in the separate prospectuses issued by the participating insurance companies. You should refer to those prospectuses for information on how to purchase a variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy, how to select a specific Portfolio as an investment option for your contract or policy and how to redeem monies from the Portfolio.

The separate accounts of the participating insurance companies place orders to purchase and redeem shares of the Portfolios based on, among other things, the amount of premium payments to be invested and the amount of surrender and transfer requests (as defined in the prospectus describing the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by the participating insurance companies) to be effected on that day pursuant to variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.

Shares of the Portfolios may be purchased by separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated participating insurance companies in order to fund both variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, and also may be purchased by qualified plans. This may present certain conflicts of interests among variable annuity owners, variable life insurance policy owners and plan investors. The Company's Board of Directors will monitor the Company for the existence of any materials irreconcilable conflict of interest. The Company currently does not foresee any disadvantages to the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies arising from the fact that interests of the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies may differ due to


30



differences of tax treatment or other considerations or due to conflicts among the participating insurance companies. If, however, a material irreconcilable conflict arises between the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies of participating insurance companies, a participating insurance company may be required to withdraw the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Portfolio. Any such withdrawal could disrupt orderly portfolio management to the potential detriment of such holders.

The Portfolios do not currently anticipate offering shares directly to qualified pension and profit-sharing plans.

Good Order. Purchase or redemption orders received by the Transfer Agent in good order will be executed at the Portfolio's next determined NAV.

Other Purchase Information: The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of a Portfolio. The Adviser will monitor each Portfolio's total assets and may decide to close any of the Portfolios at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of a Portfolio may adversely affect the implementation of the Portfolio's strategy. Subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, the Adviser may also choose to reopen a Portfolio to new investments at any time and may subsequently close the Portfolio again should concerns regarding the Portfolio's size recur. If a Portfolio closes to new investments, the Portfolio would be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Portfolio.

Other persons who are shareholders of the other Matson Money VI Portfolios are not permitted to acquire Shares of the closed Portfolio by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of the Portfolios will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser reserves the right to implement other purchases limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Redemption of Portfolio Shares

General: Redemption requests may be placed by separate accounts of participating insurance companies. Redemption requests are effected at the NAV next calculated after receipt of the redemption request by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Portfolio's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Shares of a Portfolio can only be redeemed on days the NYSE is open. Redemptions by wire are charged a transaction fee of $7.50.

Other Redemption Information: Payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of a Portfolio to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Portfolio instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholders will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so that a Portfolio is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Portfolio's NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Portfolio.

Good Order: A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.


31



Voting Rights

Participating insurance companies, not the owners of the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies or participants therein, are shareholders of the Portfolios. To the extent required by law:

•  The participating insurance companies will vote Portfolio Shares held in the separate accounts in a manner consistent with timely voting instructions received from the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.

•  The participating insurance companies will vote Portfolio Shares held in the separate accounts for which no timely instructions are received from the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies, as well as shares they own, in the same proportion as those shares for which voting instructions are received.

As a result of proportional voting, a small number of holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies could determine the outcome of a proposition subject to shareholder vote. It is anticipated that Portfolio Shares held by unregistered separate accounts or qualified plans generally will be voted for or against any proposition in the same proportion as all other Portfolio Shares are voted unless the unregistered separate account's participating insurance company or the plan makes other arrangements.

Additional information concerning voting rights of the participants in the separate accounts is more fully set forth in the prospectus relating to those accounts issued by the participating insurance companies.

Dividends and Distributions

Each Portfolio will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Portfolio unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio will declare and pay dividends from net investment income quarterly. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Portfolios at least annually.

Taxes

Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporate entity for federal tax purposes. Each Portfolio has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company and intends to qualify for such treatment for each taxable year under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). In addition, each Portfolio intends to qualify under the Code with respect to the diversification requirements related to variable contracts. Provided that a Portfolio and a separate account investing in the Portfolio satisfy applicable tax requirements, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal tax, and the separate accounts will not be taxable on distributions from, or gains with respect to, the Portfolio.

Persons investing in variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts should refer to the prospectuses with respect to such contracts for further information regarding the tax treatment of the contracts and the separate accounts in which the contracts are invested.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE PORTFOLIOS' SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


32




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Portfolio's financial performance since the Portfolios' inception on February 18, 2014. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Portfolios' independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Portfolios' financial statements which, together, with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Portfolios' annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
February 18, 2014 (1)
Through
August 31, 2014
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

26.79

   

$

25.00

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

0.03

     

(0.06

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   

(1.07

)

   

1.85

   

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   

(1.04

)

   

1.79

   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

 

Net investment income

   

(0.10

)

   

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

(0.10

)

   

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

25.65

   

$

26.79

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(3.92

)%

   

7.16

% (4)

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

13,598

   

$

7,816

   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers (5)

   

1.13

%

   

1.13

% (6)

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers

   

1.44

%

   

4.07

% (6)

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets with waivers (5)

   

0.12

%

   

(0.47

)% (6)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

13.65

%

   

1.32

% (4)

 

(1)  Commencement of operations.

(2)  The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Not Annualized.

(5)  The Portfolio also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.

(6)  Annualized.


33



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
February 18, 2014 (1)
Through
August 31, 2014
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

25.82

   

$

25.00

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

0.22

     

(0.07

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   

(3.26

)

   

0.75

   

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   

(3.04

)

   

0.82

   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

 

Net investment income

   

(0.30

)

   

   

Net realized capital gains

   

___ (3)

     

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

(0.30

)

   

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

22.48

   

$

25.82

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(11.77

)%

   

3.28

% (4)

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

9,641

   

$

5,408

   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers (5)

   

1.35

%

   

1.35

% (6)

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers

   

1.67

%

   

5.07

% (6)

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets with waivers (5)

   

0.91

%

   

(0.49

)% (6)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

14.90

%

   

2.47

% (4)

 

(1)  Commencement of operations.

(2)  The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Not Annualized.

(5)  The Portfolio also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.

(6)  Annualized.


34



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
February 18, 2014 (1)
Through
August 31, 2014
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

25.08

   

$

25.00

   

Net investment loss (2)

   

0.03

     

(0.05

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   

(0.04

)

   

0.13

   

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   

(0.01

)

   

0.08

   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

 

Net investment income

   

(0.14

)

   

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

(0.14

)

   

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

24.93

   

$

25.08

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(0.06

)%

   

0.32

% (4)

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000's omitted)

 

$

18,098

   

$

9,927

   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers (5)

   

1.00

%

   

1.00

% (6)

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers

   

1.37

%

   

3.40

% (6)

 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets with waivers (5)

   

0.10

%

   

(0.40

)% (6)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

10.90

%

   

0.55

% (4)

 

(1)  Commencement of operations.

(2)  The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Not Annualized.

(5)  The Portfolio also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.

(6)  Annualized.


35




FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MATSON MONEY FAMILY OF PORTFOLIOS

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Portfolios is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Portfolios' investments, describe the Portfolios' performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The Annual Report will include market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios' performance during the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information ("SAI")

The Portfolios' SAI, dated December 31, 2015 has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Portfolios, may be obtained free of charge, along with the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports when available, by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863 or at the Adviser's website at http://hosted.rightprospectus.com/MatsonMoney. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally part of the Prospectus).

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.

Purchases and Redemptions
Call (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863

Written Correspondence
Street Address:

Matson Money, Inc. Family of Portfolios
c/o BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may also view and copy information about the Company and the Portfolios, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Portfolio documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-05518




Institutional Class
Boston Partners Investment Funds

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

Prospectus December 31, 2015

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II – BPSIX

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund – BPAIX

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund – BPLSX

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund – BPIRX

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund – WPGTX

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund – BPGIX

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund – BGLSX

The securities described in this prospectus have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC, however, has not judged these securities for their investment merit and has not determined the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY SECTIONS

   

3

   

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

   

3

   

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

   

9

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

   

15

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

   

22

   

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

   

30

   

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

   

36

   

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

   

43

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS'
INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
   

52

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

   

56

   

Investment Adviser

   

56

   

Portfolio Managers

   

57

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

61

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

61

   

Market Timing

   

61

   

Shareholder Service Fees

   

62

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

62

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

65

   

Exchange Privilege

   

67

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

68

   

Taxes

   

68

   

Multi-Class Structure

   

71

   
Appendix A – Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account
of the Boston Partners Long/Short
Research Fund
   

72

   
Appendix B – Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts
of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund
   

74

   
Appendix C – Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account
of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund
   

76

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

78

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 

A look at the investment objectives, risks, expenses and financial history of each of the Boston Partners Investment Funds

Details about the Boston Partners Investment Funds service providers.

Policies and instructions for opening, maintaining and closing an account in any of the Boston Partners Investment Funds.


2



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital primarily through investment in equity securities. Current income is a secondary objective.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

1.00

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Other expenses

   

0.23

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

1.23

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.13

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense
reimbursement
   

1.10

%

 

(1)  The Fund's investment adviser, Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Institutional Class shares exceeds 1.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 1.10%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 the Fund's Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect, the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three-year period.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

1,121

   

$

3,775

   

$

6,632

   

$

14,772

   


3



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities, such as common stocks of issuers with small market capitalizations and identified by the Adviser as having value characteristics. A small market capitalization issuer generally is considered to be one whose market capitalization is, at the time the Fund makes the investment, similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index. The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that contains stocks from the Russell 2000 ® Index with less than average growth orientation. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of this index was $635 million and the largest stock was $5.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change.

The Fund generally invests in the equity securities of small companies. The Adviser will seek to invest in companies it considers to be well managed and to have attractive fundamental financial characteristics. The Adviser believes greater potential for price appreciation exists among small companies since they tend to be less widely followed by other securities analysts and thus may be more likely to be undervalued by the market. The Fund may invest from time to time a portion of its assets, not to exceed 20% (under normal conditions) at the time of purchase, in companies with larger market capitalizations.

The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price to book value ratios and price to earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals such as return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its total assets in non U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing a maximum of 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.


4



•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.

•   Small Cap Companies Risk. The Fund will invest in smaller issuers which are more volatile and less liquid than investments in issuers with a market capitalization greater than the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index. Small market capitalization issuers are not as diversified in their business activities as issuers with market capitalizations greater than the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index and are more susceptible to changes in the business cycle.

The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund invests may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 175%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II's Institutional Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of


5



future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

29.32% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(26.32)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (6.35)%


6



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

4.21

%

   

14.57

%

   

8.36

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

3.74

%

   

14.40

%

   

7.09

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

2.77

%

   

11.75

%

   

6.71

%

 
Russell 2000 ® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

4.22

%

   

14.26

%

   

6.89

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


7



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

David M. Dabora, Senior Portfolio Manager since 2000
George Gumpert, Portfolio Manager since 2005

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's
transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 
Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.  

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund Shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


8



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital primarily through investment in equity securities. Current income is a secondary objective.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

0.80

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Other expenses

   

0.15

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

0.95

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.15

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense
reimbursement
   

0.80

%

 

(1)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Institutional Class shares exceeds 0.80% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 0.80%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may not recoup any of its waived investment advisory fees.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

817

   

$

2,878

   

$

5,109

   

$

11,527

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.


9



Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities, such as common stocks of issuers across the capitalization spectrum and identified by the Adviser as having value characteristics.

The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price to book value ratios and price to earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals, such as return on equity and earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in non U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain debt securities and preferred stock.

The Fund may hedge overall portfolio exposure up to 40% of its net assets through the purchase and sale of index and individual put and call options.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing less than 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.

•   Small/Mid Cap Companies Risk. Investing in securities of companies with micro, small or mid-sized capitalizations tends to be riskier than investing in securities of companies with large capitalizations.

Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-sized capitalizations tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies and, on occasion, may fluctuate in the opposite direction of large cap company securities or the broader stock market averages.


10



The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund invests may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 125%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Options Risk. An option is a type of derivative instrument that gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy (a "call") or sell (a "put") an asset in the near future at an agreed upon price prior to the expiration date of the option. The Fund may "cover" a call option by owning the security underlying the option or through other means. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund's Institutional Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of


11



future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

18.60% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(17.49)% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (5.17)%


12



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

12.23

%

   

15.13

%

   

9.72

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

10.79

%

   

14.16

%

   

8.72

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

7.83

%

   

12.07

%

   

7.82

%

 
Russell 3000 ® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

12.70

%

   

15.34

%

   

7.26

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


13



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Manager

Duilio Ramallo, Senior Portfolio Manager since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners All Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's
transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


14



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation while reducing exposure to general equity market risk. The Fund seeks a total return greater than that of the S&P 500 ® Index over a full market cycle.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

2.25

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Short Sales Expenses: (1)

 

Dividend expense on short sales

   

0.38

%

 

Interest expense on borrowings

   

2.80

%

 

Other operating expenses

   

0.21

%

 

Total other expenses

   

3.39

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (2)

   

5.64

%

 

(1)  There are additional costs associated with the use of short sales. Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared; thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the securities sold short.

(2)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) for the Fund's Institutional Class exceeds 2.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. Because dividend expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes are excluded from the expense limitation, Total annual Fund operating expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 2.50%. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may not recoup any of its waived investment advisory fees.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

5,622

   

$

16,758

   

$

27,752

   

$

54,628

   


15



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 75% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in long positions in stocks identified by the Adviser as undervalued and takes short positions in stocks that the Adviser has identified as overvalued. The cash proceeds from short sales will be invested in short-term cash instruments to produce a return on such proceeds just below the federal funds rate. Short sales are considered speculative transactions and a form of leverage. The Fund invests, both long and short, in securities principally traded in the United States markets. The Fund may invest in securities of companies operating for three years or less ("unseasoned issuers"). The Adviser will determine the size of each long or short position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Fund seeks to construct a portfolio that has less volatility than the United States equity market generally. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals such as return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Fund intends, under normal circumstances, to invest at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. Under normal circumstances, the Adviser expects that the Fund's long positions will not exceed approximately 125% of the Fund's net assets.

The Fund's long and short positions may involve (without limit) equity securities of foreign issuers that are traded in the markets of the United States. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets directly in equity securities of foreign issuers.

To meet margin requirements, redemptions or pending investments, the Fund may also temporarily hold a portion of its assets in full faith and credit obligations of the United States government and in short-term notes, commercial paper or other money market instruments.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

The Fund may invest from time to time a significant portion of its assets in smaller issuers which are more volatile and less liquid than investments in issuers with larger market capitalizations.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing a maximum of 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, used by corporations and other business organizations. High yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash


16



and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the long portfolio of the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   High Yield Debt Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. Such high yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the Adviser may not be successful in its strategy of taking long positions in stocks the manager believes to be undervalued and short positions in stocks the manager believes to be overvalued. Further, since the Adviser will manage both a long and a short portfolio, there is the risk that the Adviser may make more poor investment decisions than an adviser of a typical stock mutual fund with only a long portfolio may make.

•   Short Sales Risk. Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Small-Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 400%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Segregated Account Risk. A security held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position it is covering is outstanding, unless it is replaced with a similar security. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.


17



•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.


18



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund's Institutional Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

38.60% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(19.45)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (2.38)%


19



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods. Although the Fund compares its average total return to a broad-based securities market index, the Fund seeks returns that are not correlated to securities market returns. The Fund seeks to achieve a 12-15% return over a full market cycle; however, there can be no guarantee that such returns will be achieved.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

4.72

%

   

11.22

%

   

12.35

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

2.66

%

   

9.05

%

   

9.77

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

4.36

%

   

8.52

%

   

9.26

%

 
S&P 500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

13.69

%

   

15.45

%

   

7.67

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


20



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Robert T. Jones, Senior Portfolio Manager since 1995

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

The Fund is currently closed due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Fund will still be offered to existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, as described in the section entitled "Purchase of Fund Shares" in this prospectus.

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's
transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


21




SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term total return.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

1.25

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Short Sales Expenses: (1)

 

Dividend expense on short sales (1)

   

0.77

%

 

Interest expense on borrowings

   

0.27

%

 

Other operating expenses

   

0.14

%

 

Total other expenses

   

1.18

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (2)

   

2.43

%

 

(1) There are additional costs associated with the use of short sales. Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared; thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the securities sold short.

(2) The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) exceeds 1.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. Because acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes are excluded from the expense limitation, Total annual Fund operating expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 1.50%. This contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without Board approval. Effective as of the effective date of the Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.50%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

2,461

   

$

7,575

   

$

12,955

   

$

27,663

   


22



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 62% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund uses a hedged strategy. The Fund actively invests in long positions in stocks identified by the Adviser as undervalued and takes short positions in stocks that the Adviser has identified as overvalued. The cash proceeds from short sales (i.e. sales of securities the Fund does not own) are invested in short-term cash instruments to produce a return on such proceeds just below the federal funds rate. Short sales are considered speculative transactions and a form of leverage.

The Fund invests, both long and short, in equity securities issued by large-, mid- and small (or "micro") cap companies, as well as other instruments that are convertible into equity securities. Selling securities short is a form of leverage. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies and real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and equity participations. An equity participation is a type of loan that gives the lender a portion of equity ownership in a property, in addition to principal and interest payments. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. The Fund may invest in securities of companies operating for three years or less ("unseasoned issuers"). The Fund may also invest in depositary receipts and equity securities of foreign companies (denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies), put and call options, futures, indexed securities and fixed-income securities (including bonds, notes, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments) and high yield securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). Fixed income securities in which the Fund invests include those rated between AAA and D by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or deemed of comparable quality by the Adviser. The Adviser may also temporarily invest uninvested cash in money market funds and similar collective investment vehicles. The Fund may also seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities.

The Adviser determines the size of each long or short position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Fund seeks to construct a portfolio that has less volatility than the U.S. equity market by investing less than 100% of its assets in net long positions. Selection of individual securities to be held long or sold short will be based on a mix of quantitative techniques and fundamental security analysis. The Adviser selects stocks on the basis of three criteria: value, fundamental business strength and momentum. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals such as return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

Although the Fund seeks to follow a hedged strategy, there can be no assurance that the Fund's portfolio or investments will be insulated from market moves or effectively hedged against risk.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing less than 25% of its total assets in any one industry, except that the Fund may invest up to 30% in exchange-traded funds to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") and applicable SEC orders.


23



The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The principal derivative instruments in which the Fund invests are futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the long portfolio of the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the price of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   High Yield Debt Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations (of any rating, including defaulted securities and unrated securities), including bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and business organizations. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. Such high yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and financial practices.

•   Currency Risk. Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. The Adviser may be incorrect in the stocks it buys and believes to be undervalued and in stocks it sells short and believes to be overvalued. Further, since the Adviser will manage both a long and a short portfolio, there is the risk that the Adviser may make more poor investment decisions than an adviser of a typical stock mutual fund with only a long portfolio.

•   Short Sales Risk. Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises. In a rising market, short positions may be more likely to result in losses because securities sold short may be more likely to increase in value. Short selling also involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses; the potential inability to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the possibility of the lender terminating the loan at any time, forcing the Fund to close the transaction under unfavorable circumstances; the additional costs that may be incurred; and the potential loss of investment flexibility caused by the Fund's obligations to provide collateral to the lender and set aside assets to cover the open position. Short sales "against the box" may


24



protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Small-Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 300%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days.

•   Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, which include futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps, may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   Indexed Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices. Most such securities have values that rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.

•   Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.


25



•   Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares.The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.


26



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund's Institutional Class. The bar chart below provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

8.37% (quarter ended December 31, 2011)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(9.89)% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (2.03)%


27



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(September 30, 2010)
 

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

7.15

%

   

11.38

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

6.82

%

   

11.20

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

4.32

%

   

9.02

%

 
S&P 500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

13.69

%

   

17.36

%

 

(1) After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


28



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners, Co-Portfolio Manager since inception of the Fund
Eric Connerly, Director of Research-Quantitative, Co-Portfolio Manager since inception of the Fund

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you selected the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


29



SUMMARY SECTION — WPG PARTNERS SMALL/MICRO CAP VALUE FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and in special situations.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

0.80

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Other expenses

   

0.61

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

1.41

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.31

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense
reimbursement
   

1.10

%

 

(1) The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Institutional Class shares exceeds 1.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 1.10%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 the Fund's Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect, the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three-year period.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

1,121

   

$

4,158

   

$

7,416

   

$

16,641

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating


30



Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 80% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

Currently, the Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. companies that, at the time of purchase, have a market capitalization that is within the range of the market capitalization of issuers in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index is $635 million and the largest stock is $5.1 billion. The Fund may invest in depository receipts and equity securities of foreign companies. Although the Fund invests primarily in common stocks, the Fund may invest in all types of equity and equity-related securities, including (without limitation):

•  Securities convertible into common stocks.

•  Shares of real estate investment trusts ("REITs").

•  Warrants and rights to purchase common stocks.

•  Preferred stocks.

•  Exchange traded limited partnerships.

Special Situations: The Fund may invest in companies that may experience unusual and possibly unique developments which may create a special opportunity for significant returns. Special situations include: significant technological improvements or important discoveries; reorganizations, recapitalizations or mergers; favorable resolutions of litigation; new management or material changes in company policies; and actual or potential changes in control of a company.

Strategies: The Adviser uses a value approach to select the Fund's investments. Using this investment style, the Adviser seeks securities selling at substantial discounts to their underlying values and then holds these securities until the market values reflect what the Adviser believes to be their intrinsic values. The Adviser employs a bottom-up strategy, focusing on undervalued industries that the Adviser believes are experiencing positive change. The Adviser then uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to assess a security's potential value. The portfolio managers managing the Fund meet with a multitude of companies annually to identify companies with increasing returns on capital in their core businesses which are selling at attractive valuations.

Factors the Adviser looks for in selecting investments include (without limitation):

•  Increasing returns on invested capital.

•  Companies who have demonstrated an ability to generate high return on invested capital (ROIC).

•  Companies which provide solid cash flows with appropriate capital.

•  Potential catalysts such as new products, cyclical upturns and changes in management.

•  Low market valuations relative to earnings forecast, book value, cash flow and sales.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the price of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.


31



•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.

•   Small Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest will often be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.

•   Special Situations Risk. The Fund will seek to benefit from "special situations," such as mergers, reorganizations, or other unusual events expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the "special situation" might not occur or involve longer time frames than originally expected, which could have a negative impact on the price of the issuer's securities and fail to produce gains or produce a loss for the Fund.

•   Rights and Warrants Risk. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security's market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.


32



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund's Institutional Class. The performance for periods prior to April 29, 2005 represents the performance of the WPG Tudor Fund (the "Predecessor Fund").The Predecessor Fund began operations on September 11, 1985. On April 29, 2005, the Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of the Company. Prior to the reorganization, the Predecessor Fund offered only one class of shares. In connection with the reorganization, shareholders of the Predecessor Fund exchanged their shares for Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

The bar chart below shows you how the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class has varied year to year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

28.51% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(30.21)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (15.01)%


33



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
(for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014)
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 

Return Before Taxes

   

(3.62

)%

   

13.32

%

   

6.16

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

(7.64

)%

   

11.87

%

   

4.52

%

 
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Shares
   

(1.02

)%

   

10.37

%

   

4.50

%

 
Russell 2000 ® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

4.22

%

   

14.26

%

   

6.89

%

 

(1) After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The table, like the bar chart, provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns for the one year, five year, and ten year periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.


34



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Richard Shuster, Senior Portfolio Manager since 1999
Gregory Weiss, Portfolio Manager since 1999

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


35



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

0.90

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Other expenses

   

0.34

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

1.24

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.29

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or
expense reimbursement
   

0.95

%

 

(1) The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Institutional Class shares exceeds 0.95% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 0.95%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. Effective as of the effective date of the Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 0.95%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

969

   

$

3,648

   

$

6,531

   

$

14,744

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 98% of the average value of its portfolio.


36



Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in a non-diversified portfolio of equity and equity-related securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies of any capitalization size. The Fund may invest in all types of equity and equity- related securities, including without limitation exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities, sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, participatory notes, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies (including exchanged-traded funds ("ETFs")), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and equity participations. An equity participation is a type of loan that gives the lender a portion of equity ownership in a property, in addition to principal and interest payments. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.

The Fund defines non-U.S. companies as companies (i) that are organized under the laws of a foreign country; (ii) whose principal trading market is in a foreign country; or (iii) that have a majority of their assets, or that derive a significant portion of their revenue or profits from businesses, investments or sales, outside of the United States. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests significantly (ordinarily at least 40% — unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser, in which case the Fund would invest at least 30%) in non-U.S. companies. The Fund principally will be invested in issuers located in countries with developed securities markets, but may also invest in issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries).

The Fund generally invests in the equity securities of issuers believed by the Adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace, focusing on issuers that combine attractive valuations with catalysts for change. The Adviser applies a bottom-up stock selection process (i.e., one that focuses primarily on issuer-specific factors) in managing the Fund, using a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser considers various factors such as price-to-book value, price-to-sales and earnings ratios, dividend yields, strength of management, and cash flow to identify securities that are trading at a price that appears to be lower than the issuer's inherent value.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may (but is not required to) invest in derivatives, including put and call options, futures, forward contracts and swaps, in lieu of investing directly in a security, currency or instrument, for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public. The Fund may also seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.


37



•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers either directly or depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Participatory notes ("P-notes") are derivative instruments used by investors to take positions in certain foreign securities. P-notes present similar risks to investing directly in such securities and also expose investors to counterparty risk.

•   Emerging Markets Risk. Investment in emerging market securities involves greater risk than that associated with investment in securities of issuers in developed foreign countries. These risks include volatile currency exchange rates, periods of high inflation, increased risk of default, greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability, less governmental supervision and regulation of securities markets, weaker auditing and financial reporting standards, lack of liquidity in the markets, and the significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers.

•   Currency Risk. Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   Options Risk. An option is a type of derivative instrument that gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy (a "call") or sell (a "put") an asset in the near future at an agreed upon price prior to the expiration date of the option. The Fund may "cover" a call option by owning the security underlying the option or through other means. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations.

•   Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, which include futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps, may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.


38



•   Small/Mid-Cap Companies Risk. Investing in securities of companies with micro, small or mid-sized capitalizations tends to be riskier than investing in securities of companies with large capitalizations. Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-sized capitalizations tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies and, on occasion, may fluctuate in the opposite direction of large cap company securities or the broader stock market averages.

The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund invests may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. Redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker- dealers. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.

•   Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares. The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

•   Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified. Compared to other funds, the Fund may invest more of its assets in a smaller number of companies. Gains or losses on a single stock may have greater impact on the Fund.


39



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund's Institutional Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

11.70% (quarter ended March 31, 2012)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(5.91)% (quarter ended June 30, 2012)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (3.63)%


40



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
(for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014)
 
   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(December 30, 2011)
 

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

 

Return Before Taxes

   

4.34

%

   

16.86

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

3.00

%

   

15.95

%

 
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Shares
   

3.07

%

   

13.13

%

 
MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

5.50

%

   

16.29

%

 

(1) After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The table, like the bar chart, provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns for the one year and since inception periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.


41



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Christopher K. Hart, Portfolio Manager, and a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception
Joshua Jones, a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since June, 2013
Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception and oversees both the team and the strategy

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Global Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund versus another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


42



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class shares of the Fund.

   

Institutional Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

1.50

%

 

Distribution and servicing (12b-1) fees

   

None

   

Short Sales Expenses: (1)

 

Dividend expense on short sales

   

0.87

%

 

Interest expense on borrowings

   

0.26

%

 

Other operating expenses

   

0.42

%

 

Total other expenses (2)

   

1.55

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

3.05

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement or recoupment (2)

   

0.04

%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense
reimbursement or recoupment
   

3.09

%

 

(1)  There are additional costs associated with the use of short sales. Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared; thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the securities sold short.

(2)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) for the Fund's Institutional Class shares exceeds 2.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Institutional Class shares. Because dividend expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes are excluded from the expense limitation, Total annual Fund operating expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 2.00%. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. Effective as of the effective date of the Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 2.00%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.


43



Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $100,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and Fund operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be different, based on these assumptions your costs of investing $100,000 in the Fund would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Class

 

$

3,120

   

$

9,458

   

$

16,046

   

$

33,673

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 132% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in long positions in stocks identified by the Adviser as undervalued and takes short positions in stocks that the Adviser has identified as overvalued. The cash proceeds from short sales will be invested in short-term cash instruments to produce a return on such proceeds just below the federal funds rate. Short sales are considered speculative transactions and a form of leverage. The Fund invests, both long and short, in securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies of any capitalization size.

With a long position, the Fund purchases a stock outright; with a short position, the Fund sells a security that it does not own and must borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may invest in securities of companies operating for three years or less ("unseasoned issuers"). The Adviser will determine the size of each long or short position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals, including return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Fund may invest in all types of equity and equity-related securities, including without limitation exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities, sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies (including exchanged-traded funds ("ETFs")), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and equity participations. An equity participation is a type of loan that gives the lender a portion of equity ownership in a property, in addition to principal and interest payments. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.

The Fund defines non-U.S. companies as companies (i) that are organized under the laws of a foreign country; (ii) whose principal trading market is in a foreign country; or (iii) that have a majority of their assets, or that derive a significant portion of their revenue or profits from businesses, investments or sales, outside of the United States. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests significantly (ordinarily at least 40% — unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser, in which case the Fund would invest at least 30%) in non-U.S. companies. The Fund principally will be invested in issuers located in countries with developed securities markets, but may also invest in issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries).


44



The Fund's portfolio is rebalanced regularly. The Adviser assesses each investment's changing characteristics relative to its contribution to portfolio risk. The Adviser will sell an investment held long or close out a short position that the Adviser believes no longer offers an appropriate return-to-risk tradeoff.

Under normal circumstances, the Adviser expects to sell securities short so that the Fund's portfolio is approximately 50% net long with an average of between 30% and 70% net long.

To meet margin requirements, redemptions or pending investments, the Fund may also temporarily hold a portion of its assets in full faith and credit obligations of the United States government and in short-term notes, commercial paper or other money market instruments.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

The Fund may invest from time to time a significant portion of its assets in smaller issuers which are more volatile and less liquid than investments in issuers with larger market capitalizations.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing a maximum of 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, used by U.S. and foreign corporations and other business organizations (e.g. trusts or limited liability companies). Such high yield debt obligations are not considered to be investment grade. Non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") are rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Rating Group, or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (or, if unrated are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of investment). The Fund may invest in securities of the lowest rating category, including securities in default. The Adviser may, but is not required to, sell a bond or note held by the Fund in the event that its credit rating is downgraded.

The Fund may (but is not required to) invest in derivatives, including put and call options, futures, forward contracts and swaps, in lieu of investing directly in a security, currency or instrument, for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the Adviser may not be successful in its strategy of taking long positions in stocks the manager believes to be undervalued and short positions in stocks the manager believes to be overvalued. Further, since the Adviser will manage both a long and a short portfolio, there is the risk that the Adviser may make more poor investment decisions than an adviser of a typical stock mutual fund with only a long portfolio may make.

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the long portfolio of the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.


45



•   High Yield Debt Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. Such high yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers either directly or through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Participatory notes ("P-notes") are derivative instruments used by investors to take positions in certain foreign securities. P-notes present similar risks to investing directly in such securities and also expose investors to counterparty risk.

•   Emerging Markets Risk. Investment in emerging market securities involves greater risk than that associated with investment in securities of issuers in developed foreign countries. These risks include volatile currency exchange rates, periods of high inflation, increased risk of default, greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability, less governmental supervision and regulation of securities markets, weaker auditing and financial reporting standards, lack of liquidity in the markets, and the significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers.

•   Currency Risk. Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

•   Short Sales Risk. Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises. In a rising market, short positions may be more likely to result in losses because securities sold short may be more likely to increase in value. Short selling also involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses; the potential inability to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the possibility of the lender terminating the loan at any time, forcing the Fund to close the transaction under unfavorable circumstances; the additional costs that may be incurred; and the potential loss of investment flexibility caused by the Fund's obligations to provide collateral to the lender and set aside assets to cover the open position. Short sales "against the box" may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited. The use of short sales may cause the Fund to have higher expenses than those of other equity mutual funds because of higher transaction costs, premiums, interest or dividends payable to the lender.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.


46



•   Options Risk. An option is a type of derivative instrument that gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy (a "call") or sell (a "put") an asset in the near future at an agreed upon price prior to the expiration date of the option. The Fund may "cover" a call option by owning the security underlying the option or through other means. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Losses incurred by the Fund in writing options can be potentially unlimited.

•   Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, which include futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps, may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by an externally managed REIT in which it invests.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Small-Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 400%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Segregated Account Risk. A security held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position it is covering is outstanding, unless it is replaced with a similar security. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.


47



•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

•   Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.

•   Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. Exchange traded funds ("ETFs") are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares. The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.

•   Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified. Compared to other funds, the Fund may invest more of its assets in a smaller number of companies. Gains or losses on a single stock may have greater impact on the Fund.


48



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund's Institutional Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund has performed on a calendar year basis and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Year Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

0.89% (quarter ended September 30, 2014)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(0.20)% (quarter ended December 31, 2014)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: 2.96%


49



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(December 31, 2013)
 

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

1.40

%

   

1.40

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

1.40

%

   

1.40

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

0.79

%

   

0.79

%

 
MSCI ® World Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

5.50

%

   

5.50

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


50



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Christopher K. Hart, Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception
Joshua Jones, Associate Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception
Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception and oversees both the team and the strategy

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $100,000
Minimum Additional Investment: $5,000

You can only purchase and redeem Institutional Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


51




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

This section provides some additional information about the Funds' investments and certain portfolio management techniques that certain Funds may use. More information about the Funds' investments and portfolio management techniques, some of which entail risks, is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

Investment Objectives

The Funds' investment objectives may be changed by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") without shareholder approval. Shareholders will, however, receive 60 days' prior notice of any changes. Any such changes may result in the Funds having investment objectives different from the objectives that the shareholder considered appropriate at the time of investment in the Funds.

Additional Information About the Funds' Principal Investments and Risks

Derivative Contracts. Each of the Funds, except for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value II Fund may, but need not, use derivative contracts for any of the following purposes:

•  To seek to hedge against the possible adverse impact of changes in stock market prices, currency exchange rates or interest rates in the market value of its securities or securities to be purchased; or

•  As a substitute for buying or selling currencies or securities.

The Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may, but need not, use derivative contracts for the following purpose:

•  To seek to enhance the Fund's return in non-hedging situations.

Derivative contracts in which the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may invest include: futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward foreign currency contracts; and interest rate, total return or currency swaps. The Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may use derivative contracts involving foreign currencies. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle a Fund to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities, currencies or indices. Even a small investment in derivative contracts can have a big impact on a Fund's stock market, currency and interest rate exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. A Fund may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the Fund's holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of default risk as issuers of fixed income securities in that the counterparty may default on its payment obligations or become insolvent. Derivatives can also make a Fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets.

Short Sales. The Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund will engage in short sales, and the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund may engage in short sales — including those that are not "against the box," which means that each Fund may make short sales where the Fund does not currently own or have the right to acquire, at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short — in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. In a typical short sale, the Funds borrow from a broker a security in order to sell the security to a third party. The Funds are then obligated to return a security of the same issuer and quantity at some future date. The Funds realize a loss to the extent the security increases in value or a profit to the extent the security declines in value (after taking into account any associated costs). Short sales "against the box" may protect the Funds against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a


52



corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of each Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited.

Equity and Equity-Related Securities. Each of the Funds may invest in all types of equity securities. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies and REITs, and equity participations. Investments in equity securities and equity derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. The value of such securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. State law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a limited partnership than investors in a corporation. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the Fund's net asset value to fluctuate. The number of issuers in the Funds' portfolios will vary over time.

Fixed Income Investments. The Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may each invest a portion of their assets in fixed income securities. Fixed income investments include bonds, notes (including structured notes), asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments. Fixed income securities may be issued by corporate and governmental issuers and may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including (without limitation) fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features.

The credit quality of securities held in a Fund's portfolio is determined at the time of investment. If a security is rated differently by multiple ratings organizations, a Fund treats the security as being rated in the higher rating category. A Fund may choose not to sell securities that are downgraded below the Fund's minimum accepted credit rating after their purchase. Periods of rising interest rates may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

Foreign Securities. Each of the Funds may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets) directly or through American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or International Depositary Receipts ("IDRs"). Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.

In addition, the Funds may also invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies and in multinational currencies such as the Euro. The Funds will value their securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. Investments in securities of foreign issuers and securities denominated in foreign currencies involve special risks. These include possible political and economic instability and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other restrictions on investments. Changes in foreign currency rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of a Fund's assets denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Emerging market investments offer


53



the potential for significant gains but also involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. Political or economic instability, lack of market liquidity and government actions such as currency controls or seizure of private business or property may be more likely in emerging markets.

The Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund will normally invest a significant portion of their assets in the equity securities and equity-related instruments issued by non-U.S. companies. The Funds may invest in securities denominated in the currencies of a variety of developed, emerging and frontier market countries. Unless hedged, currency fluctuations may have a material impact on the performance of a portfolio of non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities and such a portfolio may experience a decline or increase in value, in U.S. dollar terms, due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Adviser may, from time to time, but is not required to, hedge foreign currency exposure in the Funds' portfolios. Further, the Funds may also from time to time enter into speculative currency positions independent of other positions in the Funds' portfolios.

The Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may also invest in participatory notes. Participatory notes (commonly known as "P-notes") are equity access products structured as debt obligations and used by investors to take positions in certain foreign securities. P-notes are generally issued by the associates of foreign-based foreign brokerages and domestic institutional brokerages. P-notes represent interests in securities listed on certain foreign exchanges, and thus present similar risks to investing directly in such securities. P-notes also expose investors to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the entity issuing the note may not be able to honor its financial commitments.

Portfolio Concentration. Under normal market conditions, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund portfolios will generally be diversified by country and geographic region.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Each Fund may invest in ETFs to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and applicable SEC orders. ETFs are registered investment companies whose shares are listed and traded on U.S. stock exchanges or otherwise traded in the over-the-counter market. In general, ETFs seek to track a specified securities index or a basket of securities that an "index provider," such as Standard & Poor's, selects as representative of a market, market segment or industry sector. An ETF portfolio generally holds the same stocks or bonds as the index it tracks or it may hold a representative sample of such securities. Thus, an ETF typically is designed so that its performance will correspond closely with that of the index it tracks. In some cases, an ETF may be actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection, and the individual investments in an actively-managed ETF may not perform as well as its investment adviser and/or sub-advisers expected, and/or the actively-managed ETF's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result. As a shareholder in an ETF, the Fund will bear its pro rata portion of an ETF's expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

Other Investment Companies. Each of the Funds may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies not affiliated with the Adviser, but may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. Among other things, the Funds may invest in money market mutual funds for cash management purposes by "sweeping" excess cash balances into such funds until the cash is invested or otherwise utilized. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by investment companies in which it invests in addition to the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund.

Private Investments in Public Equity. The WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund may purchase equity securities in private placements that are issued by issuers who have outstanding, publicly-traded equity securities of the same class ("private investments in public equity" or "PIPEs"). Shares in PIPEs generally are not registered with the SEC until after a certain time period from the date the private sale is completed. This restricted period can last many months. Until the public registration process is completed, PIPEs are restricted as to resale and the Fund cannot freely trade the securities. Generally, such restrictions cause the PIPEs to be illiquid during this time. PIPEs may contain provisions that the issuer will pay specified financial penalties to the holder if the issuer does not publicly register the restricted equity securities within a specified period of time, but there is no assurance that the restricted equity securities will be publicly registered, or that the registration will remain in effect. Please


54



see the Fund's SAI for more information regarding illiquid securities.

Portfolio Turnover. Each of the Funds may engage in active and frequent trading, resulting in high portfolio turnover. This may lead to the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, increasing their tax liability. Frequent trading may also increase transaction costs, which could detract from the Funds' performance.

Securities Lending. Each Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. Portfolio security loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by a Fund will not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets. A Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.

Temporary Investments. Each of the Funds may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking a temporary defensive position (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of money market and short-term debt securities. If a Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

Broad-Based Securities Market Indices

The MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada.

The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets.

The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that contains stocks from the Russell 2000 ® Index with less than average growth orientation. Companies in this index generally have low price-to-book and price-to- earnings ratios, higher dividend yields and lower forecasted growth values. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index is $635 million and the largest stock is $5.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change. The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is a registered trademark of the Frank Russell Corporation.

The Russell 3000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 3000 ® Index companies that typically display lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The stocks in this index are also members of either the Russell 1000 ® Value or the Russell 2000 ® Value indices. The Russell 3000 ® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 3000 ® Value Index is $1,330 billion and the largest stock is $434.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change. The Russell 3000 ® Value Index is a registered trademark of the Frank Russell Corporation.

The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, classified in eleven industry sectors, which represent approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in the index.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

The complete portfolio holdings (or long positions only with respect to the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund and the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund) of each of the Funds are publicly available on the Adviser's website at www.boston-partners.com as of the end of each calendar month, 15 days following the month end. Any postings will remain available on the website at least until the Funds file with the SEC their semi-annual or annual shareholder report or quarterly portfolio holdings report that includes such period. A further description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds' portfolio securities is available in the Funds' SAI.


55



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc. provides investment management and investment advisory services to investment companies and other institutional and proprietary accounts.

Subject to the general supervision of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors"), the Boston Partners division of the Adviser (or Weiss, Peck & Greer division of the Adviser with respect to the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund) manages the Funds' portfolios and is responsible for the selection and management of all portfolio investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds' respective investment objectives and policies.

The Adviser, located at 909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022, is a subsidiary of Robeco Groep N.V., a Dutch public limited liability company ("Robeco Groep"). Founded in 1929, Robeco Groep is one of the world's oldest asset management organizations. Robeco Groep is primarily owned by ORIX Corporation, an integrated financial services group based in Tokyo, Japan.

For its services to the Boston Partners Funds, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement computed at an annual rate of 2.25% of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund's average daily net assets,1.00% of the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II's average daily net assets, 0.80% of the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund's average daily net assets, 1.25% of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund's average daily net assets, 0.90% of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund's average daily net assets, and 1.50% of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund's average daily net assets. Until December 31, 2016, the Adviser has agreed to waive its fees to the extent necessary to maintain an annualized expense ratio for Institutional Class Shares of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, and the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II of 2.50%, 0.80%, 1.50%, 0.95%, 2.00%, and 1.10% (excluding certain items discussed below), respectively. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waivers after December 31, 2016. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause a Fund's net annualized expense ratio to exceed the applicable expense limitation: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes.

For its services to the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement:

•  0.80% of average daily net assets up to $500 million

•  0.75% of average daily net assets in excess of $500 million

Until December 31, 2016, the Adviser has agreed to waive its fees to the extent necessary to maintain an annualized expense ratio of 1.10% (excluding certain items discussed below) for the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause the net annualized expense ratio of the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund to exceed 1.10%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waivers after December 31, 2016.

For the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, effective as of the effective date of a Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Funds' total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.50%, 0.95%, or 2.00%, respectively, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Funds of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Funds within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made. For the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II and WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, if at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 the Fund's Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect, the Funds' Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10% and 1.10%, respectively,


56



the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Funds of the advisory fees waived or other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Funds during such three-year period.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approval of the Funds' Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is available in the Funds' annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.

Portfolio Managers

The investment results for different strategies of the Adviser are not solely dependent on any one individual. There is a common philosophy and approach that is the backdrop for all of the investment strategies of the Adviser.

This philosophy is then executed through a very disciplined investment process managed by the designated portfolio manager for each of the strategies. This manager will be supported, not only by a secondary manager, but by the Adviser's general research staff and, very often, by dedicated analysts to the particular strategy.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Funds.

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

David M. Dabora is the primary portfolio manager for the Fund and George Gumpert is the secondary portfolio manager.

Mr. Dabora is a senior portfolio manager of the Adviser responsible for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value, Small Cap Value II, and Small/Mid Cap Value portfolios. Mr. Dabora joined the firm in 1995. Prior to taking on day-to-day responsibilities for the Small Cap Value Fund II, Mr. Dabora was an assistant portfolio manager/analyst of the premium equity product of the Adviser, an all-cap value institutional product. Additionally, he was a research analyst with responsibility for a wide variety of industries. Mr. Dabora holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. degree from The Anderson School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of San Francisco and has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

Mr. Gumpert is a portfolio manager for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value products. Previously, he was a research analyst and specialized in the small capitalization sectors of the equity market. He joined the firm in 2000 from AIG International Asset Management where he was a commodities analyst. Mr. Gumpert holds a B.A. degree in economics from Amherst College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over ten years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 0.87% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 1.00%.

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

Duilio Ramallo is the primary portfolio manager for the Fund.

Mr. Ramallo is a senior portfolio manager of the Adviser. He is responsible for managing the Boston Partners Premium Equity portfolios. Prior to assuming this role, he was the assistant portfolio fund manager for Boston Partners Small Cap Value portfolios and a research analyst. Mr. Ramallo joined the firm in 1995. He joined the firm from Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he spent three years, most recently in the Los Angeles office. He holds a B.A. degree in economics/business from the University of California, Los Angeles and an M.B.A. degree from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. Mr. Ramallo holds the Chartered Financial Analyst ® designation. He has over fifteen years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 0.55% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 0.80%.

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

Robert T. Jones is the primary portfolio manager for the Fund.


57



Mr. Jones is the portfolio manager for Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund and related strategy. Previously, he was the Director of Research and portfolio manager for the Large Cap Value and Large Cap Value Focused products. He was a founding Partner of Boston Partners Asset Management. He joined the firm from The Boston Company Asset Management, Inc. where he spent seven years as Vice President and equity portfolio manager. Mr. Jones holds a B.A. degree in philosophy from Denison University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 2.25% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services.

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr. and Eric S. Connerly serve as co-portfolio managers for the Fund.

Mr. Feeney is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer for Boston Partners. He is responsible for the firm's strategic, financial and operating decisions, and all aspects of investment management including the firm's fundamental and quantitative research groups. He was one of the original partners of Boston Partners Asset Management in 1995. Prior to assuming these roles, he was Director of Research. Mr. Feeney joined the firm upon its inception in 1995 from Putnam Investments where he managed mortgage-backed securities portfolios. He began his career at the Bank of Boston where he was a loan officer specializing on highly leveraged loan portfolios. Mr. Feeney holds a B.S. degree in finance (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. with High Honors from the University of Chicago. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is past President of the Fixed Income Management Society of Boston. He has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

Mr. Connerly is the Director of Research-Quantitative for Boston Partners. Prior to assuming this role, he was a research analyst covering the financial, electronics, defense, transportation, and energy sectors and managed a merger arbitrage portfolio. He joined the firm from John Hancock Mutual Funds where he was an analyst and assisted in the management of a small cap portfolio. Prior to that, he was a senior equity analyst at SEI Investments overseeing their small cap equity portfolios. Mr. Connerly holds a BSFS degree cum laude in development economics from Georgetown University and an MBA degree in security analysis and investment management, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Columbia Business School. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over fifteen years of experience.

For the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 1.25% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services.

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

Richard Shuster and Gregory Weiss serve as co-portfolio managers for the Fund.

Mr. Shuster is the senior portfolio manager for the WPG Partners Small and Micro Cap Equity Products. He has served as managing director of the Adviser since 1999 as well as head of the Adviser's Small/Micro Cap Value Team. He holds a B.S. degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Shuster has over thirty years of investment experience fourteen of which were spent specializing in small cap equity investing.

Mr. Weiss joined WPG in mid-1999 to work on the firm's Small Cap Value team. He joined the firm from Bear Stearns where he began his investment career in 1995 as an equity analyst, responsible for covering the building materials, nonferrous metals, steel and steel-related industries. Mr. Weiss holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Cornell University. He has over twenty years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 0.49% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 0.80%.

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Christopher K. Hart and Joshua Jones manage each Fund as a team. Mr. Hart is the lead portfolio manager and Mr. Jones is the associate portfolio manager of each Fund. Mr. Feeney is the Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners and oversees both the team and the strategy.


58



Mr. Feeney is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners. He is responsible for the firm's strategic, financial and operating decisions, and all aspects of investment management including the firm's fundamental and quantitative research groups. He was one of the original partners of Boston Partners Asset Management in 1995. Prior to assuming these roles, he was Director of Research. Mr. Feeney joined the firm upon its inception in 1995 from Putnam Investments where he managed mortgage-backed securities portfolios. He began his career at the Bank of Boston where he was a loan officer specializing on highly leveraged loan portfolios. Mr. Feeney holds a B.S. degree in finance (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. with High Honors from the University of Chicago. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is past President of the Fixed Income Management Society of Boston. He has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

Mr. Hart is an equity portfolio manager for each Fund. Prior thereto, he was an assistant portfolio manager for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value products for three years. Before that, he was a research analyst and specialized in conglomerates, engineering and construction, building, machinery, aerospace & defense, and REITs sectors of the equity market. He joined the firm from Fidelity Investments where he was a research analyst. Mr. Hart holds a B.S. degree in finance, with a concentration in corporate finance from Clemson University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over twenty years of investment experience.

Mr. Jones is a co-portfolio manager of each Fund and also has research responsibilities for the the Adviser's Boston Partners investment team, specializing in the energy, metals and mining sectors of the equity market and is a global generalist. Mr. Jones has been with Boston Partners since 2006. He joined the firm from Cambridge Associates where he was a consulting associate specializing in hedge fund clients. Mr. Jones holds a B.A. degree in economics from Bowdoin College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over ten years of professional experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund paid 0.61% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets), to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 0.90%. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund paid 1.54% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had previously waived fees and/or expenses not been recouped, the Fund would have paid 1.50%.

Marketing Arrangements

The Adviser, or its affiliates may pay additional compensation, out of profits derived from the Adviser's management fees and not as an additional charge to the Funds managed by the Adviser, to certain financial institutions (which may include banks, securities dealers and other industry professionals) for the sale and/or distribution of Fund shares or the retention and/or servicing of Fund investors and Fund shares ("revenue sharing").These payments are in addition to any distribution or servicing fees payable under a 12b-1 distribution and/or service plan of the Funds, any record keeping or sub-transfer agency fees payable by the Funds, or other fees described in the fee table or elsewhere in this Prospectus or the SAI. Examples of "revenue sharing" payments include, but are not limited to, payment to financial institutions for "shelf space" or access to a third party platform or fund offering list or other marketing programs, including, but not limited to, inclusion of the Funds on preferred or recommended sales lists, mutual fund "supermarket" platforms and other formal sales programs; granting the Adviser access to the financial institution's sales force, conferences and meetings; assistance in training and educating the financial institution's personnel; and obtaining other forms of marketing support. The level of revenue sharing payments made to financial institutions may be a fixed fee or based upon one or more of the following factors: gross sales, current assets and/or number of accounts of the Funds attributable to the financial institution, or other factors as agreed to by the Adviser and the financial institution or any combination thereof. The amount of these revenue sharing payments is determined at the discretion of the Adviser from time to time, may be substantial, and may be different for different financial institutions depending upon the services provided by the financial institution. Such payments may provide an incentive for the financial institution to make shares of the Funds available to its customers and may allow the Funds greater access to the financial institution's customers.


59



Other Service Providers. The following chart shows the Funds' service providers and includes their addresses and principal activities.


60



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Institutional Class shares of the Funds ("Shares") are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated as follows:

Each Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. Each Fund will effect purchases and redemptions of Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") of your purchase order or redemption request in good order (as described below). If a Fund holds securities that are primarily held on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's Shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's Shares.

A Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If a Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equities securities in the Fund's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Funds' administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before a Fund prices its Shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by a Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in ETFs, REITs and closed-end investments companies will be valued at their market price.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject


61



a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm a Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of a Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

The Funds generally limit the number of exchanges to six (6) exchanges per year and one exchange per calendar month. For further information on exchanges, please see the section titled "Shareholder Information — Exchange Privilege."

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Funds. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

Shareholder Service Fees

The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the "Plan") for the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund's Institutional Class Shares authorizing the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund to pay securities dealers, plan administrators or other service organizations ("Service Organizations") who agree to provide certain shareholder and administrative services to plans or plan participants holding Institutional Class Shares of the Fund a service fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of Institutional Class Shares beneficially owned by such plan participants. The services provided under the Plan include acting as a shareholder of record, processing purchase and redemption orders, maintaining participant account records and answering participant questions regarding the Fund. Please find more information on Service Organizations under the section entitled "Purchase of Fund Shares — Purchases through Intermediaries" in this Prospectus.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Funds are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"). Institutional Class Shares of the Funds are available for purchase by investors who meet the investment minimums described below under "General." An exchange between the Institutional Class shares and the Investor Class shares of any Fund is generally not permitted.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Funds may also be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Certain features of the Shares, such as the initial and subsequent investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative


62



charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if Shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of Shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following Business Day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by a Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the appropriate Fund's NAV next computed after they are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

For administration, subaccounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee") relating to the average annual NAV of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

General. You may also purchase Shares of each Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Funds' NAVs are calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment in any Fund is $100,000 and the minimum additional investment is $5,000. The minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements may be reduced or waived from time to time. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial purchase, purchases by clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be combined. You can only purchase Shares of each Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. Shares may be purchased by principals and employees of the Adviser and its subsidiaries and by their spouses and children either directly or through any trust that has the principal, employee, spouse or child as the primary beneficiaries, their individual retirement accounts, or any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser and its subsidiaries without being subject to the minimum investment limitations.

Initial Investment By Mail. An account may be opened by completing and signing the application included with this Prospectus and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check ($100,000 minimum) payable to the Fund in which you would like to invest. Third party checks will not be accepted.

Regular Mail:

 

Overnight Mail:

 
[name of Fund]
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940
  [name of Fund]
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

The name of the Fund to be purchased should be designated on the application and should appear on the check. Payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Shares of each Fund may be purchased by wiring federal funds. A completed application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. For each Fund, notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 prior to


63



4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) Request account information and routing instructions by calling the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE is open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time (minimum additional investment $5,000) by purchasing Shares of any Fund at the NAV per Share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to [name of Fund]) or by wiring monies as outlined under "Initial Investment by Wire." For each Fund, notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.

Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in Shares of the Funds may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through an Automatic Investment Plan ($5,000 minimum, except WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund $50 minimum). Investors desiring to participate in an Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073.

Retirement Plans. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and rollover IRAs. A $20.00 custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Funds may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Funds will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Funds that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Funds and must be delivered to the Funds by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Funds will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Funds and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Funds.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Funds. Subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, the Adviser will monitor each Fund's total assets and may decide to close any of the Funds at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of a Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. Subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, the Adviser may also choose to reopen a closed Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close such Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If a Fund closes to new investments, generally the closed Fund would be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who are generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  Fee-based advisory model programs or financial advisors who manage fee-based wrap accounts that systematically trade in and out of the closed Fund based on model portfolio allocations;

b.  Persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company;

c.  Existing and future clients of registered investment advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the closed Fund on transaction fee and non-transaction fee platforms;


64



d.  Existing and future clients of consultants whose clients already hold shares of the closed Fund;

e.  Certain financial intermediaries by arrangement with the Company;

f.  Employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children;

g.  Directors of the Company; and

h.  Defined contribution retirement plans of private employers and governed by ERISA or of state and local governments.

Other persons who are shareholders of other Boston Partners Funds are not permitted to acquire Shares of the closed Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places.

The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

The Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund and the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund are currently closed except to existing shareholders and certain other persons, as described above.

Shareholders of other Boston Partners Investment Funds that do no meet any of the above criteria are not permitted to acquire Shares of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund or Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of these Funds will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Adviser, however, reserves the right to reopen the Funds to new investments from time to time at its discretion, should the assets of the Funds decline by more than 5% from the date of the last closing of the Funds. In addition, if the Adviser reopens the Funds, the Adviser has discretion to close the Funds thereafter should the assets of the Funds increase by more than 5% from the date of the last reopening of the Funds. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, the Adviser may also choose to reopen the Funds to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Funds again should concerns regarding the Funds' sizes recur.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's Shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

Normally, your investment professional will send your request to redeem Shares to the Transfer Agent. Consult your investment professional for more information. You can redeem some or all of your Fund Shares directly through the Fund only if the account is registered in your name. All IRA shareholders must complete an IRA withdrawal form to redeem shares from their IRA account.


65



You may redeem Shares of the Funds at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Funds' NAVs are calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

You may redeem Shares of each Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone (excluding retirement accounts).The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by a Fund. There is generally no charge for a redemption.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to [name of Fund], c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9816, Providence, RI 02940; for overnight delivery, requests should be addressed to [name of Fund], c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 and must include:

a.  Name of the Fund;

b.  Account number;

c.  Your Share certificates, if any, properly endorsed or with proper powers of attorney;

d.  A letter of instruction specifying the number of Shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the Shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

e.  Medallion signature guarantees are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s) or (ii) the redemption request is for $50,000 or more. A signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a Medallion Program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three recognized Medallion Programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

f.  Other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to request a telephone redemption, you must have returned your account application containing a telephone election. To add a telephone redemption option to an existing account, contact the Transfer Agent by calling (888) 261-4073. Please note that IRA accounts are not eligible for telephone redemption.

Once you are authorized to utilize the telephone redemption option, a redemption of Shares may be requested by calling the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option or the telephone exchange option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Company or the Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Company or the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Company and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if the Company and Transfer Agent do not, they may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan — WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value. If your account has a value of at least $10,000, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and receive regular periodic payments. A request to establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan must be submitted in writing to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 9816,


66



Providence, RI 02940. Each withdrawal redemption will be processed on or about the 25 th of the month and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. There are no service charges for maintenance; the minimum amount that you may withdraw each period is $50. (This is merely the minimum amount allowed and should not be mistaken for a recommended amount.) The holder of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan will have any income dividends and any capital gains distributions reinvested in full and fractional shares at NAV. To provide funds for payment, Shares will be redeemed in such amounts as are necessary at the redemption price. The systematic withdrawal of Shares may reduce or possibly exhaust the Shares in your account, particularly in the event of a market decline. As with other redemptions, a systematic withdrawal payment is a sale for federal income tax purposes. Payments made pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments may be a return of capital.

You will ordinarily not be allowed to make additional investments of less than the aggregate annual withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan during the time you have the plan in effect and, while a Systematic Withdrawal Plan is in effect, you may not make periodic investments under the Automatic Investment Plan. You will receive a confirmation of each transaction and the Share and cash balance remaining in your plan. The plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by the Fund and will terminate automatically if all Shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account or upon the death or incapacity of the shareholder. You may change the amount and schedule of withdrawal payments or suspend such payments by giving written notice to the Fund's transfer agent at least ten Business Days prior to the end of the month preceding a scheduled payment.

Involuntary Redemption. The Funds reserve the right to redeem a shareholder's account in any Fund at any time the value of the account in such Fund falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in a Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

The Funds may assert the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse a Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of a Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Funds recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option.

Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Funds to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by a Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that a Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of a Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Please see "Redemption of Fund Shares" for instructions. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Exchange Privilege

The exchange privilege is available to shareholders residing in any state in which the Shares being acquired may be legally sold. The Boston Partners Investment Funds reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to change or discontinue the exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend the privilege during unusual market conditions when,


67



in the judgment of management, such change or discontinuance is in the best interests of the Funds. A shareholder may exchange Institutional Class Shares of any Boston Partners Investment Fund for Institutional Class Shares of another Boston Partners Investment Fund, up to six (6) times per year (one exchange per calendar month). Such an exchange will be effected at the NAV of the exchanged Institutional Class Shares and the NAV of the Institutional Class Shares to be acquired next determined after BNY Mellon's receipt of a request for an exchange. An exchange of Shares of one Boston Partners Investment Fund for Shares of another Boston Partners Investment Fund will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes. A shareholder may make an exchange by sending a written request to the Transfer Agent or, if authorized, by telephone (see "Redemption by Telephone" above). Defined contribution plans are not subject to the above exchange limitations.

If the exchanging shareholder does not currently own Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, a new account will be established with the same registration, dividend and capital gain options as the account from which Shares are exchanged, unless otherwise specified in writing by the shareholder with all signatures guaranteed. See "Redemption by Mail" for information on signature guarantees. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated at any time, or from time to time, by the Funds, upon 60 days' written notice to shareholders.

If a shareholder wants to exchange Shares into a new account in a Fund, the dollar value of the Shares acquired must equal or exceed the Fund's minimum investment requirement for a new account. If a shareholder wants to exchange Shares into an existing account, the dollar value of the Shares must equal or exceed the Fund's minimum investment requirement for additional investments. If an amount remains in the Fund from which the exchange is being made that is below the minimum account value required, the account will be subject to involuntary redemption.

The Funds' exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the market. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege, which may potentially disrupt the management of the Funds and increase transaction costs, the Funds have established a policy of limiting excessive exchange activity. Shareholders are entitled to six (6) exchange redemptions (one exchange per calendar month) from each Fund during any twelve-month period. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase request (including exchange purchases from other Boston Partners Investment Funds) that is deemed to be disruptive to efficient portfolio management.

Dividends and Distributions

Each Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Funds will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Funds at least annually. The estimated amount of any annual distribution will be posted to the Adviser's website at www.boston-partners.com or a free copy may be obtained by calling (888) 261-4073.

The Funds may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for a Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Funds' distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund Shares, are subject to U.S. federal income tax.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual United States citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Federal Taxes of Distributions. Each Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions


68



regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of a Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of a Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of a Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend).The amount of a Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from a Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by a Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

It is expected that the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund will each be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign income taxes with respect to dividends or interest received from (and, in some cases, gains recognized on shares of stock of) non-U.S. companies. These Funds may, to the extent eligible, make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would allow you either (1) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against U.S. federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit, subject to applicable limitations, or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction.

A portion of distributions paid by a Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales and Exchanges. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale, exchange or redemption of your shares, including an exchange for shares of another Fund, based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the


69



shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of a Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, each Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold or exchanged. Each Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale or exchange. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Funds may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of regulated investment companies such as the Funds, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Funds' net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Funds' interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Funds.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of shares in the Funds, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Funds.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in a Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Funds will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Funds.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of a Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the SAI.


70



Multi-Class Structure

Each Fund, except the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, also offers Investor Class Shares, which are offered directly to individual investors in a separate prospectus. Shares of each class of a Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. The total return on Institutional Class Shares of a Fund can be expected to differ from the total return on Investor Class Shares of the same Fund. Information concerning other classes of the Funds can be requested by calling the Funds at (888) 261-4073.


71



Appendix A

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

The Adviser has experience in managing a private fund with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund. The table on the following page is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing the private fund and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. The performance information has been adjusted to show the performance of the private fund net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011 (after contractual waivers that were in place through December 31, 2012).The fees and expenses of the Fund are higher than those of the private fund, in part, because the general partner of the private fund waived its right to receive an incentive allocation from each limited partner's capital account, generally equal to 20% of any profits achieved in a fiscal year after recoupment of prior losses. The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the private fund is not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the private fund. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the private fund.

The performance of the private fund is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

Monthly Performance Table (since inception April 1, 2002) 1,2,3,4

PRO FORMA NET OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 

2010

   

(1.02

)%

   

2.17

%

   

2.67

%

   

0.16

%

   

(3.71

)%

   

(3.46

)%

   

4.01

%

   

(3.71

)%

   

5.96

%

                                 

2009

   

(0.46

)%

   

(5.50

)%

   

3.55

%

   

6.04

%

   

3.68

%

   

2.12

%

   

2.16

%

   

2.78

%

   

(0.28

)%

   

(0.75

)%

   

2.80

%

   

1.35

%

   

18.40

%

 

2008

   

1.25

%

   

0.69

%

   

(4.35

)%

   

2.02

%

   

2.78

%

   

(3.24

)%

   

0.99

%

   

1.89

%

   

(3.10

)%

   

(4.68

)%

   

(5.19

)%

   

2.79

%

   

(8.38

)%

 

2007

   

0.98

%

   

0.73

%

   

0.61

%

   

2.69

%

   

1.29

%

   

(0.69

)%

   

(2.31

)%

   

0.87

%

   

2.37

%

   

(0.74

)%

   

0.78

%

   

(0.62

)%

   

6.01

%

 

2006

   

1.82

%

   

(1.19

)%

   

0.17

%

   

0.67

%

   

(0.58

)%

   

0.23

%

   

0.60

%

   

0.15

%

   

0.19

%

   

(0.07

)%

   

0.30

%

   

1.22

%

   

3.54

%

 

2005

   

(0.68

)%

   

1.22

%

   

0.32

%

   

(0.63

)%

   

(0.50

)%

   

0.93

%

   

2.41

%

   

2.36

%

   

2.29

%

   

0.76

%

   

0.39

%

   

0.66

%

   

9.87

%

 

2004

   

0.45

%

   

1.29

%

   

2.39

%

   

(1.14

)%

   

(0.01

)%

   

3.25

%

   

0.98

%

   

0.19

%

   

1.42

%

   

0.62

%

   

5.48

%

   

2.09

%

   

18.21

%

 

2003

   

0.29

%

   

(3.55

)%

   

0.05

%

   

(1.71

)%

   

(1.55

)%

   

(0.05

)%

   

0.11

%

   

(1.35

)%

   

(0.98

)%

   

(0.11

)%

   

0.65

%

   

0.19

%

   

(7.79

)%

 

2002

                           

0.10

%

   

3.62

%

   

(2.36

)%

   

(1.43

)%

   

1.97

%

   

(2.35

)%

   

0.15

%

   

1.38

%

   

1.83

%

   

2.76

%

 

GROSS OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 

2010

   

(0.82

)%

   

2.38

%

   

2.87

%

   

0.36

%

   

(3.51

)%

   

(3.26

)%

   

4.22

%

   

(3.50

)%

   

6.16

%

                                 

2009

   

(0.26

)%

   

(5.29

)%

   

3.75

%

   

6.25

%

   

3.88

%

   

2.32

%

   

2.36

%

   

2.99

%

   

(0.08

)%

   

(0.54

)%

   

3.01

%

   

1.56

%

   

21.31

%

 

2008

   

1.45

%

   

0.90

%

   

(4.15

)%

   

2.22

%

   

2.98

%

   

(3.04

)%

   

1.19

%

   

2.09

%

   

(2.89

)%

   

(4.47

)%

   

(4.99

)%

   

2.99

%

   

(6.08

)%

 

2007

   

1.18

%

   

0.93

%

   

0.81

%

   

2.89

%

   

1.49

%

   

(0.48

)%

   

(2.10

)%

   

1.08

%

   

2.57

%

   

(0.54

)%

   

0.99

%

   

(0.41

)%

   

8.64

%

 

2006

   

2.03

%

   

(0.99

)%

   

0.38

%

   

0.87

%

   

(0.38

)%

   

0.44

%

   

0.80

%

   

0.36

%

   

0.39

%

   

0.14

%

   

0.51

%

   

1.43

%

   

6.11

%

 

2005

   

(0.48

)%

   

1.43

%

   

0.52

%

   

(0.43

)%

   

(0.29

)%

   

1.13

%

   

2.61

%

   

2.57

%

   

2.50

%

   

0.96

%

   

0.60

%

   

0.87

%

   

12.59

%

 

2004

   

0.66

%

   

1.50

%

   

2.60

%

   

(0.93

)%

   

0.19

%

   

3.45

%

   

1.19

%

   

0.40

%

   

1.62

%

   

0.82

%

   

5.69

%

   

2.29

%

   

21.11

%

 

2003

   

0.49

%

   

(3.34

)%

   

0.25

%

   

(1.51

)%

   

(1.34

)%

   

0.15

%

   

0.31

%

   

(1.14

)%

   

(0.77

)%

   

0.10

%

   

0.85

%

   

0.40

%

   

(5.48

)%

 

2002

                           

0.31

%

   

3.83

%

   

(2.15

)%

   

(1.23

)%

   

2.17

%

   

(2.15

)%

   

0.36

%

   

1.58

%

   

2.03

%

   

4.67

%

 


72



S&P 500 INDEX

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 

2010

   

(3.60

)%

   

3.10

%

   

6.03

%

   

1.58

%

   

(7.98

)%

   

(5.24

)%

   

7.01

%

   

(4.51

)%

   

8.92

%

                                 

2009

   

(8.43

)%

   

(10.65

)%

   

8.76

%

   

9.57

%

   

5.59

%

   

0.20

%

   

7.56

%

   

3.61

%

   

3.73

%

   

(1.86

)%

   

6.00

%

   

1.93

%

   

26.45

%

 

2008

   

(6.00

)%

   

(3.25

)%

   

(0.43

)%

   

4.87

%

   

1.29

%

   

(8.43

)%

   

(0.84

)%

   

1.45

%

   

(8.91

)%

   

(16.79

)%

   

(7.17

)%

   

1.06

%

   

(36.99

)%

 

2007

   

1.51

%

   

(1.96

)%

   

1.12

%

   

4.43

%

   

3.49

%

   

(1.66

)%

   

(3.10

)%

   

1.50

%

   

3.74

%

   

1.59

%

   

(4.18

)%

   

(0.69

)%

   

5.50

%

 

2006

   

2.65

%

   

0.27

%

   

1.24

%

   

1.34

%

   

(2.88

)%

   

0.14

%

   

0.62

%

   

2.38

%

   

2.58

%

   

3.26

%

   

1.90

%

   

1.40

%

   

15.79

%

 

2005

   

(2.44

)%

   

2.10

%

   

(1.77

)%

   

(1.90

)%

   

3.18

%

   

0.14

%

   

3.72

%

   

(0.91

)%

   

0.81

%

   

(1.67

)%

   

3.78

%

   

0.03

%

   

4.89

%

 

2004

   

1.84

%

   

1.39

%

   

(1.51

)%

   

(1.57

)%

   

1.37

%

   

1.94

%

   

(3.31

)%

   

0.40

%

   

1.08

%

   

1.53

%

   

4.05

%

   

3.40

%

   

10.87

%

 

2003

   

(2.62

)%

   

(1.50

)%

   

0.97

%

   

8.24

%

   

5.27

%

   

1.27

%

   

1.76

%

   

1.95

%

   

(1.06

)%

   

5.66

%

   

0.88

%

   

5.24

%

   

28.68

%

 

2002

                           

(6.06

)%

   

(0.74

)%

   

(7.12

)%

   

(7.79

)%

   

0.66

%

   

(10.87

)%

   

8.80

%

   

5.89

%

   

(5.88

)%

   

(22.31

)%

 

CALENDAR YEAR RETURNS 1,2,3,4

   

2002

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

2.76

%

   

(7.79

)%

   

18.21

%

   

9.87

%

   

3.54

%

   

6.01

%

   

(8.38

)%

   

18.40

%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

4.67

%

   

(5.48

)%

   

21.11

%

   

12.59

%

   

6.11

%

   

8.64

%

   

(6.08

)%

   

21.31

%

 

S&P 500

   

(22.31

)%

   

28.68

%

   

10.87

%

   

4.89

%

   

15.79

%

   

5.50

%

   

(36.99

)%

   

26.45

%

 

SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended June 30, 2010) 1,2,3,4
RETURN

   

YTD

 

1 Year

 

2 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 year

 

7 Year

  Since
Inception
 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

2.57

%

   

6.07

%

   

6.22

%

   

3.42

%

   

4.46

%

   

6.93

%

   

4.91

%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

4.48

%

   

8.70

%

   

8.85

%

   

5.99

%

   

7.05

%

   

9.57

%

   

7.51

%

 

S&P 500

   

3.89

%

   

10.16

%

   

1.26

%

   

(7.16

)%

   

0.63

%

   

4.03

%

   

1.92

%

 

1  Performance was calculated using Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS"). This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance is calculated using a net asset value to net asset value methodology which incorporates all trades, prices, accruals and updated security records on a trade date basis.

3  Performance is presented gross and net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011 (after contractual waivers).

4  The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, classified in eleven industry sectors, which represent approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in the index.


73



Appendix B

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

The Adviser has experience in managing other accounts with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund. The table on the following pages is provided to illustrate the past performance of Robeco in managing all such other accounts and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. The performance information has been adjusted to show the performance of the other accounts net of the Fund's annual operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011 (after contractual waivers that were in place until September 30, 2013). The other accounts' fees and expenses are lower than those of the Fund. The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the other accounts are not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the other accounts. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the other accounts.

The performance of the other accounts is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

Monthly Returns (since July 31, 2008) 1,2,3,4,5

COMPOSITE — PRO FORMA NET OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 

2011

   

1.90

%

   

3.43

%

   

0.83

%

   

4.56

%

   

(1.85

)%

   

(1.16

)%

   

(1.11

)%

   

(7.73

)%

   

(8.67

)%

   

11.36

%

   

(2.36

)%

                 

2010

   

(3.84

)%

   

0.42

%

   

5.94

%

   

0.28

%

   

(9.73

)%

   

(4.56

)%

   

7.66

%

   

(3.68

)%

   

10.10

%

   

4.62

%

   

(2.53

)%

   

8.79

%

   

11.93

%

 

2009

   

(8.69

)%

   

(9.47

)%

   

5.20

%

   

11.74

%

   

8.46

%

   

0.05

%

   

7.44

%

   

5.34

%

   

4.35

%

   

(1.10

)%

   

2.87

%

   

2.10

%

   

29.35

%

 

2008

                                                   

(2.35

)%

   

(0.54

)%

   

(9.54

)%

   

(19.20

)%

   

(6.15

)%

   

3.18

%

         

COMPOSITE — GROSS OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 

2011

   

2.01

%

   

3.54

%

   

0.94

%

   

4.67

%

   

(1.74

)%

   

(1.05

)%

   

(1.00

)%

   

(7.62

)%

   

(8.56

)%

   

11.47

%

   

(2.25

)%

                 

2010

   

(3.73

)%

   

0.52

%

   

6.05

%

   

0.39

%

   

(9.62

)%

   

(4.46

)%

   

7.77

%

   

(3.58

)%

   

10.21

%

   

4.73

%

   

(2.42

)%

   

8.90

%

   

13.38

%

 

2009

   

(8.59

)%

   

(9.36

)%

   

5.31

%

   

11.85

%

   

8.57

%

   

0.16

%

   

7.54

%

   

5.45

%

   

4.46

%

   

(1.00

)%

   

2.98

%

   

2.21

%

   

31.01

%

 

2008

                                                   

(2.24

)%

   

(0.43

)%

   

(9.43

)%

   

(19.09

)%

   

(6.04

)%

   

3.29

%

         

MSCI ® WORLD INDEX

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 

2011

   

2.28

%

   

3.55

%

   

(0.94

)%

   

4.31

%

   

(1.97

)%

   

(1.54

)%

   

(1.79

)%

   

(7.00

)%

   

(8.60

)%

   

10.37

%

   

(2.38

)%

                 

2010

   

(4.11

)%

   

1.45

%

   

6.25

%

   

0.07

%

   

(9.48

)%

   

(3.39

)%

   

8.13

%

   

(3.69

)%

   

9.36

%

   

3.75

%

   

(2.11

)%

   

7.39

%

   

12.34

%

 

2009

   

(8.73

)%

   

(10.17

)%

   

7.60

%

   

11.32

%

   

9.19

%

   

(0.41

)%

   

8.50

%

   

4.17

%

   

4.02

%

   

(1.76

)%

   

4.14

%

   

1.83

%

   

30.79

%

 

2008

                                                   

(2.42

)%

   

(1.36

)%

   

(11.85

)%

   

(18.93

)%

   

(6.40

)%

   

3.26

%

         


74



SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended November 30, 2011) 1,2,3,4,5
RETURN

   

YTD

 

1 Year

 

2 Years

 

3 Years

  Since
July 1, 2008
 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

(2.33

)%

   

6.26

%

   

5.65

%

   

13.42

%

   

(0.82

)%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

(1.15

)%

   

7.64

%

   

7.03

%

   

14.89

%

   

0.48

%

 

MSCI ® World Index

   

(5.00

)%

   

2.02

%

   

4.25

%

   

12.96

%

   

(2.17

)%

 

1  Performance was calculated using Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS"). This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance is calculated using a net asset value to net asset value methodology which incorporates all trades, prices, accruals and updated security records on trade date basis.

3  Performance is presented gross and net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses (after contractual waivers that were in place until September 30, 2013).

4  The MSCI ® World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets.

5  Although the other accounts commenced operations on January 1, 2007 or April 17, 1998, the other accounts only began investing in accordance with their current investment strategies on July 1, 2008. The performance shown represents performance since the other accounts began investing in accordance with their current investment strategies.


75



Appendix C

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

The Adviser has experience in managing a private fund with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund. The table on the following page is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing the private fund and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. The performance information has been adjusted to show the performance of the private fund net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses (after contractual waivers that will be in place through December 31, 2015). The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the private fund is not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the private fund. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the private fund.

The performance of the private fund is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

Monthly Performance Table (since inception July 1, 2013) 1,2,3,4,5

PRO FORMA NET OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 

2014

   

(1.99

)%

   

2.28

%

   

0.55

%

   

(0.81

)%

   

1.90

%

   

(0.18

)%

   

1.26

%

   

0.88

%

   

(1.18

)%

   

(0.18

)%

   

1.06

%

         

2013

                                                   

2.10

%

   

(2.25

)%

   

1.68

%

   

2.82

%

   

1.89

%

   

1.61

%

 

GROSS OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 

2014

   

(1.84

)%

   

2.28

%

   

0.70

%

   

(0.66

)%

   

2.05

%

   

(0.03

)%

   

1.40

%

   

1.03

%

   

(1.04

)%

   

(0.03

)%

   

1.20

%

         

2013

                                                   

2.25

%

   

(2.11

)%

   

1.82

%

   

2.96

%

   

2.04

%

   

1.76

%

 

MSCI ® WORLD INDEX

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 

2014

   

(3.68

)%

   

5.06

%

   

0.20

%

   

1.08

%

   

2.06

%

   

1.83

%

   

(1.57

)%

   

2.24

%

   

(2.67

)%

   

0.67

%

   

2.05

%

         

2013

                                                   

5.29

%

   

(2.09

)%

   

5.04

%

   

3.94

%

   

1.82

%

   

2.15

%

 


76



SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended November 30, 2014) 1,2,3,4,5
RETURN

   

3 Months

 

YTD

  Since
Inception
 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

(0.32

)%

   

3.56

%

   

8.24

%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

0.12

%

   

5.09

%

   

10.03

%

 

MSCI ® World Index

   

(0.01

)%

   

7.19

%

   

17.39

%

 

1  Performance was calculated using Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS"). This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance is calculated using a net asset value to net asset value methodology which incorporates all trades, prices, accruals and updated security records on a trade date basis.

3  Performance is presented gross and net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses (after contractual waivers that will be in place until December 31, 2014) of the Fund's average daily net assets.

4  The MSCI ® World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets.

5  Although the private fund commenced operations on March 1, 2013, the private fund only began investing in accordance with its current investment strategies on July 1, 2013. The performance shown represents performance since the private fund began investing in accordance with its current investment strategies.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUNDS' SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


77




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The tables in the Financial Highlights section below set forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Fund share. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. The information has been derived from the Funds' financial statements and has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Funds' financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Funds' annual report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 and is available at no cost upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

   

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

22.65

   

$

19.06

   

$

15.31

   

$

12.92

   

$

11.02

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.21

     

0.15

     

0.09

     

0.05

     

0.03

   
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.54

)

   

3.53

     

3.75

     

2.39

     

1.91

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(0.33

)

   

3.68

     

3.84

     

2.44

     

1.94

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.05

)

   

(0.04

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(0.28

)

   

     

     

     

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(0.43

)

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.05

)

   

(0.04

)

 

Redemption fees*

   

     

(3)

   

     

(3)

   

(3)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

21.89

   

$

22.65

   

$

19.06

   

$

15.31

   

$

12.92

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(1.45

)%

   

19.33

%

   

25.19

%

   

18.98

%

   

17.59

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

180,057

   

$

102,112

   

$

76,442

   

$

53,604

   

$

30,172

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

1.10

%

   

1.21

%

   

1.29

%

   

1.30

%

   

1.30

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

1.23

%

   

1.23

%

   

1.29

%

   

1.36

%

   

1.37

%

 
Ratio of net investment income/
(loss) to average net assets with
waivers and reimbursements
   

0.91

%

   

0.68

%

   

0.53

%

   

0.37

%

   

0.22

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

14

%

   

16

%

   

19

%

   

32

%

   

38

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005 per share.


78



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

23.00

   

$

19.19

   

$

15.57

   

$

14.34

   

$

12.85

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.30

     

0.22

     

0.24

     

0.20

     

0.15

   
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.08

)

   

4.39

     

3.75

     

2.04

     

1.63

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

0.22

     

4.61

     

3.99

     

2.24

     

1.78

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.27

)

   

(0.12

)

   

(0.10

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(0.92

)

   

(0.62

)

   

(0.10

)

   

(0.89

)

   

(0.19

)

 
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

1.14

     

(0.80

)

   

(0.37

)

   

(1.01

)

   

(0.29

)

 

Redemption fees*

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

22.08

   

$

23.00

   

$

19.19

   

$

15.57

   

$

14.34

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

0.88

%

   

24.52

%

   

26.11

%

   

16.73

%

   

13.75

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

793,098

   

$

736,475

   

$

441,856

   

$

343,885

   

$

210,113

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers and
reimbursements
   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers and
reimbursements
   

0.95

%

   

0.94

%

   

0.97

%

   

1.03

%

   

1.03

%

 
Ratio of net investment income/
(loss) to average net assets with
waivers and reimbursements
   

1.32

%

   

1.05

%

   

1.37

%

   

1.38

%

   

1.00

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

33

%

   

26

%

   

32

%

   

33

%

   

47

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.


79



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

22.65

   

$

20.94

   

$

20.47

   

$

19.88

   

$

17.41

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

(0,84

)

   

(0.63

)

   

(0.54

)

   

(0.54

)

   

(0.47

)

 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(1.01

)

   

3.57

     

2.24

     

3.15

     

4.55

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(1.85

)

   

2.94

     

1.70

     

2.61

     

4.08

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(1.77

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(2.03

)

   

(1.62

)

 
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(1.77

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(2.03

)

   

(1.62

)

 

Redemption fees*

   

0.01

     

0.01

     

0.01

     

0.01

     

0.01

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

19.04

   

$

22.65

   

$

20.94

   

$

20.47

   

$

19.88

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(8.35

)%

   

14.72

%

   

8.61

%

   

14.16

%

   

23.66

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

493,751

   

$

676,756

   

$

620,804

   

$

505,108

   

$

344,935

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

5.64

%

   

4.33

%

   

4.30

%

   

4.29

%

   

3.70

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any (excluding
dividend and interest expense)
   

2.47

%

   

2.42

%

   

2.43

%

   

2.48

%

   

2.47

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

5.64

%

   

4.33

%

   

4.30

%

   

4.29

%

   

3.71

%

 
Ratio of net investment gain/
(loss) to average net assets with
waivers and reimbursements
   

(4.22

)%

   

(2.93

)%

   

(2.58

)%

   

(2.68

)%

   

(2.35

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

75

%

   

65

%

   

67

%

   

71

%

   

103

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.


80



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the Period
September 30, 2010**
through
August 31, 2011
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

15.14

   

$

13.30

   

$

11.91

   

$

10.60

   

$

10.00

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.12

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.12

)

 
Net realized and unrealized
gain/(loss) on investments
   

0.40

     

2.02

     

1.66

     

1.53

     

0.71

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

0.26

     

1.90

     

1.52

     

1.40

     

0.59

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.20

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.09

)

   

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(0.20

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.09

)

   

   

Redemption fees*

   

(3)

   

(3)

   

(3)

   

(3)

   

0.01

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

15.20

   

$

15.14

   

$

13.30

   

$

11.91

   

$

10.60

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

1.73

%

   

14.28

%

   

12.81

%

   

13.32

%

   

6.00

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

6,738,894

   

$

5,054,388

   

$

1,743,406

   

$

254,170

   

$

37,237

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

2.43

%

   

2.52

%

   

2.75

%

   

2.81

%

   

2.70

% (5)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any (excluding
dividend and interest expense)
   

1.39

%

   

1.39

%

   

1.48

%

   

1.54

%

   

1.74

% (5)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

2.43

%

   

2.52

%

   

2.71

%

   

2.84

%

   

4.05

% (5)

 
Ratio of net investment income/
(loss) to average net assets with
waivers and reimbursements
   

(0.92

)%

   

(0.81

)%

   

(1.09

)%

   

(1.12

)%

   

(1.21

)% (5)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

62

%

   

57

%

   

65

%

   

53

% (4)

   

61

% (6)

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

**  Inception date.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

(4)  Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received from processing a subscription-in-kind.

(5)  Annualized.

(6)  Not Annualized.


81



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

20.42

   

$

19.06

   

$

14.32

   

$

12.31

   

$

11.65

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.13

     

0.07

     

0.07

     

(0.05

)

   

(0.06

)

 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(2.84

)

   

3.16

     

4.74

     

2.06

     

0.72

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(2.71

)

   

3.23

     

4.81

     

2.01

     

0.66

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.07

)

   

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(2.18

)

   

(1.85

)

   

     

     

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(2.31

)

   

(1.87

)

   

(0.07

)

   

     

   

Redemption fees*

   

(3)

   

     

     

(3)

   

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

15.40

   

$

20.42

   

$

19.06

   

$

14.32

   

$

12.31

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(14.01

)%

   

17.46

%

   

33.71

%

   

16.33

%

   

5.67

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

36,461

   

$

46,008

   

$

40,754

   

$

37,367

   

$

33,238

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers and
reimbursements
   

1.10

%

   

1.36

%

   

1.54

%

   

1.70

%

   

1.67

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers and
reimbursements
   

1.41

%

   

1.42

%

   

1.54

%

   

1.70

%

   

1.72

%

 
Ratio of net investment income/
(loss) to average net assets with
waivers and reimbursements
   

0.78

%

   

0.35

%

   

0.41

%

   

(0.34

)%

   

(0.43

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

80

%

   

75

%

   

72

%

   

84

%

   

85

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005 per share.


82



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

 
    For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the Period
December 30, 2011**
through
August 31, 2012
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

15.59

   

$

12.97

   

$

11.00

   

$

10.00

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.13

     

0.18

     

0.12

     

0.10

   
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.40

)

   

2.82

     

2.07

     

0.90

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(0.27

)

   

3.00

     

2.19

     

1.00

   
Dividends and distribution to shareholders
from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.13

)

   

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.52

)

   

(0.36

)

   

(0.09

)

   

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(0.66

)

   

(0.38

)

   

(0.22

)

   

   

Redemption fees*

   

     

     

     

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

14.66

   

$

15.59

   

$

12.97

   

$

11.00

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(1.75

)%

   

23.39

%

   

20.14

%

   

10.00

% (4)

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

279,978

   

$

60,087

   

$

11,496

   

$

11,234

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements
   

0.95

%

   

0.96

%

   

1.30

%

   

1.30

% (3)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and reimbursements
   

1.24

%

   

1.39

%

   

3.05

%

   

3.56

% (3)

 
Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to
average net assets with waivers and
reimbursements
   

0.86

%

   

1.20

%

   

1.00

%

   

1.39

% (3)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

98

%

   

136

%

   

102

%

   

83

% (4)

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

**  Inception date.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Annualized.

(4)  Not Annualized.


83



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

 
    For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
December 31, 2013**
through
August 31, 2014
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

10.30

   

$

10.00

   

Net investment gain/(loss)*

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.14

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

   

0.38

     

0.44

   

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   

0.25

     

0.30

   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

 

Net investment income

   

     

   

Net realized gains

   

     

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

     

   

Redemption fees*

   

(3)

   

(3)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

10.55

   

$

10.30

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

2.43

%

   

3.00

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

317,600

   

$

37,403

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and
reimbursements
   

3.09

%

   

3.88

% (4)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers, reimbursements
(excluding dividend and interest expenses)
   

1.96

%

   

2.00

% (4)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and
reimbursements
   

3.05

%

   

4.89

% (4)

 
Ratio of net investment gain/(loss) to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

(1.27

)%

   

(2.04

)% (4)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

132

%

   

72

% (5)

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

**  Inception date.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

(4)  Annualized.

(5)  Not Annualized.


84




BOSTON PARTNERS INVESTMENT FUNDS
of
The RBB Fund, Inc.
(888) 261-4073
http://www.boston-partners.com

For More Information:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Boston Partners Investment Funds is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about each Fund's investments, describe each Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes fund strategies that significantly affected the Funds' performance during their last fiscal year. The annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders may be obtained by visiting http://www.boston-partners.com.

Statement of Additional Information

The Funds' SAI, dated December 31, 2015 has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Boston Partners Investment Funds, may be obtained free of charge, along with the annual and semi-annual reports, by calling (888) 261-4073. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus (and is legally part of the prospectus).The SAI is available on the Adviser's website at http://www.boston-partners.com.

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: (888) 261-4073 or visit the website of the Adviser at http://www.boston-partners.com.

Purchases and Redemptions

Call (888) 261-4073.

Written Correspondence

Street Address:

Boston Partners Investment Funds, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581

P.O. Box Address:

Boston Partners Investment Funds, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9816, Providence, RI 02940

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may also view and copy information about the Company and the Funds, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov.You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-1520.You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518




Investor Class
Boston Partners Investment Funds

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

Prospectus December 31, 2015

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II – BPSCX

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund – BPAVX

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund – BPLEX

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund – BPRRX

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund – BPGRX

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund – BGRSX

The securities described in this prospectus have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC, however, has not judged these securities for their investment merit and has not determined the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

A look at the investment objectives, strategies, risks, expenses and financial history of each of the Boston Partners Investment Funds.

Details about Boston Partners' Service Providers

Policies and instructions for opening, maintaining and closing an account in any of the Boston Partners Investment Funds

SUMMARY SECTIONS

   

3

   

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

   

3

   

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

   

9

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

   

15

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

   

22

   

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

   

30

   

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

   

37

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS'
INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
   

46

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

   

50

   

Investment Adviser

   

50

   

Portfolio Managers

   

50

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

55

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

55

   

Market Timing

   

55

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

56

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

60

   

Exchange Privilege

   

62

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

63

   

Taxes

   

63

   

Multi-Class Structure

   

65

   
Appendix A – Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account
of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund
   

66

   
Appendix B – Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts of
the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund
   

68

   
Appendix C – Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account of
the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund
   

70

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

72

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

   

Back Cover

   


2



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital primarily through investment in equity securities. Current income is a secondary objective.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class shares of the Fund.

   

Investor Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

1.00

%

 

Distribution and servicing (12b-1) fees

   

0.25

%

 

Other expenses

   

0.23

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

1.48

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.13

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or
expense reimbursement
   

1.35

%

 

(1)  The Fund's investment adviser, Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Investor Class shares exceeds 1.35% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Investor Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 1.35%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 the Fund's Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect, the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.35%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three-year period.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class

 

$

137

   

$

455

   

$

796

   

$

1,757

   


3



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities, such as common stocks of issuers with small market capitalizations and identified by the Adviser as having value characteristics. A small market capitalization issuer generally is considered to be one whose market capitalization is, at the time the Fund makes the investment, similar to the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index. The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that contains stocks from the Russell 2000 ® Index with less than average growth orientation. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of this index was $635 million and the largest stock was $5.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change.

The Fund generally invests in the equity securities of small companies. The Adviser will seek to invest in companies it considers to be well managed and to have attractive fundamental financial characteristics. The Adviser believes greater potential for price appreciation exists among small companies since they tend to be less widely followed by other securities analysts and thus may be more likely to be undervalued by the market. The Fund may invest from time to time a portion of its assets, not to exceed 20% (under normal conditions) at the time of purchase, in companies with larger market capitalizations.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price to book value ratios and price to earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals such as return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its total assets in non U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing a maximum of 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.


4



•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.

•   Small Cap Companies Risk. The Fund will invest in smaller issuers which are more volatile and less liquid than investments in issuers with a market capitalization greater than the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index. Small market capitalization issuers are not as diversified in their business activities as issuers with market capitalizations greater than the market capitalization of companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index and are more susceptible to changes in the business cycle.

The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund invests may be traded only in the over-the- counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 175%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.


5



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II's Investor Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

29.32% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(26.42)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (6.51)%


6



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Investor Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

3.90

%

   

14.28

%

   

8.09

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

3.46

%

   

14.15

%

   

6.84

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

2.57

%

   

11.50

%

   

6.50

%

 
Russell 2000 ® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

4.22

%

   

14.26

%

   

6.89

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


7



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

David M. Dabora, Senior Portfolio Manager since 2000
George Gumpert, Portfolio Manager since 2005

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,500
Minimum Additional Investment: $100

You can only purchase and redeem Investor Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund Shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


8



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital primarily through investment in equity securities. Current income is a secondary objective.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class shares of the Fund.

   

Investor Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

0.80

%

 

Distribution and servicing (12b-1) fees

   

0.25

%

 

Other expenses

   

0.15

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

1.20

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.15

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or
expense reimbursement
   

1.05

%

 

(1)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Investor Class shares exceeds 1.05% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Investor Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 1.05%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may not recoup any of its waived investment advisory fees.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class

 

$

107

   

$

366

   

$

645

   

$

1,441

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 33% of the average value of its portfolio.


9



Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities, such as common stocks of issuers across the capitalization spectrum and identified by the Adviser as having value characteristics.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price to book value ratios and price to earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals, such as return on equity and earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in non U.S. dollar denominated securities.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain debt securities and preferred stock.

The Fund may hedge overall portfolio exposure up to 40% of its net assets through the purchase and sale of index and individual put and call options.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing less than 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.

•   Small/Mid-Cap Companies Risk. Investing in securities of companies with micro, small or mid-sized capitalizations tends to be riskier than investing in securities of companies with large capitalizations. Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-sized capitalizations tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies and, on occasion, may fluctuate in the opposite direction of large cap company securities or the broader stock market averages.


10



The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund invests may be traded only in the over-the- counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 125%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Options Risk. An option is a type of derivative instrument that gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy (a "call") or sell (a "put") an asset in the near future at an agreed upon price prior to the expiration date of the option. The Fund may "cover" a call option by owning the security underlying the option or through other means. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.


11



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund's Investor Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

18.56% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(17.62)% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (5.32)%


12



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Investor Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

 

Return Before Taxes

   

11.98

%

   

14.90

%

   

9.46

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

10.60

%

   

13.98

%

   

8.52

%

 
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

7.66

%

   

11.89

%

   

7.62

%

 
Russell 3000 ® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

12.70

%

   

15.34

%

   

7.26

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


13



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Manager

Duilio Ramallo, Senior Portfolio Manager since 2007

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,500
Minimum Additional Investment: $100

You can only purchase and redeem Investor Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners All Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


14



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation while reducing exposure to general equity market risk. The Fund seeks a total return greater than that of the S&P 500 ® Index over a full market cycle.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class shares of the Fund.

   

Investor Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

2.25

%

 

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

   

0.25

%

 

Short Sale Expenses: (1)

 

Dividend expense on short sales

   

0.38

%

 

Interest expense on borrowings

   

2.80

%

 

Other operating expenses

   

0.21

%

 

Total other expenses

   

3.39

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (2)

   

5.89

%

 

(1)  There are additional costs associated with the use of short sales. Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared; thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the securities sold short.

(2)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) for the Fund's Investor Class shares exceeds 2.75% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Investor Class shares. Because dividend expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes are excluded from the expense limitation, Total annual Fund operating expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 2.75%.This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. The Adviser may not recoup any of its waived investment advisory fees.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class

 

$

586

   

$

1,744

   

$

2,880

   

$

5,634

   


15



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 75% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in long positions in stocks identified by the Adviser as undervalued and takes short positions in stocks that the Adviser has identified as overvalued. The cash proceeds from short sales will be invested in short-term cash instruments to produce a return on such proceeds just below the federal funds rate. Short sales are considered speculative transactions and a form of leverage. The Fund invests, both long and short, in securities principally traded in the United States markets. The Fund may invest in securities of companies operating for three years or less ("unseasoned issuers"). The Adviser will determine the size of each long or short position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Fund seeks to construct a portfolio that has less volatility than the United States equity market generally. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals such as return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund intends, under normal circumstances, to invest at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities.

Under normal circumstances, the Adviser expects that the Fund's long positions will not exceed approximately 125% of the Fund's net assets.

The Fund's long and short positions may involve (without limit) equity securities of foreign issuers that are traded in the markets of the United States. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets directly in equity securities of foreign issuers.

To meet margin requirements, redemptions or pending investments, the Fund may also temporarily hold a portion of its assets in full faith and credit obligations of the United States government and in short-term notes, commercial paper or other money market instruments.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

The Fund may invest from time to time a significant portion of its assets in smaller issuers which are more volatile and less liquid than investments in issuers with larger market capitalizations.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing a maximum of 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, used by corporations and other business organizations. High yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.


16



While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the long portfolio of the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   High Yield Debt Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. Such high yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices.

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the Adviser may not be successful in its strategy of taking long positions in stocks the manager believes to be undervalued and short positions in stocks the manager believes to be overvalued. Further, since the Adviser will manage both a long and a short portfolio, there is the risk that the Adviser may make more poor investment decisions than an adviser of a typical stock mutual fund with only a long portfolio may make.

•   Short Sales Risk. Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Small-Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 400%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Segregated Account Risk. A security held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position it is covering is outstanding, unless it is replaced with a similar security. As a result, there is a possibility that


17



segregation of a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.


18



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the long-term performance of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund's Investor Class. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

38.45% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(19.44)% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (2.55)%


19



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Investor Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and past ten calendar years to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods. Although the Fund compares its average total return to a broad-based securities market index, the Fund seeks returns that are not correlated to securities market returns. The Fund seeks to achieve a 12-15% return over a full market cycle; however, there can be no guarantee that such returns will be achieved.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

4.49

%

   

10.95

%

   

12.01

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

2.30

%

   

8.68

%

   

9.36

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

4.33

%

   

8.28

%

   

8.96

%

 
S&P 500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

13.69

%

   

15.45

%

   

7.67

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


20



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Robert T. Jones, Senior Portfolio Manager since 1995

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,500
Minimum Additional Investment: $100

The Fund is currently closed due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Fund will still be offered to existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, as described in the section entitled "Purchase of Fund Shares" in this prospectus.

You can only purchase and redeem Investor Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


21




SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term total return.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class shares of the Fund.

   

Investor Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

1.25

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   

0.25

%

 

Short Sale Expenses: (1)

 

Dividend expense on short sales

   

0.77

%

 

Interest expense on borrowings

   

0.27

%

 

Other operating expenses

   

0.14

%

 

Total other expenses

   

1.18

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses (2)

   

2.68

%

 

(1)  There are additional costs associated with the use of short sales. Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared; thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the securities sold short.

(2)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total Annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) exceeds 1.75% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Investor Class shares. Because acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes are excluded from the expense limitation, Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 1.75%.This contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without Board approval. Effective as of the effective date of the Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.75%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class

 

$

271

   

$

832

   

$

1,420

   

$

3,012

   


22



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 62% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund uses a hedged strategy. The Fund actively invests in long positions in stocks identified by the Adviser as undervalued and takes short positions in stocks that the Adviser has identified as overvalued. The cash proceeds from short sales (i.e. sales of securities the Fund does not own) are invested in short-term cash instruments to produce a return on such proceeds just below the federal funds rate. Short sales are considered speculative transactions and a form of leverage.

The Fund invests, both long and short, in equity securities issued by large-, mid- and small (or "micro")-cap companies, as well as other instruments that are convertible into equity securities. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies and real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and equity participations. An equity participation is a type of loan that gives the lender a portion of equity ownership in a property, in addition to principal and interest payments. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. The Fund may invest in securities of companies operating for three years or less ("unseasoned issuers"). The Fund may also invest in depository receipts and equity securities of foreign companies (denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies), put and call options, futures, indexed securities and fixed-income securities (including bonds, notes, asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments) and high yield securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). Fixed income securities in which the Fund invests include those rated between AAA and D by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO"), or deemed of comparable quality by the Adviser. The Adviser may also temporarily invest uninvested cash in money market funds and similar collective investment vehicles. The Fund may also seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities.

The Adviser determines the size of each long or short position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Fund seeks to construct a portfolio that has less volatility than the U.S. equity market by investing less than 100% of its assets in net long positions. Selection of individual securities to be held long or sold short will be based on a mix of quantitative techniques and fundamental security analysis. The Adviser selects stocks on the basis of three criteria: value, fundamental business strength and momentum. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals such as return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

Although the Fund seeks to follow a hedged strategy, there can be no assurance that the Fund's portfolio or investments will be insulated from market moves or effectively hedged against risk.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing less than 25% of its total assets in any one industry, except that the Fund may invest


23



up to 30% in exchange-traded funds to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") and applicable SEC orders.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The principal derivative instruments in which the Fund invests are futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the long portfolio of the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the price of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   High Yield Debt Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations (of any rating, including defaulted securities and unrated securities), including bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and business organizations. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. Such high yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and financial practices.

•   Currency Risk. Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. The Adviser may be incorrect in the stocks it buys and believes to be undervalued and in stocks it sells short and believes to be overvalued. Further, since the Adviser will manage both a long and a short portfolio, there is the risk that the Adviser may make more poor investment decisions than an adviser of a typical stock mutual fund with only a long portfolio.

•   Short Sales Risk. Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises. In a rising market, short positions may be more likely to result in losses because securities sold short may be more likely to increase in value. Short selling also involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses; the potential inability to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the possibility of the lender terminating the loan at any time, forcing the Fund to close the transaction under unfavorable circumstances; the additional costs that may be incurred; and the potential loss of investment flexibility caused by the Fund's obligations to provide collateral to the lender and set aside assets to cover the open position. Short sales "against the box" may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value


24



of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Small-Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITS that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 300%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days.

•   Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, which include futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps, may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   Indexed Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices. Most such securities have values that rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.

•   Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker- dealers. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.


25



•   Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an Adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares. The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.


26



Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund's Investor Class. The bar chart below provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

8.29% (quarter ended December 31, 2011)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(9.91)% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (2.25)%


27



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Investor Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(November 29, 2010)
 

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

6.86

%

   

10.52

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

6.52

%

   

10.33

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

4.16

%

   

8.30

%

 
S&P 500 ® Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

13.69

%

   

16.83

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


28



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners, Co-Portfolio Manager since
inception of the Fund
Eric Connerly, Director of Research-Quantitative, Co-Portfolio Manager since inception of the Fund

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,500
Minimum Additional Investment: $100

You can only purchase and redeem Investor Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you selected the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


29



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class shares of the Fund.

   

Investor Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

0.90

%

 

Distribution and servicing (12b-1) fees

   

0.25

%

 

Other expenses

   

0.34

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

1.49

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (1)

   

(0.29

)%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or
expense reimbursement
   

1.20

%

 

(1)  The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund's Investor Class shares exceeds 1.20% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Investor Class shares. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total annual Fund operating expenses to exceed 1.20%: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. Effective as of the effective date of the Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.20%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class

 

$

122

   

$

443

   

$

786

   

$

1,755

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund's Institutional Class was 98% of the average value of its portfolio.


30



Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund pursues its objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in a non-diversified portfolio of equity and equity-related securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies of any capitalization size. The Fund may invest in all types of equity and equity-related securities, including without limitation exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities, sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, participatory notes, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies (including exchanged-traded funds ("ETFs")) and real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and equity participations. An equity participation is a type of loan that gives the lender a portion of equity ownership in a property, in addition to principal and interest payments. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.

The Fund defines non-U.S. companies as companies (i) that are organized under the laws of a foreign country; (ii) whose principal trading market is in a foreign country; or (iii) that have a majority of their assets, or that derive a significant portion of their revenue or profits from businesses, investments or sales, outside of the United States. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests significantly (ordinarily at least 40% — unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser, in which case the Fund would invest at least 30%) in non-U.S. companies. The Fund principally will be invested in issuers located in countries with developed securities markets, but may also invest in issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries).

The Fund generally invests in the equity securities of issuers believed by the Adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace, focusing on issuers that combine attractive valuations with catalysts for change. The Adviser applies a bottom-up stock selection process (i.e., one that focuses primarily on issuer-specific factors) in managing the Fund, using a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser considers various factors such as price-to-book value, price-to-sales and earnings ratios, dividend yields, strength of management, and cash flow to identify securities that are trading at a price that appears to be lower than the issuer's inherent value.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may (but is not required to) invest in derivatives, including put and call options, futures, forward contracts and swaps, in lieu of investing directly in a security, currency or instrument, for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO").An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public. The Fund may also seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.


31



•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers either directly or through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Participatory notes ("P-notes") are derivative instruments used by investors to take positions in certain foreign securities. P-notes present similar risks to investing directly in such securities and also expose investors to counterparty risk.

•   Emerging Markets Risk. Investment in emerging market securities involves greater risk than that associated with investment in securities of issuers in developed foreign countries. These risks include volatile currency exchange rates, periods of high inflation, increased risk of default, greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability, less governmental supervision and regulation of securities markets, weaker auditing and financial reporting standards, lack of liquidity in the markets, and the significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers.

•   Currency Risk. Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   Options Risk. An option is a type of derivative instrument that gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy (a "call") or sell (a "put") an asset in the near future at an agreed upon price prior to the expiration date of the option. The Fund may "cover" a call option by owning the security underlying the option or through other means. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations.

•   Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, which include futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps, may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage fund and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.


32



•   Small/Mid-Cap Companies Risk. Investing in securities of companies with micro, small or mid-sized capitalizations tends to be riskier than investing in securities of companies with large capitalizations. Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-sized capitalizations tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies and, on occasion, may fluctuate in the opposite direction of large cap company securities or the broader stock market averages.

The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund invests may be traded only in the over-the- counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. Redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker- dealers. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.

•   Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares. The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees in addition to the Fund's own expenses.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

•   Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified. Compared to other funds, the Fund may invest more of its assets in a smaller number of companies. Gains or losses on a single stock may have greater impact on the Fund.


33



Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund's Investor Class has not yet commenced operations. The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class, which is offered in a separate Prospectus. Had the Investor Class been operational during the periods in the chart and table below, it would have had substantially similar annual returns as the Institutional Class because the Investor Class is invested in the same portfolio of securities. Annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Investor Class and Institutional Class do not have the same expenses. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risk of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

11.70% (quarter ended March 31, 2012)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(5.91)% (quarter ended June 30, 2012)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (3.63)%


34



Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Period Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(December 30, 2011)
 

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

 

Return Before Taxes

   

4.34

%

   

16.86

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

3.00

%

   

15.95

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

   

3.07

%

   

13.13

%

 
MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

5.50

%

   

16.29

%

 

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The table, like the bar chart, provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing how the Fund's average annual total returns for the one year and since inception periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.


35



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Christopher K. Hart, Portfolio Manager, and a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception
Joshua Jones, a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since June, 2013
Joseph F. Feeney, Jr. Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception and oversees both the team and the strategy

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,500
Minimum Additional Investment: $100

You can only purchase and redeem Investor Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Global Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


36



SUMMARY SECTION — BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class shares of the Fund.

   

Investor Class

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management fees

   

1.50

%

 

Distribution and servicing (12b-1) fees

   

0.25

%

 

Short Sale Expenses: (1)

 

Dividend expense on short sales

   

0.87

%

 

Interest expense on borrowings

   

0.26

%

 

Other operating expenses

   

0.42

%

 

Total other expenses

   

1.55

%

 

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   

3.30

%

 

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement or recoupment (2)

   

0.04

%

 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense
reimbursement or recoupment
   

3.34

%

 

(1)  There are additional costs associated with the use of short sales. Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared; thus increasing the Fund's unrealized gain or reducing the Fund's unrealized loss on the securities sold short.

(2)  The Fund's Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) for the Fund's Investor Class shares exceeds 2.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund's Investor Class shares. Because dividend expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes are excluded from the expense limitation, Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 2.25%. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. Effective as of the effective date of the Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time, the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 2.25%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5%


37



return each year and Fund operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be different, based on these assumptions your costs of investing $10,000 in the Fund would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Investor Class

 

$

337

   

$

1,019

   

$

1,725

   

$

3,597

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 132% of the average value of its portfolio.

Summary of Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in long positions in stocks identified by the Adviser as undervalued and takes short positions in stocks that the Adviser has identified as overvalued. The cash proceeds from short sales will be invested in short-term cash instruments to produce a return on such proceeds just below the federal funds rate. Short sales are considered speculative transactions and a form of leverage The Fund invests, both long and short, in securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies of any capitalization size.

With a long position, the Fund purchases a stock outright; with a short position, the Fund sells a security that it does not own and must borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may invest in securities of companies operating for three years or less ("unseasoned issuers"). The Adviser will determine the size of each long or short position by analyzing the tradeoff between the attractiveness of each position and its impact on the risk of the overall portfolio. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such issuers including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. These value characteristics are examined in the context of the issuer's operating and financial fundamentals, including return on equity, earnings growth and cash flow. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria.

The Fund may invest in all types of equity and equity-related securities, including without limitation exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities, sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies (including exchanged-traded funds ("ETFs")), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and equity participations. An equity participation is a type of loan that gives the lender a portion of equity ownership in a property, in addition to principal and interest payments. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.

The Fund defines non-U.S. companies as companies (i) that are organized under the laws of a foreign country; (ii) whose principal trading market is in a foreign country; or (iii) that have a majority of their assets, or that derive a significant portion of their revenue or profits from businesses, investments or sales, outside of the United States. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests significantly (ordinarily at least 40% — unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser, in which case the Fund would invest at least 30%) in non-U.S. companies. The Fund principally will be invested in issuers located in countries with developed securities markets, but may also invest in issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries).

The Fund's portfolio is rebalanced regularly. The Adviser assesses each investment's changing characteristics relative to its contribution to portfolio risk. The Adviser will sell an investment held long or close out a short position that the Adviser believes no longer offers an appropriate return-to-risk tradeoff.


38



Under normal circumstances, the Adviser expects to sell securities short so that the Fund's portfolio is approximately 50% net long with an average of between 30% and 70% net long.

To meet margin requirements, redemptions or pending investments, the Fund may also temporarily hold a portion of its assets in full faith and credit obligations of the United States government and in short-term notes, commercial paper or other money market instruments.

The Adviser will sell a stock when it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, either through obtaining target value or due to an adverse change in fundamentals or business momentum. Each holding has a target valuation established at purchase, which the Adviser constantly monitors and adjusts as appropriate.

The Fund may participate as a purchaser in initial public offerings of securities ("IPO"). An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public.

The Fund may invest from time to time a significant portion of its assets in smaller issuers which are more volatile and less liquid than investments in issuers with larger market capitalizations.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

In general, the Fund's investments are broadly diversified over a number of industries and, as a matter of policy, the Fund is limited to investing a maximum of 25% of its total assets in any one industry.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, used by U.S. and foreign corporations and other business organizations (e.g. trusts or limited liability companies). Such high yield debt obligations are not considered to be investment grade. Non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") are rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Rating Group, or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (or, if unrated are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of investment). The Fund may invest in securities of the lowest rating category, including securities in default. The Adviser may, but is not required to, sell a bond or note held by the Fund in the event that its credit rating is downgraded.

The Fund may (but is not required to) invest in derivatives, including put and call options, futures, forward contracts and swaps, in lieu of investing directly in a security, currency or instrument, for hedging and non-hedging purposes.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Summary of Principal Risks

•   Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the Adviser may not be successful in its strategy of taking long positions in stocks the manager believes to be undervalued and short positions in stocks the manager believes to be overvalued. Further, since the Adviser will manage both a long and a short portfolio, there is the risk that the Adviser may make more poor investment decisions than an adviser of a typical stock mutual fund with only a long portfolio may make.

•   Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the long portfolio of the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

•   High Yield Debt Obligations Risk. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in


39



the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. Such high yield debt obligations are referred to as "junk bonds" and are not considered to be investment grade.

•   Foreign Securities Risk. International investing is subject to special risks, including, but not limited to, currency exchange rate volatility, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers either directly or through depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Participatory notes ("P-notes") are derivative instruments used by investors to take positions in certain foreign securities. P-notes present similar risks to investing directly in such securities and also expose investors to counterparty risk.

•   Emerging Markets Risk. Investment in emerging market securities involves greater risk than that associated with investment in securities of issuers in developed foreign countries. These risks include volatile currency exchange rates, periods of high inflation, increased risk of default, greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability, less governmental supervision and regulation of securities markets, weaker auditing and financial reporting standards, lack of liquidity in the markets, and the significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers.

•   Currency Risk. Investment in foreign securities also involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls.

•   Short Sales Risk. Short sales of securities may result in gains if a security's price declines, but may result in losses if a security's price rises. In a rising market, short positions may be more likely to result in losses because securities sold short may be more likely to increase in value. Short selling also involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses; the potential inability to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the possibility of the lender terminating the loan at any time, forcing the Fund to close the transaction under unfavorable circumstances; the additional costs that may be incurred; and the potential loss of investment flexibility caused by the Fund's obligations to provide collateral to the lender and set aside assets to cover the open position. Short sales "against the box" may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited. The use of short sales may cause the Fund to have higher expenses than those of other equity mutual funds because of higher transaction costs, premiums, interest or dividends payable to the lender.

•   Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

•   Options Risk. An option is a type of derivative instrument that gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy (a "call") or sell (a "put") an asset in the near future at an agreed upon price prior to the expiration date of the option. The Fund may "cover" a call option by owning the security underlying the


40



option or through other means. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Losses incurred by the Fund in writing options can be potentially unlimited.

•   Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, which include futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies, options on these futures, forward foreign currency contracts and interest rate or currency swaps, may be leveraged and result in losses exceeding the amounts invested.

•   REITs Risk. REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. These risks include possible declines in the value of real estate, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds and unexpected vacancies of properties. REITs that invest in real estate mortgages are also subject to prepayment risk. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by an externally managed REIT in which it invests.

•   Unseasoned Issuers Risk. Unseasoned issuers may not have an established financial history and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Unseasoned issuers may depend on a few key personnel for management and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. As a result, such securities may be more volatile and difficult to sell.

•   Small-Cap Companies Risk. The small capitalization equity securities in which the Fund may invest may be traded only in the over-the-counter market or on a regional securities exchange, may be listed only in the quotation service commonly known as the "pink sheets," and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of trading on a national securities exchange. These securities may also be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. The trading market for any given small capitalization equity security may be sufficiently small as to make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a substantial block of such securities. The sale by the Fund of portfolio securities to meet redemptions may require the Fund to sell its small capitalization securities at a discount from market prices or during periods when, in the Adviser's judgment, such sale is not desirable. Moreover, the lack of an efficient market for these securities may make them difficult to value.

•   Portfolio Turnover Risk. If the Fund frequently trades its portfolio securities, the Fund will incur higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs, which could lower the Fund's performance. In addition to lower performance, high portfolio turnover could result in taxable capital gains. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 400%; however, it may be higher if the Adviser believes it will improve the Fund's performance.

•   Segregated Account Risk. A security held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position it is covering is outstanding, unless it is replaced with a similar security. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

•   Illiquid Securities Risk. Investing in illiquid securities is subject to certain risks, such as limitations on resale and uncertainty in determining valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. The Fund might, in order to dispose of restricted securities, have to register securities resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of such securities.

•   IPO Risk. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available


41



for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When the Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

•   Securities Lending Risk. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.

•   Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") are a type of investment company bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF typically represents a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities that they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its being more volatile. Some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection. The Fund may incur brokerage fees in connection with its purchase of ETF shares. The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the Fund's own expenses.

•   Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified. Compared to other funds, the Fund may invest more of its assets in a smaller number of companies. Gains or losses on a single stock may have greater impact on the Fund.


42



Performance Information

The Investor Class commenced operations on April 11, 2014, therefore annual returns for one full calendar year are not available for Investor Class shares of the Fund. The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund's Institutional Class, another class of shares of the Fund that is offered in a separate prospectus. The bar chart below shows you how Institutional Class shares of the Fund have performed on a calendar year basis and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.boston-partners.com or 1-888-261-4073.

Total Returns for the Calendar Year Ended December 31 (Institutional Class)*

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter:

 

0.89% (quarter ended September 30, 2014)

 

Worst Quarter:

 

(0.20)% (quarter ended December 31, 2014)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: 2.67%


43



Average Annual Total Returns*

The table below compares the average annual total returns for the Fund's Institutional Class both before and after taxes for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods.

    Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(December 31, 2013)
 

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

 

Returns Before Taxes

   

1.40

%

   

1.40

%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

1.40

%

   

1.40

%

 
Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Fund Shares
   

0.79

%

   

0.79

%

 
MSCI ® World Index (reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)
   

5.50

%

   

5.50

%

 

*  The returns in the bar chart and table above are for Institutional Class shares, another class of shares of the Fund that is offered in a separate prospectus. Investor Class shares would have substantially similar annual returns because Investor Class shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the classes have different expenses.

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


44



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022

Portfolio Managers

Christopher K. Hart, Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception
Joshua Jones, Associate Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception
Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception and oversees both the team and the strategy

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment: $2,500
Minimum Additional Investment: $100

You can only purchase and redeem Investor Class shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange is open. Investor Class shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:
Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940-8042
  Purchase and Redemption By Wire:
Request routing instructions by calling the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.
 

Redemption By Telephone: If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Fund's transfer agent at 1-888-261-4073.

Taxes

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


45




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

This section provides some additional information about the Funds' investments and certain portfolio management techniques that certain Funds may use. More information about the Funds' investments and portfolio management techniques, some of which entail risks, is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

Investment Objectives

The Funds' investment objectives may be changed by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") without shareholder approval. Shareholders will, however, receive 60 days' prior notice of any changes. Any such changes may result in the Funds having investment objectives different from the objectives that the shareholder considered appropriate at the time of investment in the Funds.

Additional Information About the Funds' Principal Investments and Risks

Derivative Contracts. Each of the Funds except for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value II Fund may, but need not, use derivative contracts for any of the following purposes:

•  To seek to hedge against the possible adverse impact of changes in stock market prices, currency exchange rates or interest rates in the market value of its securities or securities to be purchased; or

•  As a substitute for buying or selling currencies or securities.

The Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may, but need not, use derivative contracts for the following purpose:

•  To seek to enhance the Fund's return in non-hedging situations.

Derivative contracts in which the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may invest include: futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward foreign currency contracts; and interest rate, total return or currency swaps. The Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may use derivative contracts involving foreign currencies. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle a Fund to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities, currencies or indices. Even a small investment in derivative contracts can have a big impact on a Fund's stock market, currency and interest rate exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. A Fund may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the Fund's holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of default risk as issuers of fixed income securities in that the counterparty may default on its payment obligations or become insolvent. Derivatives can also make a Fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets.

Short Sales. The Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund will engage in short sales and the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund may engage in short sales — including those that are not "against the box," which means that each Fund may make short sales where the Fund does not currently own or have the right to acquire, at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short — in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. In a typical short sale, the Funds borrow from a broker a security in order to sell the security to a third party. The Funds are then obligated to return a security of the same issuer and quantity at some future date. The Funds realize a loss to the extent the security increases in value or a profit to the extent the security declines in value (after taking into account any associated costs). Short sales "against the box" may protect the Funds against the risk of losses in the value of a portfolio security because any decline in value of the security should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. Any potential gains in the security, however, would be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. Short sales that are not "against the box" involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of each Fund's loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited.


46



Equity and Equity-Related Securities. Each of the Funds may invest in all types of equity securities. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies and REITs, and equity participations. Investments in equity securities and equity derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right's or warrant's expiration. The value of such securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. State law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a limited partnership than investors in a corporation. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the Fund's net asset value to fluctuate. The number of issuers in the Funds' portfolios will vary over time.

Fixed Income Investments. The Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may each invest a portion of its assets in fixed income securities. Fixed income investments include bonds, notes (including structured notes), asset-backed securities, convertible securities, Eurodollar and Yankee dollar instruments, preferred stocks and money market instruments. Fixed income securities may be issued by corporate and governmental issuers and may have all types of interest rate payment and reset terms, including (without limitation) fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features.

The credit quality of securities held in a Fund's portfolio is determined at the time of investment. If a security is rated differently by multiple ratings organizations, a Fund treats the security as being rated in the higher rating category. A Fund may choose not to sell securities that are downgraded below the Fund's minimum accepted credit rating after their purchase. Periods of rising interest rates may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

Foreign Securities. Each of the Funds may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets) directly or through American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or International Depositary Receipts ("IDRs"). Depositary receipts may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.

In addition, the Funds may also invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies and in multinational currencies such as the Euro. The Funds will value their securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. Investments in securities of foreign issuers and securities denominated in foreign currencies involve special risks. These include possible political and economic instability and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other restrictions on investments. Changes in foreign currency rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of a Fund's assets denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Emerging market investments offer the potential for significant gains but also involve greater risks than investing in more developed countries. Political or economic instability, lack of market liquidity and government actions such as currency controls or seizure of private business or property may be more likely in emerging markets.


47



The Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund will normally invest a significant portion of their assets in the equity securities and equity-related instruments issued by non-U.S. companies. The Funds may invest in securities denominated in the currencies of a variety of developed, emerging and frontier market countries. Unless hedged, currency fluctuations may have a material impact on the performance of a portfolio of non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities and such a portfolio may experience a decline or increase in value, in U.S. dollar terms, due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Adviser may, from time to time, but is not required to, hedge foreign currency exposure in the Funds' portfolios. Further, the Funds may also from time to time enter into speculative currency positions independent of other positions in the Funds' portfolios.

The Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund may also invest in participatory notes. Participatory notes (commonly known as "P-notes") are equity access products structured as debt obligations and used by investors to take positions in certain foreign securities. P-notes are generally issued by the associates of foreign-based foreign brokerages and domestic institutional brokerages. P-notes represent interests in securities listed on certain foreign exchanges, and thus present similar risks to investing directly in such securities. P-notes also expose investors to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the entity issuing the note may not be able to honor its financial commitments.

Portfolio Concentration. Under normal market conditions, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund portfolios will generally be diversified by country and geographic region.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Each Fund may invest in ETFs to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and applicable SEC orders. ETFs are registered investment companies whose shares are listed and traded on U.S. stock exchanges or otherwise traded in the over-the-counter market. In general, ETFs seek to track a specified securities index or a basket of securities that an "index provider," such as Standard & Poor's, selects as representative of a market, market segment or industry sector. An ETF portfolio generally holds the same stocks or bonds as the index it tracks or it may hold a representative sample of such securities. Thus, an ETF is typically designed so that its performance will correspond closely with that of the index it tracks. In some cases, an ETF may be actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to the risk of poor investment selection, and the individual investments in an actively-managed ETF may not perform as well as its investment adviser and/or sub-advisers expected, and/or the actively-managed ETF's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result. As a shareholder in an ETF, the Fund will bear its pro rata portion of an ETF's expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

Other Investment Companies. Each of the Funds may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies not affiliated with the Adviser, but may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. Among other things, the Funds may invest in money market mutual funds for cash management purposes by "sweeping" excess cash balances into such funds until the cash is invested or otherwise utilized. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by investment companies in which it invests in addition to the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover. Each of the Funds may engage in active and frequent trading, resulting in high portfolio turnover. This may lead to the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, increasing their tax liability. Frequent trading may also increase transaction costs, which could detract from the Funds' performance.

Securities Lending. Each Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. Portfolio security loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by a Fund will not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the value of the Fund's total assets. A Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund.

Temporary Investments. Each of the Funds may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking a temporary defensive position (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of money market and short-term debt securities. If a Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.


48



Broad-Based Securities Market Indices

The MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada.

The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets.

The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that contains stocks from the Russell 2000 ® Index with less than average growth orientation. Companies in this index generally have low price-to-book and price-to- earnings ratios, higher dividend yields and lower forecasted growth values. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index is $635 million and the largest stock is $5.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change. The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is a registered trademark of the Frank Russell Corporation.

The Russell 3000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 3000 ® Index companies that typically display lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The stocks in this index are also members of either the Russell 1000 ® Value or the Russell 2000 ® Value indices. The Russell 3000 ® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. As of November 30, 2015, the median market capitalization of the companies in the Russell 3000 ® Value Index is $1,330 billion and the largest stock is $434.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change. The Russell 3000 ® Value Index is a registered trademark of the Frank Russell Corporation.

The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, classified in eleven industry sectors, which represent approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in the index.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

The complete portfolio holdings (or long positions only with respect to the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund) of each of the Funds are publicly available on the Adviser's website at www.boston-partners.com as of the end of each calendar month, 15 days following the month end. Any postings will remain available on the website at least until the Funds file with the SEC their semi-annual or annual shareholder report or quarterly portfolio holdings report that includes such period. A further description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds' portfolio securities is available in the Funds' SAI.


49



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Adviser

Robeco Investment Management, Inc. provides investment management and investment advisory services to investment companies and other institutional and proprietary accounts.

Subject to the general supervision of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors"), the Boston Partners division of the Adviser manages the Funds' portfolios and is responsible for the selection and management of all portfolio investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds' respective investment objectives and policies.

The Adviser, located at 909 Third Avenue, 32 nd Floor, New York, New York 10022, is a subsidiary of Robeco Groep N.V., a Dutch public limited liability company ("Robeco Groep"). Founded in 1929, Robeco Groep is one of the world's oldest asset management organizations. Robeco Groep is primarily owned by ORIX Corporation, an integrated financial services group based in Tokyo, Japan.

For its services to the Boston Partners Funds, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee under the advisory agreement computed at an annual rate of 2.25% of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund's average daily net assets, 1.00% of the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II's average daily net assets, 0.80% of the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund's average daily net assets, 1.25% of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund's average daily net assets, 0.90% of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund's average daily net assets, and 1.50% of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund's average daily net assets. Until December 31, 2016, the Adviser has agreed to waive its fees to the extent necessary to maintain an annualized expense ratio for the Investor Class shareholders of Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, and the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II of 2.75%, 1.05%, 1.75%, 1.20%, 2.25%, and 1.35% (excluding certain items discussed below), respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause a Fund's net annualized expense ratio to exceed the applicable expense limitation: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waivers for the Funds after December 31, 2016.

For the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, effective as of the effective date of a Fund's first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.75%, 1.20%, or 2.25%, respectively, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Funds of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Funds within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made. For the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, if at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 through May 28, 2017 the Fund's advisory agreement with the Adviser is in effect, the Fund's Total annual Fund operating expenses for the year are less than 1.35%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three-year period. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waivers for the Funds after December 31, 2016.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approval of the Fund's advisory agreement with the Adviser is available in the Funds' annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.

Portfolio Managers

The investment results for different strategies of the Adviser are not solely dependent on any one individual. There is a common philosophy and approach that is the backdrop for all of the investment strategies of the Adviser. This philosophy is then executed through a very disciplined investment process managed by the designated portfolio manager for each of the strategies. This manager will be supported, not only by a secondary manager, but by the Adviser's general research staff and, very often, by dedicated analysts to the particular strategy.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Funds.


50



Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

David M. Dabora is the primary portfolio manager for the Fund and George Gumpert is the secondary portfolio manager.

Mr. Dabora is a senior portfolio manager of the Adviser responsible for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value, Small Cap Value II, and Small/Mid Cap Value portfolios. Mr. Dabora joined the firm in 1995. Prior to taking on day-to-day responsibilities for the Small Cap Value Fund II, Mr. Dabora was an assistant portfolio manager of the premium equity product of the Adviser, an all-cap value institutional product. Additionally, he was a research analyst with responsibility for a wide variety of industries. Mr. Dabora holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. degree from The Anderson School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of San Francisco and has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

Mr. Gumpert is a portfolio manager for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value products. Previously, he was a research analyst and specialized in the small capitalization sectors of the equity market. He joined the firm in 2000 from AIG International Asset Management where he was a commodities analyst. Mr. Gumpert holds a B.A. degree in economics from Amherst College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over ten years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 0.87% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 1.00%.

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

Duilio Ramallo is the primary portfolio manager for the Fund.

Mr. Ramallo is a senior portfolio manager of the Adviser. He is responsible for managing the Boston Partners Premium Equity portfolios. Prior to assuming this role, he was the assistant portfolio fund manager for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value portfolios and a research analyst. Mr. Ramallo joined the firm in 1995. He joined the firm from Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he spent three years, most recently in the Los Angeles office. He holds a B.A. degree in economics/business from the University of California, Los Angeles and an M.B.A. degree from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. Mr. Ramallo holds the Chartered Financial Analyst ® designation. He has over fifteen years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 0.55% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 0.80%.

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

Robert T. Jones is the primary portfolio manager for the Fund.

Mr. Jones is the portfolio manager for Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund and related strategy. Previously, he was the Director of Research and portfolio manager for the Large Cap Value and Large Cap Value Focused products. He was a founding Partner of Boston Partners Asset Management. He joined the firm from The Boston Company Asset Management, Inc. where he spent seven years as Vice President and equity portfolio manager. Mr. Jones holds a B.A. degree in philosophy from Denison University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 2.25% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services.

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr. and Eric S. Connerly serve as co-portfolio managers for the Fund. Mr. Feeney is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer for Boston Partners. He is responsible for the firm's strategic, financial and operating decisions, and all aspects of investment management including the firm's fundamental and quantitative research groups. He was one of the original partners of Boston Partners Asset Management in 1995.


51



Prior to assuming these roles, he was Director of Research. Mr. Feeney joined the firm upon its inception in 1995 from Putnam Investments where he managed mortgage-backed securities portfolios. He began his career at the Bank of Boston where he was a loan officer specializing on highly leveraged loan portfolios. Mr. Feeney holds a B.S. degree in finance (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. with High Honors from the University of Chicago. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is past President of the Fixed Income Management Society of Boston. He has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

Mr. Connerly is the Director of Research-Quantitative for Boston Partners. Prior to assuming this role, he was a research analyst covering the financial, electronics, defense, transportation, and energy sectors and managed a merger arbitrage portfolio. He joined the firm from John Hancock Mutual Funds where he was an analyst and assisted in the management of a small cap portfolio. Prior to that, he was a senior equity analyst at SEI Investments overseeing their small cap equity portfolios. Mr. Connerly holds a BSFS degree cum laude in development economics from Georgetown University and an MBA degree in security analysis and investment management, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Columbia Business School. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over fifteen years of experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid 1.25% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services.

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr., Christopher K. Hart and Joshua Jones manage each Fund as a team. Mr. Hart is the lead portfolio manager and Mr. Jones is the associate portfolio manager of each Fund. Mr. Feeney is the Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners and oversees both the team and the strategy.

Mr. Feeney is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Boston Partners. He is responsible for the firm's strategic, financial and operating decisions, and all aspects of investment management including the firm's fundamental and quantitative research groups. He was one of the original partners of Boston Partners Asset Management in 1995. Prior to assuming these roles, he was Director of Research. Mr. Feeney joined the firm upon its inception in 1995 from Putnam Investments where he managed mortgage-backed securities portfolios. He began his career at the Bank of Boston where he was a loan officer specializing on highly leveraged loan portfolios. Mr. Feeney holds a B.S. degree in finance (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. with High Honors from the University of Chicago. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is past President of the Fixed Income Management Society of Boston. He has over twenty-five years of investment experience.

Mr. Hart is an equity portfolio manager for each Fund. Prior thereto, he was an assistant portfolio manager for the Boston Partners Small Cap Value products for three years. Before that, he was a research analyst and specialized in conglomerates, engineering and construction, building, machinery, aerospace & defense, and REITs sectors of the equity market. He joined the firm from Fidelity Investments where he was a research analyst. Mr. Hart holds a B.S. degree in finance, with a concentration in corporate finance from Clemson University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over twenty years of investment experience.

Mr. Jones is a co-portfolio manager of each Fund and also has research responsibilities for the Boston Partners investment team, specializing in the energy, metals and mining sectors of the equity market and is a global generalist. Mr. Jones has been with Boston Partners since 2006. He joined the firm from Cambridge Associates where he was a consulting associate specializing in hedge fund clients. Mr. Jones holds a B.A. degree in economics from Bowdoin College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has over ten years of professional experience.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund paid 0.61%(expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Fund would have paid 0.90%. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund paid 1.54% (expressed as a percentage of average net assets) to the Adviser for its services. Had previously waived fees and/or expenses not been recouped, the Fund would have paid 1.50%.


52



Marketing Arrangements

The Adviser or its affiliates may pay additional compensation, out of profits derived from the Adviser's management fee and not as an additional charge to the Funds managed by the Adviser, to certain financial institutions (which may include banks, securities dealers and other industry professionals) for the sale and/or distribution of Fund shares or the retention and/or servicing of Fund investors and Fund shares ("revenue sharing"). These payments are in addition to any distribution or servicing fees payable under a 12b-1 distribution and/or service plan of the Funds, any record keeping or sub-transfer agency fees payable by the Funds, or other fees described in the fee table or elsewhere in the Prospectus or SAI. Examples of "revenue sharing" payments include, but are not limited to, payment to financial institutions for "shelf space" or access to a third party platform or fund offering list or other marketing programs, including, but not limited to, inclusion of the Funds on preferred or recommended sales lists, mutual fund "supermarket" platforms and other formal sales programs; granting the Adviser access to the financial institution's sales force; conferences and meetings; assistance in training and educating the financial institution's personnel; and obtaining other forms of marketing support. The level of revenue sharing payments made to financial institutions may be a fixed fee or based upon one or more of the following factors: gross sales, current assets and/or number of accounts of the Funds attributable to the financial institution, or other factors as agreed to by the Adviser and the financial institution or any combination thereof. The amount of these revenue sharing payments is determined at the discretion of the Adviser from time to time, may be substantial, and may be different for different financial institutions depending upon the services provided by the financial institution. Such payments may provide an incentive for the financial institution to make shares of the Funds available to its customers and may allow the Funds greater access to the financial institution's customers.


53



Other Service Providers. The following chart shows the Funds' service providers and includes their addresses and principal activities.


54



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Investor Class shares of the Funds ("Shares") are priced at their net asset value ("NAV").The NAV per share of each Fund is calculated as follows:

Each Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. Each Fund will effect purchases and redemptions of Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") of your purchase order or redemption request in good order (as described below). If a Fund holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's Shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares.

A Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over- the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If a Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equities securities in the Fund's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Funds' administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before a Fund prices its Shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by a Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in ETFs, REITs and closed-end investment companies will be valued at their market price.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar


55



days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm a Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of a Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

The Funds generally limit the number of exchanges to six (6) exchanges per year (and one exchange per calendar month). For further information on redemptions and exchanges, please see the section titled "Shareholder Information — Exchange Privilege."

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Funds. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Funds are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC, (the "Distributor").The Board of Directors has approved a Distribution Agreement and adopted a separate Plan of Distribution for the shares (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Plan, the Distributor is entitled to receive from the Funds a distribution fee with respect to the Shares, which is accrued daily and paid monthly, of up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Shares. The actual amount of such compensation under the Plan is agreed upon by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Distributor. Because these fees are paid out of the Funds' assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Amounts paid to the Distributor under the Plan may be used by the Distributor to cover expenses that are related to (i) the sale of the Shares, (ii) ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of shareholders, and (iii) sub-transfer agency services, subaccounting services or administrative services related to the sale of the Shares, all as set forth in the Funds' 12b-1 Plan. Ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of shareholders may include updating and mailing prospectuses and shareholder reports, responding to inquiries regarding shareholder accounts and acting as agent or intermediary between shareholders and the Funds or their service providers. The Distributor may delegate some or all of these functions to Service Organizations. See "Purchases Through Intermediaries" below.

The Plan obligates the Funds, during the period it is in effect, to accrue and pay to the Distributor on behalf of the Shares the fee agreed to under the Distribution Agreement. Payments under the Plan are not tied exclusively to expenses actually incurred by the Distributor, and the payments may exceed distribution expenses actually incurred.


56



Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Funds may also be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Certain features of the Shares, such as the initial and subsequent investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if Shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of Shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following Business Day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the appropriate Fund's NAV next computed after they are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

For administration, subaccounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee") relating to the average annual NAV of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

General. You may also purchase Shares of each Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Funds' NAVs are calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment in any Fund is $2,500 and the minimum additional investment is $100. The minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements may be reduced or waived from time to time. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial purchase, purchases by clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be combined. You can only purchase Shares of each Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. Shares may be purchased by principals and employees of the Adviser and its subsidiaries and by their spouses and children either directly or through any trust that has the principal, employee, spouse or child as the primary beneficiaries, their individual retirement accounts, or any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser and its subsidiaries without being subject to the minimum investment limitations.

Initial Investment By Mail. An account may be opened by completing and signing the application included with this Prospectus and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check ($2,500 minimum) payable to the Fund in which you would like to invest. Third party checks will not be accepted.

Regular Mail:

 

Overnight Mail:

 
[name of Fund]
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9816
Providence, RI 02940
  [name of Fund]
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 


57



The name of the Fund to be purchased should be designated on the application and should appear on the check. Payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Shares of each Fund may be purchased by wiring federal funds. A completed application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. For each Fund, notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) Request account information and routing instructions by calling the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE is open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time (minimum additional investment $100) by purchasing Shares of any Fund at the NAV per Share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Boston Partners[name of Fund]) or by wiring monies as outlined under "Initial Investment by Wire." For each Fund, notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.

Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in Shares of the Funds may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through an Automatic Investment Plan ($100 minimum). Investors desiring to participate in an Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073.

Retirement Plans. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and rollover IRAs. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Funds may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Funds will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. Fund Shares that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the receiving Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. A Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the receiving Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Funds. Subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, the Adviser will monitor each Fund's total assets and may decide to close any of the Funds at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of a Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. Subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, the Adviser may also choose to reopen a closed Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close such Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If a Fund closes to new investments, generally the closed Fund would be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who are generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  Fee-based advisory model programs or financial advisors who manage fee-based wrap accounts that systematically trade in and out of the closed Fund based on model portfolio allocations;


58



b.  Persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company;

c.  Existing and future clients of registered investment advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the closed Fund on transaction fee and non-transaction fee platforms;

d.  Existing and future clients of consultants whose clients already hold shares of the closed Fund;

e.  Certain financial intermediaries by arrangement with the Company:

f.  Employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children;

g.  Directors of the Company; and

h.  Defined contribution retirement plans of private employers and governed by ERISA or of state and local governments.

Other persons who are shareholders of other Boston Partners Funds are not permitted to acquire Shares of the closed Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. the Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places.

The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

The Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund and the Boston Partners Long/short Research Fund, respectively, are currently closed except to existing shareholders and certain other persons, as described above.

Shareholders of other Boston Partners Investment Funds that do not meet any of the above criteria are not permitted to acquire Shares of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund or Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of these Funds will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Adviser, however, reserves the right to reopen the Funds to new investments from time to time at its discretion, should the assets of the Funds decline by more than 5% from the date of the last closing of the Funds. In addition, if the Adviser reopens the Funds, the Adviser has discretion to close the Funds thereafter should the assets of the Funds increase by more than 5% from the date of the last reopening of the Funds. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, the Adviser may also choose to reopen the Funds to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Funds again should concerns regarding the Funds' sizes recur.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's Shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.


59



Redemption of Fund Shares

Normally, your investment professional will send your request to redeem Shares to the Transfer Agent. Consult your investment professional for more information. You can redeem some or all of your Fund Shares directly through the Fund only if the account is registered in your name. All IRA shareholders must complete an IRA withdrawal form to redeem shares from their IRA account.

You may redeem Shares of the Funds at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Funds' NAVs are calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

You may redeem Shares of each Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone (excluding retirement accounts).The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by a Fund. There is generally no charge for a redemption.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to [name of Fund], c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9816, Providence, RI 02940; for overnight delivery, requests should be addressed to [name of Fund], c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 and must include:

a.  Name of the Fund;

b.  Account number;

c.  Your share certificates, if any, properly endorsed or with proper powers of attorney;

d.  A letter of instruction specifying the number of Shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the Shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

e.  Medallion signature guarantees are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s) or (ii) the redemption request is for $50,000 or more. A signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a Medallion Program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three recognized Medallion Programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

f.  Other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to request a telephone redemption, you must have returned your account application containing a telephone election. To add a telephone redemption option to an existing account, contact the Transfer Agent by calling (888) 261-4073. Please note that IRA accounts are not eligible for telephone redemption.

Once you are authorized to utilize the telephone redemption option, a redemption of Shares may be requested by calling the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option or the telephone exchange option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Company or the Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Company or the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Company and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if the Company and Transfer Agent do not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent


60



instructions. The procedures employed by the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If your account has a value of at least $10,000, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and receive regular periodic payments. A request to establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan must be submitted in writing to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 9816, Providence, RI 02940. Each withdrawal redemption will be processed on or about the 25th of the month and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. There are no service charges for maintenance; the minimum amount that you may withdraw each period is $100. (This is merely the minimum amount allowed and should not be mistaken for a recommended amount.) The holder of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan will have any income dividends and any capital gains distributions reinvested in full and fractional shares at NAV. To provide funds for payment, Shares will be redeemed in such amounts as are necessary at the redemption price. The systematic withdrawal of Shares may reduce or possibly exhaust the Shares in your account, particularly in the event of a market decline. As with other redemptions, a systematic withdrawal payment is a sale for federal income tax purposes. Payments made pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments may be a return of capital.

You will ordinarily not be allowed to make additional investments of less than the aggregate annual withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan during the time you have the plan in effect and, while a Systematic Withdrawal Plan is in effect, you may not make periodic investments under the Automatic Investment Plan. You will receive a confirmation of each transaction and the Share and cash balance remaining in your plan. The plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by a Fund and will terminate automatically if all Shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account or upon the death or incapacity of the shareholder. You may change the amount and schedule of withdrawal payments or suspend such payments by giving written notice to the Transfer Agent at least ten Business Days prior to the end of the month preceding a scheduled payment.

Involuntary Redemption. The Funds reserve the right to redeem a shareholder's account in any Fund at any time the value of the account in such Fund falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in a Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

The Funds may assert the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if and to the extent that such redemption is necessary to reimburse a Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of a Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Funds recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option.

Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Funds to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by a Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that a Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of a Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.


61



Exchange Privilege

The exchange privilege is available to shareholders residing in any state in which the Shares being acquired may be legally sold. The Boston Partners Investment Funds reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to change or discontinue the exchange privilege, or temporarily suspend the privilege during unusual market conditions when, in the judgment of management, such change or discontinuance is in the best interests of the Funds.

Beneficial holders with financial intermediary sponsored fee-based programs of Investor Class Shares of any Boston Partners Investment Fund are eligible to exchange their shares for Institutional Class Shares of the same Boston Partners Investment Fund if the accumulated value of their Investor Class Shares exceeds the minimum initial investment amount for Institutional Class Shares ($100,000) or the shareholder is otherwise eligible to purchase the Institutional Class Shares. The Fund will determine the eligibility of an investor to exercise the exchange privilege based on the current NAV of Investor Class Shares. Such an exchange will be effected at the NAV of the Investor Class Shares next calculated after the exchange request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. Shares of each class of a Boston Partners Investment Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Funds and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. The total return on Institutional Class Shares can be expected to differ from the total return on Investor Class Shares. Shareholders who exercise the exchange privilege will generally not recognize a taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on an exchange of Investor Class Shares for Institutional Class Shares of the same Boston Partners Investment Fund. Under Internal Revenue Code section 1036, an exchange of shares of one class for shares of another class of the same Fund constitutes a nontaxable exchange for federal income tax purposes, and your basis and holding period for your existing shares will carry over to your new shares. The Funds intend to report any such exchange as an entirely nontaxable transaction.

In addition, a shareholder may exchange Investor Class Shares of any Boston Partners Investment Fund for Investor Class Shares of another Boston Partners Investment Fund, up to six (6) times per year (one exchange per calendar month). Such an exchange will be effected at the NAV of the exchanged Investor Class Shares and the NAV of the Investor Class Shares to be acquired next determined after BNY Mellon's receipt of a request for an exchange. An exchange of Investor Class Shares of one Boston Partners Investment Fund for Investor Class Shares of another Boston Partners Investment Fund will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes. A shareholder may make an exchange by sending a written request to the Transfer Agent or, if authorized, by telephone (see "Redemption by Telephone" above). Defined contribution plans are not subject to the above exchange limitations.

If the exchanging shareholder does not currently own Shares of the Fund, a new account will be established with the same registration, dividend and capital gain options as the account from which Shares are exchanged, unless otherwise specified in writing by the shareholder with all signatures guaranteed. See "Redemption by Mail" for information on signature guarantees. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated at any time, or from time to time, by the Funds, upon 60 days' written notice to shareholders.

If a shareholder wants to exchange Shares into a new account in a Fund, the dollar value of the Shares acquired must equal or exceed the Fund's minimum investment requirement for a new account. If a shareholder wants to exchange Shares into an existing account, the dollar value of the Shares must equal or exceed the Fund's minimum investment requirement for additional investments. If an amount remains in the Fund from which the exchange is being made that is below the minimum account value required, the account will be subject to involuntary redemption.

The Funds' exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the market. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege, which may potentially disrupt the management of the Funds and increase transaction costs, the Funds have established a policy of limiting excessive exchange activity. Shareholders are entitled to six (6) exchange redemptions (one exchange per calendar month) from each Fund during any twelve-month period. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase request (including exchange purchases from other Boston Partners Investment Funds) that is deemed to be disruptive to efficient portfolio management.


62



Dividends and Distributions

Each Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Funds will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Funds at least annually. The estimated amount of any annual distribution will be posted to the Adviser's website at www.boston-partners.com or a free copy may be obtained by calling (888) 261-4073.

The Funds may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Funds' distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund Shares, are subject to U.S. federal income tax.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual United States citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Federal Taxes of Distributions. Each Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of a Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of a Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of a Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend).The amount of a Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from a Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by a Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

It is expected that the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund and the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund will each be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign income taxes with respect to dividends or interest received from (and, in some cases, gains recognized on shares of stock of) non-U.S. companies. These Funds may, to the extent eligible, make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would allow you either (1) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against U.S.


63



federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit, subject to applicable limitations, or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction.

A portion of distributions paid by a Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales and Exchanges. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale, exchange or redemption of your shares, including an exchange for shares of another Fund, based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of a Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, each Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold or exchanged. Each Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale or exchange. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Funds may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of regulated investment companies such as the Funds, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Funds' net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends


64



attributable to the Funds' interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Funds.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of shares in the Funds, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Funds.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in a Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Funds will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Funds.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of a Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the SAI.

Multi-Class Structure

Each Fund also offers Institutional Class Shares, which are offered directly to institutional investors without distribution fees in a separate prospectus. Shares of each class of a Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. The total return on Investor Class Shares of a Fund can be expected to differ from the total return on Institutional Class Shares of the same Fund. Information concerning other classes of the Funds can be requested by calling the Funds at (888) 261-4073.


65



Appendix A

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

The Adviser has experience in managing a private fund with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund. The table on the following page is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing the private fund and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. The performance information has been adjusted to show the performance of the private fund net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011 (after contractual waivers that were in place through December 31, 2012).The fees and expenses of the Fund are higher than those of the private fund, in part, because the general partner of the private fund waived its right to receive an incentive allocation from each limited partner's capital account, generally equal to 20% of any profits achieved in a fiscal year after recoupment of prior losses. The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the private fund is not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the private fund. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the private fund.

The performance of the private fund is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

Monthly Returns (since inception April 1, 2002) 1,2,3,4

PRO FORMA NET OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 
 

2010

     

(1.05

)%

   

2.15

%

   

2.65

%

   

0.14

%

   

(3.73

)%

   

(3.48

)%

   

3.99

%

   

(3.73

)%

   

5.93

%

                                 
 

2009

     

(0.48

)%

   

(5.52

)%

   

3.53

%

   

6.02

%

   

3.65

%

   

2.10

%

   

2.14

%

   

2.76

%

   

(0.30

)%

   

(0.78

)%

   

2.78

%

   

1.33

%

   

18.11

%

 
 

2008

     

1.23

%

   

0.67

%

   

(4.37

)%

   

2.00

%

   

2.76

%

   

(3.27

)%

   

0.96

%

   

1.87

%

   

(3.12

)%

   

(4.70

)%

   

(5.21

)%

   

2.77

%

   

(8.61

)%

 
 

2007

     

0.96

%

   

0.71

%

   

0.59

%

   

2.67

%

   

1.27

%

   

(0.71

)%

   

(2.33

)%

   

0.85

%

   

2.35

%

   

(0.76

)%

   

0.76

%

   

(0.64

)%

   

5.75

%

 
 

2006

     

1.80

%

   

(1.21

)%

   

0.15

%

   

0.65

%

   

(0.60

)%

   

0.21

%

   

0.58

%

   

0.13

%

   

0.16

%

   

(0.09

)%

   

0.28

%

   

1.20

%

   

3.28

%

 
 

2005

     

(0.71

)%

   

1.20

%

   

0.30

%

   

(0.65

)%

   

(0.52

)%

   

0.91

%

   

2.39

%

   

2.34

%

   

2.27

%

   

0.74

%

   

0.37

%

   

0.64

%

   

9.60

%

 
 

2004

     

0.43

%

   

1.27

%

   

2.37

%

   

(1.16

)%

   

(0.03

)%

   

3.23

%

   

0.96

%

   

0.17

%

   

1.39

%

   

0.60

%

   

5.46

%

   

2.07

%

   

17.92

%

 
 

2003

     

0.27

%

   

(3.57

)%

   

0.03

%

   

(1.73

)%

   

(1.57

)%

   

(0.08

)%

   

0.09

%

   

(1.37

)%

   

(1.00

)%

   

(0.13

)%

   

0.63

%

   

0.17

%

   

(8.03

)%

 
 

2002

                             

0.08

%

   

3.60

%

   

(2.38

)%

   

(1.45

)%

   

1.95

%

   

(2.37

)%

   

0.13

%

   

1.36

%

   

1.81

%

   

2.57

%

 

GROSS OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 
 

2010

     

(0.82

)%

   

2.38

%

   

2.87

%

   

0.36

%

   

(3.51

)%

   

(3.26

)%

   

4.22

%

   

(3.50

)%

   

6.16

%

                                 
 

2009

     

(0.26

)%

   

(5.29

)%

   

3.75

%

   

6.25

%

   

3.88

%

   

2.32

%

   

2.36

%

   

2.99

%

   

(0.08

)%

   

(0.54

)%

   

3.01

%

   

1.56

%

   

21.31

%

 
 

2008

     

1.45

%

   

0.90

%

   

(4.15

)%

   

2.22

%

   

2.98

%

   

(3.04

)%

   

1.19

%

   

2.09

%

   

(2.89

)%

   

(4.47

)%

   

(4.99

)%

   

2.99

%

   

(6.08

)%

 
 

2007

     

1.18

%

   

0.93

%

   

0.81

%

   

2.89

%

   

1.49

%

   

(0.48

)%

   

(2.10

)%

   

1.08

%

   

2.57

%

   

(0.54

)%

   

0.99

%

   

(0.41

)%

   

8.64

%

 
 

2006

     

2.03

%

   

(0.99

)%

   

0.38

%

   

0.87

%

   

(0.38

)%

   

0.44

%

   

0.80

%

   

0.36

%

   

0.39

%

   

0.14

%

   

0.51

%

   

1.43

%

   

6.11

%

 
 

2005

     

(0.48

)%

   

1.43

%

   

0.52

%

   

(0.43

)%

   

(0.29

)%

   

1.13

%

   

2.61

%

   

2.57

%

   

2.50

%

   

0.96

%

   

0.60

%

   

0.87

%

   

12.59

%

 
 

2004

     

0.66

%

   

1.50

%

   

2.60

%

   

(0.93

)%

   

0.19

%

   

3.45

%

   

1.19

%

   

0.40

%

   

1.62

%

   

0.82

%

   

5.69

%

   

2.29

%

   

21.11

%

 
 

2003

     

0.49

%

   

(3.34

)%

   

0.25

%

   

(1.51

)%

   

(1.34

)%

   

0.15

%

   

0.31

%

   

(1.14

)%

   

(0.77

)%

   

0.10

%

   

0.85

%

   

0.40

%

   

(5.48

)%

 
 

2002

                             

0.31

%

   

3.83

%

   

(2.15

)%

   

(1.23

)%

   

2.17

%

   

(2.15

)%

   

0.36

%

   

1.58

%

   

2.03

%

   

4.67

%

 


66



S&P 500 INDEX

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 
 

2010

     

(3.60

)%

   

3.10

%

   

6.03

%

   

1.58

%

   

(7.98

)%

   

(5.24

)%

   

7.01

%

   

(4.51

)%

   

8.92

%

                                 
 

2009

     

(8.43

)%

   

(10.65

)%

   

8.76

%

   

9.57

%

   

5.59

%

   

0.20

%

   

7.56

%

   

3.61

%

   

3.73

%

   

(1.86

)%

   

6.00

%

   

1.93

%

   

26.45

%

 
 

2008

     

(6.00

)%

   

(3.25

)%

   

(0.43

)%

   

4.87

%

   

1.29

%

   

(8.43

)%

   

(0.84

)%

   

1.45

%

   

(8.91

)%

   

(16.79

)%

   

(7.17

)%

   

1.06

%

   

(36.99

)%

 
 

2007

     

1.51

%

   

(1.96

)%

   

1.12

%

   

4.43

%

   

3.49

%

   

(1.66

)%

   

(3.10

)%

   

1.50

%

   

3.74

%

   

1.59

%

   

(4.18

)%

   

(0.69

)%

   

5.50

%

 
 

2006

     

2.65

%

   

0.27

%

   

1.24

%

   

1.34

%

   

(2.88

)%

   

0.14

%

   

0.62

%

   

2.38

%

   

2.58

%

   

3.26

%

   

1.90

%

   

1.40

%

   

15.79

%

 
 

2005

     

(2.44

)%

   

2.10

%

   

(1.77

)%

   

(1.90

)%

   

3.18

%

   

0.14

%

   

3.72

%

   

(0.91

)%

   

0.81

%

   

(1.67

)%

   

3.78

%

   

0.03

%

   

4.89

%

 
 

2004

     

1.84

%

   

1.39

%

   

(1.51

)%

   

(1.57

)%

   

1.37

%

   

1.94

%

   

(3.31

)%

   

0.40

%

   

1.08

%

   

1.53

%

   

4.05

%

   

3.40

%

   

10.87

%

 
 

2003

     

(2.62

)%

   

(1.50

)%

   

0.97

%

   

8.24

%

   

5.27

%

   

1.27

%

   

1.76

%

   

1.95

%

   

(1.06

)%

   

5.66

%

   

0.88

%

   

5.24

%

   

28.68

%

 
 

2002

                             

(6.06

)%

   

(0.74

)%

   

(7.12

)%

   

(7.79

)%

   

0.66

%

   

(10.87

)%

   

8.80

%

   

5.89

%

   

(5.88

)%

   

(22.31

)%

 

CALENDAR YEAR RETURNS 1,2,3,4

   

2002

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

2.57

%

   

(8.03

)%

   

17.92

%

   

9.60

%

   

3.28

%

   

5.75

%

   

(8.61

)%

   

18.11

%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

4.67

%

   

(5.48

)%

   

21.11

%

   

12.59

%

   

6.11

%

   

8.64

%

   

(6.08

)%

   

21.31

%

 

S&P 500

   

(22.31

)%

   

28.68

%

   

10.87

%

   

4.89

%

   

15.79

%

   

5.50

%

   

(36.99

)%

   

26.45

%

 

SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended September 30, 2010) 1,2,3,4
RETURN

   

YTD

 

1 Year

 

2 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 year

 

7 Year

  Since
Inception
 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

2.38

%

   

5.81

%

   

5.95

%

   

3.17

%

   

4.20

%

   

6.66

%

   

4.65

%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

4.48

%

   

8.70

%

   

8.85

%

   

5.99

%

   

7.05

%

   

9.57

%

   

7.51

%

 

S&P 500

   

3.89

%

   

10.16

%

   

1.26

%

   

(7.16

)%

   

0.63

%

   

4.03

%

   

1.92

%

 

1  Performance was calculated using Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS"). This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance is calculated using a net asset value to net asset value methodology which incorporates all trades, prices, accruals and updated security records on trade date basis.

3  Performance is presented gross and net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011 (after contractual waivers).

4  The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, classified in eleven industry sectors, which represent approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in the index.


67



Appendix B

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

The Adviser has experience in managing other accounts with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund. The table on the following pages is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing all such other accounts and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. The performance information has been adjusted to show the performance of the other accounts net of the Fund's annual operating expenses (after contractual waivers that were in place until September 30, 2013).The other accounts' fees and expenses are lower than those of the Fund. The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the other accounts are not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the other accounts. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the other accounts.

The performance of the other accounts is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

Monthly Returns (since July 31, 2008) 1,2,3,4,5

COMPOSITE — PRO FORMA NET OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 
 

2011

     

1.88

%

   

3.41

%

   

0.81

%

   

4.54

%

   

(1.87

)%

   

(1.18

)%

   

(1.13

)%

   

(7.75

)%

   

(8.69

)%

   

11.34

%

   

(2.38

)%

                 
 

2010

     

(3.86

)%

   

0.39

%

   

5.92

%

   

0.26

%

   

(9.75

)%

   

(4.59

)%

   

7.64

%

   

(3.71

)%

   

10.08

%

   

4.60

%

   

(2.55

)%

   

8.77

%

   

11.65

%

 
 

2009

     

(8.72

)%

   

(9.49

)%

   

5.18

%

   

11.72

%

   

8.44

%

   

0.03

%

   

7.41

%

   

5.32

%

   

4.33

%

   

(1.12

)%

   

2.85

%

   

2.08

%

   

29.03

%

 
 

2008

                                                     

(2.37

)%

   

(0.56

)%

   

(9.56

)%

   

(19.22

)%

   

(6.17

)%

   

3.16

%

         

COMPOSITE — GROSS OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 
 

2011

     

2.01

%

   

3.54

%

   

0.94

%

   

4.67

%

   

(1.74

)%

   

(1.05

)%

   

(1.00

)%

   

(7.62

)%

   

(8.56

)%

   

11.47

%

   

(2.25

)%

                 
 

2010

     

(3.73

)%

   

0.52

%

   

6.05

%

   

0.39

%

   

(9.62

)%

   

(4.46

)%

   

7.77

%

   

(3.58

)%

   

10.21

%

   

4.73

%

   

(2.42

)%

   

8.90

%

   

13.38

%

 
 

2009

     

(8.59

)%

   

(9.36

)%

   

5.31

%

   

11.85

%

   

8.57

%

   

0.16

%

   

7.54

%

   

5.45

%

   

4.46

%

   

(1.00

)%

   

2.98

%

   

2.21

%

   

30.01

%

 
 

2008

                                                     

(2.24

)%

   

(0.43

)%

   

(9.43

)%

   

(19.09

)%

   

(6.04

)%

   

3.29

%

         

MSCI ® WORLD INDEX

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

  FY (ended
December 31)
 
 

2011

     

2.28

%

   

3.55

%

   

(0.94

)%

   

4.31

%

   

(1.97

)%

   

(1.54

)%

   

(1.79

)%

   

(7.00

)%

   

(8.60

)%

   

10.37

%

   

(2.38

)%

                 
 

2010

     

(4.11

)%

   

1.45

%

   

6.25

%

   

0.07

%

   

(9.48

)%

   

(3.39

)%

   

8.13

%

   

(3.69

)%

   

9.36

%

   

3.75

%

   

(2.11

)%

   

7.39

%

   

12.34

%

 
 

2009

     

(8.73

)%

   

(10.17

)%

   

7.60

%

   

11.32

%

   

9.19

%

   

(0.41

)%

   

8.50

%

   

4.17

%

   

4.02

%

   

(1.76

)%

   

4.14

%

   

1.83

%

   

30.79

%

 
 

2008

                                                     

(2.42

)%

   

(1.36

)%

   

(11.85

)%

   

(18.93

)%

   

(6.40

)%

   

3.26

%

         


68



SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended November 30, 2011) 1,2,3,4,5
RETURN

   

YTD

 

1 Year

 

2 Years

 

3 Years

  Since July 1,
2008
 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

(2.55

)%

   

5.99

%

   

5.39

%

   

13.14

%

   

(1.07

)%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

(1.15

)%

   

7.64

%

   

7.03

%

   

14.89

%

   

0.48

%

 

MSCI ® World Index

   

(5.00

)%

   

2.02

%

   

4.25

%

   

12.96

%

   

(2.17

)%

 

1  Performance was calculated using Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS"). This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance is calculated using a net asset value to net asset value methodology which incorporates all trades, prices, accruals and updated security records on trade date basis.

3  Performance is presented gross and net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses (after contractual waivers that were in place until September, 2013).

4  The MSCI ® World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets.

5  Although the other accounts commenced operations on January 1, 2007 or April 17, 1998, the other accounts only began investing in accordance with their current investment strategies on July 1, 2008.The performance shown represents performance since the other accounts began investing in accordance with their current investment strategies.


69



Appendix C

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Account of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

The Adviser has experience in managing a private fund with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund. The table on the following page is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing the private fund and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. The performance information has been adjusted to show the performance of the private fund net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses (after contractual waivers that will be in place through December 31, 2015). The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the private fund is not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the private fund. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the private fund.

The performance of the private fund is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

Monthly Performance Table (since inception July 1, 2013) 1,2,3,4,5

PRO FORMA NET OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 
 

2014

     

(1.99

)%

   

2.28

%

   

0.55

%

   

(0.81

)%

   

1.90

%

   

(0.18

)%

   

1.26

%

   

0.88

%

   

(1.18

)%

   

(0.18

)%

   

1.06

%

         
 

2013

                                                     

2.10

%

   

(2.25

)%

   

1.68

%

   

2.82

%

   

1.89

%

   

1.61

%

 

GROSS OF FEES

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 
 

2014

     

(1.84

)%

   

2.28

%

   

0.70

%

   

(0.66

)%

   

2.05

%

   

(0.03

)%

   

1.40

%

   

1.03

%

   

(1.04

)%

   

(0.03

)%

   

1.20

%

         
 

2013

                                                     

2.25

%

   

(2.11

)%

   

1.82

%

   

2.96

%

   

2.04

%

   

1.76

%

 

MSCI ® WORLD INDEX

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 
 

2014

     

(3.68

)%

   

5.06

%

   

0.20

%

   

1.08

%

   

2.06

%

   

1.83

%

   

(1.57

)%

   

2.24

%

   

(2.67

)%

   

0.67

%

   

2.05

%

         
 

2013

                                                     

5.29

%

   

(2.09

)%

   

5.04

%

   

3.94

%

   

1.82

%

   

2.15

%

 


70



SUMMARY STATISTICS (periods ended November 30, 2014) 1,2,3,4,5
RETURN

   

3 Months

 

YTD

  Since
Inception
 

Pro Forma Net Of Fees

   

(0.32

)%

   

3.56

%

   

8.24

%

 

Gross Of Fees

   

0.12

%

   

5.09

%

   

10.03

%

 

MSCI ® World Index

   

(0.01

)%

   

7.19

%

   

17.39

%

 

1  Performance was calculated using Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS"). This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance is calculated using a net asset value to net asset value methodology which incorporates all trades, prices, accruals and updated security records on a trade date basis.

3  Performance is presented gross and net of the Fund's annual fund operating expenses (after contractual waivers that will be in place until December 31, 2014) of the Fund's average daily net assets.

4  The MSCI ® World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets.

5  Although the private fund commenced operations on March 1, 2013, the private fund only began investing in accordance with its current investment strategies on July 1, 2013. The performance shown represents performance since the private fund began investing in accordance with its current investment strategies.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUNDS' SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


71




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The tables in the Financial Highlights section below set forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Fund share. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. The information has been derived from the Funds' financial statements and has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Funds' financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Funds' annual report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 and is available free of charge upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions). Because the Investor Class Shares of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund have not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, the financial highlights table provided below is for that Fund's Institutional Class Shares.

   

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Investor Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

21.79

   

$

18.35

   

$

14.74

   

$

12.44

   

$

10.62

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.14

     

0.09

     

0.05

     

0.02

     

(—

) (3)

 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.51

)

   

3.40

     

3.61

     

2.30

     

1.84

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(0.37

)

   

3.49

     

3.66

     

2.32

     

1.84

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.10

)

   

0.05

     

(0.05

)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.02

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(0.28

)

   

     

     

     

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(0.38

)

   

0.05

     

(0.05

)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.02

)

 

Redemption fees*

   

     

(3)

   

     

(3)

   

(3)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

21.04

   

$

21.79

   

$

18.35

   

$

14.74

   

$

12.44

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(1.68

)%

   

19.01

%

   

24.90

%

   

18.67

%

   

17.28

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

129,474

   

$

112,417

   

$

87,237

   

$

66,689

   

$

70,490

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments, if any
   

1.35

%

   

1.46

%

   

1.54

%

   

1.55

%

   

1.55

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments, if any
   

1.48

%

   

1.48

%

   

1.54

%

   

1.61

%

   

1.62

%

 
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

0.66

%

   

0.43

%

   

0.28

%

   

0.12

%

   

(0.03

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

14

%

   

16

%

   

19

%

   

32

%

   

38

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005.


72



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Investor Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

22.90

   

$

19.12

   

$

15.50

   

$

14.28

   

$

12.79

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.25

     

0.17

     

0.20

     

0.16

     

0.11

   
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.08

)

   

4.38

     

3.75

     

2.03

     

1.63

   
Net increase in net assets resulting
from operations
   

0.17

     

4.55

     

3.95

     

2.19

     

1.74

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.17

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.23

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.06

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(0.92

)

   

(0.62

)

   

(0.10

)

   

(0.89

)

   

(0.19

)

 
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(1.09

)

   

(0.77

)

   

(0.33

)

   

(0.97

)

   

(0.25

)

 

Redemption fees*

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

21.98

   

$

22.90

   

$

19.12

   

$

15.50

   

$

14.28

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

0.66

%

   

24.29

%

   

25.93

%

   

16.44

%

   

13.55

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

248,643

   

$

217,590

   

$

77,936

   

$

25,189

   

$

26,436

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers and
reimbursements
   

0.95

%

   

0.95

%

   

0.95

%

   

0.95

%

   

0.95

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers and
expense reimbursements
   

1.20

%

   

1.20

%

   

1.22

%

   

1.28

%

   

1.28

%

 
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

1.07

%

   

0.80

%

   

1.12

%

   

1.13

%

   

0.75

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

33

%

   

26

%

   

32

%

   

33

%

   

47

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees are reflected in total return calculations.


73



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 
   

Investor Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

21.33

   

$

19.84

   

$

19.51

   

$

19.08

   

$

16.80

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

(0.84

)

   

(0.65

)

   

(0.57

)

   

(0.56

)

   

(0.50

)

 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.94

)

   

3.37

     

2.13

     

3.01

     

4.39

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(1.78

)

   

2.72

     

1.56

     

2.45

     

3.89

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(1.77

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(2.03

)

   

(1.62

)

 
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(1.77

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(1.24

)

   

(2.03

)

   

(1.62

)

 

Redemption fees*

   

0.01

     

0.01

     

0.01

     

0.01

     

0.01

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

17.79

   

$

21.33

   

$

19.84

   

$

19.51

   

$

19.08

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(8.55

)%

   

14.41

%

   

8.30

%

   

13.90

%

   

23.37

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

94,459

   

$

211,372

   

$

220,307

   

$

170,834

   

$

128,184

   
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments, if any
   

5.89

%

   

4.57

%

   

4.55

%

   

4.54

%

   

3.95

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments, if any (excluding
dividend and interest expense)
   

2.72

%

   

2.66

%

   

2.68

%

   

2.73

%

   

2.72

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments, if any
   

5.89

%

   

4.57

%

   

4.55

%

   

4.54

%

   

3.96

%

 
Ratio of net investment loss to
average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

(4.47

)%

   

(3.18

)%

   

(2.83

)%

   

(2.93

)%

   

(2.60

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

75

%

   

65

%

   

67

%

   

71

%

   

103

%

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees are reflected in total return calculations.


74



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

 
    For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the Period
November 29, 2010**
through
August 31, 2011
 
   

Investor Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

15.00

   

$

13.21

   

$

11.86

   

$

10.58

   

$

10.40

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.18

)

   

(0.15

)

   

(0.12

)

 
Net realized and unrealized
gain /(loss) on investments
   

0.39

     

2.00

     

1.66

     

1.52

     

0.29

   
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations
   

0.21

     

1.85

     

1.48

     

1.37

     

0.17

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.20

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.09

)

   

   
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders
   

(0.20

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.13

)

   

(0.09

)

   

   

Redemption fees*

   

(3)

   

(3)

   

(3)

   

(3)

   

0.01

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

15.01

   

$

15.00

   

$

13.21

   

$

11.86

   

$

10.58

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

1.41

%

   

13.99

%

   

12.52

%

   

13.06

%

   

1.73

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

300,586

   

$

294,249

   

$

132,511

   

$

48,296

   

$

20,308

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets with waivers,
reimbursements, and
recoupments, if any
   

2.68

%

   

2.77

%

   

3.05

%

   

3.00

%

   

2.99

% (5)

 
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets with waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments, if any
(excluding dividend and
interest expenses)
   

1.64

%

   

1.64

%

   

1.73

%

   

1.79

%

   

1.98

% (5)

 
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets without waivers,
reimbursements and
recoupments if any
   

2.68

%

   

2.77

%

   

3.01

%

   

3.04

%

   

4.08

% (5)

 
Ratio of net investment loss to
average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

(1.17

)%

   

(1.06

)%

   

(1.39

)%

   

(1.31

)%

   

(1.47

)% (5)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

62

%

   

57

%

   

65

%

   

53

% (4)

   

61

% (6)

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

**  Inception date.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005.

(4)  Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received from processing a subscription-in-kind.

(5)  Annualized.

(6)  Not Annualized.


75



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

 
    For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
April 11, 2014**
through
August 31, 2014
 
   

Investor Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

10.29

   

$

9.86

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

(0.16

)

   

(0.09

)

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

   

0.38

     

0.52

   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   

0.22

     

0.43

   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

 

Net Investment Income

   

     

   

Net realized gains

   

     

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

   

     

   

Redemption fees*

   

(3)

   

(3)

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

10.51

   

$

10.29

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

2.14

%

   

4.36

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

59,919

   

$

2,841

   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements

   

3.34

%

   

4,12

% (4)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements
(excluding dividend and interest expenses)
   

2.21

%

   

2.25

% (4)

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and reimbursements

   

3.30

%

   

4.44

% (4)

 
Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

(1.52

)%

   

(2.28

)% (4)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

132

%

   

72

% (5)

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

**  Inception date.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Amount is less than $0.005.

(4)  Annualized.

(5)  Not Annualized.


76



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

 
    For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the Period
Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the Period
December 30, 2011**
through
August 31, 2012
 
   

Institutional Class

 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

15.59

   

$

12.97

   

$

11.00

   

$

10.00

   

Net investment income/(loss)*

   

0.13

     

0.18

     

0.12

     

0.10

   
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments
   

(0.40

)

   

2.82

     

2.07

     

0.90

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(0.27

)

   

3.00

     

2.19

     

1.00

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net Investment Income

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.02

)

   

(0.13

)

   

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.52

)

   

(0.36

)

   

(0.09

)

   

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(0.66

)

   

(0.38

)

   

(0.22

)

   

   

Redemption fees*

   

     

     

     

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

14.66

   

$

15.59

   

$

12.97

   

$

11.00

   

Total investment return (1)(2)

   

(1.75

)%

   

23.39

%

   

20.14

%

   

10.00

% (4)

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$

279,978

   

$

60,087

   

$

11,496

   

$

11,234

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements
   

0.95

%

   

0.96

%

   

1.30

%

   

1.30

% (3)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and reimbursements
   

1.24

%

   

1.39

%

   

3.05

%

   

3.56

% (3)

 
Ratio of net investment income to average
net assets with waivers and
reimbursements
   

0.86

%

   

1.20

%

   

1.00

%

   

1.39

% (3)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

98

%

   

136

%

   

102

%

   

83

% (4)

 

*  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

**  Inception date.

(1)  Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

(2)  Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

(3)  Annualized.

(4)  Not Annualized.


77




BOSTON PARTNERS INVESTMENT FUNDS
of
The RBB Fund, Inc.
(888) 261-4073
http://www.boston-partners.com

For More Information:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Boston Partners Investment Funds is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about each Fund's investments, describe each Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes fund strategies that significantly affected the Funds' performance during their last fiscal year. The annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders may be obtained by visiting http://www.boston-partners.com.

Statement of Additional Information

The Funds' SAI dated December 31, 2015 has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Boston Partners Investment Funds , may be obtained free of charge, along with the annual and semi-annual reports, by calling (888) 261-4073.The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus (and is legally part of the prospectus).The SAI is available on the Adviser's website at http://www.boston-partners.com.

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday–Friday. Call: (888) 261-4073 or visit the website of the Adviser at http://www.boston-partners.com.

Purchases and Redemptions

Call (888) 261-4073.

Written Correspondence

Street Address:

Boston Partners Investment Funds, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581

P.O. Box Address:

Boston Partners Investment Funds, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9816, Providence, RI 02940

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may also view and copy information about the Company and the Funds, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov.You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-1520.You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518




THE SCHNEIDER
SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND

TICKER: SCMVX

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ("SEC"). THE SEC, HOWEVER, HAS NOT JUDGED THESE SECURITIES FOR THEIR INVESTMENT MERIT AND HAS NOT DETERMINED THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

A look at the goals, strategies, risks and financial history of the Fund.

Details about the Fund's service providers.

Policies and instructions for opening, maintaining and closing an account in the Fund.

SUMMARY SECTION

   

1

   

Investment Goal

   

1

   

Expenses and Fees

   

1

   

Risk/Return Information

   

2

   

Management of the Fund

   

4

   

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

   

4

   

Tax Information

   

4

   
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial
Intermediaries
   

4

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
   

5

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF
INVESTING IN THE FUND
   

6

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

   

7

   

Investment Adviser

   

7

   

Portfolio Manager

   

7

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

8

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

8

   

Market Timing

   

8

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

9

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

11

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

14

   

Taxes

   

14

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

17

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 


SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Goal

The Schneider Small Cap Value Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of companies that have capitalizations that are less than the largest company in the Russell 2000 ® Index ("small cap companies") and which Schneider Capital Management Company (the "Adviser") believes are undervalued. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Expenses and Fees

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

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

   

None

   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

   

None

   

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

   

None

   
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed on shares held for less than
one year, if applicable)
   

1.75

%

 

Exchange Fee

   

None

   
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that that you pay each year as a percentage
of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees

   

1.00

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

0.82

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

1.82

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 1

   

(0.67

)%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   

1.15

%

 

1   The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.15%. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.15%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $20,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

234

   

$

1,015

   

$

1,845

   

$

4,165

   


1



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transactions costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. Portfolio turnover mary vary from year to year, as well as within a year. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 88.80% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund's net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in small cap companies. As of November 30, 2015, the market capitalization range of the companies held by the Fund was $210 million to $245 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change. The Fund invests primarily in common stock of companies the Adviser believes are undervalued. The fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to their credit ratings. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of the value of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs").

Principal Risks

n   The Fund invests in common stocks which are subject to market, economic and business risks that will cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Therefore, the value of your investment in the Fund may go up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, and you could lose money. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer, and any call provision.

n   Stocks of small companies may be more volatile than, and not as readily marketable as, those of larger companies. Small companies may also have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may be dependent on relatively small or inexperienced management groups. Additionally, the trading volume of small company securities may make them more difficult to sell than those of larger companies.

n   Value investing involves the risk that the Fund's investment in companies whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their underlying profitability, will not appreciate in value as anticipated.

n   Investing in foreign securities poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund's investments.

Risk/Return Information

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.schneidercap.com or by calling 1-888-520-3277.


2



Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter: 39.11% (Qtr. ended June 30, 2009)

 

Worst Quarter: (31.03)% (Qtr. ended September 30, 2011)

 

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (23.88)%

 

Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the Fund's average annual total returns for the past calendar year, past five calendar years, past ten calendar years and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ended December 31, 2014)
 

1 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

  Since
Inception
 

Return Before Taxes

   

(11.75

)%

   

9.66

%

   

3.72

%

   

13.80

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions

   

(17.69

)%

   

7.16

%

   

1.76

%

   

10.84

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

   

(2.86

)%

   

7.33

%

   

2.84

%

   

11.11

%

 
Russell 2000 Value Index
(reflects no deductions of fees, expenses and taxes) 1
   

4.22

%

   

14.26

%

   

6.89

%

   

10.02

%

 

1   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts ("IRA").


3



In cases in the chart above where the Fund's average annual return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares for a particular period is higher than the Fund's average annual return after taxes on distributions for the same period, this is due to realized losses that would have been sustained upon the sale of fund shares immediately after the relevant period. The calculations assume that an investor held the shares in a taxable account, was in the actual historical highest individual federal marginal income tax bracket for each year and would have been able to immediately utilize the full realized loss to reduce his or her federal tax liability. However, actual individual tax results may vary and investors should consult their tax advisers regarding their personal tax situations.

Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Schneider Capital Management Company

Portfolio Manager

Arnold C. Schneider III
President and Chief Investment Officer
Since 1996

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment

 

Minimum Subsequent Investment

 

$20,000

 

$2,500

 

You can only purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption by Mail:

Regular Mail:
Schneider Small Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9837
Providence, RI 02940
  Overnight Delivery:
Schneider Small Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Purchase by Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-888-520-3277 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Fund.

Redemption by Telephone:

Call the Transfer Agent at 1-888-520-3277.

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


4




Additional Information on the Fund's Investment Objective and Principal Strategies

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of companies which have capitalizations that are less than the largest company in the Russell 2000 ® Index and which the Adviser believes are undervalued. The Fund's investment objective and the policies described above may be changed by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. However, as a matter of policy, the Fund would not materially change its investment objective or primary investment strategy without informing shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any such change.

The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, industry literature, company reports, financial reports, company presentations, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria. Although the Adviser selects securities for long-term capital growth, these same securities may produce dividend income.

The Fund may invest in securities that the Adviser believes may exhibit the following characteristics:

n   have low price-to-earnings and low price-to-book value ratios; and

n   are typically considered out of favor by the market as a result of decelerating revenue growth, declining profit margins and increasing competition.

The Fund may sell securities when the Adviser believes:

n   a security becomes widely recognized by the professional investment community as a result of accelerating revenue growth, expanding margins and decreased competition;

n   a security appreciates in value to the point that it is considered to be overvalued;

n   the Fund's holdings should be rebalanced to include a more attractive stock or stocks; or

n   an issuer's earnings potential is in jeopardy.

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers. The Fund will invest in convertible securities without regard to their credit ratings.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of the value of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. For the purposes of the percentage limitation above, a security of a foreign company whose primary business may be in the U.S. will not be considered a foreign security if it is denominated in U.S. dollars and is principally traded on a U.S. exchange.

The Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. Portfolio security loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by the Fund will not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund. Lending the Fund's portfolio securities involves the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral if the value of the securities goes up while they are on loan. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. Eligible money market instruments include bank


5



obligations, such as certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances issued by foreign or domestic banks or financial institutions that have total assets of more than $2.5 billion, and commercial paper rated in the top rating category by Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service or Fitch, Inc. and unrated commercial paper determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. The value of money market instruments tends to fall when current interest rates rise. Money market instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer-term securities. When the Fund's assets are invested in these instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective. The Adviser will determine when market, economic, political or other conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Stocks may be candidates for sale when the stock appreciates in price and reaches a pre-determined target, the stock is challenged by a new idea with superior investment potential, the company or industry exposure is trimmed due to substantial appreciation in price, or the underlying investment case is permanently diluted or delayed.

Additional Information on the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

Investing in the Fund involves the following principal risks:

Small Company Risk. Investments in common stocks in general are subject to market, economic and business risks that will cause their price to fluctuate over time. Therefore, an investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these fluctuations. Furthermore, while securities of small capitalization companies may offer greater opportunity for capital appreciation than larger companies, investment in such companies presents greater risks than investment in larger, more established companies. Indeed, historically, small capitalization stocks have been more volatile in price than larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these securities are the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such stocks, and the potentially greater sensitivity of such small companies to changes in or failure of management, and to many other changes in competitive, business, industry and economic conditions, including risks associated with limited product lines, markets, management depth, or financial resources. Besides exhibiting greater volatility, micro and small company stocks may, to a degree, fluctuate independently of larger company stocks. Small company stocks may decline in price as large company stocks rise, or rise in price as large company stocks decline. Investors should therefore expect that the price of the Fund's shares will be more volatile than the shares of a fund that invests in larger capitalization stocks. Additionally, while the markets in securities of small companies have grown rapidly in recent years, such securities may trade less frequently and in smaller volume than more widely held securities. The values of these securities may fluctuate more sharply than those of other securities, and the Fund may experience some difficulty in establishing or closing out positions in these securities at prevailing market prices. There may be less publicly available information about the issuers of these securities or less market interest in such securities than in the case of larger companies, and it may take a longer period of time for the prices of such securities to reflect the full value of their issuers' underlying earnings potential or assets.

Foreign Security Risk. Since foreign securities are usually denominated in foreign currencies, the value of the Fund's portfolio could be affected by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. Other risks include:

n   seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company's assets;

n   less publicly available information and differing regulations and standards;

n   the impact of political, social or economic instability, or diplomatic events; and

n   securities that are less liquid and harder to value than those of a U.S. issuer.

As a result of these risks, the Fund may be more volatile than a fund investing solely in U.S. companies. These risks may be greater if the Fund invests in developing countries.

Opportunity Risk. As with all mutual funds, the Fund is subject to the risk of missing out on an opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less advantageous investments.

Value Stock Risk. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.


6



Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities have characteristics of both equity and fixed-income securities. The value of a convertible security tends to move with the market value of the underlying stock, but may also be affected by interest rates, credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. In particular, when interest rates rise, fixed-income securities will decline in value. Convertible securities frequently have speculative characteristics and may be acquired without regard to minimum quality ratings. Lower quality convertible securities, also known as "junk bonds," involve greater risk of default or price changes due to the issuer's creditworthiness. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than those of higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of rising interest rates. Securities in the lowest quality category may present the risk of default, or may be in default.

Broad-Based Securities Market Index

The Russell 2000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index that contains stocks from the Russell 2000 ® Index with greater-than-average value orientation. Companies in this index generally have lower price-to-book and price-to-earnings ratios. As of November 30, 2015, the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 2000 ® Value Index is $25 million to $5.1 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). The SAI is incorporated herein.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser

The Adviser's principal address is 460 East Swedesford Road, Suite 2000, Wayne, PA 19087. The Adviser provides investment management and investment advisory services to investment companies and other institutional accounts and had aggregate total assets under management of approximately $566 million as of November 30, 2015. The Adviser is 100% employee-owned, and was founded in 1996.

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that the Fund's Total Annual Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.15% of the Fund's average daily net assets. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.15% of the Fund's average daily net assets: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. The Adviser may not recoup waived management fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company's Board of Directors. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, after waivers, the Adviser has received 0.33% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Adviser would have received 1.00% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approving the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.

Portfolio Manager

The President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, Arnold C. Schneider III, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's investment portfolio. Mr. Schneider founded the Adviser in 1996, and has


7



managed the Fund since its inception. Prior to 1996, he was a senior vice president and partner of Wellington Management Company, where he was responsible for institutional accounts and mutual fund portfolios since 1987.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager's ownership of securities in the Fund.

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Shares of the Fund are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order or redemption request in good order (as described below).

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If the Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equities securities in the Fund's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment


8



only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

To deter excessive shareholder trading, the Fund charges a redemption fee of 1.75% on shares held for less than one year. For further information on redemptions, please see the section entitled "Shareholder Information — Redemptions of Fund Shares."

There is no assurance that the Adviser will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales charges. You may purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Fund's records, which will show all of your transactions and the balance of the shares you own. You can only purchase shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. Initial investments in the Fund must be at least $20,000, and subsequent minimum investments must be at least $2,500. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial purchase, clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be aggregated. The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent. Service Organizations may have agreements with the Fund and may be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Fund in accordance with such agreements. A Service Organization or, if applicable, its designee that has entered into such an agreement with the Fund or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Fund's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order. Orders received by the Fund in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after they are accepted by the Service Organization or its authorized designee. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the Service Organization to determine the status of the purchase order.


9



Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an account application and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Schneider Small Cap Value Fund. Third party endorsed checks or foreign checks will not be accepted.

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9837
Providence, RI 02940

or overnight to:

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed account application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) For current wire instructions, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-888-520-3277.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time ($2,500 minimum) by purchasing shares at the NAV per share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date.

Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through the Automatic Investment Plan. Investors who would like to participate in the Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277, or complete the appropriate section of the account application. The minimum initial investment for the Automatic Investment Plan is $20,000 and subsequent minimum investments must be at least $2,500.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and roll over IRAs. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities


10



in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to Board approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to Board approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser,

b.  employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children, and

c.  directors of the Company.

Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement specific purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund's shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. Certificates for shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Adviser and their family members, either directly or through their IRAs and by any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation.

The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem Fund shares at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.


11



You may redeem Fund shares by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Schneider Small Cap Value Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9837, Providence, RI 02940, or for overnight delivery to Schneider Small Cap Value Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581, and must include:

n   a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

n   any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more, or (iii) a share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three recognized Medallion signature guarantee programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

n   other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of shares by calling the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Transaction Fee on Certain Redemptions. The Fund requires the payment of a transaction fee on redemptions of shares held for less than one year equal to 1.75% of the NAV of such shares redeemed at the time of redemption. This additional transaction fee is paid to the Fund, not to the Adviser, Distributor or Transfer Agent. It is not a sales charge or a contingent deferred sales charge. The fee does not apply to redeemed shares that were purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions. The purpose of the additional transaction fee is to indirectly allocate transaction costs associated with redemptions to those investors making redemptions after holding their shares for a short period, thus protecting existing shareholders. These costs include: (1) brokerage costs; (2) market impact costs — i.e., the decrease in market prices which may result when the Fund sells certain securities in order to raise cash to meet the redemption request; (3) the realization of capital gains by the other shareholders in the Fund; and (4) the effect of the "bid-ask" spread in the over-the-counter market. The 1.75% amount represents the Fund's estimate of the brokerage and other transaction costs which may be incurred by the Fund in disposing of stocks in which the Fund may invest. Without the additional transaction fee, the Fund would generally be selling its shares at a price less than the cost to the Fund of acquiring the portfolio securities necessary to maintain its investment characteristics, resulting in reduced investment performance for all shareholders in the Fund. With the additional transaction fee, the transaction costs of selling additional stocks are not borne by all existing shareholders, but the source of funds for


12



these costs is the transaction fee paid by those investors making redemptions. For purposes of this redemption feature, shares purchased first will be considered to be shares first redeemed.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If your account has a value of at least $20,000, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and receive regular periodic payments. A request to establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan must be submitted in writing to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 9837, Providence, RI 02940. Each withdrawal redemption will be processed on or about the 25th of the month and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. There are no service charges for maintenance; the minimum amount that you may withdraw each period is $100. (This is merely the minimum amount allowed and should not be mistaken for a recommended amount.) The holder of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan will have any income dividends and any capital gains distributions reinvested in full and fractional shares at NAV. To provide funds for payment, shares will be redeemed in such amount as is necessary at the redemption price. The systematic withdrawal of shares may reduce or possibly exhaust the shares in your account, particularly in the event of a market decline. The Fund does not require the payment of a transaction fee on redemptions of shares held for less than one year that are redeemed pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan. As with other redemptions, a systematic withdrawal payment is a sale for federal income tax purposes. Payments made pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments may be a return of capital.

You will ordinarily not be allowed to make additional investments of less than the aggregate annual withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan during the time you have the plan in effect. You will receive a confirmation of each transaction showing the sources of the payment and the share and cash balance remaining in your account. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by the Fund and will terminate automatically if all shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account or upon the death or incapacity of the shareholder. You may change the amount and schedule of withdrawal payments or suspend such payments by giving written notice to the Transfer Agent at least ten business days prior to the end of the month preceding a scheduled payment.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Redemption proceeds will ordinarily be paid within seven business days after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE or the bond market is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request.

You will be notified in writing that the value of your account is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.


13



The Fund may assert the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of the net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, of the Fund to the Fund's shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional shares unless you elect otherwise.

The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually and pays them in the calendar year in which they are declared. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed at least annually.

The ex-dividend, record and payable dates of any annual distribution will be available by calling (888) 520-3277.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual United States citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Federal Taxes of Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex- dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the


14



Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares in the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.


15



In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the Fund's SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE


16




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Fund share. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of year

 

$

20.16

   

$

21.07

   

$

16.09

   

$

13.70

   

$

13.19

   

Net investment income/(loss)

   

(0.01

) (1)

   

(0.09

) (1)

   

0.08

(1)

   

(0.11

)

   

(0.06

)

 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments and foreign
currency transactions
   

(4.53

)

   

2.63

     

4.90

     

2.49

     

0.56

   
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations
   

(4.54

)

   

2.54

     

4.98

     

2.38

     

0.50

   
Dividends and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

     

     

   

Net realized gains

   

(4.58

)

   

(3.45

)

   

     

     

   

Tax return of capital

   

(0.04

)

   

     

     

     

   
Total dividends and distributions to
shareholders
   

(4.62

)

   

(3.45

)

   

     

     

   

Redemption fees

   

(2)

   

(2)

   

(2)

   

0.01

     

0.01

   

Net asset value, end of year

 

$

11.00

   

$

20.16

   

$

21.07

   

$

16.09

   

$

13.70

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(25.88

)%

   

12.59

%

   

30.95

%

   

17.45

%

   

3.87

%

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of year
(000 's omitted)
 

$

30,387

   

$

61.240

   

$

70,556

   

$

62,691

   

$

69,698

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (4)
   

1.15

%

   

1.15

%

   

1.15

%

   

1.15

%

   

1.15

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets without waivers and
expense reimbursements
   

1.82

%

   

1.52

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.52

%

   

1.40

%

 
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets (4)
   

(0.05

)%

   

(0.44

)%

   

0.38

%

   

(0.64

)%

   

(0.33

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

88.80

%

   

72.33

%

   

63.87

%

   

67.85

%

   

59.18

%

 

(1)  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(2)  Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

(3  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Reflects waivers and reimbursements.


17




THE SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes Fund strategies and market conditions that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information

An SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, along with the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports, are available on the Adviser's website at www.schneidercap.com or may be obtained free of charge by calling (888) 520-3277. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is legally considered a part of this prospectus.

Shareholder Account Service Representatives

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: (888) 520-3277.

Purchases and Redemptions

Call your registered representative or (888) 520-3277.

Written Correspondence

Post Office Address:
 
 
 
  Schneider Small Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PO Box 9837
Providence, RI 02940
 
Street Address:
 
 
 
  Schneider Small Cap Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov , or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518




THE SCHNEIDER
VALUE FUND

TICKER: SCMLX

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

This prospectus gives vital information about the Schneider Value Fund (the "Fund"), an investment portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company"), including information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and protection, please read it before you invest and keep it on hand for future reference.

PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ("SEC"). THE SEC, HOWEVER, HAS NOT JUDGED THESE SECURITIES FOR THEIR INVESTMENT MERIT AND HAS NOT DETERMINED THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

A look at the goals, strategies, risks and financial history of the Fund.

Details about the Fund's service providers.

Policies and instructions for opening, maintaining and closing an account in the Fund.

SUMMARY SECTION

   

1

   

Investment Goal

   

1

   

Expenses and Fees

   

1

   

Risk/Return Information

   

2

   

Management of the Fund

   

4

   

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

   

4

   

Tax Information

   

4

   
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other
Financial Intermediaries
   

4

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
   

5

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF
INVESTING IN THE FUND
   

6

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

   

7

   

Investment Adviser

   

7

   

Portfolio Manager

   

7

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

8

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

8

   

Market Timing

   

8

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

9

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

11

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

14

   

Taxes

   

14

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

17

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 



SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Goal

The Schneider Value Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of companies that have a market capitalization of $1 billion or greater and which Schneider Capital Management Company (the "Adviser") believes are undervalued. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Expenses and Fees

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

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

   

None

   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

   

None

   

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends

   

None

   
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed on shares held for less than
90 days, if applicable)
   

1.00

%

 

Exchange Fee

   

None

   
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees

   

0.70

%

 

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

   

None

   

Other Expenses

   

1.04

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   

1.74

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 1

   

(0.84

)%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   

0.90

%

 

1   The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 0.90%. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 0.90%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $20,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year  

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 
$

184

   

$

932

   

$

1,730

   

$

3,964

   


1



Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transactions costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 62.01% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, at least 65% of the Fund's net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in companies with capitalizations, of at least $1 billion or greater. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such companies including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios. The Fund invests primarily in common stock of companies the Adviser believes are undervalued. The fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to their credit ratings. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of the value of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs").

Principal Risks

n   The Fund invests in common stocks which are subject to market, economic and business risks that will cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Therefore, the value of your investment in the Fund may go up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, and you could lose money. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer, and any call provision.

n   Value investing involves the risk that the Fund's investment in companies whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their underlying profitability, will not appreciate in value as anticipated.

n   Investing in foreign securities poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund's investments.

Risk/Return Information

The chart below illustrates the long-term performance of the Fund. The information shows you how the Fund's performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information is available at www.schneidercap.com or by calling 1-888-520-3277.


2



Total Returns for the Calendar Years Ended December 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the periods reflected in the chart above):

Best Quarter: 27.80% (Qtr. ended September 30, 2009)

Worst Quarter: (29.81)% (Qtr. ended December 31, 2008)

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (15.56)%

 

1   During the calendar year ended December 31, 2013, the Fund received two favorable class action settlements from companies it no longer owns. These settlements had a material impact on the investment performance of the Fund for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013.

Average Annual Total Returns

The table below compares the Fund's average annual total returns for the past calendar year, past five calendar years and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2014

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ended December 31, 2014)
 

1 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

 

Since Inception

 

Return Before Taxes

   

3.45

%

   

9.70

%

   

2.49

%

   

8.86

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions

   

3.34

%

   

9.58

%

   

1.87

%

   

8.07

%

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

   

2.04

%

   

7.70

%

   

1.89

%

   

7.23

%

 
Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deductions of fees,
expenses and taxes) 1
   

13.45

%

   

15.42

%

   

7.30

%

   

10.36

%

 

1   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts ("IRA").


3



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Schneider Capital Management Company

Portfolio Manager

Arnold C. Schneider III
President and Chief Investment Officer
Since 2002

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment

 

Minimum Subsequent Investment

 

$20,000

 

$2,500

 

You can only purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption by Mail:

Regular Mail:
Schneider Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9837
Providence, RI 02940
  Overnight Delivery:
Schneider Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Purchase by Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-888-520-3277 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Fund.

Redemption by Telephone:

Call the Transfer Agent at 1-888-520-3277.

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


4




Additional Information on the Fund's Investment Objective and Principal Strategies

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of companies which have capitalizations of $1 billion or greater and which the Adviser believes are undervalued. The Fund's investment objective and the policies described above may be changed by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. However, as a matter of policy, the Fund would not materially change its investment objective or principal investment strategy without informing shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any such change.

The Adviser selects securities for the Fund based on a continuous study of trends in industries and companies, industry literature, company reports, financial reports, company presentations, earnings power and growth and other investment criteria. Although the Adviser selects securities for long-term capital growth, these same securities may produce dividend income.

The Fund may invest in securities that the Adviser believes may exhibit the following characteristics:

n   have low price-to-earnings and low price-to-book value ratios; and

n   are typically considered out of favor by the market as a result of decelerating revenue growth, declining profit margins and increasing competition.

The Fund may sell securities when the Adviser believes:

n   a security becomes widely recognized by the professional investment community as a result of accelerating revenue growth, expanding margins and decreased competition;

n   a security appreciates in value to the point that it is considered to be overvalued;

n   the Fund's holdings should be rebalanced to include a more attractive stock or stocks; or

n   an issuer's earnings potential is in jeopardy.

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers. The Fund will invest in convertible securities without regard to their credit ratings.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of the value of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. For the purposes of the percentage limitation above, a security of a foreign company whose primary business may be in the U.S. will not be considered a foreign security if it is denominated in U.S. dollars and is principally traded on a U.S. exchange.

The Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker- dealers. Portfolio securities loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by the Fund will not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund. Lending the Fund's portfolio securities involves the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral if the value of the securities goes up while they are on loan. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

While the Adviser intends to fully invest the Fund's assets at all times in accordance with the above-mentioned policies, the Fund reserves the right to hold up to 100% of its assets, as a temporary defensive measure, in cash and eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments. Eligible money market instruments include bank obligations, such as certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances issued by foreign or domestic banks or financial


5



institutions that have total assets of more than $2.5 billion, and commercial paper rated in the top rating category by Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service or Fitch, Inc. and unrated commercial paper determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. The value of money market instruments tends to fall when current interest rates rise. Money market instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer-term securities. When the Fund's assets are invested in these instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective. The Adviser will determine when market, economic, political or other conditions warrant temporary defensive measures.

Stocks may be candidates for sale when the stock appreciates in price and reaches a pre-determined target, the stock is challenged by a new idea with superior investment potential, the company or industry exposure is trimmed due to substantial appreciation in price, or the underlying investment case is permanently diluted or delayed.

Additional Information on the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

Investing in the Fund involves the following principal risks:

Common Stock Risk. Investments in common stocks are subject to market, economic and business risks that will cause their price to fluctuate over time. Therefore, an investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these fluctuations.

Foreign Security Risk. Since foreign securities are usually denominated in foreign currencies, the value of the Fund's portfolio could be affected by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. Other risks include:

n   seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company's assets;

n   less publicly available information and differing regulations and standards;

n   the impact of political, social or economic instability, or diplomatic events; and

n   securities that are less liquid and harder to value than those of a U.S. issuer.

As a result of these risks, the Fund may be more volatile than a fund investing solely in U.S. companies. These risks may be greater if the Fund invests in developing countries.

Opportunity Risk. As with all mutual funds, the Fund is subject to the risk of missing out on an opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less advantageous investments.

Value Stock Risk. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes to be undervalued, there is no guarantee that the prices of these stocks will not move even lower.

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities have characteristics of both equity and fixed-income securities. The value of a convertible security tends to move with the market value of the underlying stock, but may also be affected by interest rates, credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. In particular, when interest rates rise, fixed-income securities will decline in value. Convertible securities frequently have speculative characteristics and may be acquired without regard to minimum quality ratings. Lower quality convertible securities, also known as "junk bonds," involve greater risk of default or price changes due to the issuer's creditworthiness. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than those of higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty, which may follow periods of rising interest rates. Securities in the lowest quality category may present the risk of default, or may be in default.

Broad-Based Securities Market Index

The Russell 1000 ® Value Index is an unmanaged index composed of the securities in the Russell 1000 ® Index with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000 ® Index is comprised of the 1,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization. As of November 30, 2015, the market capitalization range of the companies in the Russell 1000 ® Value Index is $243 million to $434 billion. Please note that this range is as of a particular point in time and is subject to change.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). The SAI is incorporated herein.


6



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser

The Adviser's principal address is 460 East Swedesford Road, Suite 2000, Wayne, PA 19087. The Adviser provides investment management and investment advisory services to investment companies and other institutional accounts and had aggregate total assets under management of approximately $566 million as of November 30, 2015. The Adviser is 100% employee-owned, and was founded in 1996.

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that the Fund's Total Annual Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 0.90% of the Fund's average daily net assets. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 0.90% of the Fund's average daily net assets: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. The Adviser may not recoup waived management fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company's Board of Directors. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, after waivers and reimbursements, the Adviser did not receive investment advisory fees from the Fund. Had fee waivers and reimbursements not been in place, the Adviser would have received 0.70% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approving the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.

Portfolio Manager

The President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, Arnold C. Schneider III, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's investment portfolio. Mr. Schneider founded the Adviser in 1996, and has managed the Fund since its inception. Prior to 1996, he was a senior vice president and partner of Wellington Management Company, where he was responsible for institutional accounts and mutual fund portfolios since 1987.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager's compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager's ownership of securities in the Fund.


7



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Shares of the Fund are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases and redemptions of Fund shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order or redemption request in good order (as described below).

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If the Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund's NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equities securities in the Fund's portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before a Fund prices its shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by a Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded and closed- end funds will be valued at their market price.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such


8



purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

To deter excessive shareholder trading, the Fund charges a redemption fee of 1.00% on shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase. For further information on redemptions, please see the section entitled "Shareholder Information — Redemptions of Fund Shares."

There is no assurance that the Adviser will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales charges. You may purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Fund's records, which will show all of your transactions and the balance of the shares you own. You can only purchase shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. Initial investments in the Fund must be at least $20,000, and subsequent minimum investments must be at least $2,500. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial purchase, clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be aggregated. The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent. Certain Service Organizations may have agreements with the Fund and may be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Fund in accordance with such agreements. A Service Organization or, if applicable, its designee that has entered into such an agreement with the Fund or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Fund's pricing on the following business day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order. Orders received by the Fund in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after they are accepted by the Service Organization or its authorized designee. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the Service Organization to determine the status of the purchase order.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an account application and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Schneider Value Fund. Third party endorsed checks or foreign checks will not be accepted.

Schneider Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9837
Providence, RI 02940


9



or overnight to:

Schneider Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed Account Application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) For current wire instructions, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-888-520-3277.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time ($2,500 minimum) by purchasing shares at the NAV per share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Schneider Value Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date.

Automatic Investment Plan. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and roll over IRAs. Additional investments in shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through the Automatic Investment Plan. Investors who would like to participate in the Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277, or complete the appropriate section of the account application. The minimum initial investment for the Automatic Investment Plan is $20,000 and subsequent minimum investments must be at least $2,500.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to Board approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to Board approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again


10



should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser,

b.  employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children, and

c.  directors of the Company.

Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement specific purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund's shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. Certificates for shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Adviser and their family members, either directly or through their IRAs and by any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation.

The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem shares of the Fund at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

You may redeem shares of the Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Schneider Value Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9837, Providence, RI 02940, or for overnight delivery to Schneider Value


11



Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 and must include:

n   a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

n   any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more, or (iii) a share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three recognized Medallion signature guarantee programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

n   other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of shares by calling the Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Transaction Fee on Certain Redemptions. The Fund requires the payment of a transaction fee on redemptions of shares held for less than 90 days equal to 1.00% of the NAV of such shares redeemed at the time of redemption. This additional transaction fee is paid to the Fund, not to the Adviser, Distributor or Transfer Agent. It is not a sales charge or a contingent deferred sales charge. The fee does not apply to redeemed shares that were purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions. The purpose of the additional transaction fee is to indirectly allocate transaction costs associated with redemptions to those investors making redemptions after holding their shares for a short period, thus protecting existing shareholders. These costs include: (1) brokerage costs; (2) market impact costs — i.e., the decrease in market prices which may result when the Fund sells certain securities in order to raise cash to meet the redemption request; (3) the realization of capital gains by the other shareholders in the Fund; and (4) the effect of the "bid-ask" spread in the over-the-counter market. The 1.00% amount represents the Fund's estimate of the brokerage and other transaction costs which may be incurred by the Fund in disposing of stocks in which the Fund may invest. Without the additional transaction fee, the Fund would generally be selling its shares at a price less than the cost to the Fund of acquiring the portfolio securities necessary to maintain its investment characteristics, resulting in reduced investment performance for all shareholders in the Fund. With the additional transaction fee, the transaction costs of selling additional stocks are not borne by all existing shareholders, but the source of funds for these costs is the transaction fee paid by those investors making redemptions. For purposes of this redemption feature, shares purchased first will be considered to be shares first redeemed.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If your account has a value of at least $20,000, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and receive regular periodic payments. A request to establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan must be


12



submitted in writing to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 9837, Providence, RI 02940. Each withdrawal redemption will be processed on or about the 25th of the month and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. There are no service charges for maintenance; the minimum amount that you may withdraw each period is $100. (This is merely the minimum amount allowed and should not be mistaken for a recommended amount.) The holder of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan will have any income dividends and any capital gains distributions reinvested in full and fractional shares at NAV. To provide funds for payment, shares will be redeemed in such amount as is necessary at the redemption price. The systematic withdrawal of shares may reduce or possibly exhaust the shares in your account, particularly in the event of a market decline. The Fund does not require the payment of a transaction fee on redemptions of shares held for less than 90 days that are redeemed pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan. As with other redemptions, a systematic withdrawal payment is a sale for federal income tax purposes. Payments made pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments may be a return of capital.

You will ordinarily not be allowed to make additional investments of less than the aggregate annual withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan during the time you have the plan in effect. You will receive a confirmation of each transaction showing the sources of the payment and the share and cash balance remaining in your account. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by the Fund and will terminate automatically if all shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account or upon the death or incapacity of the shareholder. You may change the amount and schedule of withdrawal payments or suspend such payments by giving written notice to the Transfer Agent at least ten business days prior to the end of the month preceding a scheduled payment.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Redemption proceeds will ordinarily be paid within seven business days after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE or the bond market is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request.

You will be notified in writing that the value of your account is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

The Fund may assert the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.


13



Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of the net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, of the Fund to the Fund's shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional shares unless you elect otherwise.

The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually and pays them in the calendar year in which they are declared. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed at least annually.

The ex-dividend, record and payable dates of any annual distribution will be available by calling (888) 520-3277.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual United States citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Federal Taxes of Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex- dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."


14



Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares in the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.


15



All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the Fund's SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


16




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Fund share. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions).

    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 
Net asset value,
beginning of year
 

$

19.96

   

$

16.31

   

$

12.77

   

$

12.50

   

$

11.72

   

Net investment income

   

0.07

(1)

   

0.05

(1)

   

0.10

     

0.10

     

0.07

   
Net realized and unrealized
gain/(loss) from investments
and foreign currency
transactions
   

(2.65

)

   

3.67

     

3.58

     

0.23

     

0.80

   
Net increase/(decrease) in
net assets resulting from
operations
   

(2.58

)

   

3.72

     

3.68

     

0.33

     

0.87

   
Dividend and distributions to
shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.09

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.09

)

 
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders
   

(0.09

)

   

(0.07

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.09

)

 

Redemption fees

   

(2)

   

     

(2)

   

(2)

   

(2)

 

Net asset value, end of year

 

$

17.29

   

$

19.96

   

$

16.31

   

$

12.77

   

$

12.50

   

Total investment return (3)

   

(12.99

)%

   

22.83

%

   

29.08

%

   

2.67

%

   

7.35

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of period (000's
omitted)
 

$

24,322

   

$

35,756

   

$

33,872

   

$

43,719

   

$

67,940

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (4)
   

0.90

%

   

0.90

%

   

0.90

%

   

0.90

%

   

0.90

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets without waivers and
expense reimbursements
   

1.74

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.55

%

   

1.28

%

   

1.07

%

 
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (4)
   

0.39

%

   

0.27

%

   

0.39

%

   

0.63

%

   

0.31

%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

62.01

%

   

44.34

%

   

53.08

%

   

55.87

%

   

67.80

%

 

(1)  Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(2)  Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

(3)  Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  Reflects waivers and reimbursements.


17




THE SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes Fund strategies and market conditions that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information

An SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, along with the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports, are available on the Adviser's website at www.schneidercap.com or may be obtained free of charge by calling (888) 520-3277. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is legally considered a part of this prospectus.

Shareholder Account Service Representatives

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: (888) 520-3277.

Purchases and Redemptions

Call your registered representative or (888) 520-3277.

Written Correspondence

Post Office Address:
 
 
 
  Schneider Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PO Box 9837
Providence, RI 02940
 
Street Address:
 
 
 
  Schneider Value Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518




PROSPECTUS

December 31, 2015

SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND*

                    
 
 
  TICKER:
 
 
  CLASS I – DWUGX
CLASS II – DWUHX
INSTITUTIONAL – DWUIX
 

A Series of The RBB Fund, Inc.

INVESTMENT ADVISER:
SCOTIA INSTITUTIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT US, LTD.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has not approved or disapproved
these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

*Scotia, Dynamic and Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund are registered and proprietary trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia, an affiliate of Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (the "Adviser"), used under license by the Adviser.




ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   

PAGE

 

SUMMARY SECTION

   

1

   

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund

   

1

   

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

   

6

   

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK

   

6

   

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS

   

7

   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

   

7

   

INVESTMENT ADVISER

   

7

   

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

   

8

   

PRICING OF FUND SHARES

   

8

   

PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES

   

9

   

REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

   

12

   

MARKET TIMING

   

14

   

SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLANS

   

15

   

DISTRIBUTIONS

   

15

   

TAXES

   

15

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

18

   

HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

 

Back Cover

 


i



SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

 

Investment Objective: The investment objective of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the "Fund") is to seek long-term capital appreciation.

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

    Institutional
Shares
  Class I
Shares
  Class II
Shares
 
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)  
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amounts redeemed
or exchanged within 60 days of purchase)
   

2.00

%

   

2.00

%

   

2.00

%

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay
each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees

   

0.65

%

   

0.65

%

   

0.65

%

 

Shareholder Servicing Fee

   

None

     

0.10

%

   

0.25

%

 

Other Expenses

   

0.45

%

   

0.45

%

   

0.45

%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (1)

   

1.10

%

   

1.20

%

   

1.35

%

 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   

(0.36

)%

   

(0.36

)%

   

(0.36

)%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver
and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)
   

0.74

%

   

0.84

%

   

0.99

%

 

(1)  Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. ("SIAM" or the "Adviser") has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) exceed 0.74% for Institutional Shares, 0.84% for Class I Shares and 0.99% for Class II Shares until December 31, 2016. Prior to such date, this contractual agreement may only be terminated by the Fund's Board of Directors. If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.

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

The example assumes that you invest $1,000,000 in Institutional Shares of the Fund, $25,000 in Class I Shares of the Fund and $10,000 in Class II Shares of the Fund (the minimum initial investment for Class II Shares is $2,000) for the time periods indicated and that you sell your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and Fund operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might be different, your approximate costs of investing $1,000,000 in Institutional Shares of the Fund, $25,000 in Class I Shares of the Fund and $10,000 in Class II Shares of the Fund would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Institutional Shares

 

$

7,558

   

$

31,398

   

$

57,134

   

$

130,788

   

Class I Shares

 

$

214

   

$

863

   

$

1,562

   

$

3,557

   

Class II Shares

 

$

101

   

$

392

   

$

705

   

$

1,593

   


1



Portfolio Turnover: The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was 297.13% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategy: The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of U.S. companies chosen according to a growth oriented investment approach. The Fund may invest in companies of any size, including small and mid capitalization companies, in order to achieve its objective.

When selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser seeks to identify companies demonstrating strong current or prospective earnings growth relative to the overall market and relative to their peer group. While it will not concentrate its investments in any one industry, the Fund may from time to time have significant exposure in one or more sectors of the economy, especially the more growth-oriented sectors, such as the information technology, consumer discretionary and health care sectors.

Techniques such as fundamental analysis may be used to assess potential investments for the Fund. In conducting fundamental analysis of companies that are being considered for purchase in the Fund, the management team evaluates the financial condition and management of a company, its industry and the overall economy. As part of this evaluation, the Adviser may:

•  analyze financial data and other information sources;

•  assess the quality of management; and

•  conduct company interviews, where possible.

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund: Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that equity security prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Price volatility is the principal risk of investing in the Fund. You could lose all or some of your investment in the Fund. In addition, common stocks represent a share of ownership in a company, and rank after bonds and preferred stock in their claim on the company's assets in the event of bankruptcy.

A principal risk of growth stocks is that investors expect growth companies to increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Growth companies also typically do not pay dividends. Companies that pay dividends may experience less significant stock price declines during market downturns.

The small and mid capitalization companies the Fund invests in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small and mid cap companies may have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small and mid cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

The Fund may focus its investments from time to time on one or more economic sectors, in particular the information technology sector. To the extent that it does so, developments affecting companies in that sector or sectors will likely have a magnified effect on the Fund's net asset value and total return. Information technology companies may produce or use products or services that prove commercially unsuccessful, become obsolete or become adversely impacted by government regulation. Competitive pressures in the information technology sector, and the Fund's investments in information technology company securities, may subject it to more volatile price movements than a more diversified securities portfolio.


2



While the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may exceed 400%, the Predecessor Fund's portfolio turnover has typically ranged between 200% and 350%.

The Fund is non-diversified and invests in a limited number of securities. Therefore, the Fund's investment performance may be more volatile, as it may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event than a fund that invests in a greater number of issuers.

The Fund should only be purchased by investors seeking long-term growth of capital who can withstand the share price volatility of equity investing.

Performance Information: The Fund operated as a series of Scotia Institutional Funds prior to the close of business on March 21, 2014 (the "Predecessor Fund"). Before the Fund commenced operations, all of the assets and liabilities of the Predecessor Fund were transferred to the Fund in a tax-free reorganization (the "Reorganization"). The Reorganization occurred on March 21, 2014. As a result of the Reorganization, the Fund assumed the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund prior to the date of the Reorganization. The bar chart and performance table below provide an indication of the risk of an investment in the Fund.

The performance information prior to March 21, 2014 is set forth in the bar chart and table below is that of the Class I shares of the Predecessor Fund. Performance reflects contractual fee waivers that were in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, performance would be reduced. Performance for Institutional Shares and Class II Shares is not shown because Institutional Shares and Class II Shares of the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. Actual after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts ("IRA"). Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at us.scotiafunds.com or by calling 1-888-572-0968.

Annual Return – Class I
For the years ended December 31

Best Quarter: 23.87%
9/30/13

Worst Quarter: (16.50)%
9/30/11

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: 8.04%


3



    Average Annual Total Returns – Class I
For the Periods Ended December 31, 2014
 
   

1 Year

 

5 Years

  Since
Inception
(April 1, 2009)*
 

Before Taxes

   

5.00

%

   

20.18

%

   

24.69

%

 

After Taxes on Distributions (1)

   

2.23

%

   

18.43

%

   

22.25

%

 

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

   

3.70

%

   

15.81

%

   

19.45

%

 
Russell 1000 ® Growth Index
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
   

13.05

%

   

15.81

%

   

20.92

%

 

*  While the Predecessor Fund commenced operations on March 31, 2009, the Predecessor Fund began investing consistent with its investment objective on April 1, 2009.

(1)  After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Investment Adviser: Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (formerly known as GCIC US Ltd.),
1 Adelaide St. E., Ste. 2800, Toronto, ON M5C 2V9.

Portfolio Manager:

Noah Blackstein, CFA
Vice President & Portfolio Manager
Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd.
Length of Service: Since Inception of Predecessor Fund

Purchase and Sale Information: To purchase Institutional Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000,000. To purchase Class I Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $25,000. To purchase Class II Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. Approved brokers and other institutions that purchase shares on behalf of their clients may have their own minimum and subsequent investment requirements. The Adviser may waive minimum investment requirements for initial and subsequent purchases of shares by eligible retirement account investors, participants in third-party distribution platforms and in certain other instances at the Fund's discretion.

You can only purchase and redeem Shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, "Service Organizations"). Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption by Mail:

Regular Mail:
Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041
 
Overnight Delivery:
Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Purchase by Wire: Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 1-888-572-0968 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Fund.


4



Redemption By Telephone: Call the Transfer Agent at 1-888-572-0968.

Tax Information: The Fund intends to make distributions at least annually that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. Additionally, you will recognize gain or loss when you redeem shares. However, the distributions and any gains will not be taxable if you invested through a tax-exempt or tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan account or an individual retirement account, though such amounts may be taxable to you when withdrawn from such account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund Shares and other related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


5




MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

The Fund is a mutual fund. A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using professional investment managers, invests it in securities. Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser's judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the Adviser does, you could lose all or some of your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency.

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the market prices of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

Portfolio Composition

The Fund has a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of U.S. companies chosen according to a growth oriented investment approach (the "80% Policy"). This policy is non-fundamental and can be changed by the Fund's Board of Directors upon 60 days' prior notice to shareholders. For purposes of these 80% Policies, the term "assets" means net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time the Fund invests its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings, but any new investments it makes would be consistent with its 80% Policy.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK

Equity Risk – Equity securities include public and privately issued equity securities, common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock and convertible securities, as well as derivative instruments that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. In general, investments in equity securities and equity derivatives are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause a fund's net asset value to fluctuate. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund's equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

Small/Mid Cap Company Risk – The Fund may invest in small capitalization and mid capitalization companies as part of its principal investment strategy. Small capitalization and mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these companies may have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small cap and mid cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Small cap securities may be traded over the counter or listed on an exchange and it may be harder to sell the smallest capitalization company stocks, which can reduce their selling prices.

Non-Diversification Risk – The Fund is non-diversified and invests in a limited number of securities. Non-diversification risk is the risk that the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse financial, economic or other developments affecting any single issuer, and more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments, than if it were diversified.


6



Portfolio Turnover – The Fund may sell its portfolio securities, regardless of the length of time that they have been held, if the Adviser determines that it would be in the Fund's best interest to do so. It may be appropriate to buy or sell portfolio securities due to economic, market, or other factors that are not within the Adviser's control. These transactions will increase the Fund's "portfolio turnover." A 100% portfolio turnover rate is considered to be high and would occur if all of the securities in the Fund were replaced during the annual measurement period. High turnover rates generally result in higher brokerage costs to the Fund, may result in higher amounts of taxable distributions to shareholders each year and higher effective tax rates on those distribution amounts, and may reduce the Fund's returns.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS

This prospectus describes the Fund's primary strategies. The Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Fund also may invest to a lesser extent in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategy. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") (for information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI see the back cover of this prospectus). Of course, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goals.

The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or in the event of sizeable cash flows into or out of the Fund, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

A complete schedule of the Fund's portfolio holdings, current as of month-end, will be available on the Fund's website at us.scotiafunds.com no earlier than 15 days, and generally within 60 days, after the end of each calendar month. This information will remain available on the website until the Fund files with the SEC its semi-annual/annual shareholder report or quarterly portfolio holdings report that includes such period. The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") may terminate or modify this policy at any time without further notice to shareholders.

A description of the policies and procedures of the Company with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's SAI.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. serves as the Adviser to the Fund. The Adviser's principal place of business is 1 Adelaide St. E., Ste. 2800, Toronto, ON M5C 2V9. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Company, SIAM makes investment decisions for the Fund and also ensures compliance with the Fund's investment policies and guidelines. SIAM was established in 1995 and offers investment management services to investors located in the United States. SIAM is a wholly-owned indirect investment subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia, a Canadian-based bank providing retail, commercial, corporate, investment and international banking services. As of September 30, 2015, SIAM had approximately $204 million in assets under management and advisement.

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.65% of the Fund's average daily net assets, computed daily and payable monthly. A discussion regarding the Board of Directors' basis for approving the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Fund is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.


7



The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) from exceeding 0.74% of the average daily net assets attributable to Institutional Shares, 0.84% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares and 0.99% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class II Shares until December 31, 2016.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid the Adviser 0.29% for its services. Had fee waivers not been in place the Fund would have paid 0.65%.

If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements with respect to the Fund, the Adviser may retain the difference between the "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and the respective percentage to recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of such Fund (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, broker commissions and interest) to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver of reimbursement.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Noah Blackstein joined SIAM in 1997 and is a member of the firm's Power Growth investment team. Noah serves as the lead portfolio manager of the Fund. Previously, Noah served as Associate Portfolio Manager at BPI Mutual Funds. Noah is frequently quoted in industry publications and has been a featured guest on CNBC and other respected financial news programs. Noah is a graduate of the University of Toronto and holds his Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

PRICING OF FUND SHARES

Institutional shares, Class I shares and Class II shares of the Fund ("Shares") are priced separately at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV per Share of each Class of Shares of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The NAV of each Class of Shares of the Fund is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases of Shares at the NAV next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order in good order. The Fund will effect redemptions of Shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your redemption request in good order (as described below).

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). If the Fund holds securities that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the NAV of the Fund's shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund's shares. Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such service or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities.


8



If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be fair valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price.

PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES

Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor").

Institutional Shares of the Fund are primarily for institutional investors investing for their own or their customers' accounts.

Class I Shares of the Fund are primarily for certain individual investors, investments made through financial institutions or intermediaries and institutional investors investing for their own or their customers' accounts.

Class II Shares of the Fund are primarily for certain individual investors and investments made through financial institutions or intermediaries.

General. You may purchase Shares of the Fund at the NAV per Share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is $1,000,000, the minimum initial investment for Class I Shares is $25,000 and the minimum initial investment for Class II Shares is $2,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. The Fund may accept initial investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. You can only purchase Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Fund may also be available through certain Service Organizations. Certain features of the Shares, such as the initial investment minimum and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if Shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of Shares and should read this prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following Business Day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the Service Organization to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after such orders are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.


9



For administration, subaccounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee") based on the average annual NAV of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an account application and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund. Third party endorsed checks or foreign checks will not be accepted.

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041

or overnight to:

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per Share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, Shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed Account Application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-888-572-0968 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.)

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the Fund and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time by purchasing Shares at the NAV per share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 1-888-572-0968 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen calendar days from the purchase date.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-888-572-0968. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of NAV after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other


10



rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of Shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to the Board of Directors' approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold Shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser;

b.  existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold Shares of the closed Fund;

c.  employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents, and children; and

d.  directors of the Company.

Distributions to all shareholders of the Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to Board approval, reserves the right to implement specific purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Shares will be made in full and fractional Shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. Certificates for Shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional Shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Adviser and their family members, either directly or through their IRAs, and by any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation. The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial investment requirement.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's Shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.


11



REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

You may redeem Fund Shares at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem Shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. You may redeem Fund Shares by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9841, Providence, RI 02940-8041, or for overnight delivery to Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581, and must include:

•  a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of Shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the Shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

•  any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more; or (iii) a Share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three recognized Medallion signature guarantee programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

•  other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of Shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-888-572-0968 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder's account in the Fund at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as a result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in the Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed. The Fund may assert the right to redeem your


12



Shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for Shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Redemption Fee. The Board of Trustees has approved a short-term redemption fee of 2% for any redemption or exchange within 60 days of purchase of shares of the Fund. The redemption fee will be calculated as a percentage of the net asset value of total redemption or exchange proceeds. Those shares held the longest will be treated as being redeemed first. The fee will be paid directly to the Fund and is intended to offset the trading costs, market impact and other costs associated with short term money movements in and out of the Fund.

The Fund is authorized to waive the redemption fee for the following transactions:

•  Redemptions from omnibus accounts, fee-based programs and employer-sponsored defined contribution plans maintained by financial intermediaries that inform the Fund that they are unable to impose a redemption fee on their underlying customer accounts;

•  Redemptions where the Shares were purchased through financial intermediaries that the Investment Adviser determines to have appropriate anti-short-term trading policies in place or as to which the Investment Adviser has received assurances that look-through redemption fee procedures or effective anti-short-term trading policies and procedures are in place;

•  Redemptions effected pursuant to asset allocation programs, wrap fee programs and other investment programs offered by financial institutions where investment decisions are made on a discretionary basis by investment professionals;

•  Redemptions pursuant to systematic withdrawal plans and automatic exchange plans;

•  Redemptions of shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends, distributions or other payments;

•  Redemptions due to the death or the post-purchase disability of the beneficial owner of the account;

•  Redemptions to satisfy minimum required distributions from retirement accounts;

•  Redemptions representing the return of excess contributions in retirement accounts;

•  Redemptions initiated by the Fund; and

•  Redemptions following investments of contributions in the Fund by participants in defined contribution plans.

In addition to the circumstances noted above, the Fund reserves the right to waive the redemption fee in its discretion where it believes such waiver is consistent with the best interests of the Fund, to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the Fund reserves the right to add, modify or eliminate the redemption fee or waivers at any time and will give 60 days' prior written notice of any material changes, unless otherwise provided by law.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for a redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholders


13



will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

MARKET TIMING

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise their right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company or the Adviser, has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Company's Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. The Adviser reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information related to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, the Adviser, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor's account with the Fund. The Adviser may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. The Adviser will apply the criteria in a manner that, in the Adviser's judgment, will be uniform.

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund Shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Company. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.


14



SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLANS

The Fund has adopted Shareholder Servicing Plans (the "Service Plans") that allow Class I and Class II Shares of the Fund to use their assets to pay service fees to firms that provide shareholder services ("Service Providers"). Under the Service Plans, if a Service Provider provides shareholder services, including responding to shareholder inquires and assisting shareholders with their accounts, the Fund may pay shareholder service fees to the Service Provider at an annual rate not to exceed 0.10% of its Class I Shares' and 0.25% of its Class II Shares' average daily net assets. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of charges.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Fund at least annually.

TAXES

The following is a summary of certain U.S. tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Distributions

The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations. The high anticipated portfolio turnover rate of the Fund makes it likely that a significant portion of its distributions will not qualify for this favorable treatment.


15



Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares

You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans

The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding

The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.


16



U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders

Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, certain categories of dividends are exempt from the 30% withholding tax. These generally include dividends attributable to the Fund's net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to the Fund's interest income from U.S. obligors and dividends attributable to net short-term capital gains of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes

You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the Fund's SAI.


17




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund.

The information for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 and the fiscal period ended August 31, 2014 have been derived from the financial statements audited by BBD LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, are included in the Fund's Annual Report, which is available, without charge, upon request. The information for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2013, September 30, 2012, and September 30, 2011 has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Predecessor Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Information for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 was audited by the Predecessor Fund's former independent registered public accounting firms.

Institutional Shares and Class II shares of the Fund had not commenced operations as of the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, and therefore no financial highlights information is presented for these Classes of the Fund.


18



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND – CLASS I SHARES

For a Fund Share Outstanding Throughout each Period

    For the Year
Ended
August 31,
2015
  For the Eleven
Months Ended
August 31,
2014 (1)(2)
  For the Year
Ended
September 30,
2013
  For the Year
Ended
September 30,
2012
  For the Year
Ended
September 30,
2011
  For the Year
Ended
September 30,
2010
 
Per Share Operating
Performance
 
Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Period
 

$

27.64

   

$

27.45

   

$

22.45

   

$

18.83

   

$

16.36

   

$

12.32

   

Net investment loss (3)

   

(0.21

)

   

(0.20

)

   

(0.14

)

   

(0.16

)

   

(0.16

)

   

(0.13

)

 
Net realized and unrealized
gain from investments
   

3.04

     

2.96

     

5.14

     

4.21

     

2.82

     

5.80

   
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations
   

2.83

     

2.76

     

5.00

     

4.05

     

2.66

     

5.67

   
Dividends and distributions
to shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

     

     

     

     

     

(0.23

)

 

Net realized gains

   

(2.18

)

   

(2.57

)

   

     

(0.50

)

   

(0.24

)

   

(1.40

)

 
Total dividends and
distributions to
shareholders
   

(2.18

)

   

(2.57

)

   

     

(0.50

)

   

(0.24

)

   

(1.63

)

 
Redemption fees added to
paid-in capital (3)
   

(4)

   

     

     

0.07

     

0.05

     

(4)

 
Net Asset Value,
End of Period
 

$

28.29

   

$

27.64

   

$

27.45

   

$

22.45

   

$

18.83

   

$

16.36

   

Total Investment Return (5)

   

11.49

%

   

10.62

% (6)(7)

   

22.27

%

   

22.31

%

   

16.54

%

   

49.82

%

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

 
Net assets, end of period
(000 's omitted)
 

$

71,523

   

$

59,924

   

$

55,737

   

$

59,007

   

$

53,332

   

$

10,319

   
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets with waivers
and reimbursements
   

0.84

%

   

0.84

% (8)

   

0.86

%

   

0.95

%

   

0.95

%

   

0.95

%

 
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets without waivers
and reimbursements
   

1.20

%

   

1.13

% (8)

   

1.13

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.32

%

   

6.14

%

 
Ratio of net investment loss
to average net assets
   

(0.77

)%

   

(0.80

)% (8)

   

(0.63

)%

   

(0.75

)%

   

(0.80

)%

   

(0.90

)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

297.13

%

   

276.74

% (6)

   

345.12

%

   

323.54

%

   

358.15

%

   

244.38

%

 

(1)  The Fund changed its Fiscal year end to August 31.

(2)  Effective as of the close of business on March 21, 2014, the Fund acquired all the assets and liabilities of the Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ("Predecessor Fund"), a series of Scotia Institutional Funds. The financial highlights for the period to that date reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund.

(3)  The selected per share data was calculated based on average shares outstanding method for the period.

(4)  Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(5)  Total investment return is calculated assuming purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividend and distributions, if any. Periods less than one year are not annualized.

(6)  Not annualized.

(7)  Includes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, consequently, the net asset value for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those net asset values may differ from the net asset values and returns for the shareholder transactions.

(8)  Annualized


19




HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund of
The RBB Fund, Inc.
1-888-572-0968
us.scotiafunds.com

For More Information:

This prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes Fund strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders are available on the Fund's website at us.scotiafunds.com.

Statement of Additional Information ("SAI")

The Fund's SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, and the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual reports, may be obtained free of charge by calling 1-888-572-0968. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is legally considered a part of this prospectus. The SAI is available on the Fund's website at us.scotiafunds.com.

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: 1-888-572-0968.

Purchases And Redemptions

Call your registered representative or 1-888-572-0968.

Written Correspondence

P.O. Box Address:

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PO Box 9841, Providence, RI 02940-8041

Street Address:

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-0551




Summit Global Investments
U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
Prospectus

December 31, 2015

Class A Shares (Ticker: LVOLX)
Retail Shares (Ticker: SGLVX)
Class I Shares (Ticker: SILVX)
Class C Shares (Ticker: SGICX)

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

This prospectus gives vital information about the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (the "Fund"), an investment portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company"), including information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and protection, please read it before you invest and keep it on hand for future reference.

THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ("SEC"). THE SEC, HOWEVER, HAS NOT JUDGED THESE SECURITIES FOR THEIR INVESTMENT MERIT AND HAS NOT DETERMINED THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.




A look at the goals, strategies, risks and financial history of the Fund.

Details about the Fund's service providers.

Policies and instructions for opening, maintaining and closing an account in the Fund.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY SECTION

   

1

   

Investment Objective

   

1

   

Expenses and Fees

   

1

   

Performance Information

   

3

   

Management of the Fund

   

5

   

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

   

5

   

Tax Information

   

5

   
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial
Intermediaries
   

5

   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S
INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
   

6

   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

   

8

   

Investment Adviser

   

8

   

Portfolio Managers

   

8

   

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   

9

   

Pricing of Fund Shares

   

9

   

Sales Charges

   

9

   

Market Timing

   

11

   

Purchase of Fund Shares

   

12

   

Redemption of Fund Shares

   

15

   

Dividends and Distributions

   

17

   

Taxes

   

17

   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   

20

   
Appendix A — Prior Performance of Similarly
Advised Accounts
   

21

   

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Back Cover

 


SUMMARY SECTION

Investment Objective

The Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (the "Fund") seeks to outperform the S&P 500 ® Index over a market cycle while reducing overall volatility. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Expenses and Fees

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on Class A Shares if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section of the Prospectus entitled "Shareholder Information — Sales Charges" and in the section of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") entitled "Purchase and Redemption Information — Reducing or Eliminating the Front-End Sales Charge."

   

Class I

 

Class A

  Retail
Class
 

Class C

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
   

None

     

5.25

%

   

None

     

None

   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)

   

None

     

None (1)

     

None

     

None

   
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested
Dividends
   

None

     

None

     

None

     

None

   
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed
on shares held for less than 60 days, if applicable)
   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

 
Exchange Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed on
shares held for less than 60 days, if applicable)
   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

   

1.50

%

 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that that you pay each
year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

Management Fees

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

   

0.70

%

 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

   

0.00

%

   

0.25

%

   

0.25

%

   

1.00

%

 
Other Expenses (2)    

0.50

%

   

0.50

%

   

0.50

%

   

0.50

%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses    

1.20

%

   

1.45

%

   

1.45

%

   

2.20

%

 

Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (3)

   

(0.22

)%

   

(0.22

)%

   

(0.22

)%

   

(0.22

)%

 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers
and/or Expense Reimbursements
   

0.98

%

   

1.23

%

   

1.23

%

   

1.98

%

 

(1)   A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A Shares made within 18 months after purchase where no initial sales charge was paid at time of purchase as part of an investment of $1,000,000 or more.

(2)   "Other Expenses" for Class A Shares, Retail Shares, and Class C Shares, which had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, are estimated based on Class I Shares for the most recent fiscal year.

(3)   Summit Global Investments, LLC (the "Adviser"), the Fund's investment adviser, has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through December 31, 2016 to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.23%, 1.23%, 0.98% and 1.98% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares, Retail Shares, Class I Shares and Class C Shares, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses,


1



the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.23%, 0.98% or 1.98%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation may not be terminated before December 31, 2016 without the approval of the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. Effective January 1, 2013, if at any time the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for that year are less than 1.23%, 1.23%, 0.98% and 1.98% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares, Retail Shares, Class I Shares and Class C Shares, respectively, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

Example:

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Class A Shares, Retail Shares or Class C Shares or $1,000,000 in the Class I Shares of the Fund and for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

   

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

 

Class I

 

$

9,997

   

$

35,919

   

$

63,849

   

$

143,508

   

Class A

 

$

644

   

$

939

   

$

1,256

   

$

2,151

   

Retail Class

 

$

125

   

$

437

   

$

771

   

$

1,716

   

Class C

 

$

201

   

$

667

   

$

1,160

   

$

2,517

   

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities, primarily common stocks, of companies within the Russell 1000 ® Index and S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund's investments will generally consist of securities, which may include common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market.

The Adviser attempts to lower the Fund's market risk by investing in U.S. equity securities that lower the overall volatility of the Fund's portfolio as compared to the S&P 500 ® Index. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index. The Fund invests in stocks that exhibit less volatile stock price patterns, strengthening business metrics (i.e., earnings, debt, return on assets, competition, customers, industry, etc.) and quantitative factors such as earnings variability, leverage, volatility, price/book, price/cash flow, etc. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund that it anticipates will produce less volatility with more capital protection and more consistent returns. While the Adviser attempts to manage the Fund's volatility, there is no guarantee that the strategy will be successful or that the Fund's portfolio will not experience periods of volatility.

The Fund will sell a stock if the Adviser identifies fundamental, governance or legal risks or if the risk/return ranking declines due to increasing risk and/or decreasing return potential. The Fund may also decrease weight in an investment for risk control purposes.


2



Principal Risks

Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. In addition, your investment in the Fund may be subject to the following principal risks:

n    Common Stock Risk. Investments in common stocks are subject to market, economic and business risks that will cause their price to fluctuate over time. Therefore, an investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these fluctuations. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

n    Convertible Securities Risk. Securities that can be converted into common stock, such as certain securities and preferred stock, are subject to the usual risks associated with fixed income investments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, because they react to changes in the value of the equity securities into which they will convert, convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with equity securities.

n    Warrants Risk. The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the warrant's expiration. Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security's market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

n    Low Volatility Risk. Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, a portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks' price levels. Investing in low volatility stocks may limit the Fund's gains in rising markets.

n    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The risk that when investing on a shorter-term basis, the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders of the Fund. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% is considered to be high. For the last fiscal year, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was lower than 100%, but the Fund's portfolio turnover rate is expected to vary from year to year. The Adviser may engage in active trading, and will not consider portfolio turnover a limiting factor in making decisions for the Fund.

n    Management Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk of poor stock selection. In other words, the individual stocks in the Fund may not perform as well as expected, and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result.

n    Market Risk. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund will change with changes in the market value of its portfolio positions. Investors may lose money. Although the Fund will invest in stocks the Adviser believes will produce less volatility, there is no guarantee that the stocks will perform as expected.

n    Opportunity Risk. As with all mutual funds, the Fund is subject to the risk of missing out on an opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less advantageous investments.

Performance Information

The bar chart and table below illustrate the performance of the Fund's Class I Shares. The bar chart below shows you how the Fund's Class I Share performance has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. Performance Information for Class A Shares, Retail Shares, and Class C Shares is not shown because Class A Shares, Retail Shares, and Class C Shares had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Class A Shares, Retail Shares, and Class C Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because each Class of shares will be invested in the same portfolio of securities. Annual returns will differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced. Updated performance information may be obtained at www.summitglobalinvestments.com or by calling 1-855-744-8500.


3



TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31

Best and Worst Quarterly Performance (for the period reflected in the chart above):
Best Quarter: 13.53% (quarter ended March 31, 2013)
Worst Quarter: (1.56)% (quarter ended June 30, 2013)

Year-to-date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2015: (1.28)%

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

The table below compares the Fund's Class I average annual total returns for the past calendar year and since inception to the average annual total returns of a broad-based securities market index for the same periods. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indicator of how the Fund will perform in the future.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

   

1 Year

  Since Inception
(February 29, 2012)
 
Class I Before Taxes    

14.94

%

   

15.76

%

 
Class I After Taxes on Distributions (1)    

13.53

%

   

14.83

%

 
Class I After Taxes on Distributions
and Sale of Fund Shares
   

9.08

%

   

12.11

%

 
S&P 500 ® Index
(reflects reinvestment of dividends)
   

11.39

%

   

15.33

%

 

(1)   After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts ("IRAs").


4



Management of the Fund

Investment Adviser

Summit Global Investments, LLC

Portfolio Managers

David Harden
President of the Adviser
Portfolio Manager of the Fund since inception

Rick Jaster, CFA
Portfolio Manager of the Fund since July 2013

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

   

Minimum Initial Investment

 

Class I

 

$

1,000,000

   

Class A

 

$

2,500

   

Retail Class

 

$

2,500

   

Class C

 

$

2,500

   

You can only purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on days the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals. Shares of the Fund may also be purchased and redeemed directly through The RBB Fund, Inc. by the means described below.

Purchase and Redemption By Mail:

Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940-8041

Overnight Mail:
Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Purchase and Redemption By Wire:

Before sending any wire, call BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at 855-744-8500 to confirm the current wire instructions for the Fund.

Redemption By Telephone:

If you select the option on your account application, you may call the Transfer Agent at 855-744-8500.

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


5




ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

This section provides some additional information about the Fund's investments and certain portfolio management techniques that the Fund may use. More information about the Fund's investments and portfolio management techniques, and related risks, is included in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

The Fund invests into stocks that exhibit lower volatile stock price patterns, strengthening business metrics and quantitative factors that the Adviser anticipates will produces lower volatility. The Fund will sell a stock if it no longer meets one or more investment criteria, including if the Adviser identifies fundamental, governance or legal risks or if the risk/return ranking declines due to increasing risk and/or decreasing return potential.

Investment Objective

The Fund's investment objective may be changed by the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company") without shareholder approval. Shareholders will, however, receive 60 days' prior notice of any changes. Any such changes may result in the Fund having an investment objective different from the objective that the shareholder considered appropriate at the time of investment in the Fund.

Portfolio Composition

The Fund has a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities, primarily common stocks, of companies within the Russell 1000 ® Index and S&P 500 ® Index (the "80% Policy"). This policy is non-fundamental and can be changed by the Fund's Board of Directors upon 60 days' prior notice to shareholders. The Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time the Fund invests its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings, but any new investments it makes would be consistent with its 80% Policy.

Additional Information About the Fund's Principal Investments and Risks

Equity and Equity-Related Securities. The Fund will invest in equity securities as part of its principal investment strategies, including exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants and convertible securities. Investments in equity securities are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time. The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the warrant's expiration. The value of such securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. The market value of a portfolio holding may fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity securities change in response to many factors, including the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity. Decreases in market value of the Fund's portfolio securities could adversely affect the Fund's NAV.

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities have characteristics of both equity and fixed income securities. The value of a convertible security tends to move with the market value of the underlying stock, but may also be affected by interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. In particular, when interest rates rise, fixed income securities will decline in value.

Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading, resulting in high portfolio turnover. This may lead to the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, increasing their tax liability. Frequent trading may also increase transaction costs, which could detract from the Fund's performance.


6



Mid-Cap Companies. Investing in securities of companies with mid-sized capitalizations tends to be riskier than investing in securities of companies with large capitalizations. Securities of companies with mid-sized capitalizations tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies and, on occasion, may fluctuate in the opposite direction of large cap company securities or the broader stock market averages.

Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies not affiliated with the Adviser, but may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. Among other things, the Fund may invest in money market mutual funds for cash management purposes by "sweeping" excess cash balances into such funds until the cash is invested or otherwise utilized. Rule 12d1-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, permits the Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund so long as, among other things, said investment is consistent with the Fund's investment objectives and policies. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by investment companies in which it invests in addition to the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund.

Securities Lending. The Fund may seek to increase its income by lending portfolio securities to institutions, such as certain broker-dealers. Portfolio securities loans are secured continuously by collateral maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned by the Fund will not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund may experience a loss or delay in the recovery of its securities if the borrowing institution breaches its agreement with the Fund. Lending the Fund's portfolio securities involves the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral if the value of the securities goes up while they are on loan. The Fund may lose money from securities lending if, for example, it is delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral after the loan is made or recovering the securities loaned or if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

Borrowing. The Fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes. The Fund will not make any additional investments while borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

Temporary Investments. The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions by taking a temporary defensive position (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and all types of money market and short-term debt securities. The value of money market instruments tends to fall when current interest rates rise. Money market instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer-term securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

Broad-Based Securities Market Index

The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, classified in eleven industry sectors, which represent approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in the index.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Company's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's SAI. The SAI is incorporated herein.


7



MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser

Summit Global Investments, LLC (the "Adviser") serves as the Fund's investment adviser. The Adviser's principal address is 620 South Main St., Bountiful, Utah 84010. The Adviser provides investment management and investment advisory services to investment companies and other institutional accounts. The Adviser is 100% privately-owned, and was founded in 2010.

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through December 31, 2016 to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.23%, 1.23%, 0.98% and 1.98% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares, Retail Shares, Class I Shares and Class C Shares, respectively. In determining the Adviser's obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.23%, 0.98% or 1.98%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation may not be terminated before December 31, 2016 without the approval of the Company's Board of Directors. Effective January 1, 2013, if at any time the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for that year are less than 1.23%, 0.98% or 1.98%, as applicable, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, after waivers, the Adviser received 0.49% of the Fund's average net assets in investment advisory fees from the Fund. Had fee waivers not been in place, the Adviser would have received 0.70% of the Fund's average net assets in advisory fees from the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Company's Board of Directors approving the Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Adviser is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

Portfolio Managers

The President of the Adviser, David Harden, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's investment portfolio. Mr. Harden founded the Adviser in 2010, and has managed the Fund since its inception. He started his career in 1993 and has worked for such firms as Fidelity Investments, Wellington Management and Evergreen Investments. From 2007 to 2012, Mr. Harden worked with Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc., most recently as Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, where he managed and oversaw day-to-day research, portfolio management and trading for all index, quantitative and low volatility strategies.

Rick Jaster, CFA, is a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Adviser. Mr. Jaster joined the Adviser in July, 2013. Mr. Jaster has a BS and MBA from Brigham Young University ("BYU"). He was with Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc., an endowment providing investment management for BYU and affiliated universities and religious entities from May, 1995 to July, 2013. At Ensign Peak Advisors, Mr. Jaster worked as a financial services industry analyst and later became a portfolio manager of U.S. micro-cap stocks. Later he joined the asset allocation team and helped implement a risk parity portfolio, effectively reducing the equity risk found in traditional balanced portfolios. He also successfully designed and managed a portfolio of active global low volatility stocks, providing an alternative to passive global low volatility strategies, which often contain over-priced stocks.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund.


8



SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Class I Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund are sold at their net asset value ("NAV"). Class A Shares of the Fund are sold at their NAV, plus a front-end sales charge, if applicable. The NAV of a class of the Fund is calculated as follows:

The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases of Fund shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your purchase order in good order. The Fund will effect redemptions of Fund shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt by the Transfer Agent of your redemption request in good order.

The Fund's equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by the Fund's administrator, in consultation with the Adviser, securities will be valued by the Adviser in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and under the Board of Directors' ultimate supervision. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by a Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in exchange-traded and closed-end funds will be valued at their market price.

Sales Charges

General. Purchases of Class A Shares of the Fund are subject to a front-end sales charge of up to five and one-quarter percent (5.25%) of the total purchase price; however, sales charges may be reduced for large purchases as indicated below. Sales charges are not imposed on shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other


9



distributions. The table below indicates the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested. The term "offering price" includes the front-end sales charge.

Amount of Purchase of Class A Shares

  Sales Charge as a
% of Offering Price
  Commission as a
% of Offering Price
 

Less than $50,000

   

5.25

%

   

4.75

%

 

At least $50,000 but less than $100,000

   

4.75

%

   

4.25

%

 

At least $100,000 but less than $250,000

   

3.50

%

   

3.25

%

 

At least $250,000 but less than $500,000

   

2.50

%

   

2.25

%

 

At least $500,000 but less than $750,000

   

2.00

%

   

1.90

%

 

At least $750,000 but less than $1,000,000

   

1.50

%

   

1.45

%

 
$ 1,000,000 or greater    

None

     

**

   

**   No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1,000,000 or more; however, a 1% contingent deferred sales charge is imposed in the event of redemption within 18 months following any such purchase. See the section entitled "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions." Brokers who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1,000,000 or more may receive a commission of up to 1% of the offering price of Class A Shares.

Combined Purchase Privilege. Certain purchases of Fund shares made at the same time by you, your spouse and your children under age 25 may be combined for purposes of determining the "Amount of Purchase." The combined purchase privilege may also apply to certain employee benefit plans and trust estates. The following purchases may be combined for purposes of determining the "Amount of Purchase": (a) individual purchases, if made at the same time, by a single purchaser, the purchaser's spouse and children under the age of 25 purchasing shares for their own accounts, including shares purchased by a qualified retirement plan(s) exclusively for the benefit of such individual(s) (such as an IRA, individual-type section 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan) or by a "Company," as defined in Section 2(a)(8) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), solely controlled, as defined in the 1940 Act, by such individual(s), or (b) individual purchases by trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares (i) for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, including an employee benefit plan, or (ii) concurrently by two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of employers affiliated with each other in accordance with Section 2(a)(3)(c) of the 1940 Act (excluding in either case an employee benefit plan described in (a) above), provided such trustees or other fiduciaries purchase shares in a single payment. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts may not be combined with purchases made for such other accounts. You may also further discuss the combined purchase privilege with your investment broker, brokerage firm, financial institution, or other industry professional, including affiliates of the Adviser (collectively, "Service Organizations"). In order to take advantage of the combined purchase privilege, the purchases combined must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

Cumulative Quantity Discount. You may combine the value of shares held in the Fund, along with the dollar amount of shares being purchased, to qualify for a cumulative quantity discount. The value of shares held is the higher of their cost or current NAV. For example, if you hold shares having a value of $225,000 and purchase $25,000 of additional shares, the sales charge applicable to the additional investment would be 2.50%, the rate applicable to a single purchase of $250,000. In order to receive the cumulative quantity discount, the value of shares held must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

Letter of Intent. If you anticipate purchasing at least $50,000 of shares within a 13-month period, the shares may be purchased at a reduced sales charge by completing and returning a Letter of Intent (the "Letter"), which can be provided to you by your investment broker or other Service Organization. The reduced sales charge may also be obtained on shares purchased within the 90 days prior to the date of receipt of the Letter. Shares purchased under the Letter are eligible for the same reduced sales charge that would have been available had all the shares been purchased at the same time. There is no obligation to purchase the full amount of shares indicated in the Letter. Should you invest more or less than indicated in the Letter during the 13-month period, the sales charge will be recalculated based on the actual amount purchased. A portion of the amount of the intended purchase normally will be held in escrow in the form of Fund shares pending completion of the intended purchase.


10



Sales Charge Waivers. The Fund sells Class A Shares at NAV without imposition of a sales charge to the following persons:

n   current and retired (as determined by the Adviser) employees of the Adviser and its affiliates, their spouses and children under the age of 25 and employee benefit plans for such employees, provided orders for such purchases are placed by the employee;

n   any other investment company in connection with the combination of such company with the Fund by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise;

n   Directors of the Company and registered representatives of Service Organizations;

n   existing advisory clients of the Adviser on purchases effected by transferring all or a portion of their investment management or trust account to the Fund, provided that such account had been maintained for a period of six months prior to the date of purchase of Fund shares;

n   trust companies, bank trust departments and registered investment advisers purchasing for accounts over which they exercise investment authority and which are held in a fiduciary, agency, advisory, custodial or similar capacity, provided that the amount collectively invested or to be invested in the Fund by such entity or adviser during the subsequent 13-month period totals at least $50,000;

n   employer-sponsored retirement plans with assets of at least $50,000 or 25 or more eligible participants; and

n   accounts established under a fee-based program sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and approved by the Distributor.

In order to take advantage of a sales charge waiver, a purchaser must certify to the Service Organization eligibility for a waiver and must notify the Service Organization whenever eligibility for a waiver ceases to exist. A Service Organization reserves the right to request additional information from a purchaser in order to verify that such purchaser is so eligible. Such information may include account statements or other records regarding shares of the Fund held by you or your immediate family household members.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions. Purchases of $1,000,000 or more are not subject to an initial sales charge; however, a contingent deferred sales charge is payable on these investments in the event of a share redemption within 18 months following the share purchase, at the rate of 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable, and the amount of the charge, it is assumed that shares purchased with reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions and then other shares held the longest are the first redeemed. The contingent deferred sales charge is further discussed in the SAI.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by its Board of Directors, the Company discourages and does not accommodate market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of Fund Shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to (i) reject a purchase or exchange order, (ii) delay payment of immediate cash redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days, (iii) revoke a shareholder's privilege to purchase Fund Shares (including exchanges), or (iv) limit the amount of any exchange involving the purchase of Fund Shares. An investor may receive notice that their purchase order or exchange has been rejected after the day the order is placed or after acceptance by a financial intermediary. It is currently expected that a shareholder would receive notice that its purchase order or exchange has been rejected within 48 hours after such purchase order or exchange has been received by the Company in good order. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise its right if, in the Company's (or the Adviser's) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor's trading, in the judgment of the Company (or the Adviser), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect


11



and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

To deter excessive shareholder trading, the Fund charges a redemption fee of 1.50% on shares redeemed within 60 days of purchase. For further information on redemptions, please see the section entitled "Shareholder Information — Redemptions of Fund Shares."

There is no assurance that the Adviser will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company's excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the "Distributor").

The Board of Directors has approved a Distribution Agreement and adopted Plans of Distribution for Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares (the "Plans") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plans, the Distributor is entitled to receive from the Fund a distribution fee with respect to Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund, which is accrued daily and paid monthly, of up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares and Retail Shares, and of up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares. The actual amount of such compensation under the Plans is agreed upon by the Company's Board of Directors and by the Distributor. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment in Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Amounts paid to the Distributor under the Plans may be used by the Distributor to cover expenses that are related to (i) the sale of Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares, (ii) ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of Class A, Retail and Class C shareholders, and (iii) sub-transfer agency services, subaccounting services or administrative services related to the sale of Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares, all as set forth in the Plans. Ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of Class A, Retail and Class C shareholders may include updating and mailing prospectuses and shareholder reports, responding to inquiries regarding shareholder accounts and acting as agent or intermediary between shareholders and the Fund or its service providers. The Distributor may delegate some or all of these functions to Service Organizations. See "Purchases Through Intermediaries" below.

The Plans obligate the Fund, during the period it is in effect, to accrue and pay to the Distributor on behalf of the Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares the fee agreed to under the Distribution Agreement. Payments under the Plans are not tied exclusively to expenses actually incurred by the Distributor, and the payments may exceed distribution expenses actually incurred.

Purchases Through Intermediaries. Shares of the Fund may also be available through Service Organizations. Certain features of the shares, such as the initial and subsequent investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements


12



with the Company or its agent and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company's pricing on the following Business Day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received by the Fund in good order, the Transfer Agent will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the appropriate Fund's NAV next computed after they are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

For administration, sub-accounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser, the Distributor or their affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the "Service Fee") relating to the average annual NAV of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

General. You may also purchase shares of the Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company's records. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500 for Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares and $1,000,000 for Class I Shares and there is no minimum subsequent investment amount. The minimum initial investment requirements may be reduced or waived from time to time. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial purchase, purchases by clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be combined. You can only purchase shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below. Shares may be purchased by principals and employees of the Adviser and its subsidiaries and by their spouses and children either directly or through any trust that has the principal, employee, spouse or child as the primary beneficiaries, their individual retirement accounts, or any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser and its subsidiaries without being subject to the minimum investment limitations.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, an account may be opened by completing and signing an Account Application and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund. Third party endorsed checks or foreign checks will not be accepted.

Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940

or overnight to:

Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

Subject to acceptance by the Fund, payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Fund, shares may be purchased by wiring federal funds to The Bank of New York Mellon. A completed Account Application must be forwarded to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire. Notification must be given to the


13



Transfer Agent at (888) 520-3277 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification must also be received from investors with existing accounts.) For current wire instructions, contact the Transfer Agent at 855-744-8500.

Federal funds wire purchases will be accepted only on days when the NYSE and The Bank of New York Mellon are open for business.

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time by purchasing shares at the NAV per share of the Fund by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund) or by wiring monies to The Bank of New York Mellon as outlined above under "Initial Investment by Wire." Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at 855-744-8500 prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and additional purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the purchase date.

Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through the Automatic Investment Plan. Investors who would like to participate in the Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at 855-744-8500, or complete the appropriate section of the account application. The minimum initial investment for the Automatic Investment Plan is $1,000 for Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares and $1,000,000 for Class I Shares. Minimum monthly payments are $100 for Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares and $1,000 for Class I Shares.

Retirement Plans/IRA Accounts. Shares may be purchased in conjunction with individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and rollover IRAs. A $20.00 retirement custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact the Transfer Agent at 855-744-8500. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax adviser.

Purchases in Kind. In certain circumstances, Shares of the Fund may be purchased "in kind" (i.e. in exchange for securities, rather than cash). The securities rendered in connection with an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Company's valuation procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund will be valued, as set forth in this Prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The Shares of the Fund that are issued to the investor in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividends, subscriptions, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for its Shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the Fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the Adviser or the Company. Purchases in-kind may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the securities transferred to the Fund.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund. The Adviser will monitor the Fund's total assets and may, subject to Board approval, decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund's strategy. The Adviser, subject to Board approval, may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund's size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, the Fund may be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons who may be subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a.  persons who already hold shares of the closed Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Adviser,

b.  employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children, and

c.  Directors of the Company.


14



Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors' discretion, reserves the right to implement specific purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund's shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places. Certificates for shares will not be issued except at the written request of the shareholder. Certificates for fractional shares, however, will not be issued.

Shares may be purchased and subsequent investments may be made by principals and employees of the Adviser and their family members, either directly or through their IRAs and by any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser, without being subject to the minimum investment limitation.

The Adviser is authorized to waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Good Order. A purchase request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that an investor's identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's shares when an investor's identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem shares of the Fund at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. You can only redeem shares of the Fund on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

You may redeem shares of the Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., P.O. Box 9841, Providence, RI 02940, or for overnight delivery to Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 and must include:

n   a letter of instruction, if required, or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the exact names in which they are registered;

n   any required Medallion signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s), (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more, or (iii) a share transfer request is made. A Medallion signature guarantee is a special signature guarantee that may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association which is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. A Medallion imprint or Medallion stamp indicates that the financial institution is a member of a Medallion signature guarantee program and is an acceptable signature guarantor. The three


15



recognized Medallion signature guarantee programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable; and

n   other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to utilize the telephone redemption option, you must indicate that option on your Account Application. Please note that the telephone redemption option is not available for retirement accounts. You may then initiate a redemption of shares by calling the Transfer Agent at 855-744-8500 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If the telephone redemption option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Fund or its Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Fund or its Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Fund and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Transaction Fee on Certain Redemptions. The Fund requires the payment of a transaction fee on redemptions of shares held for less than 60 days equal to 1.50% of the NAV of such shares redeemed at the time of redemption. This additional transaction fee is paid to the Fund, not to the Adviser, distributor or Transfer Agent. It is not a sales charge or a contingent deferred sales charge. The fee does not apply to redeemed shares that were purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions. The purpose of the additional transaction fee is to indirectly allocate transaction costs associated with redemptions to those investors making redemptions after holding their shares for a short period, thus protecting existing shareholders. These costs include: (1) brokerage costs; (2) market impact costs — i.e., the decrease in market prices which may result when the Fund sells certain securities in order to raise cash to meet the redemption request; (3) the realization of capital gains by the other shareholders in the Fund; and (4) the effect of the "bid-ask" spread in the over-the-counter market. The 1.50% amount represents the Fund's estimate of the brokerage and other transaction costs which may be incurred by the Fund in disposing of stocks in which the Fund may invest. Without the additional transaction fee, the Fund would generally be selling its shares at a price less than the cost to the Fund of acquiring the portfolio securities necessary to maintain its investment characteristics, resulting in reduced investment performance for all shareholders in the Fund. With the additional transaction fee, the transaction costs of selling additional stocks are not borne by all existing shareholders, but the source of funds for these costs is the transaction fee paid by those investors making redemptions. For purposes of this redemption feature, shares purchased first will be considered to be shares first redeemed.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for shares of the Fund recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire purchase option. Redemption proceeds will ordinarily be paid within seven business days after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in good order. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date at times when the NYSE or the bond market is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by an in-kind distribution of readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received in the payment of redemptions. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk of the securities received in the redemption until their disposition and should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by


16



Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Good Order. A redemption request is considered to be in good order when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed and delivered. Redemption requests not in good order may be delayed.

Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem your account at any time the value of the account falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request.

You will be notified in writing that the value of your account is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

The Fund may assert the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of the net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, of the Fund to the Fund's shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional shares unless you elect otherwise.

The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income quarterly. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed at least annually.

The ex-dividend, record and payable dates of any annual distribution will be available by calling 855-744-8500.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual United States citizens or residents. You should consult your tax adviser for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Distributions. The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 23.8% (which includes a 3.8% Medicare tax). You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distributions of "qualifying dividends" will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or "qualified" foreign corporations ("qualifying dividends"), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for this favorable


17



treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations. The amount of the dividends qualifying for this deduction may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities (if any), by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt securities or foreign corporations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

Sales of Shares. You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale or redemption of your shares based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them.

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Fund (or relevant broker or financial adviser) is required to compute and report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold. The Fund has elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different IRS-accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans. The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable unless such shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are "exempt recipients." The current backup withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Generally, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors are subject to a 30% withholding tax on dividends paid by a U.S. corporation, although the rate may be reduced for an investor that is a qualified resident of a foreign country with an applicable tax treaty with the United States. In the case of a regulated investment company such as the Fund, however, dividends attributable to the Fund's


18



net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital loss) are generally exempt from the 30% withholding tax.

Foreign shareholders will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund, except that a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a calendar year will be taxable on such gains and on capital gain dividends from the Fund.

In contrast, if a foreign investor conducts a trade or business in the United States and the investment in the Fund is effectively connected with that trade or business, then the foreign investor's income from the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates in a manner similar to the income of a U.S. citizen or resident.

The Fund will also generally be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not provide a Form W-8BEN-E that evidences their compliance with, or exemption from, specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes. You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income and gain from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

More information about taxes is contained in the Fund's SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND'S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE DISTRIBUTOR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.


19




FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the periods indicated, including per share information results for a single Class I Share of the Fund. The term "Total investment return" indicates how much your investment would have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you have reinvested all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the Fund's financial statements and has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. This information should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements which, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request (see back cover for ordering instructions). There are no financial highlights for Class A Shares, Retail Shares or Class C Shares of the Fund because Class A Shares and Retail Shares have not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus.

   

Class I Shares

 
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2015
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
  For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
  For the Period
February 29, 2012 to
August 31, 2012 (1)
 

Per Share Operating Performance

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

13.72

   

$

11.85

   

$

10.18

   

$

10.00

   

Net investment income (2)

   

0.21

     

0.16

     

0.15

     

0.08

   
Net realized and unrealized gain from
investments (3)
   

0.44

     

2.01

     

1.64

     

0.10

   
Net Increase in net assets resulting
from operations
   

0.65

     

2.17

     

1.79

     

0.18

   
Dividends and Distributions to
Shareholders from:
 

Net investment income

   

(0.16

)

   

(0.08

)

   

(0.05

)

   

   

Net realized gains

   

(0.43

)

   

(0.22

)

   

(0.07

)

   

   
Total Dividends and Distributions
to Shareholders
   

(0.59

)

   

(0.30

)

   

(0.12

)

   

   

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

13.78

   

$

13.72

   

$

11.85

   

$

10.18

   

Total investment return (4)

   

4.82

%

   

18.57

%

   

17.78

%

   

1.80

% (5)

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

 
Net assets, end of period
(000 's omitted)
 

$

72,850

   

$

60,266

   

$

25,638

   

$

3,602

   
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements
   

0.98

%

   

0.98

%

   

0.98

%

   

0.98

% (6)

 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and reimbursements
   

1.20

%

   

1.35

%

   

2.74

%

   

20.03

% (6)

 
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets
   

1.47

%

   

1.25

%

   

1.34

%

   

1.64

% (6)

 

Portfolio turnover rate

   

42

%

   

110

%

   

81

%

   

95

% (5)

 

(1)  The Fund commenced investment operations on February 29, 2012.

(2)  The selected per share data was calculated based on average shares outstanding method for the period.

(3)  The amount shown may not correlate with the change in the aggregate gains and losses due to the timing of sales and purchases of the Fund's shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund's portfolio.

(4)  Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(5)  Not annualized.

(6)  Annualized.


20



Appendix A

Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts

The Adviser has experience in managing other accounts with substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Fund. The table below is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing all such other accounts and does not represent the performance of the Fund. Investors should not consider this performance information as a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this information as an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser. This performance history is net of all fees (including any applicable sales loads) charged to investors in the other accounts. The net returns are derived using the investment advisory fixed rate fee of 1.00% on total assets applicable for each other account and calculated on a monthly basis. The composite includes other accounts that pay lower expenses than those paid by shareholders of the Fund. Higher expenses reduce returns to investors. The use of the Fund's expense structure would have lowered the performance results. The Fund's results in the future also may be different because the other accounts are not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds under applicable U.S. securities and tax laws that, if applicable, could have adversely affected the performance of the other accounts. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the other accounts.

The performance of the other accounts is also compared to the performance of an appropriate broad-based securities benchmark index. This index is unmanaged and is not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed funds, including the Fund. Investors cannot invest directly in the Index. The performance information is accompanied by additional disclosures, which are an integral part of the information.

COMPOSITE — MONTHLY PERFORMANCE TABLE NET OF FEES
(SINCE INCEPTION JANUARY 14, 2011 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2011)
1,2,3

   

Jan

 

Feb

 

Mar

 

Apr

 

May

 

Jun

 

Jul

 

Aug

 

Sep

 

Oct

 

Nov

 

Dec

 
US Equity Low
Volatility
Composite
   

-1.72

%

   

1.92

%

   

1.97

%

   

4.13

%

   

0.71

%

   

0.11

%

   

-2.82

%

   

-1.63

%

   

-2.17

%

   

4.80

%

   

0.41

%

   

1.84

%

 
S&P 500 ®
Index
   

-0.55

%

   

3.20

%

   

-0.10

%

   

2.85

%

   

-1.35

%

   

-1.83

%

   

-2.15

%

   

-5.68

%

   

-7.18

%

   

10.77

%

   

-0.51

%

   

0.85

%

 

1  Performance was calculated using a time-weighted total return methodology, as set forth in Global Investment Performance Standards ("GIPS") Section 3.3. This method of calculating performance differs from the SEC's standardized methodology, which may produce different results.

2  Performance shown is composite performance of all similarly advised accounts. The first similarly advised account commenced operations on January 14, 2011, but other accounts commenced operations subsequent to January 14, 2011.

3  The S&P 500 ® Index is an unmanaged index composed of 500 common stocks, classified in eleven industry sectors, which represents approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The S&P 500 ® Index assigns relative values to the stocks included in the index, weighted according to each stock's total market value relative to the total market value of the other stocks included in the index.


21




THE SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports:

These reports contain additional information about the Fund's investments, describe the Fund's performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The annual report includes Fund strategies and market conditions that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information:

The Fund's SAI, dated December 31, 2015, has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Fund, along with the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports, are available on the Adviser's website at www.summitglobalinvestments.com or may be obtained free of charge by calling 855-744-8500. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and is legally considered a part of this Prospectus.

Shareholder Account Service Representatives:

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: 855-744-8500.

Purchases and Redemptions:

Call your registered representative or 855-744-8500.

Written Correspondence

Post Office Address:
 
 
 
  Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PO Box 9841
Providence, RI 02940
 
Street Address:
 
 
 
  Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund
c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 

Securities and Exchange Commission:

You may view and copy information about the Company and the Fund, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov , or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518




 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

ALTAIR SMALLER COMPANIES FUND

 

a series of THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

December 31, 2015

 

Investment Adviser:

 

Altair Advisers LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to Altair Smaller Companies Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”).  This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”).  Copies of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free 1-844-261-6482.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

S-1

 

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

S-1

 

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

S-40

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

S-42

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

S-43

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

S-54

 

 

PROXY VOTING

S-54

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

S-54

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

S-55

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

S-55

 

 

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISERS

S-57

 

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

S-58

 

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

S-67

 

 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

S-68

 

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

S-68

 

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

S-69

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

S-70

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

S-72

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

S-73

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

S-74

 

 

TAXES

S-74

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

S-76

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

S-77

 

 

APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY OF APERIO GROUP, LLC

B-1

 

 

APPENDIX C SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY OF DRIEHAUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

C-1

 

 

APPENDIX D SUMMARY OF VOTING POLICY OF GRANITE INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC

D-1

 

 

APPENDIX E PROXY VOTING POLICY OF PACIFIC RIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

E-1

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

Page

 

 

APPENDIX F PROXY VOTING POLICY OF PIER CAPITAL, LLC

F-1

 

 

APPENDIX G PROXY VOTING POLICY OF RIVER ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

G-1

 

ii



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating 23 separate portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to shares of the Altair Smaller Companies Fund (the “Fund”), a non-diversified portfolio.  Altair Advisers LLC (“Altair” or the “Adviser”), serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund seeks capital appreciation.  The Fund may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

Principal Investment Policies and Risks.

 

Multi-Manager Structure.   The Fund is managed by the Adviser and one or more asset managers who are unaffiliated with the Adviser (each a “Sub-Adviser” and together, the “Sub-Advisers”).  Subject to review by the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Adviser is responsible for selecting the Fund’s investment strategies and for allocating and reallocating assets among the Sub-Advisers consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies.  The Adviser is also responsible for recommending to the Board whether an agreement with a Sub-Adviser should be approved, renewed, modified or terminated and for monitoring and evaluating the Sub-Advisers.  The Adviser is also responsible for implementing procedures to ensure that each Sub-Adviser complies with the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and restrictions.

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate.  Portfolio turnover rate is defined under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules as the greater of the value of the securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one-year or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year.  Based on this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one-year are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate.  Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one-year.  The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

Corporate Obligations.  The Fund may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations without limit on credit quality or maturity of debt securities.  See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings.  An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.  Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

S- 1



 

Equity Markets. The Fund invests primarily in equity markets at all times. Equity markets can be highly volatile, so that investing in the Fund involves substantial risk. As a result, investing in the Fund involves the risk of loss of capital.

 

Equity Securities.   Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time.  Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate.  The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market.  Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·                   Common Stock.   Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

·                   Preferred Stock.   Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

·                   Warrants.   Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss.  Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

·                   Convertible Securities.   Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue.  If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks.  Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities.  Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion.  The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on

 

S- 2



 

changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates.  When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.  However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder.  When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase.  At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks.  Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.  Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

·                   Micro, Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers.   Investing in equity securities of micro, small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies.  This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.  The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange.  Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

Foreign Securities.  The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are denominated or traded in foreign currencies.  The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets) through American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”).  ADRs are securities, typically issued by a U.S. financial institution (a “depository”), that evidence ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer and deposited with the depository.  ADRs may be listed on a national securities exchange or may trade in the over-the-counter market.  ADR prices are denominated in U.S. dollars; the underlying security may be denominated in a foreign currency.  GDRs, EDRs and IDRs are securities that represent ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a non-U.S. or U.S. corporation.  Depositary receipts may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities.  A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security.  Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility.  The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.  The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders.  Investments in depositary receipts do not eliminate the risks in investing in foreign issuers.  The underlying

 

S- 3



 

security may be subject to foreign government taxes, which would reduce the yield on such securities.

 

Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments.  In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability.  Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States.  Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations.  Inability to dispose of Fund securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.  Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on their portfolio transactions.  There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics (e.g., mail service between the United States and foreign countries) may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities.  Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.  Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon.  The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars.  As a result, the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies.  Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s securities in their local markets.  Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s securities in its foreign markets.  In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.  The Fund may invest in obligations of

 

S- 4



 

foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks.  These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest.  The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

 

Illiquid Securities.  Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business (within seven days) at approximately the prices at which they are valued.  Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid securities must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.  Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, the Fund’s illiquid securities are subject to the risk that the security’s fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition.  Difficulty in selling illiquid securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the Fund.  Under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers determine the liquidity of the Fund’s investments.  In determining the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers may consider various factors, including: (1) the frequency and volume of trades and quotations; (2) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market; and (4) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security).  The Fund will not hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

Initial Public Offerings.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, the Fund may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”). An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public.  Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. When the Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund.  As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Fund cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

 

Market Fluctuation. The market value of the Fund’s investments, and thus the Fund’s NAV, will change in response to market conditions affecting the value of its portfolio securities. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast,

 

S- 5



 

as interest rates on adjustable rate loans are reset periodically, yields on investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. Because the investment alternatives available to the Fund may be limited by the specific objective of the Fund, investors should be aware that an investment in the Fund may be subject to greater market fluctuation than an investment in a portfolio of securities representing a broader range of investment alternatives. In view of the specialized nature of the investment activities of the Fund, an investment in the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program.

 

Micro-Cap and Small-Cap Stocks . The Fund may invest in securities of companies with micro-and small-size capitalizations that tend to be riskier than securities of companies with large capitalizations. This is because micro- and small-cap companies typically have smaller product lines and less access to liquidity than large cap companies, and are therefore more sensitive to economic downturns. In addition, growth prospects of micro- and small-cap companies tend to be less certain than large cap companies, and the dividends paid on micro- and small-cap stocks are frequently negligible. Moreover, micro- and small-cap stocks have, on occasion, fluctuated in the opposite direction of large cap stocks or the general stock market. Consequently, securities of micro- and small-cap companies tend to be more volatile than those of large-cap companies. The market for micro- and small-cap securities may be thinly traded and as a result, greater fluctuations in the price of micro- and small-cap securities may occur.

 

Non-Diversification. Non-diversification risk is the risk that the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse financial, economic or other developments affecting any single issuer, and more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments. A “non-diversified” classification means that the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. The securities of a particular issuer may dominate the Underlying Index of such a Fund and, consequently, the Fund’s investment portfolio.

 

The Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification and otherwise conduct its operations so as to qualify as a “regulated investment company” for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to relieve the Fund of any liability for federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the Code may limit the investment flexibility of the Fund and may make it less likely that the Fund will meet its investment objectives.

 

Real Estate Investment Trust Securities.  The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).  REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two.  Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type. A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional requirements of the Code.  The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities, derive most of its income from rents from

 

S- 6



 

real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property and distribute to shareholders annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.

 

Generally, REITs can be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs.  Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales.  Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.  Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs.  The values of securities issued by REITs are affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill.  They also are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.  Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT.  The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.  To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on the Fund.

 

REITs may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry.  REITs are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.  Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws.  REITS whose underlying assets include long-term health care properties, such as nursing, retirement and assisted living homes, may be affected by federal regulations concerning the health care industry.  The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund.  The Fund is also subject to the risk that the REITs in which it invests will fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code and/or fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended. A REIT’s return may be adversely affected when interest rates are high or rising.

 

Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies.  REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities.  Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500®.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities.  The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate; currency and mortgage swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; municipal leases; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted

 

S- 7



 

security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation.  Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days.  A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay.  Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act (“Restricted Securities”). These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities.  This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

The Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by the portion of the assets of the Fund it manages.  In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

As consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may also invest in Section 4(2) commercial paper.  Section 4(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment.  Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper.  The Company believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Company’s Board of Directors.  The Company intends to treat such commercial paper as liquid and not subject to the investment limitations applicable to illiquid securities or restricted securities.

 

S- 8



 

Rights Offerings and Purchase Warrants.  Rights offerings and purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time.  Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration.  The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right’s or warrant’s expiration.  Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

Risk Considerations of Medium Grade Securities.  Obligations in the lowest investment grade (i.e., BBB or Baa), referred to as “medium grade” obligations, have speculative characteristics, and changes in economic conditions and other factors are more likely to lead to weakened capacity to make interest payments and repay principal on these obligations than is the case for higher rated securities.  In the event that a security purchased by the Fund is subsequently downgraded below investment grade, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers will consider such event in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the security.

 

Risk Considerations of Lower Rated Securities.  The Fund may invest in fixed income securities that are not investment grade but are rated as low as B by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or B by Standard and Poor’s® (“S&P”) (or their equivalents or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality).  In the case of a security that is rated differently by two or more rating services, the higher rating is used in connection with the foregoing limitation.  In the event that the rating on a security held in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating service, such action will be considered by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser in its evaluation of the overall investment merits of that security, but will not necessarily result in the sale of the security.  The widespread expansion of government, consumer and corporate debt within the U.S. economy has made the corporate sector, especially cyclically sensitive industries, more vulnerable to economic downturns or increased interest rates.  An economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for high yield fixed income securities and adversely affect the value of outstanding fixed income securities and the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest.

 

The Fund may invest in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations.  The Fund will invest in high yield debt instruments when the Fund believes that such instruments offer a better risk/reward profile than comparable equity opportunities.  High yield fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are considered speculative investments while generally providing greater income than investments in higher rated securities, involve greater risk of loss of principal and income (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities) and may involve greater volatility of price (especially during periods of economic uncertainty or change) than securities in the higher rating categories.  Since yields vary over time, no specific level of income can ever be assured.

 

The prices of high yield fixed income securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or

 

S- 9



 

individual corporate developments.  Also, during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress, which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing.  If the issuer of a fixed income security owned by the Fund defaulted, the Fund could incur additional expenses in attempting to obtain a recovery.  In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices of high yield fixed income securities and the Fund’s NAV to the extent it holds such securities.

 

High yield fixed income securities also present risks based on payment expectations.  For example, high yield fixed income securities may contain redemption or call provisions.  If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund may, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities, have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which may result in a decreased return for investors.  Conversely, a high yield fixed income security’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s assets, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities.  In addition, to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of high yield fixed income securities, and this may have an impact on the Adviser’s and Sub-Advisers’ ability to accurately value such securities and the Fund’s assets and on the Fund’s ability to dispose of such securities.  Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield fixed income securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

 

New laws proposed or adopted from time to time may have an impact on the market for high yield securities.

 

Finally, there are risks involved in applying credit or dividend ratings as a method for evaluating high yield securities.  For example, ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest or dividend payments, not market value risk of high yield securities.  Also, since rating agencies may fail to timely change the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events, the Fund will continuously monitor the issuers of high yield securities in its portfolio, if any, to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flow and profits to meet required principal and interest payments, and to assure the security’s liquidity so the Fund can meet redemption requests.

 

Securities of Unseasoned Issuers.  The Fund may invest in securities of unseasoned issuers, including equity securities of unseasoned issuers which are not readily marketable.  The term “unseasoned” refers to issuers which, together with their predecessors, have been in operation for less than three years.

 

Special Situation Companies.  The Fund may invest in “Special Situations.” The term “Special Situation” shall be deemed to refer to a security of a company in which an unusual and possibly non-repetitive development is taking place which, in the opinion of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, may cause the security to attain a higher market value independently, to a degree, of the trend in the securities market in general.  The particular development (actual or prospective), which may qualify a security as a Special Situation, may be one of many different types.

 

S- 10



 

Such developments may include, among others, a technological improvement or important discovery or acquisition which, if the expectation for it materialized, would effect a substantial change in the company’s business; a reorganization; a recapitalization or other development involving a security exchange or conversion; a merger, liquidation or distribution of cash, securities or other assets; a breakup or workout of a holding company; litigation which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock; a new or changed management; or material changes in management policies.  A Special Situation may often involve a comparatively small company, which is not well known, and which has not been closely watched by investors generally, but it may also involve a large company.  The fact, if it exists, that an increase in the company’s earnings, dividends or business is expected, or that a given security is considered to be undervalued, would not in itself be sufficient to qualify as a Special Situation.  The Fund may invest in securities (even if not Special Situations) which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are appropriate investments for the Fund, including securities which the Adviser or Sub-Adviser believes are undervalued by the market.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events.  Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally.  While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected.  These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments.  It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets.  Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable.  Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.  The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s holdings.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions.  In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

Non-Principal Investment Policies and Risks.

 

Asset-Backed Securities.  The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal

 

S- 11



 

property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables.  Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of U.S. government securities but are not direct obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.  Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose corporations.  Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be present, although privately issued obligations collateralized by a portfolio of privately issued asset-backed securities do not involve any government-related guarantee or insurance.  In addition to the risks that are presented by mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets.  See “Mortgage-Backed Securities” below for additional information.

 

Asset-backed securities acquired by the Fund may also include collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”).  CDOs include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities.

 

A CBO is a trust or other special purpose entity (“SPE”) that is typically backed by a diversified pool of fixed-income securities (which may include high risk, below investment grade securities).  A CLO is a trust or other SPE that is typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans.  Although certain CDOs may receive credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure, over-collateralization or bond insurance, such enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect the Fund against the risk of loss on default of the collateral.  Certain CDOs may use derivatives contracts to create “synthetic” exposure to assets rather than holding such assets directly, which entails the risks of derivative instruments described elsewhere in this SAI.  CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses, which are in addition to those of the Fund.

 

For both CBOs and CLOs, the cashflows from the SPE are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield.  The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche, which bears the first loss from defaults from the bonds or loans in the SPE and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default (though such protection is not complete).  Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO or CLO typically has higher ratings and lower yields than its underlying securities, and may be rated investment grade.  Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as investor aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class.  Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind (paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments.

 

The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which the Fund invests.  Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws.  As a result,

 

S- 12



 

investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities.  However, an active dealer market may exist for CDOs, allowing a CDO to qualify for Rule 144A transactions.  In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities and asset-backed securities generally discussed elsewhere in this SAI, CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results; and (v) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly or default.

 

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities.  Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.

 

Commodity-Linked Derivatives.  The Fund may attempt to provide exposure to the returns of real assets that trade in the commodity markets without direct investment in physical commodities.  Real assets include oil, gas, industrial and precious metals, livestock, and agricultural or meat products, or other items that have tangible properties.  Commodity-linked derivative instruments include commodity index-linked securities and other derivative instruments that provide exposure to the investment returns of the commodities markets.  Commodity-linked investments may be more volatile and less liquid than the underlying instruments and their value may be affected by the performance of commodities as well as weather, tax, and other regulatory or political developments, overall market movements and other factors affecting the value of particular industries or commodities, such as disease, embargoes, acts of war or terrorism.

 

The Fund may invest in commodity-linked derivative instruments such as commodity-linked structured notes.  The Fund may invest in commodity-linked notes that pay a return linked to the performance of a commodities index or basket of futures contracts with respect to all of the commodities in an index.  In some cases, the return will be based on some multiple of the performance of the index, and this embedded leverage will magnify the positive and negative return the Fund earns from these notes as compared to the index.  The principal and/or interest payments of commodity-linked derivatives are tied to the value of a real asset or commodity index.  Structured notes may be structured by the issuer and the purchaser of the note.  The notes are derivative debt instruments with principal payments generally linked to the value of commodities, commodity futures contracts or the performance of commodity indices and interest and coupon payments pegged to a market-based interest rate, such as LIBOR or a bank’s prime rate.  The value of these notes will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index or investment.  These notes expose the Fund economically to movements in commodity prices.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial

 

S- 13



 

of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Dollar Rolls. The Fund may enter into dollar rolls in which the Fund sells fixed income securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date.  During the roll period, the Fund would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the Fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale.  The return on dollar rolls may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in interest rates.  The Fund does not presently intend to engage in dollar roll transactions involving more than 5% of its net assets.  For additional information on dollar roll transactions, see the section entitled “Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions” in this SAI.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates.  The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.  A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.  These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.  A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.  Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

The Fund is permitted to enter into forward contracts under two circumstances.  First, when the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security quoted or denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security.  By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed number of U.S. dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the Fund will be able to insulate itself from a possible loss resulting from a change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received.

 

S- 14



 

Second, when the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may cause the Fund to enter a forward contract to sell, for a fixed U.S. dollar amount, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency.  The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures.

 

Although the Fund has no current intention to do so, it may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in securities denominated or quoted in a different currency if the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the two currencies.  Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other U.S. foreign currency, if the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the proxy currency and the U.S. dollar.

 

The Fund will not enter into forward contracts to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of such contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the Fund’s respective portfolio securities or other assets quoted or denominated in that currency.  At the consummation of the forward contract, the Fund may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency.  If the Fund chooses to make delivery of foreign currency, it may be required to obtain such delivery through the sale of portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Fund into such currency.  If the Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.

 

The Fund’s transactions in forward contracts will be limited to those described above. Of course, the Fund is not required to enter into such transactions with regard to its foreign currency quoted or denominated securities, and the Fund will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable.

 

When entering into a forward contract, the Fund will segregate either cash or liquid securities quoted or denominated in any currency in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to the consummation of forward currency exchange contracts which require the Fund to purchase a foreign currency.  If the value of the segregated securities declines, additional cash or securities will be segregated by the Fund on a daily basis so that the value of the segregated securities will equal the amount of the Fund’s commitments with respect to such contracts.

 

If the Fund uses forward contracts as a method of protecting the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency, this does not eliminate fluctuations in the

 

S- 15



 

underlying prices of the securities.  It simply establishes a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time.  The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the Fund’s foreign assets.  It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

While the Fund may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks.  Thus, while the Fund may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions.  Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio holdings or securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Fund.  Such imperfect correlation may cause the Fund to sustain losses, which will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the Fund to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations.  Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The Fund’s foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Futures And Options On Futures.  Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price.  An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option.  The Fund will reduce the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures contracts that are traded on a national futures exchange regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).  The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for: bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; attempting to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or other risk management purposes.  To the extent futures and/or options on futures are employed by the Fund, the Fund will limit such investments in commodity futures, commodity options contracts and swaps to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  For this reason, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO.  First, the aggregate initial

 

S- 16



 

margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments).  Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions).  In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets.  In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO, the disclosure and operations of the Funds would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck.  No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

 

When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder.  The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high or higher than the price of the futures contract.  In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the price of the futures contract, the Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.  The Fund may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.

 

The Fund may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option.  In the alternative, if the long position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the

 

S- 17



 

call and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a call option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the call option.  The Fund may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a put option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the put option.

 

There are significant risks associated with the Fund’s use of futures contracts and related options, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures.  In addition, some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk :  The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Swap Agreements.  The Fund may enter into equity index or interest rate swap agreements for purposes of attempting to gain exposure to the stocks making up an index of securities in a market without actually purchasing those stocks, or to hedge a position.  Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year.  In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.  Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap,” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or “floor,” and interest rate dollars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

 

S- 18



 

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.”  Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”).  The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating assets determined to be liquid.  Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.  Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund’s illiquid investment limitation.  The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.  The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.

 

The Fund may enter into swap agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable.  The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.  The counter-party will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks.  The Fund will agree to pay to the counter-party a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks.  Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.

 

Swap agreements typically are settled on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.  Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term.  Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.  Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make.  If the other party to a swap agreement defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each equity swap will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or liquid assets, having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian.  Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash of liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, the Fund and the Adviser believe that these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

 

The Adviser and Sub-Advisers, under the supervision of the Board, are responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions in swap agreements.  The use of

 

S- 19



 

equity swaps is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

 

Credit Default Swaps, Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars.  The Fund may enter into credit default, interest rate and total return swaps.  The Fund may also enter into interest rate caps, floors and collars.  In addition, the Fund may enter into mortgage swaps and currency swaps.

 

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return.  As examples, the Fund may enter into swap transactions for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in an economical way.

 

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors.  In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor.  The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or security, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.  As examples, credit default swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security.  Credit default swaps give one party to a transaction the right to dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets), or the right to receive from or make a payment to the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events.  Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments.  Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest.  The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages.  Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies.  Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index, or an index component.

 

The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap.  The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor.  An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.

 

S- 20



 

A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured.  However, generally the Fund will enter into credit default, interest rate, total return and mortgage swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.  Credit default, interest rate, total return and mortgage swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal.  Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to credit default, interest rate, total return and mortgage swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make.  If the other party to a credit default, interest rate, total return or mortgage swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.  In contrast, currency swaps may involve the delivery of the entire principal amount of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency.  Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.

 

A credit default swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that may, or may not, be currently held by the Fund.  The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred.  If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled.  The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction.  If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date.  However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased.  As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event.  As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.  If a credit event occurs, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the Fund as seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.

 

To the extent that the Fund’s exposure in a transaction involving a swap or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets, or is covered by other means in accordance with SEC guidance, the Fund and the Adviser believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.  The SEC has recently issued the concept release “Use of Derivatives by Investment Companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940,” which discusses, among other matters, whether current market practices involving derivatives are consistent with the leverage provisions of the Act.  Accordingly, investors should be aware that the SEC may offer additional guidance in the future that may impact the manner in which the Fund operates.

 

S- 21



 

The Fund will not enter into any credit default, interest rate, total return or mortgage swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is rated investment grade by S&P’s or Moody’s, or, if unrated by such rating organization, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser.  If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

The use of credit default, interest rate, mortgage, total return and currency swaps, as well as interest rate caps, floors and collars, is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.  The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions.  If the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment instruments were not used.

 

Forward Commitment and When-Issued Transactions.  The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis (subject to its investment policies and restrictions).  These transactions involve a commitment by a fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months later).  The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated.  When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.  The Fund will not enter into such transactions for the purpose of leverage.

 

When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable the Fund to lock in what is believed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates.  For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices.  In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields.  When-issued securities or forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of the Fund’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the Fund is subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the securities on that date.  The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date.  When the Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the Fund’s assets.  Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect.  Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but the Fund may agree to a longer settlement period.

 

S- 22



 

The Fund will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities.  If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into.  The Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date.  The Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions, and its distributions from any net realized capital gains will be taxable to shareholders.  When the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund or the Custodian will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the Fund’s purchase commitments.  These procedures are designed to ensure that the Fund will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.

 

Investing in Emerging Countries, including Asia and Eastern Europe.  The Fund may invest in securities of issuers located in emerging countries.  The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid and subject to greater price volatility, and have a smaller market capitalization, than the U.S. securities markets.  In certain countries, there may be fewer publicly traded securities and the market may be dominated by a few issues or sectors.  Issuers and securities markets in such countries are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements or as comprehensive government regulations as are issuers and securities markets in the U.S. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of emerging country issuers may not reflect their financial position or results of operations in the same manner as financial statements for U.S. issuers.  Substantially less information may be publicly available about emerging country issuers than is available about issuers in the United States.

 

Emerging country securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of investors.  The markets for securities in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of their development.  Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging countries may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of developed countries.  The limited size of many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers.  For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets.  Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets.  The limited liquidity of emerging country securities may also affect the Fund’s ability to accurately value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.

 

With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may have an adverse impact on the Fund.  For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain emerging

 

S- 23



 

market countries.  Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders in U.S. corporations.

 

Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries may be higher than in the United States and other developed securities markets.  In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied.  As legal systems in emerging countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations.  In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law.

 

Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees.  These restrictions may limit the Fund’s investment in certain emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund.  Certain emerging countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer’s outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals.  In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time.  Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operation of the Fund.  The Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.

 

Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western European countries.  This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making, including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing foreign private investments and private property.  Such economic, political and social instability could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Fund may invest and adversely affect the value of the Fund’s assets.  The Fund’s investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.

 

The Fund may seek investment opportunities within former “east bloc” countries in Eastern Europe.  Most Eastern European countries had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time.  The governments of many Eastern European countries have more recently been implementing reforms directed at political and economic liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move towards a market economy.  However, business entities in many Eastern European countries do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of Eastern European countries’ attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently unclear.  In addition, any change in the leadership or policies of Eastern European countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.

 

S- 24



 

The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments.  Many emerging countries have experienced in the past, and continue to experience, high rates of inflation.  In certain countries inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries.  Other emerging countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic recessions.  The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners.  In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to weakness in world prices for their commodity exports.  The Fund’s income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign stocks and securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates.

 

Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.  Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund remain uninvested and no return is earned on such assets.  The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases or sales due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

 

Investment Company Shares.  The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions.  These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund.  The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.  Unless an exception is available, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes.  Certain of these investment companies, known as exchange-traded funds, are traded on a securities exchange.  The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded.  Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Pursuant to orders issued by the SEC to each of certain exchange-traded funds (collectively, the “ETFs”) and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in the ETFs in excess of

 

S- 25



 

the limits described above, provided that the Fund has described the ETF investments in its prospectus and otherwise complies with the conditions of the SEC, as it may be amended, and any other applicable investment limitations.  Neither the ETFs nor their investment advisers make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the ETFs.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities.  The Fund may invest in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, known as “TIPs” or “Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities,” which are debt securities whose principal and interest payments are adjusted for inflation and interest is paid on the adjusted amount.  The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the consumer price index (“CPI”).  A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest payments increase.  This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment.  Inflation-protected securities normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise.  (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate.  For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and inflation is 2%, the real interest rate is 3%.) If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected security will decline and could result in losses for the Fund.

 

Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by IRS regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs.  For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures.  By contrast, the Fund holding these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities.  The Fund may invest in mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through securities, such as real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”), pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

 

Guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities represent participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans and are issued by U.S. governmental or private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, including but not limited to the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”).  Ginnie Mae certificates are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.  Fannie Mae certificates are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, a federally chartered and privately owned corporation, for full and timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates.  Fannie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations.  Freddie Mac certificates are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government, for timely payment of interest and the ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA.  On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-

 

S- 26



 

listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days.  The effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises.  The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury.  It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

CMOs and REMIC pass-through or participation certificates may be issued by, among others, U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities as well as private lenders.  CMOs and REMIC certificates are issued in multiple classes and the principal of and interest on the mortgage assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates in various ways.  Each class of CMOs or REMIC certificates, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date.  Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates on a monthly basis.

 

Typically, CMOs are collateralized by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac certificates but also may be collateralized by other mortgage assets such as whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities.  Debt service on CMOs is provided from payments of principal and interest on collateral of mortgaged assets and any reinvestment income thereon.  Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT.  The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages.  To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on the Fund.

 

A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Code and invests in certain mortgages primarily secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments.  Investors may purchase “regular” and “residual” interest shares of beneficial interest in REMIC trusts, although the Fund does not intend to invest in residual interests.

 

The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by trusts or other entities formed or sponsored by private originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans and other non-governmental entities (or representing custodial arrangements administered by such institutions).  These private originators and institutions include savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.

 

Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans.  Since such mortgage-backed securities normally are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit standing of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae

 

S- 27



 

or Freddie Mac, in order to receive a high quality rating from the rating organizations (e.g., S&P’s or Moody’s), they often are structured with one or more types of “credit enhancement.” Such credit enhancement falls into two categories: (1) liquidity protection and (2) protection against losses resulting after default by a borrower and liquidation of the collateral (e.g., sale of a house after foreclosure).  Liquidity protection refers to the payment of cash advances to holders of mortgage-backed securities when a borrower on an underlying mortgage fails to make its monthly payment on time.  Protection against losses resulting after default and liquidation is designed to cover losses resulting when, for example, the proceeds of a foreclosure sale are insufficient to cover the outstanding amount on the mortgage.  Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit, through various means of structuring the securities or through a combination of such approaches.

 

Examples of credit enhancement arising out of the structure of the transaction include “senior-subordinated securities” (multiple class securities with one or more classes entitled to receive payment before other classes, with the result that defaults on the underlying mortgages are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class), creation of “spread accounts” or “reserve funds” (where cash or investments are held in reserve against future losses) and “over-collateralization” (where the scheduled payments on the underlying mortgages in a pool exceed the amount required to be paid on the mortgage-backed securities).  The degree of credit enhancement for a particular issue of mortgage-backed securities is based on the level of credit risk associated with the particular mortgages in the related pool.  Losses on a pool in excess of anticipated levels could nevertheless result in losses to security holders since credit enhancement rarely covers every dollar owed on a pool.

 

Investing in mortgage-backed securities (such as those described above) involves certain risks, including the failure of a counter-party to meet its commitments, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of prepayments on mortgage cash flows.  Further, the yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities.  The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments (usually monthly), the adjustability of interest rates, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made substantially earlier than their final distribution dates.

 

Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty.  Both adjustable rate mortgage loans and fixed rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment.  Under certain interest rate and prepayment rate scenarios, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in mortgage-backed securities notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee.  When the Fund reinvests amounts representing payments and unscheduled prepayments of principal, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities.  Thus, mortgage-backed securities, and adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities in particular, may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities.  This possibility is often referred to as

 

S- 28



 

extension risk.  Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates.  The market for certain types of mortgage-backed securities (i.e., certain CMOs) may not be liquid under all interest rate scenarios, which may prevent the Fund from selling such securities held in its portfolio at times or prices that it desires.

 

Different types of derivative debt securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension and/or interest rate risk.  Conventional mortgage pass-through securities and sequential pay CMOs are subject to all of these risks, but are typically not leveraged.  Thus, the magnitude of exposure may be less than for more leveraged mortgage-backed securities.

 

Planned amortization class (“PAC”) and target amortization class (“TAC”) CMO bonds involve less exposure to prepayment, extension and interest rate risk than other mortgage-backed securities, provided that prepayment rates remain within expected prepayment ranges or “collars.” To the extent that prepayment rates remain within these prepayment ranges, the residual or support tranches of PAC and TAC CMOs assume the extra prepayment extension and interest rate risk associated with the underlying mortgage assets.

 

The Fund may invest in floating rate securities based on the Cost of Funds Index (“COFI floaters”), other “lagging rate” floating rate securities, floating rate securities that are subject to a maximum interest rate (“capped floaters”), and mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount.  The primary risks associated with these derivative debt securities are the potential extension of average life and/or depreciation due to rising interest rates.

 

Recently, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-related securities (which may include certain of the mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future.  In the event that any mortgage-related security held by the Fund is placed on credit watch or downgraded, the value of such mortgage-related security may decline and the Fund may consequently experience losses in respect of such mortgage-related security.

 

Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions.  The Fund may enter into mortgage dollar roll transactions in which the Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity), but not identical securities, on a specified future date.  For financial reporting and tax purposes, the Fund treats mortgage dollar rolls as two separate transactions; one involving the purchase of a security and a separate transaction involving a sale.  The Fund does not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar rolls for financing and does not treat them as borrowings.

 

During the roll period, the Fund would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  The Fund would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) or fee income plus the interest on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase.  Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of the

 

S- 29



 

Fund compared with what such performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls.  The Fund will hold and maintain in a segregated account until the settlement date cash or liquid, high-grade debt securities in an amount equal to the forward purchase price.  Any benefits derived from the use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon mortgage prepayment assumptions, which will be affected by changes in interest rates.  There is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed.  For additional information on dollar rolls, please refer to the section entitled “Dollar Rolls” in this SAI.

 

Municipal Obligations.  The Fund may invest in municipal obligations.  Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities to obtain funds for various public purposes.  The interest on most of these obligations is generally exempt from regular federal income tax in the hands of most individual investors, although it may be subject to the individual and corporate alternative minimum tax.  The two principal classifications of municipal obligations are “notes” and “bonds.”

 

Municipal notes are generally used to provide for short-term capital needs and generally have maturities of one year or less.  Municipal notes include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, and construction loan notes.  Tax anticipation notes are sold to finance working capital needs of municipalities.  They are generally payable from specific tax revenues expected to be received at a future date.  Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other types of revenue such as federal revenues available under the Federal Revenue Sharing Program.  Tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes are generally issued in anticipation of various seasonal revenues such as income, sales, use, and business taxes.  Bond anticipation notes are sold to provide interim financing.

 

These notes are generally issued in anticipation of long-term financing in the market.  In most cases, these monies provide for the repayment of the notes.  Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing.  After the projects are successfully completed and accepted, many projects receive permanent financing through the Federal Housing Administration under Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae.  There are, of course, a number of other types of notes issued for different purposes and secured differently from those described above.

 

Municipal bonds, which meet longer term capital needs and generally have maturities of more than one year when issued, have two principal classifications, “general obligation” bonds and “revenue” bonds.  Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns and regional districts.  The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public projects including the construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, water and sewer systems and a variety of other public purposes.  The basic security of general obligation bonds is the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest.  The taxes that can be levied for the payment of debt service may be limited or unlimited as to rate or amount or special assessments.

 

The principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source.  Revenue bonds have been issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including: electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port

 

S- 30



 

and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals.  Revenue obligations are not backed by the credit and taxing authority of the issuer but are payable solely from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source.  In addition, revenue obligations may be backed by a letter of credit, guarantee or insurance.  Revenue obligations include private activity bonds, resource recovery bonds, certificates of participation and certain municipal notes.  Although the principal security behind these bonds varies widely, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund whose monies may also be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer’s obligations.  Housing finance authorities have a wide range of security including partially or fully insured, rent subsidized and/or collateralized mortgages, and/or the net revenues from housing or other public projects.  In addition to a debt service reserve fund, some authorities provide further security in the form of a state’s ability (without obligation) to make up deficiencies in the debt service reserve fund.  Lease rental revenue bonds issued by a state or local authority for capital projects are secured by annual lease rental payments from the state or locality to the authority sufficient to cover debt service on the authority’s obligations.

 

Industrial development bonds (now a subset of a class of bonds known as “private activity bonds”), although nominally issued by municipal authorities, are generally not secured by the taxing power of the municipality but are secured by the revenues of the authority derived from payments by the industrial user.

 

There is, in addition, a variety of hybrid and special types of municipal obligations as well as numerous differences in the security of municipal obligations both within and between the two principal classifications above.  An entire issue of municipal obligations may be purchased by one or a small number of institutional investors such as the Fund.  Thus, the issue may not be said to be publicly offered.  Unlike securities which must be registered under the 1933 Act, prior to offer and sale unless an exemption from such registration is available, municipal obligations which are not publicly offered may nevertheless be readily marketable.  A secondary market exists for municipal obligations that were not publicly offered initially.

 

The Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, determines whether a municipal obligation is readily marketable based on whether it may be sold in a reasonable time consistent with the customs of the municipal markets (usually seven days) at a price (or interest rate), which accurately reflects its value.  In addition, stand-by commitments and demand obligations also enhance marketability.

 

For the purpose of the Fund’s investment restrictions, the identification of the “issuer” of municipal obligations that are not general obligation bonds is made by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, on the basis of the characteristics of the obligation as described above, the most significant of which is the source of funds for the payment of principal of and interest on such obligations.

 

Yields on municipal obligations depend on a variety of factors, including money market conditions, municipal bond market conditions, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the quality of the issue.  High grade municipal obligations tend to have a lower yield than lower rated obligations.  Municipal obligations are subject to the provisions of

 

S- 31



 

bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Code and laws, if any, that may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or municipalities to levy taxes.  There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions the power or ability of any one or more issuers to pay when due principal of and interest on its or their municipal obligations may be materially affected.

 

Economic, business or political developments might affect all municipal obligations of a similar type.  The Fund believes that the most important consideration affecting risk is the quality of particular issues of municipal obligations rather than factors affecting all, or broad classes of, municipal obligations.

 

The Fund may invest in variable, floating rate and other municipal securities on which the interest may fluctuate based on changes in market rates.  The interest rates payable on variable rate securities are adjusted at designated intervals (e.g., daily, monthly, semi-annually), and the interest rates payable on, floating rate securities are adjusted whenever there is a change in the market rate of interest on which the interest payable is based.  The interest rate on variable and floating rate securities is ordinarily determined by reference to or is a percentage of a bank’s prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank certificates of deposit, an index of short-term interest rates, or some other objective measure.  The value of floating and variable rate securities generally is more stable than that of fixed rate securities in response to changes in interest rate levels.  The Fund may consider the maturity of a variable or floating rate municipal security to be shorter than its ultimate maturity if the Fund has the right to demand prepayment of its principal at specified intervals prior to the security’s ultimate maturity.

 

The Fund may invest in municipal leases and certificates of participation in municipal leases.  A municipal lease is an obligation in the form of a lease or installment purchase which is issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment and facilities.  Certificates of participation represent undivided interests in municipal leases, installment purchase agreements or other instruments.  The certificates are typically issued by a trust or other entity, which has received an assignment of the payments to be made by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase agreements.  The primary risk associated with municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation is that the governmental lessee will fail to appropriate funds to enable it to meet its payment obligations under the lease.  Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly and may result in a delay in recovering, or the failure to fully recover, the Fund’s original investment.  To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser will monitor on an ongoing basis the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases.  Certain municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation may be deemed illiquid for the purposes of the limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

 

The Fund may invest in pre-refunded municipal securities.  The principal of and interest on pre-refunded municipal securities are no longer paid from the original revenue source for the

 

S- 32



 

securities.  Instead, the source of such payments is typically an escrow fund consisting of U.S. government securities.  The assets in the escrow fund are derived from the proceeds of refunding bonds issued by the same issuer as the pre-refunded municipal securities.  Issuers of municipal securities use this advance refunding technique to obtain more favorable terms with respect to securities that are not yet subject to call or redemption by the issuer.  For example, advance refunding enables an issuer to refinance debt at lower market interest rates, restructure debt to improve cash flow or eliminate restrictive covenants in the indenture or other governing instrument for the pre-refunded municipal securities.  Except for a change in the revenue source from which principal and interest payments are made, the pre-refunded municipal securities remain outstanding on their original terms until they mature or are redeemed by the issuer.  Pre-refunded municipal securities are usually purchased at a price, which represents a premium over their face value.

 

Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks.   The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions.  Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks.  Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks.  These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund.  Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks.  Bank obligations include the following:

 

·                   Bankers’ Acceptances.   Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank.  Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange.  Maturities are generally six months or less.

 

·                   Certificates of Deposit.   Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity.  They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity.  Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.

 

·                   Time Deposits.   Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds.  Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market.  Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

 

Options.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on indices and enter into related closing transactions.  A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period.  A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the

 

S- 33



 

option period.  The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates.  Call options on foreign currency written by the Fund will be “covered,” which means that the Fund will own an equal amount of the underlying foreign currency.

 

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option.  This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number.  Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

All options written on indices or securities must be covered.  When the Fund writes an option on a security, an index or a foreign currency, it will establish a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the option and will maintain the account while the option is open or will otherwise cover the transaction.

 

The Fund may trade put and call options on securities, securities indices and currencies, as the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Fund’s investment objective, and except as restricted by the Fund’s investment limitations.  See “Investment Limitations.”

 

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened.  If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future.  The Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium therefor.  If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

 

The Fund may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value.  When the Fund writes an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium

 

S- 34



 

received for such option.  When a call option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price.  When a put option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

 

The Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter.  Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects.  They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer.  OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options.  Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker.  It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.

 

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security.  Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

 

Pay-in-Kind Securities, Zero Coupon and Capital Appreciation Bonds.  To the extent consistent with its investment objective, the Fund may invest in pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities.  PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash.  Similarly, zero coupon and capital appreciation bonds are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date.  The amount of the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer.  These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons.  A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable.  Such securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow.  PIK securities that are debt securities can either be senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest).  The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.

 

PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds do not pay interest periodically to maturity, and, therefore, they involve the additional risk that the Fund will not realize any cash

 

S- 35



 

until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold, and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may not obtain any return at all on its investment.  In addition, even though such securities may not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, the Fund is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally is required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax.  Because cash generally is not received at the time of the accrual, the Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the Fund.  Additionally, the market prices of PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

 

Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions.  A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which the Fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day).  Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased.  The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully.  The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements.  These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser.  The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, monitors compliance with this requirement).  Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral.  In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral.  However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss.  It is the current policy of the Fund, not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by that Fund, amounts to more than 15% of the Fund’s total assets.  The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser or applicable Sub-Advisers, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities for temporary purposes (such as to obtain cash to meet redemption requests) when the liquidation of portfolio securities is deemed disadvantageous or inconvenient by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest.  Such agreements are considered to

 

S- 36



 

be borrowings under the 1940 Act and will be limited, together with other borrowings, to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less all liabilities other than borrowings.  While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian or a qualified sub-custodian, cash or liquid securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities, plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase and the interest received on the cash exchanged for the securities.

 

Securities Lending.   The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Company’s Board of Directors.  These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral).  The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser or their affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder.  Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned domestic securities (105% of loaned foreign securities) by marking to market daily.  Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.

 

The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated or, to the extent consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder, affiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent.

 

By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral.  The Fund does not have the right to vote loaned securities.  The Fund will attempt to call all loaned securities back to permit the exercise of voting rights on material matters, if time and jurisdictional restrictions permit.  There is no guarantee that all loans can be recalled.

 

Short Sales.  As consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, the Fund may engage in short sales that are either “uncovered” or “against the box.”  A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short.  A short sale against the box is generally a taxable transaction to the Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short.

 

Uncovered short sales are transactions under which the Fund sells a security it does not own.  To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of the replacement.  The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund.  Until the security is replaced, the Fund is

 

S- 37



 

required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan.  To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.  The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities at such a level that (i) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; and (ii) the amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time the security was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund’s short position.

 

Structured Securities.  The Fund may invest in structured securities to the extent consistent with its investment objective.  The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References.  The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference.  Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices.

 

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, the Fund could suffer a total loss of its investment.  Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity.  In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference.  Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities.  Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

U.S. Government Securities.  The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities.  Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance.  U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years.  Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student

 

S- 38



 

Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.  Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law.  U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity.

 

See “Mortgage-Backed Securities” above for additional information about the September 7, 2008 federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

 

·                   U.S. Treasury Obligations.  U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

·                   Receipts.  Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank.  The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts.  The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register.  TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury.  Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities.  STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons.  Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal.  The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes.  Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically.  Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Agencies.  Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  Guarantees of principal by agencies or

 

S- 39



 

instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity.  Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a) (42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.                         Borrow money except that (a) the Fund may borrow from banks or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33 1/2% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); and (b) the Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which are accounted for as financings. For purposes of this limitation, investment strategies which either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowings. Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowings, except where the Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% of its total assets;

 

2.                         Issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act, except as permitted by rule, regulation or order of the SEC;

 

3.                         Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

4.                         Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

5.                         Purchase or sell commodities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted or modified by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time;

 

6.                         Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements,

 

S- 40



 

provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan; or

 

7.                         Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations, which may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy.  The Fund may not:

 

1.                             Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                             Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts or other derivative instruments, including foreign exchange forward contracts, shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin; or

 

3.                             Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate assets, except as permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. Pursuant to orders issued by the SEC to ETFs and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in ETFs in excess of the limits of the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Securities held by the Fund generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser or their affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.  None of the Fund, the Adviser, or any Sub-Adviser has obtained such an exemptive order as of the date of this SAI.

 

S- 41



 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank. In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund has adopted fundamental policies that would permit direct investment in commodities.

 

Any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, short sales and other similar instruments, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. The Fund may pledge, mortgage or hypothecate assets to secure borrowings permitted by the Fund’s fundamental limitation on borrowing.

 

Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund shareholders and its service providers.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

S- 42



 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information.  Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15 - day time lag.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter.  The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties

 

S- 43



 

include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

S- 44



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and

Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number
of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Director*

 

Other
Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5
Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

S- 45



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and

Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number
of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Director*

 

Other
Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5
Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman Director

 

2005 to present 1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

 EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

S- 46



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and

Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number
of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Director*

 

Other
Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5
Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

 

2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005,Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center

Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 55

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

S- 47



 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)                                  Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall and Sablowsky.  Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)                                  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.  Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry. Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

S- 48



 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer. The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

S- 49



 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014:

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund*

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment Companies
Overseen by Director within the
Family of Investment Companies

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

S- 50



 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund*

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment Companies
Overseen by Director within the
Family of Investment Companies

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Jay F. Nusblatt**

 

None

 

None

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Robert Sablowsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

 


* The Fund commenced operations on October 21, 2014.

**Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

S- 51



 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who is not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically.  Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.  Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company. Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Company in the following amounts:

 

S- 52



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund*

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,118.04

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,114.30

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,343.57

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,170.29

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director**

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,535.93

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,114.30

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,339.97

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

10,213.34

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


* The Fund commenced operations on October 21, 2014. Compensation is for the period October 21, 2014 to August 31, 2015.

**Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”).  Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company.  The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

S- 53



 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company, the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Fund’s Sub-Advisers, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  In exercising its voting obligations, each Sub-Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund.  Each Sub-Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

Each Sub-Adviser will vote proxies in connection with securities in which the portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to the Sub-Adviser are invested, respectively, in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which policies and procedures or a summary thereof are included in Appendix B-G to this SAI.  The proxy policies of each Sub-Adviser differ.  If one or more Sub-Advisers each has responsibility for voting a particular proxy, it is possible that the Sub-Advisers will disagree on how to vote the proxy.

 

The Company is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX.  The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30th is available upon request by calling 1-844-261-6482 or by writing to the Fund at: Altair Smaller Companies Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., PO Box 9841, Providence, Rhode Island 02940.  The Fund’s Form N-PX is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015 to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

S- 54



 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Pershing LLC
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 07303-9998

 

1,829,481.886

 

9.22

%

Pershing LLC
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 07303-9998

 

1,267,777.526

 

6.39

%

SEI Private Trust Company
C/O State Street Bank ATTN: Mutual Funds Admin.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, PA 19456

 

1,082,976.604

 

5.46

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, Directors and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Portfolio of the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Altair Advisers LLC (“Altair” or the “Adviser”) is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.  The Adviser was established in June 2002.  PHRM Investments LLC holds a controlling interest in the Adviser.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Company.   The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated as of October 17, 2014.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Fund.  The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.  As discussed further below, the Adviser has delegated responsibility for the investment of the assets of the Fund to Sub-Advisers.

 

S- 55



 

The Fund is currently only available to clients of the Adviser and to other investors at the Fund’s discretion.  The Adviser does not receive a separate management fee from the Fund.  However, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses it incurs in connection with its compliance monitoring of Fund trading, up to 0.01% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

Except as otherwise noted in the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  The Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable.  Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value a portfolio’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015 and may be obtained by calling 1-844-261-6482 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund.  The Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

S- 56



 

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISERS

 

Each Sub-Adviser shall, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Adviser, manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion of the assets of the Fund, as the Adviser may from time to time allocate to such Sub-Adviser for management.  For their services, each Sub-Adviser is entitled to receive a fee based upon a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets, which will be paid by the Fund and not by the Adviser.

 

The Fund and the Adviser have submitted an application with the SEC for an exemptive order with respect to the Fund that would permit the Adviser, without shareholder approval and subject to certain conditions, to terminate existing Sub-Advisers or hire new Sub-Advisers for the Fund, to materially amend the terms of particular agreements with Sub-Advisers or to continue the employment of existing Sub-Advisers after events that would otherwise cause an automatic termination of a sub-advisory agreement. This arrangement has been approved by the Board of Directors and the Fund’s initial shareholder. Consequently, if approved by the SEC, under the exemptive order, the Adviser would have the right to hire, terminate and replace Sub-Advisers when the Board of Directors and the Adviser feel that a change would benefit the Fund. The exemptive order will enable the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of sub-advisory agreements.

 

The Adviser does not determine what investments will be purchased or sold for the Fund with respect to the portions of the Fund managed by the Sub-Advisers.  Because each Sub-Adviser manages its portion of the Fund independently from the others, the same security may be held in two or more different portions of the Fund or may be acquired for one portion at a time when a Sub-Adviser of another portion deems it appropriate to dispose of the security from that other portion. Similarly, under some market conditions, one or more of the Sub-Advisers may believe that temporary, defensive investments in short-term instruments or cash are appropriate when another Sub-Adviser or Sub-Advisers believe continued exposure to the broader securities market is appropriate. Because each Sub-Adviser directs the trading for its portion of the Fund and does not aggregate its transactions with those of the other Sub-Advisers, the Fund may incur higher brokerage costs than would be the case if a single adviser or Sub-Adviser were managing the Fund.

 

The current Sub-Advisers to the Fund are set forth below.

 

Sub-Advisers

 

Aperio Group, LLC (“Aperio”)
Three Harbor Drive, Suite 315
Sausalito, CA 94965

 

Paul Solli, Patrick Geddes, Robert Newman, and Guy Arthur Lampard are managing members of Aperio.

 

 

 

Driehaus Capital Management LLC (“Driehaus”)
25 E Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60611

 

Driehaus is majority-owned by Driehaus Capital Holdings LLC (“DCH”), an affiliated company. DCH is owned by entities related to Driehaus’ founder, Richard Driehaus, and certain key employees.

 

 

 

Granite Investment Partners, LLC (“Granite”)

 

Granite has no individuals or entities that are 25% or greater

 

S- 57



 

The Plaza at Continental Park
2121 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 2360
El Segundo, California 90245

 

owners.

 

 

 

Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC (“Pacific Ridge”)
4900 Meadows Road Suite 320
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

 

Pacific Ridge Holdings, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company, controls 25% or more of the voting interest in Pacific Ridge.

 

 

 

Pier Capital LLC (“Pier Capital”)
600 Summer Street, Suite 203
Stamford, CT 06901

 

Pier Capital is controlled by its founder, Jan Eric Parsons.

 

 

 

River Road Asset Management, LLC (“River Road”)
462 S 4th Street #1600
Louisville, KY 40202

 

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RRAM Acquisition, LLC, holds 25% or more of the voting interest in River Road. Additionally, collectively certain employees of River Road hold 25% or more of the voting interest in River Road, but no one employee holds 25% or more of the voting interest individually.

 

Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Adviser.  Each of the Sub-Advisory Agreements provides that the Sub-Adviser will manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion of the assets of the Fund as the Adviser may from time to time allocate to the Sub-Adviser in accordance with the Fund’s objective, policies and restrictions and any investment guidelines established by the Adviser.  Each Sub-Adviser will, subject to the supervision and control of the Adviser, determine in its discretion which issuers and securities will be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by the Fund, and will place orders with and give instruction to brokers and dealers to cause the execution of such transactions.  The Sub-Advisers are required to furnish at their own expense all investment facilities necessary to perform its obligations under the Sub-Advisory Agreements.

 

Generally, each Sub-Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice, or by the Adviser immediately upon notice to the Sub-Adviser, and each such agreement terminates automatically in the event of an assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).  Each Sub-Advisory Agreement also may be terminated by a Sub-Adviser upon 30 days’ written notice and automatically terminates upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Altair

 

Other Accounts .  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of September 30, 2015.

 

S- 58



 

Name of Portfolio
Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that
Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance

 

1. Steven B. Weinstein

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

278

 

$

3,639,389,865

 

0

 

$

0

 

2. Jason M. Laurie

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

278

 

$

3,639,389,865

 

0

 

$

0

 

3. Bryan R. Malis

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

278

 

$

3,639,389,865

 

0

 

$

0

 

4. Donald J. Sorota

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

278

 

$

3,639,389,865

 

0

 

$

0

 

5. Aaron D. Dirlam

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

278

 

$

3,639,389,865

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Total Assets for Altair totaled $3,639,389,865 as of September 30, 2015.

 

Compensation.   As of the date of this SAI, the Adviser compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  Each of the portfolio manager’s compensation consists of a cash base salary and a bonus paid in cash that is based on overall profitability of the Adviser, and therefore in part based on the value of the Fund’s net assets and other client accounts they are managing.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   The Adviser provides investment management services to multiple clients with investment objectives and strategies that are similar as well as different than those of the Fund.  The Adviser’s management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with its management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The portfolio managers’ management of the Fund and other accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting a disproportionate amount of time and attention to the management of the Fund or another account. Generally, the Adviser seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of the portfolio managers. Although the Adviser does not track the time a portfolio manager spends on the Fund or other accounts, the Adviser does periodically assess whether a portfolio manager has adequate time and resources to effectively manage all of such portfolio manager’s accounts.

 

S- 59



 

Aperio

 

Other Accounts .  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets (in
millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance

 

1. Patrick Geddes

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2

 

$

226

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

2,314

 

$

11,631

 

0

 

$

0

 

2. Ran Leshem

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2

 

$

226

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

2,314

 

$

11,631

 

0

 

$

0

 

3. Robert Tymoczko

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2

 

$

226

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

2,314

 

$

11,631

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Total assets under management for Aperio were approximately $11,894 million as of August 31, 2015.

 

Compensation .  Aperio compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  Aperio provides a competitive salary plus bonus system of compensation for all employees.  Bonus awards are highly dependent on firm profitability and individual contribution.  In addition, Aperio provides additional long term compensation for key staff members.  As an index investment manager, Aperio does not link compensation to portfolio performance.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   Aperio recognizes that conflicts of interest are an inherent part of the investment advisory business and has implemented policies and procedures in order to manage such conflicts and ensure that all clients of the firm are treated in a fair and equitable fashion.  Among other things, Aperio has adopted a Code of Ethics which governs employees’ personal investing activity and is designed to help employees comply with legal restrictions on personal investments while honoring their duties to Aperio’s clients.

 

Driehaus

 

Other Accounts .  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

S- 60



 

Name of Portfolio
Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets (in
millions)*

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance
($ millions)*

 

1. Jeffrey James

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

1

 

$

192.3

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

4

 

$

43.3

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

39

 

$

649.9

 

2

 

$

135.8

 

2. Michael Buck

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

1

 

$

192.3

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

4

 

$

43.3

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

39

 

$

649.9

 

2

 

$

135.8

 

 


*Total assets numbers are estimated and unreconciled.

 

Total assets under management for Driehaus were approximately $10,046 million as of August 31, 2015.

 

Compensation .  Driehaus compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  The portfolio managers are paid a fixed salary plus a bonus. They each receive bonuses which are based on a percentage of management fees paid by the registered investment companies and other accounts managed, as applicable. In addition, if performance exceeds certain percentile benchmarks when compared to its peer group (using Lipper rankings) and/or certain risk adjusted return formulas, they each earn a specified additional percentage of the management fees paid by the registered investment companies and other accounts managed. They also each receive a bonus based on a percentage of any performance-based fees paid by the registered investment companies and other accounts managed, if applicable. The assistant portfolio manager also receives a bonus based on a percentage of his salary, which has both subjective and objective components.

 

If Driehaus declares a profit sharing plan contribution, the portfolio managers also would receive such contribution. The portfolio managers are eligible to participate in an equity purchase plan available to certain key employees of Driehaus.  The portfolio manager is also eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   The portfolio managers may manage the assets of more than one registered investment company (for this section only, each a “Fund”), other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts (collectively, the “Accounts”) for Driehaus. Both clients and affiliated persons of Driehaus, including the portfolio managers, may own interests in these Accounts. The same or related securities may be appropriate and desirable investments for both a Fund and the Accounts (including another fund) and they may compete in the marketplace for the same investment opportunities, which may be limited. In addition, transactions by the Accounts in securities held by a Fund or that a Fund is seeking to buy or sell (or transactions in related securities) may have an adverse impact on the prices that a Fund pays for those securities or can realize upon sale, or on the ability of Driehaus to buy or sell the desired amount of such securities for a Fund at favorable prices. This is particularly true when the Accounts’ transactions occur at a point in time close to when trades in the same or related securities are effected for a

 

S- 61



 

Fund. This presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Accounts as well as the affiliates of Driehaus who invest in the Accounts.

 

Conflicts also may arise between the interests of a Fund and the interests of Driehaus and its affiliates, including the portfolio managers. These conflicts can occur as one or more of the Accounts pay advisory fees to Driehaus, including performance-based compensation, at a higher rate than the rate of fees paid by the Fund. In addition, Driehaus’s affiliates, including the Fund’s portfolio managers, may personally own interests in the Accounts or have other financial incentives (including that a portfolio manager’s compensation is based, in part, on assets under management). For example, portfolio managers could favor an Account over a Fund when dividing their time and attention between them or when presented with limited investment opportunities that would be desirable and suitable for both a Fund and the Accounts or when making trading decisions.

 

Driehaus, through trade allocation and other policies and procedures, seeks to manage these conflicts of interest to reduce any adverse effects on either a Fund or the Accounts. These policies and procedures include requirements that transactions by a Fund and the Accounts in the same securities that occur on the same day are average priced when feasible and allocated on a fair and equitable basis. In addition, Driehaus conducts periodic reviews of transactions in and holdings of the same or related securities by a Fund and the Accounts for compliance with the Driehaus’s policies and procedures.

 

Granite

 

Other Accounts .  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets (in
millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance

 

1. Jeffrey J. Hoo

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2

 

$

99.8

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

565

 

$

509.8

 

0

 

$

0

 

2. Joshua D. Shaskan

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

19

 

$

39.1

 

0

 

$

0

 

3. Peter O. Lopez

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

7

 

$

1.3

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

S- 62



 

Total assets under management for Granite were approximately $1,251 million as of August 31, 2015.

 

Compensation.   Granite compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  The portfolio managers’ compensation includes base compensation, revenue-based and performance-based compensation for each team (Small Cap and Large Cap) and, if principals, a profits interest in Granite.  The overall compensation structure is reviewed annually.  Portfolio managers, and other key investment personnel, have membership interests in Granite and are evaluated on an annual basis to determine additional allocations of membership interest. Such interests entitle the members to distribution of profits as well as certain liquidity features.  The interests effectively vest over a determined time period so as to provide a retention incentive. This ownership feature is intended to create both stability and an entrepreneurial atmosphere at Granite.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   The portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other.  The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund.  Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another.  Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund.  However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated, and they will generally be allocated pro rata in proportion to the size of the orders or redemptions placed.

 

Pacific Ridge

 

Other Accounts.  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets (in
millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance

 

1. Mark D. Cooper

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

3

 

$

12

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

12

 

$

175

 

0

 

$

0

 

2. Dominic R. Marshall

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

3

 

$

12

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

12

 

$

175

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

S- 63



 

Total assets under management for Pacific Ridge were approximately $217 million as of August 31, 2015.

 

Compensation .  Pacific Ridge compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  Each of the portfolio manager’s compensation consists of a cash base salary and a discretionary performance bonus paid in cash that is based on overall profitability of the Adviser and performance of the Fund, and therefore in part based on the value of the Fund’s net assets and other client accounts they are managing.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   The portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other.  The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund.  Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another.  Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund.  However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated, and they will generally be allocated pro rata in proportion to the size of the orders or redemptions placed.

 

Pier Capital

 

Other Accounts .  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of
Portfolio
Manager
or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance

 

1. Alexander Yakirevich

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2**

 

$

263,300,105.52

**

1

 

$

32,871,495.50

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

1

 

$

36,585,537.08

 

2

 

$

5,105,183.65

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

22

 

$

329,636,752.00

*

7

 

$

82,416,173.29

**

 


*Other accounts for performance fee calculations include individual participants in Pier’s Small Cap Growth Commingled fund offering.

 

**Includes a non-US Registered Investment Company.

 

Total assets under management for Pier Capital were approximately $671 million as of August 31, 2015.

 

S- 64



 

Compensation.  Pier Capital compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  Alexander Yakirevich receives a fixed salary based on tenure and experience from Pier Capital and in addition, as a partner, Mr. Yakirevich receives a contracted percentage of equity distribution from Pier Capital.

 

Conflicts of Interests.  Alexander Yakirevich must adhere to policies and procedures adopted by Pier Capital designed to address any potential material conflicts of interest. For instance, the portfolio manager is responsible for all accounts within a certain investment discipline, and do not, absent special circumstances, differentiate from such investment discipline when allocating resources. Additionally, the Sub-Adviser and its advisory affiliates utilize a system for allocating investment opportunities among portfolio that is designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation. Equity Trader trades all accounts through a block trade and the average share price is prorated across all accounts.

 

River Road

 

Other Accounts .  In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets (in
millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that
Advisory
Fee is Based
on
Performance
(in millions)

 

1. James C. Shircliff

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

8

 

$

2,055

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

25

 

$

1,865

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

114

 

$

2,627

 

2

 

$

451

 

2. Andrew Beck

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

4

 

$

674

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

2

 

$

5

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

26

 

$

807

 

1

 

$

60

 

3. J. Justin Akin

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

4

 

$

674

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

2

 

$

5

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

22

 

$

802

 

1

 

$

60

 

 

Total assets under management for River Road were approximately $7.123 billion as of August 31, 2015.

 

Compensation.   River Road compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  Compensation for portfolio managers includes an annual fixed base salary and a potential performance-based bonus.  In addition, all portfolio managers are shareholders in the firm and have signed long-term employment agreements.

 

S- 65



 

Conflicts of Interests.   Portfolio managers at River Road may manage one or more mutual funds as well as other types of accounts, including separate accounts for institutions and individuals, and other pooled investment vehicles. Portfolio managers make investment decisions for an account or portfolio based on its investment objectives and policies, and other relevant investment considerations. A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle whose fees may be materially greater than the management fees paid by the fund and may include a performance-based fee. Management of multiple funds and accounts may create potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities, and the aggregation and allocation of trades. In addition, River Road monitors a variety of areas (e.g., allocation of investment opportunities) and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics. River Road has a fiduciary responsibility to all of the clients for which it manages accounts. River Road seeks to provide best execution of all securities transactions and to aggregate securities transactions and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. River Road has developed policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the management of multiple types of accounts for multiple clients.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Portfolio Managers .

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the following portfolio managers in the Fund as of August 31, 2015.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Weinstein

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Jason M. Laurie

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Bryan R. Malis

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Donald J. Sorota

 

$50,001-$100,000

 

Aaron D. Dirlam

 

$0

 

Patrick Geddes

 

$0

 

Ran Leshem

 

$0

 

Robert Tymoczko

 

$0

 

Jeffrey James

 

$0

 

Michael Buck

 

$0

 

Jeffrey J. Hoo

 

$0

 

Joshua D. Shaskan

 

$0

 

Peter O. Lopez

 

$0

 

Mark D. Cooper

 

$0

 

Dominic R. Marshall

 

$0

 

Alexander Yakirevich

 

$0

 

James C. Shircliff

 

$0

 

Andrew Beck

 

$0

 

J. Justin Akin

 

$0

 

 

S- 66



 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as administrator to the Fund pursuant to administration and accounting services agreements with respect to the Fund (the “Administration Agreements”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepare materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of:

 

·               .060% of the Fund’s first $250 million of average daily net assets;

·               .050% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets;

·               .040% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets; and

·               .030% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $750 million.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,833 per month, exclusive of Rule 38a-1 base compliance support services fees, costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

For the period October 21, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2015, the Fund paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out-of-pocket expenses as follows:

 

 

 

Administration, Accounting and
Regulatory Administration
Fees Paid
(after waivers and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

For the fiscal period October 21, 2014 through August 31, 2015

 

$

192,282

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

S- 67



 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286, is custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement dated July 19, 2011 (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio investments on account of the Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio investments; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations.  The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any affiliate, sub-custodian or domestic sub-custodian.  The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Fund’s average gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon also serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund.  BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any affiliate . For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Fund’s Customer Identification Program, including verification of  

 

S- 68



 

required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund(s) pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Funds through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The

 

S- 69



 

Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers are responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers seek to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Adviser and Sub-Advisers generally seek reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

Brokerage Transactions

 

Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers may place a combined order for two or more accounts they manage, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers and the

 

S- 70



 

Company’s Board of Directors that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions. Nonetheless, the Adviser and Sub-Advisers believe that the ability of the Fund to participate in higher volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the Fund.

 

For the fiscal period October 21, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2015, the Fund paid commissions to brokers on account of research services as follows:

 

For the fiscal period October 21, 2014 through August 31, 2015

 

$

264,767.46

 

 

For the fiscal period October 21, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2015, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid the aggregated brokerage commissions as follows:

 

For the fiscal period October 21, 2014 through August 31, 2015

 

$

683,782

 

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Fund as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, there were no securities held by the Fund of its regular broker-dealers.

 

Brokerage Selection

 

The Company does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Fund’s Adviser and Sub-Advisers may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser. The Adviser and Sub-Advisers may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits an investment adviser or sub-adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause a fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, certain Sub-Advisers may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the applicable Sub-Advisers believe that access to independent investment research is beneficial to their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

S- 71



 

To the extent research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the applicable Sub-Advisers might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Sub-Advisers may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Sub-Advisers will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Sub-Adviser under its Sub-Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Sub-Advisers are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases a Sub-Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the applicable Sub-Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the applicable Sub-Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Sub-Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but each applicable Sub-Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Fund may purchase new issues of securities for clients in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser and Sub-Advisers with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the

 

S- 72



 

Fund.  A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or the Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account with an authorized dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner’s account will be performed by the authorized dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent.  Since the Fund will have no record of the beneficial owner’s transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the authorized dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account.  The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the authorized dealer.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information;

 

S- 73



 

(4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers, financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus.  No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.  Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.  As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders.  To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

S- 74



 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements.  If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company.  If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders.  In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses).  The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a “regulated investment company” and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

S- 75



 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain.  Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors.  To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each class of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law.  Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares.  Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter.  Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio.  Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory

 

S- 76



 

agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio.  However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

S- 77



 

APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

A- 1



 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

A- 2



 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall

 

A- 3



 

due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

A- 4



 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered

 

A- 5



 

in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A- 6



 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

A- 7



 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

A- 8



 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

A- 9



 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

A- 10



 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 11



 

APPENDIX B
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY OF APERIO GROUP, LLC

 

Aperio Group’s policy is to vote proxies for clients, unless directed otherwise by the client in writing.  Aperio Group votes proxies consistent with what the Firm determines is in best interest of Aperio Group’s clients.  Aperio Group will generally cast proxy votes in favor of proposals that increase shareholder value and will generally be cast against proposals having the opposite effect.

 

In cases where a client requests us to vote in a specific way on a particular company issue, Aperio Group will vote that client’s proxies in accordance with their specific instructions.

 

Aperio Group offers specific strategies related to Socially Responsive Investing (SRI).  Proxies for those clients are voted using specific SRI proxy voting criteria provided by a third party service provider and may differ from votes cast for other clients’ portfolios managed by Aperio.

 

Aperio Group may choose not to vote proxies in certain situations or for certain accounts, such as: 1) where a client has informed Aperio Group that it wishes to retain the right to vote the proxy, Aperio Group will instruct the custodian to send the proxy material directly to the client, 2) where Aperio Group deems the cost of voting would exceed any anticipated benefit to the client, 3) where a proxy is received for a client account that has been terminated with Aperio Group, or 4) where a proxy is received for a security Aperio Group no longer manages (i.e. the Adviser had previously sold the entire position).

 

A client may request a complete copy of our current Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and voting guidelines and/or information on how we have voted proxies for their account(s) by contacting Aperio Group by phone at 415-339-4300 or e-mail at operations@aperiogroup.com.

 

B- 1



 

APPENDIX C
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY OF
DRIEHAUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

For those clients for whom Driehaus Capital Management LLC (“DCM”) has undertaken to vote proxies, DCM retains the final authority and responsibility for such voting. On behalf of our valued clients, DCM (i) provides the client with this written summary of its proxy voting policy and the complete proxy voting policy upon request; (ii) discloses to the client how to obtain voting information; (iii) applies the proxy voting policy consistently; (iv) documents the reasons for voting; (v) maintains records of voting activities for clients and regulating authorities; and (vi) votes securities based on a pre-determined voting policy, based on the recommendations of an independent third-party to avoid conflicts of interest with DCM.

 

In order to facilitate this proxy voting process, DCM has retained ISS Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) to provide in-depth proxy research, vote recommendations and execution, and the record keeping necessary for the appropriate management of a client account. ISS is an investment adviser that specializes in providing a variety of fiduciary-level services related to proxy voting. DCM has ascertained that ISS has the capacity and competency to analyze proxy issues, make vote recommendations in an impartial manner and in the best interests of DCM’s clients. The default choice used by DCM for ISS recommendations is the ISS U.S. Policy for its domestic client accounts and the applicable international policy for its international client accounts. Clients may choose another policy, such as the ISS Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Policy, as appropriate. In addition to analyses, ISS delivers to DCM voting reports that reflect voting activities for DCM’s clients, enabling the clients to monitor voting activities performed by DCM.

 

DCM’s proxy voting policy sets forth the general voting guidelines that ISS follows on various types of issues when there are no company-specific reasons for voting to the contrary. In making the proxy voting decision, there are two overriding considerations: first, the economic impact of the proposal; and second, the best interest impact of a proposal if it were to pass or not pass, as the case may be. ISS performs company-by-company analysis, which means that all votes are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and no issues are considered routine. Each issue is considered in the context of the company under review. DCM generally follows ISS’s recommendations and does not use its discretion in the proxy voting decision. For this reason, client proxies are voted in the clients’ best interests, in accordance with a predetermined policy based upon recommendations of an independent third party, and are not affected by any potential or actual conflict of interest of DCM. In addition, DCM annually, and more frequently if necessary, reviews ISS’s policies and procedures regarding any potential conflicts of interest when making vote recommendations to determine if ISS is acting impartially.

 

Clients who are interested in obtaining information from DCM on how their securities were voted may contact the Relationship Management Department at 1-800-688-8819. In addition, the Relationship Management Department mails to each client an annual record of all proxies voted on behalf of that client. Clients may also contact the Relationship Management Department if they wish to receive a copy of DCM’s complete proxy voting policy.

 

C- 1



 

APPENDIX D
SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY OF
GRANITE INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC

 

Granite votes proxies on behalf of its Clients when authorized to do so.  In general, Clients delegate the responsibility of voting proxies to Granite.  However, a Client may reserve the authority to vote proxies for itself.  When granted proxy voting authority, Granite will vote such securities for the exclusive benefit and in the best economic interest of those Clients and their beneficiaries as determined by Granite in good faith, subject to any restrictions or directions from a Client.  Such voting responsibilities are exercised in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, as well as with Granite’s fiduciary duties under applicable law to act in the best interests of its Clients.

 

Granite has contracted with Broadridge Financial Solutions and utilizes their Proxy Edge® platform (“ProxyEdge”).  ProxyEdge will provide proxy voting support with regard to casting votes and keeping voting records.  ProxyEdge will vote proxies it receives from the Custodian(s) on behalf of Granite.  However, proxies not received in a timely manner may not be voted.  Under the terms of its arrangement with ProxyEdge, Granite will generally follow the Glass Lewis recommendations.  However, certain clients may use the socially responsible guidelines which may cause those clients to vote differently than other clients.

 

Granite can instruct ProxyEdge to vote either for or against a particular type of proposal or Granite can instruct ProxyEdge to seek instruction with respect to that particular type of proposal from Granite on a case-by-case basis.  ProxyEdge receives proxy statements where Granite is authorized to vote and sorts the proposals according to Granite’s voting instructions.  Proposals for which a voting decision has been pre-determined are automatically voted by ProxyEdge pursuant to voting instructions.  Case-by-case decisions are generally made by the PMs.  All voting records where Granite retains proxy voting authority are maintained by ProxyEdge, except that Granite will maintain copies of any document created by Granite that was material in making a determination of how to vote a “case-by-case” proxy or that memorializes the basis for that decision.

 

While how best to vote a proxy to maximize shareholder value may not be clear or be able to be decided with certainty, the policies are intended to provide guidance so that it acts in a manner it deems to be prudent and diligent and which is intended to enhance the economic value of the Client’s assets.  A copy of Granite’s proxy voting guidelines is available upon request.

 

D- 1



 

APPENDIX E
PROXY VOTING POLICY OF
PACIFIC RIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC, as a matter of policy and as a fiduciary to our clients, has responsibility for voting proxies for portfolio securities consistent with the best economic interests of the clients.  Our firm maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting and makes appropriate disclosures about our firm’s proxy policies and practices.  Our policy and practice includes the responsibility to monitor corporate actions, receive and vote client proxies and disclose any potential conflicts of interest as well as making information available to clients about the voting of proxies for their portfolio securities and maintaining relevant and required records.

 

Background

 

Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised.

 

Investment advisers registered with the SEC, and which exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, are required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act to (a) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that client securities are voted in the best interests of clients, which must include how an adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between an adviser’s interests and those of its clients; (b) disclose to clients how they may obtain information from the adviser with respect to the voting of proxies for their securities; (c) describe to clients a summary of its proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) maintain certain records relating to the adviser’s proxy voting activities when the adviser has proxy voting authority.

 

Responsibility

 

The Chief Compliance Officer has the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of our proxy voting policy, practices, disclosures and record keeping, including outlining our voting guidelines in our procedures.

 

Procedure

 

Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC has adopted procedures to implement the firm’s policy and reviews to monitor and ensure the firm’s policy is observed, implemented properly and amended or updated, as appropriate, which include the following:

 

Voting Procedures

 

·                   All employees will forward any proxy materials received on behalf of clients to the proxy voting department;

 

E- 1



 

·                   Absent material conflicts, the Portfolio Manager in charge of the stock will vote the proxy with applicable voting guidelines, sign and return them in a timely and appropriate manner to the proxy voting team who will then place the votes via electronic means.

 

Disclosure

 

Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will provide conspicuously displayed information in its Disclosure Document summarizing this proxy voting policy and procedures, including a statement that clients may request information regarding how Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC voted a client’s proxies, and that clients may request a copy of the firm’s proxy policies and procedures.

 

The Chief Compliance Officer will also send a copy of this summary to all existing clients who have previously received Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC’s Disclosure Document; or the Chief Compliance Officer may send each client the amended Disclosure Document.

 

Client Requests for Information

 

·                   All client requests for information regarding proxy votes, or policies and procedures, received by any employee should be forwarded to the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

·                   In response to any request, the Chief Compliance Officer will prepare a written response to the client with the information requested, and as applicable will include the name of the issuer, the proposal voted upon, and how Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC voted the client’s proxy with respect to each proposal about which client inquired.

 

Voting Guidelines

 

·                   In the absence of specific voting guidelines from the client, Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will vote proxies in the best interests of shareholders. Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC’s policy is to vote all proxies from a specific issuer the same way for each client absent qualifying restrictions from a client.  Clients are permitted to place reasonable restrictions on Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC’s voting authority in the same manner that they may place such restrictions on the actual selection of account securities.

 

·                   Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will generally vote in favor of routine corporate housekeeping proposals such as the election of directors and selection of auditors, absent conflicts of interest raised by an auditors non-audit services.

 

·                   Generally vote against proposals that cause board members to become entrenched or cause unequal voting rights.

 

E- 2



 

·                   In reviewing proposals, Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will further consider the opinion of management and the effect on management, and the effect on shareholder value and the issuer’s business practices.

 

·                   Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will abstain from any advisory proxy items regarding executive compensation or the frequency of the vote on executive compensation.

 

·                   Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC does not vote proxies relating to any cash vehicles (i.e. Sweep funds, cash accounts and daily cash mutual funds) held by and chosen by clients.

 

·                   Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will vote against any proxy items allowing board members to vote in their discretion on unspecified business that may properly come before the shareholders meeting.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

·                   Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will identify any conflicts that exist between the interests of the adviser and the client by reviewing the relationship of Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC with the issuer of each security to determine if Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC or any of its employees has any financial, business or personal relationship with the issuer.

 

·                   If a material conflict of interest exists, the Chief Compliance Officer will determine whether it is appropriate to disclose the conflict to the affected clients, to give the clients an opportunity to vote the proxies themselves, or to address the voting issue through other objective means such as voting in a manner consistent with a predetermined voting policy or receiving an independent third party voting recommendation.

 

·                   Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC will maintain a record of the voting resolution of any conflict of interest.

 

Recordkeeping

 

The Chief Compliance Officer shall retain the following proxy records in accordance with the SEC’s five-year retention requirement.

 

·                   These policies and procedures and any amendments;

 

·                   Each proxy statement that Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC receives;

 

·                   A record of each vote that Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC casts;

 

E- 3



 

·                   Any document Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC created that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies, or that memorializes that decision including periodic reports to the Chief Compliance Officer or proxy committee, if applicable.

 

·                   A copy of each written request from a client for information on how Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC voted such client’s proxies, and a copy of any written response.

 

In the event PRCP retains the research, voting and/or recordkeeping services of an outside proxy firm, PRCP will tailor its proxy policy and procedures to be consistent with the services received and the firm’s actual proxy handling and voting processes.

 

E- 4



 

APPENDIX F
PROXY VOTING POLICY OF
PIER CAPITAL, LLC

 

Introduction

 

This statement sets forth the Firm’s policy with respect to the exercise of voting authority in connection with proxy proposals, amendments, consents, corporate actions, class action participation (“Proxy Discretion”) with respect to securities held by the Firm’s Clients.

 

Policy Statement

 

The Advisers Act requires the Firm to, at all times, act in the best financial interest of the Clients. To this end, the Firm has adopted and implemented these Proxy Policies and Procedures which are designed to result in voting proxies for the benefit of Clients in order to enhance the value of the securities in Client portfolios. The financial interest of the Clients is the primary consideration when exercising Proxy Discretion taking into account the surrounding facts and circumstances as more fully set forth herein.

 

Basic Standards

 

Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised. The Firm considers it to be our fiduciary duty to preserve and protect the assets of the Clients, including exercising Proxy Discretion, for their benefit. Accordingly, it is Firm policy to exercise Proxy Discretion in a prudent and diligent manner and to base decisions on our reasonable judgment of what will serve the best financial interest of the Clients, after taking into account relevant factors, including, among others,:

 

·                                           Impact on the value of the securities

·                                           Anticipated costs and benefits associated with the proposal

·                                           Effect on liquidity

·                                           Customary industry and business practices

 

In those cases where a Client is deemed to be “plan assets”, the beneficial owners of the security are deemed to be the participants in the employee benefit plans for which we act as investment manager. In those cases where securities are on loan, the Firm as the lender cannot and does not exercise Proxy Discretion for such securities.

 

There is no per se rule regarding what is a correct decision when exercising Proxy Discretion. Accordingly, as in other areas relating to prudent investing, our decision is based on our good faith analysis and judgment in the context of the surrounding facts and circumstances in question. In determining our vote, however, we will not and do not subordinate the financial interests of our Clients to any other entity or interested party.

 

F- 1



 

Conflicts of Interest

 

At times, conflicts may arise between the interest of the Clients on the one hand, and the interests of the Firm on the other hand. Examples of conflicts of interest include:

 

·                                           The Firm manages a pension plan or assets for a company that is also soliciting proxies.

·                                           The Firm has a material business relationship with a proponent of a proxy proposal.

·                                           The Firm or any of its principals or employees have a personal relationship with participants in a proxy contest.

 

If the Firm has determined that it has or may be perceived to have a conflict of interest when voting a proxy, the Firm will address matters involving such a conflict of interest as follows:

 

1.                                       If the proposal is addressed by the specific policies herein, the Firm will vote in accordance with such policies.

 

2.                                       If the Firm believes it is in the best economic interests of the Clients to depart from such policies, the Firm may depart from such policies, provided that, (a) it has documented its rationalization for such vote, and (b) consulting with the Compliance Officer who will advise as to a reasonable resolution of the conflict.

 

We will use commercially reasonable efforts to determine whether a potential conflict exists based on current known facts and circumstances. Any consideration received in connection with the exercise of Proxy Discretion belongs to the relevant Client and will not be retained by Firm, its employees, or affiliates.

 

Proxy Discretion Procedures

 

The Compliance Officer/Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for the administration of Proxy Discretion and the actual voting of the proxies in an accurate and timely manner. The PM or his designee is responsible for making all proxy voting decisions in accordance with these policies and procedures. In this capacity, the Compliance Officer/Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for and performs the following functions:

 

·                                           Receive proxy materials or notices from prime brokers

·                                           Determine the number of shares held by Clients as of the record date

·                                           Exercise Proxy Discretion consistent with this policy on routine matters or consult with the PM or his designee for decision on non-routine matters

·                                           Record the Proxy Discretion decision

·                                           When relevant, record the rationale provided by the PM or his designee and

·                                           When requested, provide Clients with a report of Proxy Discretion exercised with respect to their positions

 

F- 2



 

In order to facilitate the proxy voting process, Pier has engaged ADP, an independent proxy voting service (the “Proxy Service”) to vote proxies for the Funds on Pier’s behalf. The Proxy Service allows Pier to vote according to our guidelines as set forth and review reports indicating how individual votes have been cast. The Proxy Service does not automatically cast votes for Pier. Pier must enter its vote into the Proxy Service system. The Proxy Service then casts the vote on Pier’s behalf.

 

Standing Instructions

 

To facilitate the timely and complete administration of proxies, the Firm has developed the following standing instructions for the exercise of Proxy Discretion which it believes is in the best economic interest of the Clients.

 

Unless otherwise advised by the portfolio manager, all proxies will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of management unless in the portfolio manager’s opinion such recommendation is not in the best financial interest of the Clients. This standing instruction is consistent with Firm’s investment process which generally evaluates the quality and commitment of management.

 

We may abstain from voting if we conclude that the effect on a Client’s economic interests or the value of the portfolio holding is insignificant or indeterminable. In making such a decision, the Firm may consider various factors including, (i) costs associated with exercising Proxy Discretion (e.g., translation or travel expenses) and (ii) potential legal restrictions on trading resulting from the exercise of Proxy Discretion. The firm will not abstain or decide not to vote a proxy if the Client constitutes a Plan.

 

In the case of social or political responsibility, we believe social and political issues do not enhance shareholder value and generally abstain or vote against such proposals.

 

Disclosure

 

The Firm will disclose in Part II of its Form ADV that a copy of this proxy policy is available and will provide details and contact information in order to direct such requests to the appropriate source. Further, the ADV disclosure will also contain a summary of these policies and procedures and will be updated as necessary to reflect changes.

 

Delegation

 

We maintain the records required to be maintained by the Firm with respect to proxies in accordance with the Advisers Act, generally for a period of five years in an easily accessible place, the first two years in a Firm office. For proxies, we will maintain or have available to us,

 

·                                           Written or electronic copies of each proxy statement,

·                                           Record of each proxy voting decision,

·                                           Documents, if any, regarding decisions that were material in making the voting decision, and

 

F- 3



 

·                                           A copy of each written request from a Client or investor/limited partner for proxy voting information and our written response.

 

We may but need not retain proxy statements that we received regarding Client securities to the extent that such proxies are available on the SEC’s EDGAR system. We may also rely upon a third party to maintain certain records required to be maintained by the Advisers Act.

 

Review & Changes

 

We shall from time to time review these policies and procedures and may adopt changes based upon our experience, evolving industry practice and developments in applicable laws and regulations. Unless otherwise agreed to with a Client, we may change these proxy voting policies and procedures from time to time without notice to or approval by any Client.

 

Clients may request a current version of our proxy policies and procedures as well as information as to how the Firm voted proxies or corporate actions for their respective portfolios by contacting Pier’s Compliance Officer at 203-425-1442. Such copies are provided at no charge and may be delivered electronically in the discretion of the Firm.

 

F- 4



 

APPENDIX G
PROXY VOTING POLICY OF
RIVER ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

PROXY VOTING

 

Policy. River Road Asset Management, LLC’s (“River Road”) exercises discretionary voting authority over proxies issued on securities held in client accounts unless the client has explicitly reserved voting authority. River Road, as a matter of policy and as a fiduciary to our clients, has responsibility for voting proxies for client securities consistent with the best economic interests of the clients. River Road maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting.  River Road has established two proxy committees to oversee proxy voting activities, the Proxy Voting Policy Committee and the Proxy Voting Procedure Committee. To help discharge its duties, River Road hired Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) as its voting agent. Glass Lewis performs the following services:

 

·                   provides analysis of proxy proposals,

·                   tracks and receives proxies for which River Road clients are entitled to vote,

·                   votes the proxies as directed by River Road; and,

·                   compiles and provides client voting records.

 

Voting Process. River Road will generally instruct Glass Lewis to vote proxies pursuant to guidelines adopted by River Road’s Proxy Voting Policy Committee at the beginning of each year. If the policy recommendation and the management recommendation are different for a particular vote, portfolio managers may choose to vote differently from the policy with respect to a particular proxy based on the investment implications of each issue. In such cases, the investment rationale is documented and prior approval of the Compliance Department is obtained.

 

Conflicts of Interest. River Road has eliminated most conflicts of interest by using an independent third party (Glass Lewis) that votes pursuant to the guidelines adopted by the Proxy Voting Policy Committee or in accordance with River Road’s direction based on the above process. In cases where River Road believes there may be an actual or perceived conflict of interest, River Road requires additional steps that may include the following:

 

i.

 

documenting the potential conflict of interest;

ii.

 

obtaining the prior approval of the Chief Investment Officer or Co-Chief Investment Officer and the Chief Compliance Officer;

iii.

 

obtaining Committee review or approval;

iv.

 

deferring to the voting recommendation of a third party;

v.

 

voting pursuant to client direction (following disclosure of the conflict);

vi.

 

abstaining from voting;

vii.

 

voting reflectively (in the same proportion and manner as other shareholders); or,

viii.

 

taking such other action as necessary to protect the interests of clients.

 

G- 1



 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

 

a series of THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

Class I Shares Ticker Symbol: ABYIX

Class A Shares Ticker Symbol: ABYAX

Class C Shares Ticker Symbol: ABYCX

 

December 31, 2015

Investment Adviser:

 

ABBEY CAPITAL LIMITED

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to shares of three classes, Class I Shares, Class A Shares and Class C Shares (collectively, the “Shares”), representing interests in the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”) and the Fund’s Annual Report dated August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”). Copies of the prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free 1-844-261-6484. The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

1

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

22

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

24

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

25

CODE OF ETHICS

31

PROXY VOTING

32

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

32

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

34

INVESTMENT ADVISER

34

INVESTMENT TRADING ADVISERS

36

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

37

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

38

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

39

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

39

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

39

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

41

FUND TRANSACTIONS

42

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

44

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

47

VALUATION OF SHARES

47

TAXES

47

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

48

MISCELLANEOUS

49

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

50

APPENDIX A - DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A-1

 



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund, a non-diversified portfolio. Abbey Capital Limited (“Abbey Capital” or the “Adviser”), serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.  Current income is a secondary objective.  There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.  The Fund may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

Multi-Manager Structure.  The Fund and Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, (the “Subsidiary”) are managed by the Adviser and one or more asset managers who are unaffiliated with the Adviser (each a “Trading Adviser” and together, the “Trading Advisers”). Subject to review by the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Adviser is responsible for selecting the Fund’s investment strategies and for allocating and reallocating assets among the Trading Advisers consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. The Adviser is also responsible for recommending to the Board whether an agreement with a Trading Adviser should be approved, renewed, modified or terminated and for monitoring and evaluating the Trading Advisers. The Adviser is also responsible for implementing procedures to ensure that each Trading Adviser complies with the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and restrictions.

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate.  Portfolio turnover rate is defined under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules as the greater of the value of the securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one-year or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year.  Based on this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one-year are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one-year.  The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables. Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of U.S. government securities but are not direct obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose corporations. Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be present, although privately issued obligations collateralized by a portfolio of privately issued asset-backed securities do not involve any government-related guarantee or insurance. In addition to the risks that are presented

 

1



 

by mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets. See “Mortgage-Backed Securities” below for additional information.

 

Asset-backed securities acquired by the Fund may also include collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”). CDOs include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities.

 

A CBO is a trust or other special purpose entity (“SPE”) that is typically backed by a diversified pool of fixed-income securities (which may include high risk, below investment grade securities). A CLO is a trust or other SPE that is typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Although certain CDOs may receive credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure, over-collateralization or bond insurance, such enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect the Fund against the risk of loss on default of the collateral. Certain CDOs may use derivatives contracts to create “synthetic” exposure to assets rather than holding such assets directly, which entails the risks of derivative instruments described elsewhere in this SAI. CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses, which are in addition to those of the Fund.

 

For both CBOs and CLOs, the cashflows from the SPE are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche, which bears the first loss from defaults from the bonds or loans in the SPE and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default (though such protection is not complete). Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO or CLO typically has higher ratings and lower yields than its underlying securities, and may be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as investor aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class. Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind (paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments.

 

The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which the Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities. However, an active dealer market may exist for CDOs, allowing a CDO to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities and asset-backed securities generally discussed elsewhere in this SAI, CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CDOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results; and (v) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly or default.

 

Commodity-Linked Investments.  The Fund may attempt to provide exposure to the returns of real assets that trade in the commodity markets without direct investment in physical commodities. Real assets include oil, gas, industrial and precious metals, livestock, and agricultural or meat products, or other items that have tangible properties. Commodity-linked derivative instruments include commodity index-linked securities and other derivative instruments that provide exposure to the investment returns of the commodities markets. Commodity-linked investments may be more volatile and less liquid than the underlying instruments and their value may be affected by the performance of commodities as well as weather, tax, and other regulatory or political developments, overall market movements and other factors affecting the value of particular industries or commodities, such as disease, embargoes, acts of war or terrorism.

 

The Fund may invest in commodity-linked derivative instruments such as commodity-linked structured notes. The Fund may invest in commodity-linked notes that pay a return linked to the performance of a commodities index or basket of futures contracts with respect to all of the commodities in an index. In some cases, the return will be based on some multiple of the performance of the index, and this embedded leverage will magnify the positive and negative return the Fund earns from these notes as compared to the index. The principal and/or interest payments of commodity-linked derivatives are tied to the value of a real asset or commodity index. Structured notes may be structured by the issuer and the purchaser of the note. The notes are derivative debt instruments with principal payments generally linked to the value

 

2



 

of commodities, commodity futures contracts or the performance of commodity indices and interest and coupon payments pegged to a market-based interest rate, such as LIBOR or a bank’s prime rate. The value of these notes will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index or investment. These notes expose the Fund economically to movements in commodity prices.

 

Corporate Obligations. The Fund may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations without limit on credit quality or maturity of debt securities.  See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are denominated or traded in foreign currencies. The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets) through American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”). ADRs are securities, typically issued by a U.S. financial institution (a “depository”), that evidence ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer and deposited with the depository. ADRs may be listed on a national securities exchange or may trade in the over-the-counter market. ADR prices are denominated in U.S. dollars; the underlying security may be denominated in a foreign currency. GDRs, EDRs and IDRs are securities that represent ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a non-U.S. or U.S. corporation. Depositary receipts may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Investments in depositary receipts do not eliminate the risks in investing in foreign issuers. The underlying security may be subject to foreign government taxes, which would reduce the yield on such securities.

 

Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability. Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations. Inability to dispose of Fund securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. Individual foreign

 

3



 

economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on their portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics ( e.g. , mail service between the United States and foreign countries) may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s securities in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s securities in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency. The Fund may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates or to seek to increase total return. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot ( i.e. , cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

The Fund may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in securities denominated or quoted in a different currency or to seek to increase total return. Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other foreign currency.

 

At the consummation of the forward contract, the Fund may terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If the Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.

 

4



 

The Fund’s transactions in forward contracts will be limited to those described above. Of course, the Fund is not required to enter into such transactions with regard to its foreign currency quoted or denominated securities, and the Fund will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Adviser or Trading Adviser, as applicable.

 

When the Fund enters into forward contracts the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the forward contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

If the Fund uses forward contracts as a method of protecting the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency, this does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the Fund’s foreign assets. It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

While the Fund may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks or to seek to increase total return, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio holdings or securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Fund. Such imperfect correlation may cause the Fund to sustain losses, which will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the Fund to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The Fund’s foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Futures And Options On Futures.  Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for: bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; attempting to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or other risk management purposes.

 

The Fund and the Subsidiary, through which it invests, are subject to regulation by the CFTC as commodity pools and the Adviser is subject to regulation by the CFTC as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) with respect to the Fund under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Adviser does not currently rely on an exclusion from the definition of CPO in CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund.

 

5



 

Transactions in futures and options by the Fund are subject to limitations established by futures and option exchanges governing the maximum number of futures and options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the futures or options were written or purchased on the same or different exchanges or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more different exchanges or through one or more brokers. Thus the number of futures or options which the Fund may write or hold may be affected by futures or options written or held by other entities, including other investment companies advised by the Adviser or a Trading Adviser.  An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.

 

An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified currency amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

 

When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high or higher than the price of the futures contract.  In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the price of the futures contract, the Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.  The Fund may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.

 

The Fund may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option.  In the alternative, if the long position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the call and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a call option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the call option.  The Fund may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a put option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the put option.

 

6



 

There are significant risks associated with the Fund’s use of futures contracts and related options, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Adviser’s or Trading Adviser’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

 

Credit Default Swaps, Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. The Fund may enter into credit default, interest rate and total return swaps. The Fund may also enter into interest rate caps, floors and collars. In addition, the Fund may enter into mortgage swaps and currency swaps.

 

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. As examples, the Fund may enter into swap transactions for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in an economical way.

 

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or security, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. As examples, credit default swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security. Credit default swaps give one party to a transaction the right to dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets), or the right to receive from or make a payment to the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index, or an index component.

 

The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.

 

A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However, generally the Fund will enter into credit default, interest rate, total return and mortgage swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Credit default, interest rate, total return and mortgage swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to credit default, interest rate, total return and mortgage swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to a credit default, interest rate, total return or mortgage swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. In contrast, currency swaps may involve the delivery of the entire principal amount of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.

 

7



 

A credit default swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that may, or may not, be currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If a credit event occurs, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the Fund as seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.

 

To the extent that the Fund’s exposure in a transaction involving a swap or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets, or is covered by other means in accordance with SEC guidance, the Fund and the Adviser believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions. The SEC has recently issued the concept release “Use of Derivatives by Investment Companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940,” which discusses, among other matters, whether current market practices involving derivatives are consistent with the leverage provisions of the Act.  Accordingly, investors should be aware that the SEC may offer additional guidance in the future that may impact the manner in which the Fund operates.

 

The Fund will not enter into any credit default, interest rate, total return or mortgage swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is rated investment grade by S&P’s or Moody’s, or, if unrated by such rating organization, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

The use of credit default, interest rate, mortgage, total return and currency swaps, as well as interest rate caps, floors and collars, is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. If the Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment instruments were not used.

 

Investing in Emerging Countries, including Asia and Eastern Europe. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers located in emerging countries. The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid and subject to greater price volatility, and have a smaller market capitalization, than the U.S. securities markets. In certain countries, there may be fewer publicly traded securities and the market may be dominated by a few issues or sectors. Issuers and securities markets in such countries are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements or as comprehensive government regulations as are issuers and securities markets in the U.S. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of emerging country issuers may not reflect their financial position or results of operations in the same manner as financial statements for U.S. issuers. Substantially less information may be publicly available about emerging country issuers than is available about issuers in the United States.

 

8



 

Emerging country securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of investors. The markets for securities in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging countries may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of developed countries. The limited size of many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging country securities may also affect the Fund’s ability to accurately value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.

 

With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may have an adverse impact on the Fund. For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders in U.S. corporations.

 

Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries may be higher than in the United States and other developed securities markets. In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in emerging countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law.

 

Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit the Fund’s investment in certain emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer’s outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operation of the Fund. The Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.

 

Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western European countries. This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making, including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing foreign private investments and private property. Such economic, political and social instability could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Fund may invest and adversely affect the value of the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.

 

The Fund may seek investment opportunities within former “east bloc” countries in Eastern Europe. Most Eastern European countries had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time. The governments of many Eastern European countries have more recently been implementing reforms directed at political and economic liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move towards a market economy. However, business entities in many Eastern European countries do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of Eastern European countries’ attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently unclear. In addition, any change in the leadership or policies of Eastern European

 

9



 

countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.

 

The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments. Many emerging countries have experienced in the past, and continue to experience, high rates of inflation. In certain countries inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. Other emerging countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic recessions. The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to weakness in world prices for their commodity exports. The Fund’s income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign stocks and securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund remain uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases or sales due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

 

Margin Deposits and Cover Requirements. Unlike the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Subsidiary will be required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents, known as initial margin, based on the value of the contract. The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in securities transactions in that futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by the customer to finance the transactions. Rather, the initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, to and from the broker, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying instruments fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” For example, when the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the contract has risen in response to a rise in the price of the underlying instruments, that position will have increased in value and the Fund will be entitled to receive from the broker a variation margin payment equal to that increase in value. Conversely, where the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the futures contract has declined in response to a decrease in the underlying instruments, the position would be less valuable and the Fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the broker. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Adviser or Trading Adviser may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, subject to the availability of a secondary market, which will operate to terminate the Fund’s position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a loss or gain.

 

The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of forwards, futures, swaps and options. For example, when entering into a contract that must be cash settled, the Fund will cover (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) its position in an amount that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, is equal to the daily mark-to-market obligation, rather than the notional value of the contract.

 

When entering into a contract that does not need to be settled in cash, the Fund is also required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities. Segregated assets cannot be sold or

 

10



 

transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. Each Subsidiary (as defined below) will comply with these coverage requirements to the same extent as the Fund that holds the Subsidiary’s securities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

The Fund may also cover its position in relation to forwards, futures, swaps and options through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency or by other portfolio positions or by other means consistent with applicable regulatory policies.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through securities, such as real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”), pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

 

Guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities represent participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans and are issued by U.S. governmental or private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, including but not limited to the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”). Ginnie Mae certificates are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae certificates are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, a federally chartered and privately owned corporation, for full and timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations. Freddie Mac certificates are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government, for timely payment of interest and the ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

CMOs and REMIC pass-through or participation certificates may be issued by, among others, U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities as well as private lenders. CMOs and REMIC certificates are issued in multiple classes and the principal of and interest on the mortgage assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates in various ways. Each class of CMOs or REMIC certificates, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates on a monthly basis.

 

Typically, CMOs are collateralized by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac certificates but also may be collateralized by other mortgage assets such as whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities. Debt service on CMOs is provided from payments of principal and interest on collateral of mortgaged assets and any reinvestment income thereon.

 

11



 

A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Code and invests in certain mortgages primarily secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. Investors may purchase “regular” and “residual” interest shares of beneficial interest in REMIC trusts, although the Fund does not intend to invest in residual interests.

 

The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by trusts or other entities formed or sponsored by private originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans and other non-governmental entities (or representing custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These private originators and institutions include savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.

 

Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are generally backed by pools of conventional ( i.e. , non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. Since such mortgage-backed securities normally are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit standing of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, in order to receive a high quality rating from the rating organizations ( e.g. , S&P’s or Moody’s), they often are structured with one or more types of “credit enhancement.” Such credit enhancement falls into two categories: (1) liquidity protection and (2) protection against losses resulting after default by a borrower and liquidation of the collateral ( e.g. , sale of a house after foreclosure). Liquidity protection refers to the payment of cash advances to holders of mortgage-backed securities when a borrower on an underlying mortgage fails to make its monthly payment on time. Protection against losses resulting after default and liquidation is designed to cover losses resulting when, for example, the proceeds of a foreclosure sale are insufficient to cover the outstanding amount on the mortgage. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit, through various means of structuring the securities or through a combination of such approaches.

 

Examples of credit enhancement arising out of the structure of the transaction include “senior-subordinated securities” (multiple class securities with one or more classes entitled to receive payment before other classes, with the result that defaults on the underlying mortgages are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class), creation of “spread accounts” or “reserve funds” (where cash or investments are held in reserve against future losses) and “over-collateralization” (where the scheduled payments on the underlying mortgages in a pool exceed the amount required to be paid on the mortgage-backed securities). The degree of credit enhancement for a particular issue of mortgage-backed securities is based on the level of credit risk associated with the particular mortgages in the related pool. Losses on a pool in excess of anticipated levels could nevertheless result in losses to security holders since credit enhancement rarely covers every dollar owed on a pool.

 

Investing in mortgage-backed securities (such as those described above) involves certain risks, including the failure of a counter-party to meet its commitments, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of prepayments on mortgage cash flows. Further, the yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments (usually monthly), the adjustability of interest rates, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made substantially earlier than their final distribution dates.

 

Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. Both adjustable rate mortgage loans and fixed rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment. Under certain interest rate and prepayment rate scenarios, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in mortgage-backed securities notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee. When the Fund reinvests amounts representing payments and unscheduled prepayments of principal, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities. Thus, mortgage-backed securities, and adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities in particular, may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities. This possibility is often referred to as extension risk. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. The market for certain types of mortgage-backed securities ( i.e. , certain CMOs) may not be liquid under all interest rate scenarios, which may prevent the Fund from selling such securities held in its portfolio at times or prices that it desires.

 

12



 

Different types of derivative debt securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension and/or interest rate risk. Conventional mortgage pass-through securities and sequential pay CMOs are subject to all of these risks, but are typically not leveraged. Thus, the magnitude of exposure may be less than for more leveraged mortgage-backed securities.

 

Planned amortization class (“PAC”) and target amortization class (“TAC”) CMO bonds involve less exposure to prepayment, extension and interest rate risk than other mortgage-backed securities, provided that prepayment rates remain within expected prepayment ranges or “collars.” To the extent that prepayment rates remain within these prepayment ranges, the residual or support tranches of PAC and TAC CMOs assume the extra prepayment extension and interest rate risk associated with the underlying mortgage assets.

 

The Fund may invest in floating rate securities based on the Cost of Funds Index (“COFI floaters”), other “lagging rate” floating rate securities, floating rate securities that are subject to a maximum interest rate (“capped floaters”), and mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount. The primary risks associated with these derivative debt securities are the potential extension of average life and/or depreciation due to rising interest rates.

 

Recently, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-related securities (which may include certain of the mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future. In the event that any mortgage-related security held by the Fund is placed on credit watch or downgraded, the value of such mortgage-related security may decline and the Fund may consequently experience losses in respect of such mortgage-related security.

 

Options.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on indices and enter into related closing transactions. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period.  The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates or to seek and increase in total return. Call options on foreign currency written by the Fund will be “covered” as set out below.

 

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

All options written on indices or securities must be covered. When the Fund writes an option on a security, an index or a foreign currency, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the option or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

The Fund may trade put and call options on securities, securities indices and currencies, as the Adviser or applicable

 

13



 

Trading Adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Fund’s investment objective, and except as restricted by the Fund’s investment limitations.  See “Investment Limitations.”

 

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio, to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future or to seek to increase total return. The Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium therefore. If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

 

The Fund may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When the Fund writes an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

 

The Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.

 

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities.  The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate; currency and mortgage swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; municipal leases; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid

 

14



 

securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days. A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”). These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in an underlying investment company during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

The Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by the portion of the assets of the Fund it manages. In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser or Trading Adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

As consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, the Fund may also invest in Section 4(2) commercial paper. Section 4(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper. The Company believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company intends to treat such commercial paper as liquid and not subject to the investment limitations applicable to illiquid securities or restricted securities.

 

Rights Offerings and Purchase Warrants. Rights offerings and purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right’s or warrant’s expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

Risk Considerations of Medium Grade Securities. Obligations in the lowest investment grade ( i.e. , BBB or Baa), referred to as “medium grade” obligations, have speculative characteristics, and changes in economic conditions and other factors are more likely to lead to weakened capacity to make interest payments and repay principal on these obligations than is the case for higher rated securities. In the event that a security purchased by the Fund is subsequently downgraded below investment grade, the Adviser and Trading Advisers will consider such event in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the security.

 

Risk Considerations of Lower Rated Securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities that are not investment grade but are rated as low as B by Moody’s or B by S&P ®  (or their equivalents or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). In the case of a security that is rated differently by two or more rating services, the higher rating is used in connection with the foregoing limitation. In the event that the rating on a security held in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating service, such action will be considered by the Adviser or

 

15



 

applicable Trading Adviser in its evaluation of the overall investment merits of that security, but will not necessarily result in the sale of the security. The widespread expansion of government, consumer and corporate debt within the U.S. economy has made the corporate sector, especially cyclically sensitive industries, more vulnerable to economic downturns or increased interest rates. An economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for high yield fixed income securities and adversely affect the value of outstanding fixed income securities and the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest.

 

The Fund may invest in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. The Fund may invest in high yield debt instruments when the Fund believes that such instruments offer a better risk/reward profile than comparable equity opportunities. High yield fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are considered speculative investments while generally providing greater income than investments in higher rated securities, involve greater risk of loss of principal and income (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities) and may involve greater volatility of price (especially during periods of economic uncertainty or change) than securities in the higher rating categories. Since yields vary over time, no specific level of income can ever be assured.

 

The prices of high yield fixed income securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. Also, during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress, which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed income security owned by the Fund defaulted, the Fund could incur additional expenses in attempting to obtain a recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices of high yield fixed income securities and the Fund’s NAV to the extent it holds such securities.

 

High yield fixed income securities also present risks based on payment expectations. For example, high yield fixed income securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund may, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities, have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which may result in a decreased return for investors. Conversely, a high yield fixed income security’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s assets, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities.  In addition, to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of high yield fixed income securities, and this may have an impact on the Adviser’s and Trading Advisers’ ability to accurately value such securities and the Fund’s assets and on the Fund’s ability to dispose of such securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield fixed income securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

 

New laws proposed or adopted from time to time may have an impact on the market for high yield securities.

 

Finally, there are risks involved in applying credit or dividend ratings as a method for evaluating high yield securities. For example, ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest or dividend payments, not market value risk of high yield securities. Also, since rating agencies may fail to timely change the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events, the Fund will continuously monitor the issuers of high yield securities in its portfolio, if any, to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flow and profits to meet required principal and interest payments, and to assure the security’s liquidity so the Fund can meet redemption requests.

 

Short Sales.  As consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, the Fund may engage in short sales that are either “uncovered” or “against the box.”  A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short.  A short sale against the box is generally a taxable transaction to the Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short.

 

Uncovered short sales are transactions under which the Fund sells a security it does not own.  To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of the replacement.  The price at such time

 

16



 

may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund.  Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan.  To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.  The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities at such a level that (i) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; and (ii) the amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time the security was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund’s short position.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the underlying investment companies’ investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude an underlying investment company’s, and thus the Fund’s, ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the underlying investment companies’ holdings.

 

Structured Securities. The Fund may invest in structured securities to the extent consistent with its investment objective. The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices.

 

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, the Fund could suffer a total loss of its investment. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities. Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

Subsidiary Risk.   The Fund makes investments through a wholly-owned and controlled Subsidiary of the Fund (Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited).  Investment in the Subsidiary provides the Fund with exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and recent Internal Revenue Service revenue rulings. The Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors.

 

17



 

The Subsidiary will invest primarily in derivative instruments, such as, commodity futures contracts, non-commodity futures contracts, such as equity index, government bond, fixed income and foreign exchange futures contracts, commodity and non-commodity swap agreements.  The Subsidiary may also invest in fixed income securities and money market instruments, cash and cash equivalents with two years or less term to maturity, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Although the Fund may enter into these commodity-linked derivative instruments directly, the Fund will likely gain exposure to these derivative instruments indirectly by investing in the Subsidiary. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary may vary depending on the types of instruments selected by the Adviser or Trading Advisers to gain exposure to the commodities markets. To the extent that the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, the Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the abovementioned derivative instruments and other securities, which are discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus and this SAI.

 

The Fund intends to treat physically settled futures contracts in the same manner as cash settled futures contracts through the use of a swap and/or letter agreement with the Subsidiary’s futures commission merchant for the purposes of complying with Section 18 of 1940 Act.  The SEC has not declared whether or not the use of such a letter agreement is sufficient for the purpose of compliance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act.  There is a risk, therefore, that the SEC may deem the use of the letter agreement as insufficient and that the Fund may not be permitted to continue to gain exposure to these contracts through the use of the letter agreement.

 

The Fund intends to treat physically settled fx forward transactions in the same manner as cash settled fx forward transactions through the use of a letter agreement (the “Letter”) with the Subsidiary’s FX Prime Broker (“FXPB”) for the purposes of complying with Section 18 of 1940 Act. The Letter provides that the Subsidiary will ensure the liquidation of any deliverable transactions by entering into offsetting FX spot, forward or swap transactions or by rolling forward the net currency positions under such transactions. Failing that, where the transaction is not liquidated prior to the settlement date of such transaction, the FXPB will liquidate the position prior to the settlement date at the applicable prevailing market rate. Therefore, the Letter provides that the Fund and/or the Subsidiary will never be left with an obligation to purchase or deliver the currency underlying the forward transaction.

 

While the Subsidiary may be considered similar to an investment company, it is not registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus and this SAI, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act and other U.S. regulations. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Prospectuses and this SAI and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Swap Agreements.  The Fund may enter into equity index or interest rate swap agreements for purposes of attempting to gain exposure to the stocks making up an index of securities in a market without actually purchasing those stocks, or to hedge a position.  Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year.  In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e. , the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.  Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap,” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or “floor,” and interest rate dollars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

 

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.”  Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating assets determined to be liquid.

 

Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.  Because they are two party contracts and because they may have

 

18



 

terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund’s illiquid investment limitation.  The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.  The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.

 

The Fund may enter into swap agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable.  The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.  The counter-party will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks.  The Fund will agree to pay to the counter-party a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks.  Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.

 

Swap agreements typically are settled on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.  Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term.  Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.  Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make.  If the other party to a swap agreement defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each equity swap will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or liquid assets, having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian.  Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash of liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, the Fund and the Adviser believe that these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

 

The Adviser and Trading Advisers, under the supervision of the Board, are responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions in swap agreements. The use of equity swaps is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

 

U.S. Government Securities.   The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years.  Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity.

 

19



 

See “Mortgage-Backed Securities” above for additional information about the September 7, 2008 federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

 

·                   U.S. Treasury Obligations.   U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

·                   Receipts.   Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank.  The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts.  The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury.  Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities.   STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons.  Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal.  The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes.  Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically.  Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Agencies.   Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

Equity Securities.   Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·                   Common Stock.   Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

·                   Preferred Stock.   Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

·                   Warrants.   Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its

 

20



 

underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

·                   Convertible Securities.   Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue.  If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion.  The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.  However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder.  When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase.  At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.  Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

·                   Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers.  Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies.  This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.  The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange.  Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

Investment Company Shares.   The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses. Unless an exception is available, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as exchange-traded funds, are traded on a securities exchange. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

21



 

Pursuant to orders issued by the SEC to each of certain exchange-traded funds (collectively, the “ETFs”) and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in the ETFs in excess of the limits described above, provided that the Fund has described the ETF investments in its prospectus and otherwise complies with the conditions of the SEC, as it may be amended, and any other applicable investment limitations. Neither the ETFs nor their investment advisers make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the ETFs.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.  However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions .  In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a) (42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.                         Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements provided that there is at least 300% asset coverage for the borrowings of the Fund. The Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. However, the amount shall not be in excess of lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing, provided that: (a) short sales and related borrowings of securities are not subject to this restriction; and (b) for the purposes of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to options, short sales, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin and collateral arrangements with respect to derivatives instruments are not deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets. Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation;

 

2.                         Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

3.                         Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

4.                         Purchase or sell commodities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted or

 

22



 

modified by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time;

 

5.                         Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

6.                         Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; or

 

7.                         Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations, which may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Fund may not:

 

1.                             Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                             Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts or other derivative instruments, including foreign exchange forward contracts, shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. Pursuant to orders issued by the SEC to ETFs and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in ETFs in excess of the limits of the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Securities held by the Fund generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser, any Trading Adviser or their affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act. None of the Fund, the Adviser, or any Trading Adviser has obtained such an exemptive order as of the date of this SAI.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank. In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund has adopted fundamental policies that would permit direct investment in commodities.

 

Any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, short sales and other similar instruments, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation

 

23



 

margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. The Fund may pledge, mortgage or hypothecate assets to secure borrowings permitted by the Fund’s fundamental limitation on borrowing.

 

Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund shareholders and its service providers.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information.  Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15 - day time lag.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board of Directors provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board of Directors receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board of Directors receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who

 

24



 

will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter.  The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

25



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman


Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

26



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

2004 to
present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company) since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center,

Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square
Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


*                  Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

27



 

(1)          Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.   Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)          Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.    Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of

 

28



 

the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer. The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

29



 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014:

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered 
Investment Companies Overseen by 
Director within the Family of 
Investment Companies

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

Over $100,000

 

Over $100,000

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director, a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

30



 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.  Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company. Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Company in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,165.47

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600.00

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,153.42

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750.00

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,410.11

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375.00

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,243.20

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750.00

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,639.39

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250.00

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,149.69

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750.00

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,347.97

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675.00

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA

Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,577.08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496.00

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”).  Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company.  The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

31



 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Fund’s Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund.  The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser will vote proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which provide the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for seeing that proxies required to be voted are voted on behalf of the Fund and in the Fund’s best interests. The Chief Compliance Officer may choose to appoint one or both of the Portfolio Managers to consider options and propose decisions.

 

The Company is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX.  The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30th is available upon request by calling 855-744-8500 or by writing to the Fund at: Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., PO Box 9841, Providence, Rhode Island 02940. The Fund’s Form N-PX is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015 to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Special Custody Acct FBO Customers
ATTN: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

 

7,037,349

 

31.40

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

National Financial Services LLC
For The Exclusive Benefit Of Our Customers
ATTN: Mutual Funds Department, 4
th  FL
499 Washington Blvd
Jersey City, NJ 07310

 

3,223,110

 

14.38

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
Special Custody Acct For The Exclusive Benefit Of Customers Of MSSB
1300 Thames St Wharf, 6
th  Floor
Baltimore, MD 21231-3496

 

3,021,969

 

13.48

%

 

32



 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

UBS WM USA
Omni Account M/F
1000 Harbor Blvd, 5
th  Floor
Weehawken, NJ 07086

 

2,228,249

 

9.94

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

Well Fargo Bank NA
FBO Omnibus Account Cash/Cash
PO Box 1533
Minneapolis, MN 55480

 

1,972,503

 

8.80

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

Mac & Co
ATTN: Mutual Fund Operations
PO Box 3198
Pittsburgh, PA 15230-3198

 

1,506,407

 

6.72

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class I

 

RBC Capital Markets LLC
Mutual Fund Omnibus Processing
ATTN: Mutual Fund Ops Manager
60 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-4400

 

1,471,670

 

6.56

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class A

 

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Special Custody Acct FBO Customers
ATTN: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

 

186,557

 

17.74

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class A

 

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
Special Custody Acct For The Exclusive Benefit Of Customers Of MSSB
1300 Thames St Wharf, 6
th  Floor
Baltimore, MD 21231-3496

 

124,412

 

11.83

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class A

 

UBS WM USA
Omni Account M/F
1000 Harbor Blvd, 5
th  Floor
Weehawken, NJ 07086

 

117,638

 

11.18

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class A

 

Abbey Capital Limited
ATTN: Michael G. Swift
1-2 Cavendish Row
Dublin 1, Ireland

 

93,651

 

8.90

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class C

 

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
Special Custody Acct For The Exclusive Benefit Of Customers Of MSSB
1300 Thames St Wharf, 6
th  Floor
Baltimore, MD 21231-3496

 

24,885

 

47.72

%

 

33



 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class C

 

UBS WM USA
Omni Account M/F
1000 Harbor Blvd, 5
th  Floor
Weehawken, NJ 07086

 

19,425

 

37.25

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class C

 

Abbey Capital Limited
ATTN: Michael G. Swift
1-2 Cavendish Row
Dublin 1, Ireland

 

4,170

 

7.99

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class C

 

RBC Capital Markets LLC
Mutual Fund Omnibus Processing
ATTN: Mutual Fund Ops Manager
60 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-4400

 

3,659

 

7.01

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, Directors and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Portfolio of the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Abbey Capital Limited (“Abbey Capital” or the “Adviser”), 1-2 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, Ireland, is an Irish limited company founded in 2000.  Cavendish Capital Limited owns 100% of Abbey Capital.

 

The Adviser also serves as the investment adviser to the Subsidiary, Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Subsidiary. The Adviser does not receive additional compensation for its management of the Subsidiary.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Company.  The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated as of June 30, 2014.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of the securities and other investments to be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales of securities and other investments made for the Fund.  The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.97% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  The Adviser compensates the Trading Advisers out of the advisory fee that it receives from the Fund.  There are no performance fees charged by the Adviser or Trading Advisers either at the Fund or at the Fund’s wholly-owned Subsidiary.  The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse

 

34



 

expenses through December 31, 2016 in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.99%, 2.24% and 2.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares, Class A Shares, and Class C Shares, respectively.

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2014, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid the Adviser the following advisory fees and the Adviser waived/reimbursed the following advisory fees as follows:

 

 

 

Advisory Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

1,577,554

 

$

434,343

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014

 

$

(25,458

)

$

68,803

 

$

25,458

 

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  The Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities and other investments, including futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, and options,  purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value the Fund’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 and may be obtained by calling 1-844-261-6484 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund.  The Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

35



 

INVESTMENT TRADING ADVISERS

 

Each Trading Adviser shall, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Adviser, manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion of the assets of the Subsidiary, as the Adviser may from time to time allocate to such Trading Adviser for management. The Adviser pays the Trading Advisers out of its advisory fees.

 

The Fund and the Adviser have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Adviser, without shareholder approval and subject to certain conditions, to terminate existing Trading Advisers or hire new Trading Advisers for the Fund, to materially amend the terms of particular agreements with Trading Advisers or to continue the employment of existing Trading Advisers after events that would otherwise cause an automatic termination of a trading advisory agreement. This arrangement has been approved by the Board of Directors and the Fund’s initial shareholder. Consequently, under the exemptive order, the Adviser has the right to hire, terminate and replace Trading Advisers when the Board of Directors and the Adviser feel that a change would benefit the Fund. The exemptive order enables the Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of trading advisory agreements.

 

The Adviser does not determine what investments will be purchased or sold for the Fund with respect to the portions of the Fund managed by the Trading Advisers.  Because each Trading Adviser manages its portion of the Fund independently from the others, the same security may be held in two or more different portions of the Fund or may be acquired for one portion at a time when a Trading Adviser of another portion deems it appropriate to dispose of the security from that other portion. Similarly, under some market conditions, one or more of the Trading Advisers may believe that temporary, defensive investments in short-term instruments or cash are appropriate when another Trading Adviser or Trading Advisers believe continued exposure to the broader securities market is appropriate. Because each Trading Adviser directs the trading for its portion of the Fund and does not aggregate its transactions with those of the other Trading Advisers, the Fund may incur higher brokerage costs than would be the case if a single adviser or Trading Adviser were managing the Fund.

 

The current Trading Advisers to the Fund are set forth below.

 

Trading Advisers

 

 

Altis Partners (Jersey) Limited (“Altis”)
2 Hill Street
St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

 

Altis is an employee-owned limited company. Altis focuses on systematic and quantitative trading, applying rigorous research into markets combining established scientific principles and advanced technology.

Cantab Capital Partners, LLP (“Cantab”)
City House
126-130 Hills Road
Cambridge, CB2 1RE, UK

 

Cantab is controlled by its founders, Dr. Ewan Kirk and Erich Schlaikjer. Cantab’s investment philosophy is based on a multi-strategy, multi-asset approach looking to identify several distinct sources of return from persistent statistical relationships between assets.

Conquest Capital LLC (“Conquest”)
540 Madison Avenue, 14th Fl,
New York, NY

 

Conquest Capital LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Conquest Capital Group LLC (“CCG”) which is controlled by its founder, Marc Malek. Conquest implement systematic short-term trading models using price and macro inputs.

Eclipse Capital Management, Inc. (“Eclipse”)
7700 Bonhomme Ave, Suite 500
St. Louis, MO

 

Eclipse is controlled by its founder, Thomas W. Moller. Eclipse focuses on a systematic approach designed to profit primarily from intermediate- and long-term price trends in multiple market sectors.

Graham Capital Management, LP (“GCM”)
Rock Ledge Financial Centre
40 Highland Avenue
Rowayton, CT 06853

 

KGT, Inc. is the General Partners of GCM. GCM’s quantitative trading programs or models produce trading signals on a largely automated basis when applied to market data. In GCM’s discretionary trading programs, trades are determined subjectively on the basis of its traders’ assessment of market conditions rather than through application of an automated system.

Harmonic Capital Partners LLP

 

Harmonic Capital Limited, a United Kingdom private limited company,

 

36



 

(“HCP”)
3 Lombard Street
London, EC3V 9AA, UK

 

has a controlling interest in HCP. HCP uses a systematic multi-strategy approach aiming to capture alpha from futures and currency markets through macro-economic understanding.

P/E Global, LLC (“P/E”)
75 State Street, 1st Floor
Boston, MA

 

Warren Naphtal, J. Richard Zecher, PhD and Mary Stephens Naphtal are managing members of P/E. P/E uses fundamental macroeconomic and financial factors in all aspects of its research in order to develop adaptive quantitative processes.

Revolution Capital Management, LLC (“RCM”)
520 Zang Street
Broomfield, Colorado

 

Michael Mundt and T. Robert Olson are managing members of RCM. RCM focuses on short-term, systematic and quantitative trading, applying rigorous statistical analysis to all aspects of research, development, and operations.

Trigon Investment Advisors, LLC (“Trigon”)
Wall Street Plaza
88 Pine Street
New York, New York

 

Trigon is jointly owned by Ante Basic and Paul D. Mastroddi. Trigon manages with a focus on top-down analysis of fundamentals.

 

Trading Advisory Agreements with the Adviser.  Each of the Trading Advisory Agreements provides that the Trading Adviser will manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion of the assets of the Fund or the Subsidiary as the Adviser may from time to time allocate to the Trading Adviser in accordance with the Fund’s objective, policies and restrictions and any investment guidelines established by the Adviser. Each Trading Adviser will, subject to the supervision and control of the Adviser, determine in its discretion which issuers and securities will be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by the Fund and/or the Subsidiary, and will place orders with and give instruction to brokers and dealers to cause the execution of such transactions. The Trading Advisers are required to furnish at their own expense all investment facilities necessary to perform its obligations under the Trading Advisory Agreements.

 

Generally, each Trading Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice, or by the Adviser immediately upon notice to the Trading Adviser, and each such agreement terminates automatically in the event of an assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). Each Trading Advisory Agreement also may be terminated by a Trading Adviser upon 30 days’ written notice and automatically terminates upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Abbey Capital

 

Other Accounts.   In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of 
Accounts 
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee 
Based on 
Performance

 

Total Assets 
that Advisory 
Fee Based on 
Performance

 

1. Anthony Gannon

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

7

 

$

2.8 billion

 

2

 

$

2.6 billion

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

2. Mick Swift

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

7

 

$

2.8 billion

 

2

 

$

2.6 billion

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

37



 

Compensation.   As of the date of this SAI, Abbey Capital compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of a cash base salary and a discretionary bonus that is based on the individual performance of the portfolio manager and overall profitability of Abbey Capital, which is, in part, dependent on the performance of the Fund, and therefore in part based on the value of the Fund’s net assets and other client accounts they are managing.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   The portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other.  The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund.  Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another.  Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund.  However, Abbey Capital has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities and other investments among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.

 

As of August 31, 2015, the Fund’s portfolio managers did not own any shares of the Fund.

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 1980, serves as administrator to the Fund pursuant to administration and accounting services agreements with respect to the Fund (the “Administration Agreements”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepare materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of:

 

·                                           .060% of the Fund’s first $250 million of average daily net assets;

·                                           .050% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets;

·                                           .040% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets; and

·                                           .030% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $750 million.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,833 per month, exclusive of Rule 38a-1 base compliance support services fees, costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2014, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out-of-

 

38



 

pocket expenses as follows:

 

 

 

Administration, Accounting and 
Regulatory Administration 
Fees Paid
(after waivers and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

164,611

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014

 

$

24,985

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286, is custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement dated July 19, 2011 (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio investments on account of the Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio investments; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations.  The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any affiliate, sub-custodian or domestic sub-custodian.  The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Fund’s average gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, also serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund.  BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any affiliate. For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Fund’s Customer Identification Program, including verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

39



 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

Class I Shares .  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of the Fund’s shares.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Company for the distribution of the Funds Class I Shares; however, the Adviser pays an annual fee to the Distributor as compensation for underwriting services rendered to the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

 

Class A Shares and Class C Shares .  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and the related Plans of Distribution for Class A Shares and Class C Shares (together, the “Plans”), which were adopted by the Company in the manner prescribed by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Distributor will act as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering for the sale of the Fund’s Class A Shares and Class C Shares, respectively.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.  Payments to the Distributor under the Plans are to compensate it for distribution assistance and expenses assumed and activities intended to result in the sale of Class A Shares and Class C Shares, including advertising, printing and mailing of prospectuses to others than current shareholders, compensation of underwriters, compensation to broker-dealers, compensation to sales personnel, and interest, carrying or other financing

 

40



 

changes.  As compensation for its distribution services, the Distributor receives, pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, a distribution fee under the Plans, to be calculated daily and paid monthly by the Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund at the annual rates set forth in the Prospectus.

 

Among other things, the Plans provide that: (1) the Distributor shall be required to submit quarterly reports to the Directors of the Company regarding all amounts expended under the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made, including commissions, advertising, printing, interest, carrying charges and any allocated overhead expenses; (2) the Plans will continue in effect only so long as they are approved at least annually, and any material amendment thereto is approved, by the Company’s Directors, including a majority of those Directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any agreements related to the Plans, acting in person at a meeting called for said purpose; (3) the aggregate amount to be spent by the Fund on the distribution of the Fund’s Class A Shares and Class C Shares under the respective Plans shall not be materially increased without shareholder approval; and (4) while the Plans remain in effect, the selection and nomination of the Company’s Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) shall be committed to the discretion of such Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company.

 

Mr. Sablowsky, a Director of the Company, has an indirect interest in the operation of the Plans by virtue of his position with Oppenheimer Co., Inc., a broker-dealer.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund’s Plan expenses were spent for the following purposes:

 

 

 

Class A Shares

 

Class C Shares*

 

Compensation to broker/dealers

 

$

3,341

 

N/A

 

Compensation to sales personnel

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

Advertising

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

Printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current shareholders

 

$

285

 

N/A

 

Compensation to underwriters

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

Interest, financing charges

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

Other

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

 


* Class C Shares were not in operation during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates, at their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets.  Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

41



 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events.  The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates.  A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser and Trading Advisers are responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser and Trading Advisers seek to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Adviser and Trading Advisers generally seek reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

Brokerage Transactions

 

Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser and Trading Advisers may place a combined order for two or more accounts they manage, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser, the Trading Advisers and the Company’s Board of Directors that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions. Nonetheless, the Adviser and Trading Advisers believe that the ability of the Fund to participate in higher volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the Fund.

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2014, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid commissions to brokers on account of research services as follows:

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014

 

$

0

 

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2014, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid the aggregated brokerage commissions as follows:

 

42



 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal period July 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014

 

$

0

 

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Fund as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, there were no securities held by the Fund of its regular broker-dealers.

 

Brokerage Selection

 

The Company does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Fund’s Adviser and Trading Advisers may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser or applicable Trading Adviser. The Adviser and Trading Advisers may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits an investment adviser or sub-adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause a fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, certain Trading Advisers may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the applicable Trading Advisers believe that access to independent investment research is beneficial to their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the applicable Trading Advisers might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Trading Advisers may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Trading Advisers will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Trading Adviser under its Trading Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Trading Advisers are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases a Trading Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the applicable Trading Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the applicable Trading Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Trading Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but each applicable Trading Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Fund may purchase new issues of securities for clients in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser and Trading Advisers with research services. The FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

43



 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

Read the Fund’s Prospectus for information regarding the purchase and redemption of Fund shares, including, in the case of Class A Shares, any applicable sales charges. The following information supplements information in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm, financial institutions and industry professionals (“Service Organizations”) and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or the Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

Class A Shares of the Fund may be subject to sales charges as described below.

 

Reducing or Eliminating the Front-End Sales Charge

 

The Fund’s Class A Shares are offered to the public at NAV plus a front-end sales charge. You can reduce or eliminate the front-end sales charge on Class A Shares of the Fund as follows:

 

Quantity Discounts . Purchases of at least $25,000 can reduce the sales charges you pay, and purchases of at least $1,000,000 can eliminate the sales charges you pay.

 

Combined Purchase Privilege . The following purchases may be combined for purposes of determining the “amount of purchase”: (a) individual purchases, if made at the same time, by a single purchaser, the purchaser’s spouse and children under the age of 25 purchasing Class A Shares for their own accounts, including shares purchased by a qualified retirement plan(s) exclusively for the benefit of such individual(s) (such as an IRA, individual-type section 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan) or by a Company, as defined in Section 2(a)(8) of the 1940 Act, solely controlled, as defined in the 1940 Act, by such individual(s), or (b) individual purchases by trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing

 

44



 

Class A Shares (i) for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, including an employee benefit plan, or (ii) concurrently by two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of employers affiliated with each other in accordance with Section 2(a)(3)(c) of the 1940 Act (excluding in either case an employee benefit plan described in (a) above), provided such trustees or other fiduciaries purchase shares in a single payment. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts may not be combined with purchases made for such other accounts.

 

Cumulative Quantity Discount. You may combine the value of Class A Shares held in the Fund, along with the dollar amount of Class A Shares being purchased, to qualify for a cumulative quantity discount. The value of Class A Shares held is the higher of their cost or current net asset value. For example, if you hold Class A Shares having a value of $225,000 and purchase $25,000 of additional Class A Shares, the sales charge applicable to the additional investment would be 2.50%, the rate applicable to a single purchase of $250,000. In order to receive the cumulative quantity discount, the value of Class A Shares held must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

 

Letter of Intent . You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase of a specific dollar amount of Class A Shares of the Fund within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. A portion of your Fund shares will be held in escrow. If you complete your purchase commitments as stated in the Letter of Intent, your Fund shares held in escrow will be released to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the appropriate amount of Fund shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

 

45



 

Dealer Reallowances

 

As shown in the table below, the Distributor, may provide dealer reallowances up to the full sales charge for purchases of the Fund’s Class A Shares in which a front-end sales charge is applicable. Any residual allowance is retained by the Distributor to be used solely for distribution related expenses and not retained as profit.

 

Amount of Purchase of 
Advisor Class Shares

 

Sales Charge as a
% of Offering 
Price

 

Sales Charge as a
% of Net Amount 
Invested

 

Dealer Concession
as a Percentage of
Offering Price

 

Less than $25,000

 

5.75

%

6.10

%

5.00

%

At least $25,000 but less than $49,999

 

5.00

%

5.26

%

4.75

%

At least $50,000 but less than $99,999

 

4.75

%

4.99

%

4.00

%

At least $100,000 but less than $249,999

 

3.75

%

3.83

%

3.25

%

At least $250,000 but less than $499,999

 

2.50

%

2.56

%

2.00

%

At least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000

 

2.00

%

2.04

%

1.75

%

$1,000,000 or greater

 

None

 

None

 

* see below

 

 


No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1,000,000 or more.  The Fund’s distributor may pay a commission at the rate of 1% to certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals, including affiliates of the Adviser, who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1,000,000 or more.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account with an authorized dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner’s account will be performed by the authorized dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent.  Since the Fund will have no record of the beneficial owner’s transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the authorized dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account.  The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the authorized dealer.

 

46



 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers, financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Code and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities

 

47



 

of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a “regulated investment company” and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

Any annual net profit of the Subsidiary will be recognized as ordinary income by the Fund, but any annual net loss of the Subsidiary will not be recognized and will not carry forward.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

48



 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each class of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, Suite 700, 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

49



 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Such financial statements have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such report given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

50



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

A- 1



 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

A- 2



 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

A- 3



 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A- 4



 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

A- 5



 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

A- 6



 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

A- 7



 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund

 

(an Investment Portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc.)

 

Institutional Class: BOGIX

Investor Class: BOGLX

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

December 31, 2015

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to shares of two classes, Institutional Class and Investor Class (collectively, the “Shares”), representing interests in the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”). A copy of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free (877) 264-5346. The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

2

 

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

2

 

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

14

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

15

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

17

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

25

 

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

25

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

25

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

26

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

31

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

32

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

33

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

33

 

 

TAXES

34

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

35

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

36

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

36

 

 

APPENDIX A

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

1



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating 23 separate portfolios. The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988. This SAI pertains to the Institutional Class and Investor Class representing interests in one diversified portfolio, the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”), which is offered by the Prospectus. Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser for the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 80% of the net assets of the portfolio (including borrowings for investment purposes) in the stocks of U.S. companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, that are within the trailing twelve-month range of the market capitalizations of those companies that are included in the Russell 2000® Index (“Small Cap Stocks”).  For purposes of this investment policy, stocks of U.S. companies are stocks that are listed on a securities exchange or market inside the United States. Because the Russell 2000® Index (“Index”) is modified (“reconstituted”) regularly (usually each year) to replace companies that no longer qualify for inclusion in the Index due to, among other reasons, having market capitalizations that have grown too large, the Adviser uses the trailing average twelve-month range of market capitalizations to mitigate the need to trade stocks in the portfolio due to Index reconstitution.  Further, the Adviser will not sell from the portfolio any holdings that the Adviser believes are likely to appreciate more than the Russell 2000® Index solely because the market capitalizations of such holdings cause the portfolio to hold less than 80% of its net assets within this range.  As such, the Fund may, from time to time, hold less than 80% of its net assets within this range.   The Fund attempts to achieve its objective by taking long positions in Small Cap Stocks that the Adviser believes are undervalued given their future earnings growth prospects. The Adviser will manage the portfolio such that its median market capitalization is under normal circumstances reasonably close to the median capitalization of the Index. As part of its investment strategy, the Adviser will continue to invest in Small Cap Stocks that the Adviser believes will appreciate more than the Index. Shareholders will be notified by the Fund sixty days in advance of any change in this 80% policy.

 

The Adviser may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

Principal Investment Policies and Risks.

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stock, preferred stock, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·       Common Stock.   Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

·       Preferred Stock.   Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those

 

2



 

who own preferred and common stock.

 

·       Warrants.   Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.  See “Rights Offerings and Purchase Warrants” on the following pages for more information.

 

·       Convertible Securities.   Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  See “Convertible Securities” on the following pages for more information.

 

Foreign Securities

 

In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund may invest in the securities of foreign issuers, including through American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) or Global or European Depositary Receipts (“GDRs” and “EDRs”). During temporary defensive periods, the Fund may also hold short or medium-term interest-bearing instruments or deposits of foreign issuers as described in the Prospectus and in this SAI.

 

ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. GDRs and EDRs are securities that represent ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a non-U.S. or U.S. corporation. The Fund may invest in ADRs through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities. Investment in ADRs does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of foreign issuers. The market value of these securities is dependent upon the market value of the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the ADRs and the underlying securities are quoted. Accordingly, the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or anticipated change in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or the failure to intervene or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

 

3



 

Investing in Small Capitalization Companies

 

Investments in small capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities. Small capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk that, during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities in these investment categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Small capitalization companies include “unseasoned” issuers that do not have an established financial history; often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in small capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events

 

Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets from 2007 to 2009 led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s holdings.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions

 

In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

Non-Principal Investment Policies and Risks

 

Borrowing Money

 

As a fundamental policy, the Fund is permitted to borrow to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and to mortgage, pledge or hypothecate its assets in connection with such borrowings in amounts not in excess of 125% of the dollar amounts borrowed. The 1940 Act permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33  1 /3% of the value of such company’s total assets. However, the Fund currently intends to borrow money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, in an amount up to 15% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. The Fund will not make any additional investments while borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for

 

4



 

borrowings from a bank.  In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

Convertible Securities

 

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, such as convertible debentures, bonds and preferred stock, primarily for their equity characteristics. Convertible securities may be converted into common stock at a specified share price or ratio. Because the price of the common stock may fluctuate above or below the specified price or ratio, the Fund may have the opportunity to purchase the common stock at below market price. On the other hand, fluctuations in the price of the common stock could render the right of conversion worthless.

 

Cyber Security Risk

 

The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”), cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Equity Swaps

 

The Fund may enter into equity swap contracts to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. Equity swaps may also be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The counterparty to an equity swap contract will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on the equity swap contract should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and the Fund may each agree to pay the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different stocks (or indices of stocks).

 

The Fund will enter into equity swaps only on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of an equity swap contract or periodically during its term. Equity swaps do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash or liquid assets to cover the Fund’s potential exposure, the Fund and the Adviser believe that transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

 

The Fund will not enter into swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Adviser.

 

5



 

Futures

 

Futures Contracts. The Fund may invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts (including S&P 500 ®  Index futures, Russell 2000 ®  Index futures, and options on such futures described below). When the Fund purchases a futures contract, it agrees to purchase a specified underlying instrument at a specified future date. When the Fund sells a futures contract, it agrees to sell the underlying instrument at a specified future date. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the Fund enters into the contract. The underlying instrument may be a specified type of security, such as U.S. Treasury bonds or notes.

 

The majority of futures contracts are closed out by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale transaction in the same contract on the exchange where they are traded, rather than being held for the life of the contract. Futures contracts are closed out at their current prices, which may result in a gain or loss.

 

If the Fund holds a futures contract until the delivery date, it will be required to complete the purchase and sale contemplated by the contract. In the case of futures contracts on securities, the purchaser generally must deliver the agreed-upon purchase price in cash, and the seller must deliver securities that meet the specified characteristics of the contract.

 

The Funds intend to limit such investments in commodity futures, commodity options contracts and swaps to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  For this reason, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO, the disclosure and operations of the Funds would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

The Fund may purchase futures contracts as an alternative to purchasing actual securities. For example, if the Fund intended to purchase certain securities but had not yet done so, it could purchase a futures contract in order to lock in current market prices while deciding on particular investments. This strategy is sometimes known as an anticipatory hedge. Alternatively, the Fund could purchase a futures contract if it had cash and short-term securities on hand that it wished to invest in longer-term securities, but at the same time the Fund wished to maintain a highly liquid position in order to be prepared to meet redemption requests or other obligations. In these strategies, the Fund would use futures contracts to attempt to achieve an overall return, whether positive or negative, similar to the return from longer-term securities, while taking advantage of potentially greater liquidity that futures contracts may offer. Although the Fund would hold cash and liquid debt securities in a segregated account with a value sufficient to cover its open futures obligations, the segregated assets would be available to the Fund immediately upon closing out the futures position, while settlement of securities transactions can take several days.

 

The Fund may sell futures contracts to hedge its other investments against changes in value, or as an alternative to sales of securities. For example, if the Adviser anticipated a decline in the price of a particular security, but did not wish to sell such securities owned by the Fund, it could sell a futures contract in order to lock in a current sale price. If prices subsequently fell, the futures contract’s value would be expected to rise and offset all or a portion of the loss in the securities that the Fund had hedged. Of course, if prices subsequently rose, the futures contract’s value could be expected to fall and offset all or a portion of the benefit to the Fund.

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively

 

6



 

small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses or gains in excess of the amount invested in the contract.

 

Futures margin payments. The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the purchaser and seller are required to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker (known as a futures commission merchant, or FCM), when the contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are equal to a percentage of the contract’s value, as set by the exchange where the contract is traded, and may be maintained in cash or high quality liquid securities. If the value of either party’s position declines, that party will be required to make additional “variation margin” payments to settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation margin payments are similar to good faith deposits or performance bonds, unlike margin extended by a securities broker, and initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of the Fund’s investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to a return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers. The Adviser will attempt to minimize this risk by careful monitoring of the creditworthiness of the FCMs with which the Fund does business.

 

Correlation of price changes. The prices of futures contracts depend primarily on the value of their underlying instruments. Because there are a limited number of types of futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized futures contracts available to the Fund will not match the Fund’s current or anticipated investments. Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund’s investments well. Futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation between the Fund’s investments and its futures positions may also result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. The Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities they wish to hedge or intend to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund’s futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, its futures positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by the gains in the Fund’s other investments.

 

Liquidity of futures contracts. Because futures contracts are generally settled within a day from the date they are closed out, as compared with a longer settlement period for other types of securities, the futures markets can provide liquidity superior to the securities markets in many cases. Nevertheless, there is no assurance a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time. In addition, futures exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts and may halt trading if a contract’s price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached, it may be impossible for the Fund to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a futures contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it would prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable futures positions, and potentially could require the Fund to continue to hold a futures position until the delivery date regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the Fund’s access to other assets held to cover its futures positions could also be impaired.

 

Index Futures and Related Options. An index futures contract is a contract to buy or sell an integral number of units of a stock index ( i.e ., the Standard & Poor’s 500 Price ®  Index or the Russell 2000 ®  Index) at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. A unit is the value of the relevant index from time to time. Entering into a contract to buy units is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position in an index.

 

Risks of Futures Transactions. The risks related to the use of futures contracts include: (i) the correlation between movements in the market price of the Fund’s investments (held or intended for purchase) being hedged and in the price of the futures contract may be imperfect; (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for closing out futures positions; (iii) the need for additional portfolio management skills and techniques; and (iv) losses due to unanticipated market movements. Successful use of futures by the Fund is subject to the Adviser’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the market.

 

7



 

Illiquid Securities

 

The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than seven days and securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation. Repurchase agreements subject to demand are deemed to have a maturity equal to the notice period.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days. A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

The Adviser will monitor the liquidity of restricted securities in the Fund under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors. In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades ( e.g ., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

Investment Company Securities

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investments in such securities currently are limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other investment companies will involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act permits the Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund, so long as, among other things, said investment is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk

 

The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.  However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreement.

 

Lending of Fund Securities

 

The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to financial institutions. Such loans would involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreases below the value of the securities loaned or of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers which the Adviser deems to be of good standing and only when, in the Adviser’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. The Fund may not make loans in excess of 33  1/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund does not have the right to vote loaned securities. The Fund may attempt to call loaned securities back to permit the exercise of voting rights if time and jurisdictional restrictions permit. There is no guarantee that all loans can be recalled.

 

8



 

Portfolio Turnover

 

Those investment strategies that require periodic changes to portfolio holdings with the expectation of outperforming equity indices are typically referred to as “active” strategies. These strategies contrast with “passive” (“index”) strategies that buy and hold only the stocks in the equity indices. Passive strategies tend to trade infrequently—only as the stocks in the indices change (largely due to changes in the sizes of the companies in the indices, takeovers or bankruptcies). Most equity mutual funds pursue active strategies, which have higher turnover than passive strategies.

 

The generally higher portfolio turnover of active investment strategies can adversely affect taxable investors, especially those in higher marginal tax brackets, in two particularly significant ways. First, short-term capital gains, which often accompany higher turnover investment strategies, are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. Ordinary income tax rates are generally higher than long-term capital gain tax rates. Thus, the tax liability is often higher for investors in active strategies. Second, the more frequent realization of gains caused by higher turnover investment strategies means that taxes will be paid sooner. Such acceleration of the tax liability is financially more costly to investors. Less frequent realization of capital gains allows the payment of taxes to be deferred until later years, allowing more of the gains to compound before taxes are paid. Consequently, after-tax compound rates of return will generally be higher for taxable investors using investment strategies with very low turnover, compared with high turnover strategies. The difference is particularly large when the general market rates of return are higher than average.

 

Although tax considerations should not typically drive investment decisions, the Adviser recommends that all of its investors consider their ability to allocate tax-deferred assets (such as Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRA’s”) and other retirement plans) to active strategies, and taxable assets to lower turnover passive strategies, when considering their investment options. Generally, investors will earn better after-tax returns investing tax-advantaged assets in active strategies, while using very low turnover passive strategies for their taxable investments.

 

The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases or sales of securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during the year. Under normal market conditions, it is expected that the Fund’s portfolio turnover will range between 150% to 300%.

 

Put and Call Options

 

The Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options relating to particular securities or to various indices which may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or issued by the Options Clearing Corporation.

 

Purchasing Put Options. By purchasing a put option, the Fund obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell the option’s underlying instrument at a fixed strike price. The option may give the Fund the right to sell only on the option’s expiration date, or may be exercisable at any time up to and including that date. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the option premium). The option’s underlying instrument may be a security or a futures contract.

 

The Fund may terminate its position in a put option it has purchased by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. If the option is allowed to expire, the Fund will lose the entire premium it paid. If the Fund exercises the option, it completes the sale of the underlying instrument at the strike price. If the Fund exercises a put option on a futures contract, it assumes a seller’s position in the underlying futures contract. Purchasing an option on a futures contract does not require the Fund to make futures margin payments unless it exercises the option. The Fund may also terminate a put option position by closing it out in the secondary market at its current price, if a liquid secondary market exists.

 

Put options may be used by the Fund to hedge securities it owns, in a manner similar to selling futures contracts, by locking in a minimum price at which the Fund can sell. If security prices fall, the value of the put option would be expected to rise and offset all or a portion of the Fund’s resulting losses. The put thus acts as a hedge against a fall in the price of such securities. However, all other things being equal (including securities prices), option premiums tend to decrease over time as the expiration date nears. Therefore, because of the cost of the option in the form of the premium (and transaction costs), the Fund would expect to suffer a loss in the put

 

9



 

option if prices do not decline sufficiently to offset the deterioration in the value of the option premium. This potential loss represents the cost of the hedge against a fall in prices. At the same time, because the maximum the Fund has at risk is the cost of the option, purchasing put options does not eliminate the potential for the Fund to profit from an increase in the value of the securities hedged to the same extent as selling a futures contract.

 

Purchasing Call Options. The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price (call options on futures contracts are settled by purchasing the underlying futures contract). By purchasing a call option, the Fund would attempt to participate in potential price increases of the underlying instrument, with results similar to those obtainable from purchasing a futures contract, but with risk limited to the cost of the option if security prices fall. At the same time, the Fund can expect to suffer a loss if security prices do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of the option.

 

The Fund will purchase call options only in connection with “closing purchase transactions.” The Fund may terminate its position in a call option by entering into a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction is the purchase of a call option on the same security with the same exercise price and call period as the option previously written by the Fund. If the Fund is unable to enter into a closing purchase transaction, the Fund may be required to hold a security that it might otherwise have sold to protect against depreciation.

 

Writing Put Options. When the Fund writes a put option, it takes the opposite side of the transaction from the option’s purchaser. In return for receipt of the premium, the Fund assumes the obligation to pay the strike price for the option’s underlying instrument if the other party to the option chooses to exercise it. When writing an option on a futures contract, the Fund will be required to make margin payments to an FCM as described above for futures contracts. The Fund may seek to terminate its position in a put option it writes before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its current price. If the secondary market is not liquid for an option the Fund has written, however, the Fund must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is outstanding, regardless of price changes, and must continue to set aside assets to cover its position.

 

The Fund may write put options as an alternative to purchasing actual securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect to profit from a written put option, although its gain would be limited to the amount of the premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it is likely that the Fund will also profit, because it should be able to close out the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund would expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less than the loss the Fund would have experienced from purchasing the underlying instrument directly, however, because the premium received for writing the option should mitigate the effects of the decline.

 

Writing Call Options. Writing a call option obligates the Fund to sell or deliver the option’s underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon exercise of the option. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, as described above, except that writing covered call options generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option premium, the Fund would seek to mitigate the effects of a price decline. At the same time, because the Fund would have to be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater, the Fund would give up some ability to participate in security price increases when writing call options.

 

Combined Option Positions. The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Options on Indices/Unlisted Over-the-Counter Options . In contrast to an option on a particular security, an option on an index provides the holder with the right to make or receive a cash settlement upon exercise of the option. The amount of this settlement will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified multiple.

 

10



 

The Fund will engage in unlisted over-the-counter options only with broker-dealers deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. Closing transactions in certain options are usually effected directly with the same broker-dealer that effected the original option transaction. The Fund bears the risk that the broker-dealer will fail to meet its obligations. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to close an unlisted option position. Furthermore, unlisted options are not subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options by the Options Clearing Corporation, which performs the obligations of its members who fail to do so in connection with the purchase or sale of options.

 

Risks of Options Transactions. Options trading is a highly specialized activity which entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options are subject to risks similar to those described above with respect to futures contracts, including the risk of imperfect correlation between the option and the Fund’s other investments and the risk that there might not be a liquid secondary market for the option. In the case of options on futures contracts, there is also a risk of imperfect correlation between the option and the underlying futures contract. Options are also subject to the risks of an illiquid secondary market, particularly in strategies involving writing options, which the Fund cannot terminate by exercise. In general, options whose strike prices are close to their underlying instruments’ current value will have the highest trading volume, while options whose strike prices are further away may be less liquid. The liquidity of options may also be affected if options exchanges impose trading halts, particularly when markets are volatile.

 

Asset Coverage for Futures and Options Positions. The Fund will not use leverage in its options and futures strategies. The Fund will hold securities or other options or futures positions whose values are expected to offset its obligations under the hedge strategies. The Fund will not enter into an option or futures position that exposes the Fund to an obligation to another party unless it owns either (i) an offsetting position in securities or other options or futures contracts or (ii) cash, receivables and short-term debt securities with a value sufficient to cover its potential obligations. The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to coverage of options and futures strategies by mutual funds, and, if the guidelines so require, will set aside cash and liquid securities in a segregated account with its custodian bank in the amount prescribed. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures or option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar securities. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

Limitations on Futures and Options Transactions. The Company, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” with the CFTC and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Pursuant to Section 4.5 of the regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act, the Fund will not enter into any commodity futures contract or option on a commodity futures contract for non-hedging purposes if, as a result, the sum of initial margin deposits on commodity futures contracts and related commodity options and premiums paid for options on commodity futures contracts the Fund has purchased would exceed 5% of the Fund’s net assets after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such contracts, except as may be otherwise permitted under applicable regulations.

 

The Fund’s limitations on investments in futures contracts and their policies regarding futures contracts and the limitations on investments in options and its policies regarding options discussed above in this SAI, are not fundamental policies and may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors as regulatory agencies permit.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price. The repurchase price under repurchase agreements generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the securities underlying the repurchase agreement). The financial institutions with whom the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements will be banks and broker/dealers which the Adviser considers creditworthy pursuant to criteria approved by the Board of Directors. The Adviser will consider, among other things, whether a repurchase obligation of a seller involves minimal credit risk to the Fund in determining whether to have the Fund enter into a repurchase agreement. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price plus accrued interest. The Adviser will mark to market daily the value of the securities and will, if necessary, require the seller to maintain additional securities, to ensure that the value is not less than the repurchase price. Default by or bankruptcy of the

 

11



 

seller would, however, expose the Fund to a possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations. The Company’s custodian will hold securities subject to repurchase agreements in the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry system or by another authorized securities depository. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans by the Fund under the 1940 Act.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon price, date and rate of interest. Such agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act, and may be entered into only for temporary or emergency purposes. While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its custodian or a qualified sub-custodian, cash, or other liquid securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities, plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase.

 

Rights Offerings and Purchase Warrants

 

Rights offerings and purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right’s or warrant’s expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

Section 4(2) Paper

 

“Section 4(2) paper” is commercial paper, which is issued in reliance on the “private placement” exemption from registration, which is afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws and is generally sold to institutional investors such as the Fund which agree that they are purchasing the paper for investment and not with a view to public distribution. Any resale by the purchaser must be in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper normally is resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who make a market in the Section 4(2) paper normally, thereby providing liquidity. See “Illiquid Securities” and Appendix “A” to this SAI for a list of commercial paper ratings.

 

Short Sales

 

Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until the Fund replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the Fund will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the SEC.

 

12



 

The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. The Fund may purchase call options to provide a hedge against an increase in the price of a security sold short.

 

The Fund anticipates that the frequency of short sales will vary substantially in different periods, and it does not intend that any specified portion of its assets, as a matter of practice, will be invested in short sales. However, no securities will be sold short if, after effect is given to any such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund may, however, make a short sale as a hedge, when it believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund (or a security convertible or exchangeable for such security), or when the Fund wants to sell the security at an attractive current price, but also wishes possibly to defer recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. In such case, any future losses in the Fund’s long position should be reduced by a gain in the short position. Conversely, any gain in the long position should be reduced by a loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns. There will be certain additional transaction costs associated with short sales against the box, but the Fund will endeavor to offset these costs with the income from the investment of the cash proceeds of short sales.

 

Short Sales “Against the Box”

 

In addition to the short sales discussed above, the Fund may make short sales “against the box,” a transaction in which the Fund enters into a short sale of a security that the Fund owns. The proceeds of the short sale will be held by a broker until the settlement date at which time the Fund delivers the security to close the short position. The Fund receives the net proceeds from the short sale. It currently is anticipated that the Fund will make short sales against the box for purposes of protecting the value of the Fund’s net assets and will not engage in short sales against the box for speculative purposes. A short sale against the box is generally a taxable transaction to the Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short.

 

Temporary Investments

 

The short-term and medium-term debt securities in which the Fund may invest for temporary defensive purposes consist of: (a) obligations of the United States or foreign governments, their respective agencies or instrumentalities; (b) bank deposits and bank obligations (including certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. or foreign banks denominated in any currency; (c) floating rate securities and other instruments denominated in any currency issued by international development agencies; (d) finance company and corporate commercial paper and other short-term corporate debt obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations; and (e) repurchase agreements with banks and broker-dealers with respect to such securities.

 

U.S. Government Obligations

 

The Fund may purchase U.S. government agency and instrumentality obligations that are debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and federal agencies. Some obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or by U.S. Treasury guarantees, such as securities of the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the Federal Housing Authority; others, by the ability of the issuer to borrow, provided approval is granted, from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and others, only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation, such as securities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”). Such guarantees of U.S. government securities held by the Fund do not, however, guarantee the market value of the shares of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government will continue to provide support to its agencies or instrumentalities in the future. U.S. government obligations that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All U.S. government obligations are subject to interest rate risk.

 

13



 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA.  On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

The Fund’s net assets may be invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or the agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including, if applicable, options and futures on such obligations. The maturities of U.S. government securities usually range from three months to thirty years. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations include U.S. Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds and the obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Fannie Mae, GNMA, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Maritime Administration, the Asian-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. U.S. government securities may include inflation-indexed fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”). The interest rate of TIPS, which is set at auction, remains fixed throughout the term of the security and the principal amount of the security is adjusted for inflation. The inflation-adjusted principal is not paid until maturity.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments

 

The Fund may purchase securities on a “when-issued” basis and may purchase or sell securities on a “forward commitment” basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell particular securities with payment and delivery taking place at a future date (perhaps one or two months later), and permit the Fund to lock-in a price or yield on a security it owns or intends to purchase, regardless of future changes in interest rates. When-issued and forward commitment transactions involve the risk, however, that the price or yield obtained in a transaction may be less favorable than the price or yield available in the market when the securities delivery takes place. The Fund’s when-issued purchases and forward commitments are not expected to exceed 25% of the value of its total assets absent unusual market conditions. The Fund does not intend to engage in when-issued purchases and forward commitments for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objective.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a) (42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund. The Fund may not:

 

1.                        Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase more than 5% of a Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by a Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of a Fund’s assets may be invested without regard to such limitation.

 

2.                        Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any of its assets in connection with any such borrowing except in amounts not in excess of 125% of the dollar amounts borrowed. The 1940 Act permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33 1/3% of

 

14



 

the value of such company’s total assets. For purposes of this investment limitation, the entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes shall not constitute borrowing.

 

3.                        Purchase any securities which would cause, at the time of purchase, 25% or more of the value of the total assets of the Fund to be invested in the obligations of issuers in any industry, provided that there is no limitation with respect to investments in U.S. government obligations.

 

4.                        Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt obligations in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations, may enter into repurchase agreements for securities, and may lend portfolio securities against collateral consisting of cash or securities which are consistent with the Fund’s permitted investments, which is equal at all times to at least 100% of the value of the securities loaned. There is no investment restriction on the amount of securities that may be loaned, except that payments received on such loans, including amounts received during the loan on account of interest on the securities loaned, may not (together with all non-qualifying income) exceed 10% of the Fund’s annual gross income (without offset for realized capital gains) unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such amounts are qualifying income under federal income tax provisions applicable to regulated investment companies.

 

5.                        Purchase securities on margin, except for short-term credit necessary for clearance of portfolio transactions, and except that the Fund may establish margin accounts in connection with its use of options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes.

 

6.                        Underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under federal securities laws.

 

7.                        Purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnership interests, provided that the Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests therein or in real estate investment trusts.

 

8.                        Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes.

 

9.                        Invest in oil, gas or mineral-related exploration or development programs or leases.

 

10.                 Purchase any securities issued by any other investment company, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and except in connection with the merger, consolidation or acquisition of all the securities or assets of such an issuer.

 

11.                 Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but the Fund will vote those securities it owns in its portfolio as a shareholder in accordance with its views.

 

12.                 Issue any senior security, as defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

13.                 Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings as described in Limitation 2 above and to the extent related to the purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and the deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call options and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with respect to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes.

 

*        *        *

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund

 

15



 

shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund shareholders and its service providers. The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund. It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Adviser currently makes the Fund’s top ten holdings, sector weightings and portfolio characteristics publicly available on its web site, www.boglefunds.com, as disclosed in the following table:

 

Information Posting

 

Frequency of Disclosure

 

Date of Web Posting

Top 10 Portfolio Holdings and other portfolio characteristics

 

Quarterly

 

6 to 7 weeks after the end of each calendar quarter

 

The scope of the information relating to the Fund’s portfolio that is made available on the web site may change from time to time without notice. The Adviser or its affiliates may include the Fund’s portfolio information that has already been made public through a Web posting or SEC filing in marketing literature and other communications to shareholders, advisors or other parties, provided that, in the case of information made public through the Web, the information is disclosed no earlier than the day after the date of posting to the web site.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian;  BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; Merrill Corporation, the financial printer; and  Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., the Fund’s proxy voting service. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund. Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship ( e.g . attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles ( e.g ., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i)  certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information, and (ii) financial consultants to assist them in determining the suitability of the Fund as an investment for their clients, in each case in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Company’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders. Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15-day time lag. The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures.  Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO

 

16



 

who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter.

 

The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act), are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

17



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

18



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 67

 

Chairman

 

Director

 

2005 to present

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

19



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

OFFICERS

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,

CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

 

2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)          Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.   Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)          Mr. Sablowsky is considered “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.    Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among

 

21



 

other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic

 

22



 

meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014:

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by
Director within the Family of
Investment Companies

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

Over $100,000

 

Over $100,000

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

23



 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who is not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically.  Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company. Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Fund and the Company in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,662.73

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,599.08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,902.92

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,687.30

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

2,188.66

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,566.14

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,908.02

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

13,842.04

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

24



 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund. The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund. The Adviser employs a third party service provider to assist in the voting of proxies. These procedures have been provided to the service provider, who analyzes the proxies and votes such proxies in the manner outlined in the Adviser’s procedures. A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Guidelines is included with this SAI. Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-877-264-5346 and by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015 to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

INVESTOR CLASS

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

National Financial Services LLC

Attn Mutual Funds Dept. 4 th  Floor

499 Washington Blvd.

Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010

 

441,995.852

 

15.09

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TD Ameritrade Inc.

P.O. Box 2226

Omaha, NE 68103-2226

 

213,582.292

 

7.29

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Schwab & Co.

Attn Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St

San Francisco, CA 94101-4122

 

195,395.635

 

6.67

%

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

National Financial Services LLC

Attn Mutual Funds Dept., 4 th  Floor

 

814,098.588

 

28.81

%

 

25



 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

499 Washington Blvd.

Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Schwab & Co.

Attn Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St

San Francisco, CA 94101-4122

 

736,581.630

 

26.07

%

American Trust Center

401 N. 4 th  St

Bismarck, ND 58501

 

166,399.177

 

5.89

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio and class within the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Advisory Agreement

 

The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated September 15, 1999. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly fee from the Fund calculated at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to limit the Fund’s Total Annual Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below to the extent that such expenses exceed 1.25% of the Fund’s Institutional Class average daily net assets and 1.35% of the Fund’s Investor Class average daily net assets. In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net total annual fund operating expenses to exceed 1.25% or 1.35%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes.   The Adviser may not recoup waived advisory fees or reimbursed expenses.  This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. As necessary, this limitation is effected in waivers of advisory fees and reimbursements of expenses exceeding the advisory fee. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waivers indefinitely. John C. Bogle, Jr., the Fund’s portfolio manager (the “Portfolio Manager”), is the President of the Adviser.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Fund.

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement. The Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser. General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the expenses listed in the Prospectus and the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) expenses of organizing the Company that are not attributable to a class of the Company; (c) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (d) any extraordinary expenses; (e) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (f) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; and (g) the cost of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its directors and officers. Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to

 

26



 

shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement may be reviewed in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015, which may be obtained by calling (877) 264-5346 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

1,865,877

 

$

168,555

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

2,061,448

 

$

134,352

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

1,197,306

 

$

194,958

 

$

0

 

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund. The Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Description of Compensation . The Fund’s Portfolio Manager receives a base salary, a retirement plan contribution, a bonus and profit distributions from his ownership stake in the Adviser. Compensation and bonus is based on the Adviser’s overall profitability. The Adviser’s profitability, and thus compensation from its profit distributions, is directly related to the Adviser’s investment performance for accounts with performance-based fees (most accounts, all strategies), as well as assets under management. Base salary and bonuses are determined annually based on a series of factors including investment performance and the Adviser’s profitability. An annual retirement plan contribution is based on a fixed percentage of total annual salary and bonus.

 

Material Conflicts of Interest. The Adviser does not trade any proprietary accounts; however, the Portfolio Manager does have an economic interest in several of the accounts managed by the Adviser, either through direct ownership or through performance fees. Therefore, the Adviser has policies in place to ensure that accounts in which the Portfolio Manager holds an interest (either directly or through a potential performance fee) are not favored over other accounts. This conflict is mitigated in the following ways:  (1) equitable, well documented trade allocation procedures; (2) daily performance monitoring and risk tracking; (3) broad direct ownership by the Portfolio Manager in all of the Adviser’s investment strategies; (4) performance-based fees in accounts that represent all of the Adviser’s investment strategies; and (5) ownership and compensation policies based on the success of the overall Adviser, not just a specific investment strategy.

 

Other Accounts . The table below discloses accounts, other than the Fund, for which the Portfolio Manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager or
Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets
(in Millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based on
Performance
(in Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John C. Bogle, Jr.

 

Other Registered Investment Companies

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment

 

5

 

$

1,738

 

5

 

$

1,738

 

 

27



 

Name of Portfolio Manager or
Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets
(in Millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee is Based on
Performance
(in Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicles:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

4

 

$

434

 

4

 

$

434

 

 

Securities Ownership . The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager in the Fund as of August 31, 2015.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

John C. Bogle, Jr.

 

Over $1 Million

 

Custodian Agreement

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10286, serves as custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between BNY and the Company dated as of July 18, 2011 (the “Custodian Agreement”). Under the Custodian Agreement, BNY (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund, (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of the Fund, (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund, (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio securities and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations. BNY is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that BNY remains responsible for the performance of all its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Company harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian. The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, BNY Mellon receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Fund’s average gross assets; exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement

 

BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented for the Fund on September 15, 1999 (collectively, the “Transfer Agency Agreement”). Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon (a) issues and redeems Shares of the Fund, (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of Shares of the Fund, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders, (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund. For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis  and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 - $50,000, based on the number of open accounts in the Fund. In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification. The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

28



 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement

 

BNY Mellon also serves as the Fund’s administrator and fund accounting agent pursuant to an administration and accounting services agreement dated as of September 15, 1999, (the “Administration Agreement”). BNY Mellon has agreed to calculate the Fund’s NAV, provide all accounting services for the Fund and assist in related aspects of the Fund’s operations. The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of BNY Mellon’s gross negligence. In consideration for providing services pursuant to the Administration Agreement, BNY Mellon receives a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.115% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to a minimum of $6,250 per month, exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses and pricing charges. BNY Mellon is currently waiving 0.0125% of its annual fee.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it or its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon. Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company. These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration. BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

The administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees, including waivers and reimbursements, for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Administration, Accounting and
Regulatory Administration Fees
and Expenses (after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

266,961

 

$

25,430

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

283,872

 

$

27,447

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

193,569

 

$

17,403

 

$

0

 

 

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC  (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement   (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

29



 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

The shareholder servicing fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Shareholder Servicing Fees
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

103,225

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

98.711

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

67,043

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

30



 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and other applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund. The Adviser has broad supervision over the placement of securities orders for the Fund. The Adviser has the authority to determine the broker-dealer to be used in any securities transaction and the commission rate to be paid. While the primary criterion for all transactions in portfolio securities is the execution of orders at the most favorable net price, numerous additional factors are considered by the Adviser when arranging for the purchase and sale of the Fund’s portfolio securities. These include restrictions imposed by the federal securities laws and the allocation of brokerage in return for certain services and materials described below. In determining the abilities of the broker-dealer to obtain best execution of a particular transaction, the Adviser will consider all relevant factors including the execution capabilities required by the transaction(s), the ability and willingness of the broker-dealer to facilitate the Fund’s portfolio transactions promptly and at reasonable expense, the importance to the Fund of speed, efficiency or confidentiality and the broker-dealer’s apparent familiarity with sources from or to whom particular securities might be purchased or sold, as well as any other matters the Adviser deems relevant to the selection of a broker-dealer for a particular portfolio transaction of the Fund.

 

When the “best execution” criteria are satisfied, those broker-dealers who supplement the Adviser’s capabilities with trading execution and research services, within the parameters of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may be selected by the Adviser to provide brokerage services.  Research services include both proprietary research (created or developed by the broker-dealer) and research created or developed by a third party.

 

Ongoing research, computer systems and market data feeds are critical elements of the Adviser’s investment management process.  Accordingly, the Adviser is a significant user of broker-provided products and services that assist the Adviser in carrying out its investment and trading decisions. These products and services include: quotation services; trading; research (including proprietary) and portfolio management systems and consulting services; data; software; seminars; prime brokerage; custody and clearance services; other data services; trading and data feeds; proxy research; and trading communication services.  In the absence of soft dollar arrangements, the Adviser would have to pay directly for these services. Further, although best execution is always the primary objective in broker selection, the use of soft dollars means that the Adviser has less incentive to go to execution-only brokers, and that the Adviser may not always obtain the best price.

 

In some cases the Adviser acquires research products or services with soft dollars that also have non-research uses.  In these cases the Adviser makes reasonable allocation of the cost of the product or service according to its use.  That portion of the product or service that provides administrative or other non-research services is paid for by the Adviser in hard dollars.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid $21,748 in aggregate commissions to brokers on account of research services. All research services received from broker-dealers to whom commissions are paid are used collectively. There is no direct relationship between commissions received by a broker-dealer from the Fund’s or a particular client’s transactions and the use of any or all of that broker-dealer’s research material in relation to the Fund or that client’s account. The Adviser may pay a broker-dealer’s brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker-dealer might have charged for the same transaction in recognition of research and brokerage related services provided by the broker-dealer. The variations in brokerage commissions are a result of changes in the Fund’s assets, commission rates, and turnover of the Fund’s securities.

 

The brokerage commissions for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

31



 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Brokerage
Commissions

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

152,238

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

141,059

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

168,845

 

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Funds as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, the Fund held 99,292 shares with a market value of $1,630,375 of Investment Technology Group, Inc.

 

The Adviser typically aggregates orders for the purchase and sale of securities for client portfolios including portfolios of the investment partnerships and registered investment companies it advises. In this process, orders for investment partnerships or registered investment companies in which the Adviser or persons associated with the Adviser have an interest may be aggregated with orders for other client portfolios. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders are allocated to the account of each client or fund that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds will be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios. Transaction costs for any transaction will be shared pro rata based on each portfolio’s participation in the transaction. The Fund will not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting or selling group relating to such security of which the Adviser or any affiliated person (as defined in the 1940 Act) thereof is a member except pursuant to procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.

 

In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to the Distributor, BNY or the Adviser or any affiliated person of the foregoing entities except as permitted by SEC exemptive order or by applicable law.

 

Corporate debt and U.S. government securities and many micro- and small-cap stocks are generally traded on the over-the-counter market on a “net” basis without a stated commission, through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers. The Fund will engage in transactions with these dealers or deal directly with the issuer unless a better price or execution could be obtained by using a broker. Prices paid to a dealer in debt, micro- or small-cap securities will generally include a “spread,” which is the difference between the prices at which the dealer is willing to purchase and sell the specific security at the time, and includes the dealer’s normal profit.

 

The Adviser may seek to obtain an undertaking from issuers of commercial paper or dealers selling commercial paper to consider the repurchase of such securities from the Fund prior to their maturity at their original cost plus interest (sometimes adjusted to reflect the actual maturity of the securities), if it believes that the Fund’s anticipated need for liquidity makes such action desirable. Any such repurchase prior to maturity reduces the possibility that the Fund would incur a capital loss in liquidating commercial paper (for which there is no established market), especially if interest rates have risen since acquisition of the particular commercial paper.

 

In transactions for securities not actively traded on a securities exchange, the Fund will deal directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved, except in those circumstances where better prices and execution are available elsewhere. Such dealers usually are acting as principal for their own account. On occasion, securities may be purchased directly from the issuer. Such portfolio securities are generally traded on a net basis and do not normally involve brokerage commissions. Securities firms may receive brokerage commissions on certain portfolio transactions, including options, futures and options on futures transactions and the purchase and sale of underlying securities upon exercise of options.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

Institutional Class shares of the Fund may be sold to corporations or other institutions such as trusts, foundations or broker-dealers purchasing for the accounts of others. Purchase orders for Investor Class shares may be placed through a financial intermediary. Institutional Class shares and Investor Class shares may also be purchased directly from the Fund at the NAV per share, by mail or by wire.

 

32



 

The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist that make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequence as a result of a payment in securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Fund are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); or (3) if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder’s account in the Fund at any time the NAV of the account falls below $500 as the result of a redemption request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the involuntary redemption is processed.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than the Distributor), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

33



 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

34



 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s Charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the Fund with each other share that represents an interest in the Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund. Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders collectively owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of the Fund will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2, the approval of an investment advisory agreement, distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined by the 1940 Act) of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio. Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and

 

35



 

fractional votes for fractional shares held. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel.

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning the Fund at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

36



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

A- 1



 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 2



 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

A- 3



 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

A- 4



 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

A- 5



 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

A- 6



 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

A- 7



 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

APPENDIX B

 

BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P.

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

 

It is the policy at Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (BIM), to vote all proxies, where we have been delegated the fiduciary duty to do so, in order to maximize shareholder value and the value of our investments. Whenever there is a conflict between the interests of BIM and the interests of its clients with regards to a proxy vote, it is BIM’s policy to act in the best interest of its clients. The proxy voting guidelines below summarize BIM’s position on various issues of concern to shareholders and investors. In order to facilitate the proxy voting process, we may retain a proxy service provider to assist us with proxy research, vote execution and record keeping. This proxy service provider would coordinate with our prime brokers and our clients’ custodians to ensure that all proxy materials for each client are received and executed on a timely basis. This proxy service provider would also vote the proxies in accordance with our pre-determined policy and in consultation with BIM for non-routine, unusual or controversial issues.

 

In the case where an outside proxy firm is used and the firm makes vote recommendations, BIM performs due diligence to ensure that these recommendations benefit investors rather than the provider firm’s own commercial interests. One of our key criterion in selecting a provider is independence, considering sources of revenue as well as industry reputation. Further, our relationship with our provider is more implementation oriented than recommendation oriented, in that the provider works from a pre-determined set of policies, created by BIM and customized to suit our needs.

 

No set of guidelines can anticipate every issue that may arise. The guidelines are not exhaustive and do not include all potential voting issues or variations on existing issues. Many of the issues and the circumstances of individual companies are different, and there may be instances when we adjust our position and may not vote in strict adherence to these guidelines. Also, in cases where there are no pre-determined policy guidelines, the third party service provider contacts BIM to determine the proper course of action.

 

As part of our ongoing investment process, our investment professionals may encounter significant corporate developments. As these situations arise, we may adjust votes for specific securities based on the current information.

 

Portfolio managers are responsible for determining the voting templates and for addressing case-by-case queries.

 

Our proxy voting guidelines are summarized below, including specific examples of commonly presented items.

 

I. GUIDELINES FOR DOMESTIC SECURITIES

 

Election of the Board of Directors:

 

We will generally vote for the company’s nominees, provided that the Board maintains a majority of independent directors. We will vote on a case-by-case basis for contested elections.

 

Classified Board Structure:

 

We are generally against the adoption of classified board structures, where the board of directors is elected on a staggered basis instead of each director elected annually. We are generally against proposals to declassify boards, unless there are special circumstances where shareholders would benefit from the declassification.

 

Cumulative Voting:

 

We are generally against proposals to allow cumulative voting by shareholders.

 

Supermajority Voting:

 

We are generally against proposals to require a supermajority for shareholder votes.

 

B- 1



 

Election of Auditors:

 

Our policies generally support the re-election of auditors unless:

 

·                   An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent.

 

·                   There is reason to believe that the auditor rendered an opinion that is either inaccurate or not indicative of the company’s financial position.

 

We will review fees paid by a company for non-audit services on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are so excessive as to impair the auditor’s appearance of independence.

 

Executive Compensation:

 

We are generally in favor of proposals that link executive compensation to both the company’s long-term performance and to the performance of its peer group, unless such proposals are excessive. We will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to reprice options and to institute or amend employee stock purchase plans.

 

Golden Parachutes:

 

We are generally for shareholder proposals to require a shareholder vote to approve any plans greater than two times salary and bonus. We will review any proposals to repeal or cancel existing plans on a case-by-case basis.

 

Poison Pills:

 

These are anti-takeover provisions that can make it more difficult for an outside party to take control of a company without the approval of the board of directors. We are generally for any shareholder proposals to require a company to submit its poison pill plan for shareholder approval. We will review on a case-by-case basis any proposals to redeem or revise any existing plans.

 

Common Stock Authorization:

 

We generally vote for the authorization to increase shares of common stock for routine corporate purposes such as for stock splits or share repurchase programs. Any non-routine issuances or issuances in connection with corporate restructurings are voted on as case-by-case basis.

 

Preferred Stock:

 

We generally vote against proposals to create a new class of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights — “blank check” stock. We review requests for issuances of preferred stock on a case-by-case basis.

 

State of Incorporation:

 

We vote on a case-by-case basis on any proposals to change a company’s state or country of incorporation.

 

Corporate Restructurings:

 

We vote on all mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, liquidations and any other corporate restructurings on a case-by-case basis.

 

Social Issues and Corporate Responsibility Issues:

 

As there are many variations on these types of issues, we evaluate all shareholder proposals individually and vote for each on a case-by-case basis.

 

B- 2



 

II. GUIDELINES FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES

 

For some of our clients we invest in foreign domiciled securities. For those securities that are incorporated in foreign jurisdictions and are not listed on US securities exchanges or the NASDAQ, protection for shareholders may vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Laws governing foreign issuers may, in some cases, provide substantially less protection for shareholders. Corporate governance systems differ country by country. As a result, the foregoing guidelines may not be appropriate under some circumstances for foreign issuers. The funds will vote proxies of foreign issuers in accordance with the foregoing guidelines where applicable, and any exceptions or unusual circumstances will be voted on a case-by-case basis.

 

Share blocking occurs in some, but not all, global markets. Clients cannot trade those blocked shares from the time the voting instructions are received to the meeting date. In many markets, meetings are often postponed, sometimes more than once, because they were unable to reach a quorum. In most cases, the voting instructions remain valid until the next scheduled meeting date unless there is a change in the agenda. This means that the shares remain unavailable for trading until the actual meeting. We have decided not to vote proxies where share blocking is an issue. We have communicated this to the separate account clients impacted by this.

 

B- 3



 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

CAMPBELL CORE TREND FUND

 

a series of THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

Institutional Shares Ticker Symbol: CCTFX

 

December 31, 2015

 

Investment Manager:

CAMPBELL & COMPANY INVESTMENT ADVISER LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to Institutional Shares (the “Shares”), representing interests in the Campbell Core Trend Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”). Copies of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free 1-844-261-6488. The financial Statements and notes contained in the Annual report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

1

 

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

1

 

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

15

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

17

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

18

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

25

 

 

PROXY VOTING

25

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

25

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

25

 

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

25

 

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

27

 

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

29

 

 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

30

 

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

30

 

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

30

 

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

31

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

32

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

33

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

34

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

34

 

 

TAXES

35

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

36

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

37

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

37

 

 

APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A-1

 

i



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to the Campbell Core Trend Fund (the “Fund”), a non-diversified portfolio. Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC (“Campbell” or the “Manager”) serves as the investment manager to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund seeks capital appreciation through investment in debt instruments, futures-related interests and/or other derivative instruments. The investment objective of the Fund is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Board of Directors without a vote of the Shareholders. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.  The Fund may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate.  Portfolio turnover rate is defined under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules as the greater of the value of the securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one-year or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year.  Based on this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one-year are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one-year.  The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

Commodity-Linked Investments.  The Fund may attempt to provide exposure to the returns of real assets that trade in the commodity markets without direct investment in physical commodities. Real assets include oil, gas, industrial and precious metals, livestock, and agricultural or meat products, or other items that have tangible properties. Commodity-linked derivative instruments include commodity index-linked securities and other derivative instruments that provide exposure to the investment returns of the commodities markets. Commodity-linked investments may be more volatile and less liquid than the underlying instruments and their value may be affected by the performance of commodities as well as weather, tax, and other regulatory or political developments, overall market movements and other factors affecting the value of particular industries or commodities, such as disease, embargoes, acts of war or terrorism.

 

The Fund may invest in commodity-linked derivative instruments such as commodity-linked structured notes. The Fund may invest in commodity-linked notes that pay a return linked to the performance of a commodities index or basket of futures contracts with respect to all of the commodities in an index. In some cases, the return will be based on some multiple of the performance of the index, and this embedded leverage will magnify the positive and negative return the Fund earns from these notes as compared to the index. The principal and/or interest payments of commodity-linked derivatives are tied to the value of a real asset or commodity index. Structured notes may be structured by the issuer and the purchaser of the note. The notes are derivative debt instruments with principal payments generally linked to the value of commodities, commodity futures contracts or the performance of commodity indices and interest and coupon payments pegged to a market-based interest rate, such as LIBOR or a bank’s prime rate. The value of these notes will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index or investment. These notes expose the Fund economically to movements in commodity prices.

 

Cyber Security Issues. With the increased use of technologies such as the internet to conduct business, the Fund and Subsidiary are susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from

 

1



 

deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). Cyber security failures or breaches by the Manager and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the Fund’s accountant, custodian, transfer agent and administrator), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Manager has established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Fund and issuers in which the Fund invests. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

 

Foreign Markets. Foreign investments involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability. Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations. Inability to dispose of Fund securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the instruments, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign financial exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on their portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of financial exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics ( e.g. , mail service between the United States and foreign countries) may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the Fund may invest in instruments denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s investments in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s investments in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s investments in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency. The Fund may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations but pay interest in U.S. dollars and

 

2



 

are typically issued in the United States.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates or to seek to increase total return. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot ( i.e. , cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

The Fund may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in financial instruments denominated or quoted in a different currency or to seek to increase total return. Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other foreign currency.

 

At the consummation of the forward contract, the Fund may terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If the Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.

 

The Fund’s transactions in forward contracts will be limited to those described above. Of course, the Fund is not required to enter into such transactions with regard to its foreign currency quoted or denominated instruments, and the Fund will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Manager.

 

When the Fund enters into forward contracts the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid assets that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the forward contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio holdings.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or its wholly-owned and controlled Cayman Islands Subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”), through which the Fund may invest, may enter into agreements with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

If the Fund uses forward contracts as a method of protecting the value of the Fund’s investments against a decline in the value of a currency, this does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the investments. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the Fund’s foreign assets. It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

While the Fund may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks or to seek to increase total return, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio holdings quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Fund. Such imperfect correlation

 

3



 

may cause the Fund to sustain losses, which will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the Fund to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The Fund’s foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies. A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date an instrument is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the instrument. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling instruments denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the instruments that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its holdings are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “crosshedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio holding at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market if the market value of a holding it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a holding if the market value of such holding exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.

 

To the extent that the Fund engages in foreign currency hedging, there can be no assurance that any hedge will be effective or that there will be a hedge in place at any given time.

 

Futures and Options on Futures.  Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument at a specified future time and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for: bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of financial instruments held or expected to be acquired or be

 

4



 

disposed of; attempting to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or other risk management purposes.

 

The Fund and the Subsidiary, through which the Fund invests, are subject to regulation by the CFTC as commodity pools and the Manager’s parent, Campbell & Company, LP (“Campbell & Company”) is subject to regulation by the CFTC as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) with respect to the Fund under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). The Campbell & Company does not currently rely on an exclusion from the definition of CPO in CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund.

 

Transactions in futures and options by the Fund are subject to limitations established by futures and option exchanges governing the maximum number of futures and options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the futures or options were written or purchased on the same or different exchanges or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more different exchanges or through one or more brokers. Thus the number of futures or options which the Fund may write or hold may be affected by futures or options written or held by other entities, including other investment companies advised by the Manager.  An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.

 

An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified currency amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

 

When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid assets that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio holdings.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a FCM which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high or higher than the price of the futures contract.  In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the price of the futures contract, the Fund will segregate cash or liquid assets equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.  The Fund may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.

 

The Fund may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option.  In the alternative, if the long position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid assets equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the call and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a call option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the call option.  The Fund may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid assets equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a put option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the

 

5



 

put option.

 

There are significant risks associated with the Fund’s use of futures contracts and related options, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Manager’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

 

Swap Agreements.  Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year.  In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e. , the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.  Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap,” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or “floor,” and interest rate dollars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

 

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.”  Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating assets determined to be liquid.

 

Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.  Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund’s illiquid investment limitation.  The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Manager believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.  The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.

 

The Fund may enter into swap agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable.  The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.  The counter-party will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks.  The Fund will agree to pay to the counter-party a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks.  Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.

 

Swap agreements typically are settled on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.  Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term.  Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.  Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make.  If the other party to a swap agreement defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.  The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each equity swap will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or liquid assets, having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian.  Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash of liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, the Fund and

 

6



 

the Manager believe that these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

 

· Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying asset. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total returns swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the agreement or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying asset).

 

· Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

 

· Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

· Caps, Collars and Floors

 

Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.

 

The Manager, under the supervision of the Board, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions in swap agreements. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

 

Investing in Emerging Countries, including Asia and Eastern Europe. The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets due to its investments in certain stock index futures and foreign exchange instruments. The financial markets of emerging countries are less liquid and have far fewer trading volumes than the developed markets.

 

Emerging country financial markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of

 

7



 

ownership by a limited number of investors. The markets in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded instruments in emerging countries may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the financial markets of developed countries. The limited size of many of these markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging markets may also affect the Fund’s ability to accurately value its portfolio holdings or to acquire or dispose of instruments at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.

 

With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may have an adverse impact on the Fund. For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders in U.S. corporations.

 

Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries may be higher than in the United States and other developed financial markets. In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in emerging countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law.

 

Foreign investment in the financial markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit the Fund’s investment in certain emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer’s outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operation of the Fund. The Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.

 

Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western European countries. This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making, including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing foreign private investments and private property. Such economic, political and social instability could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Fund may invest and adversely affect the value of the Fund’s assets. The Fund’s investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.

 

The Fund may seek investment opportunities within former “east bloc” countries in Eastern Europe. Most Eastern European countries had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time. The governments of many Eastern European countries have more recently been implementing reforms directed at political and economic liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move towards a market economy. However, business entities in many Eastern European countries do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of Eastern European countries’ attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently unclear. In addition, any change in the leadership or policies of Eastern European countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.

 

8



 

The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments. Many emerging countries have experienced in the past, and continue to experience, high rates of inflation. In certain countries inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. Other emerging countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic recessions. The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to weakness in world prices for their commodity exports. The Fund’s income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign investments will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates. See “Taxes.”

 

Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund remain uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of the Fund to make intended purchases or sales due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the instrument or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the instrument, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.  However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Manager and Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or reimbursement arrangement.

 

Margin Deposits and Cover Requirements. Unlike the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Subsidiary will be required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents, known as initial margin, based on the value of the contract. The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in securities transactions in that futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by the customer to finance the transactions. Rather, the initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, to and from the broker, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying instruments fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” For example, when the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the contract has risen in response to a rise in the price of the underlying instruments, that position will have increased in value and the Fund will be entitled to receive from the broker a variation margin payment equal to that increase in value. Conversely, where the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the futures contract has declined in response to a decrease in the underlying instruments, the position would be less valuable and the Fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the broker. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Manager may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, subject to the availability of a secondary market, which will operate to terminate the Fund’s position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a loss or gain.

 

The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of forwards, futures, swaps and options. For example, when entering into a contract that must be cash settled, the Fund will cover (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) its position, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the daily mark-to-market obligation, rather than the notional value of the contract.

 

When entering into a contract that does not need to be settled in cash, the Fund is also required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid assets that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding

 

9



 

portfolio holdings.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities. Segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The Subsidiary will comply with these coverage requirements to the same extent as the Fund that holds the Subsidiary’s securities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a FCM which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

The Fund may also cover its position in relation to forwards, futures, swaps and options through ownership of the underlying financial instrument, commodity index, or currency or by other portfolio positions or by other means consistent with applicable regulatory policies.

 

Options.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on indices, currencies, commodities or other financial instruments and enter into related closing transactions. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying instrument at any time during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at any time during the option period.  The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates or to seek and increase in total return. Call options on foreign currency written by the Fund will be “covered” as set out below.

 

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

When the Fund writes an option, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid assets that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the option or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio holdings.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or the Subsidiary may enter into agreements with a FCM which require the FCM to accept physical settlement for certain financial instruments.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements. Similarly, the Fund or Subsidiary may enter into agreements with counterparties which require the counterparty to settle currency forward contracts in US Dollar, rather than the deliverable currency.  If this occurs, the Fund would treat the financial instrument as being cash-settled for purposes of determining the Fund’s coverage requirements.

 

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same instrument with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying instrument until the option expires or the Fund delivers the instrument upon exercise.

 

10



 

The Fund may purchase put and call options to protect against a decline in the market value of the holdings in its portfolio, to anticipate an increase in the market value of instruments that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future or to seek to increase total return. The Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium therefore. If price movements in the underlying instruments are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s instruments or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of instruments by the Fund.

 

The Fund may write covered call options as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When the Fund writes an option, if the underlying instruments do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying instruments to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying instruments at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

 

The Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.

 

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying instrument. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual instruments, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the instruments underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying instrument.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities.  The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate and currency swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days. A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”). These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Manager that an adequate trading market exists for the securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

11



 

The Manager will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by the Fund under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). In reaching liquidity decisions, the Manager may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

As consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may also invest in Section 4(2) commercial paper. Section 4(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper. The Company believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Board. The Company intends to treat such commercial paper as liquid and not subject to the investment limitations applicable to illiquid securities or restricted securities.

 

Short Sales.   As consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may engage in short sales that are “uncovered”.

 

Uncovered short sales are transactions under which the Fund sells an instrument it does not own.  To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the instrument to make delivery to the buyer.  The Fund then is obligated to replace the instrument borrowed by purchasing the instrument at the market price at the time of the replacement.  The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the instrument was sold by the Fund.  Until the instrument is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan.  To borrow the instrument, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the instrument sold.  The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until the Fund replaces a borrowed instrument in connection with a short sale, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid assets at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the instrument sold short; or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the SEC.

 

The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the instrument increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed instrument.  The Fund will realize a gain if the instrument declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in an instrument. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. A Fund may purchase call options to provide a hedge against an increase in the price of an instrument sold short by the Fund. See the section entitled “Options” above.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the underlying investment companies’ investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the

 

12



 

instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude an underlying investment company’s, and thus the Fund’s, ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the underlying investment companies’ holdings.

 

Subsidiary Risk.   The Fund intends to make investments through the Subsidiary of the Fund (Campbell Core Offshore Limited). Investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and recent Internal Revenue Service revenue rulings. The Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors.

 

It is expected that the Subsidiary will invest primarily in derivative instruments, such as, commodity futures contracts, non-commodity futures contracts, such as equity index, government bond, fixed income and foreign exchange futures contracts, commodity and non-commodity swap agreements.  The Subsidiary may also invest in fixed income securities and money market instruments, cash and cash equivalents with two years or less term to maturity, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Although the Fund may enter into these commodity-linked derivative instruments directly, the Fund will likely gain exposure to these derivative instruments indirectly by investing in the Subsidiary. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary may vary depending on the types of instruments selected by the Manager to gain exposure to the commodities markets. To the extent that the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, the Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the abovementioned derivative instruments and other securities, which are discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus and this SAI.

 

The Fund intends to treat physically settled futures contracts in the same manner as cash settled futures contracts through the use of a swap and/or letter agreement with the Subsidiary’s futures commission merchant for the purposes of complying with Section 18 of 1940 Act.  The SEC has not declared whether or not the use of such a letter agreement is sufficient for the purpose of compliance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act.  There is a risk, therefore, that the SEC may deem the use of the letter agreement as insufficient and that the Fund may not be permitted to continue to gain exposure to these contracts through the use of the letter agreement.

 

While the Subsidiary may be considered similar to an investment company, it is not registered under the 1940 Act and, unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus and this SAI, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act and other U.S. regulations. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Prospectuses and this SAI and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Tax Risk. The Fund intends to qualify annually to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. To qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund must invest in assets which produce the types of income specified in the Code and the Treasury regulations (“Qualifying Income”). Whether the income from certain derivatives, swaps, commodity-linked derivatives and other commodity/natural resource-related securities, including income from the Fund’s investment in its subsidiary, is Qualifying Income is unclear. If the Fund invests in these types of securities and the income is determined to not be Qualifying Income, it may cause the Fund to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code. Moreover, an investment in a subsidiary may not exceed 25% of the value of the Fund at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. If the subsidiary does exceed 25% of the value of the Fund, in any quarter, the Fund may fail to qualify as a registered investment company under the Code. See “Taxes” below for additional information related to these restrictions.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions.   In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

13



 

U.S. Government Securities.   The Fund may purchase U.S. government agency and instrumentality obligations that are debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and federal agencies. Some obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or by U.S. Treasury guarantees, such as securities of the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the Federal Housing Authority; others, by the ability of the issuer to borrow, provided approval is granted, from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and others, only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation, such as securities of Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”). Such guarantees of U.S. government securities held by a Fund do not, however, guarantee the market value of the shares of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government will continue to provide support to its agencies or instrumentalities in the future. U.S. government obligations that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All U.S. government obligations are subject to interest rate risk.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

·                   U.S. Treasury Obligations.   U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

·                   Receipts.   Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank.  The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts.  The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury.  Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities.   STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons.  Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal.  The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes.  Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically.  Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Agencies.   Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

14



 

·                   The Fund’s Service Providers Could Fail Risk.   The institutions with which the Fund or Subsidiary trades or invests may encounter financial difficulties that impair the operational capabilities or the capital position of the Fund. A futures broker is generally required by U.S. law to segregate all funds received from such broker’s customers from such broker’s proprietary assets. If the futures broker did not do so to the full extent required by law, the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the futures broker. Furthermore, in the event of the futures broker’s bankruptcy, the Fund or Subsidiary could be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the futures broker’s combined customer accounts, even though certain property specifically traceable to the Fund (for example, Treasury bills deposited by the Fund with the futures broker as margin) was held by the futures broker.

 

Although the Manager regularly monitors the financial condition of the counterparties it uses, if the counterparties were to become insolvent or the subject of liquidation proceedings in the United States (either under the Securities Investor Protection Act of the United States Bankruptcy Code), there exists the risk that the recovery of the Fund’s or subsidiary’s assets from such counterparty will be delayed or be a value less than the value of the assets originally entrusted to such counterparty.

 

·                   Failure to Receive Timely and Accurate Market Data from Third Party Vendors Could Cause Disruptions or the Inability to Trade Risk.   The Manager’s strategies are dependent to a significant degree on the receipt of timely and accurate market data from third party vendors. Accordingly, the failure to receive such data in a timely manner or the receipt of inaccurate data, whether due to acts or omissions of such third party vendors or otherwise, could disrupt trading to the detriment of the Fund or make trading impossible until such failure or inaccuracy is remedied. Any such failure or inaccuracy could, in certain market conditions, cause the Fund to experience significant trading losses, effect trades in a manner which it otherwise would not have done, or miss opportunities for profitable trading. For example, the receipt of inaccurate market data may cause the Manager to establish (or exit) a position which it otherwise would not have established (or exited), or fail to establish (or exit) a position which it otherwise would have established (or exited), and any subsequent correction of such inaccurate data may cause the Manager to reverse such action or inaction, all of which may ultimately be to the detriment of the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Board without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.                         Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements provided that there is at least 300% asset coverage for the borrowings of the Fund. The Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. However, the amount shall not be in excess of lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing, provided that: (a) short sales and related borrowings of securities are not subject to this restriction; and (b) for the purposes of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to options, short sales, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin and collateral arrangements with respect to derivatives instruments are not deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets. Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation;

 

2.                         Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of

 

15



 

restricted securities;

 

3.                         Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

4.                         Purchase or sell commodities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted or modified by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time;

 

5.                         Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

6.                         Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; or

 

7.                         Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations, which may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Fund may not:

 

1.                             Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                             Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts or other derivative instruments, including foreign exchange forward contracts, shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. Pursuant to orders issued by the SEC to exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in ETFs in excess of the limits of the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Securities held by the Fund generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Manager or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.  Neither the Fund nor the Manager has obtained such an exemptive order as of the date of this SAI.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank. In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund has adopted

 

16



 

fundamental policies that would permit direct investment in commodities.

 

Any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, short sales and other similar instruments, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. The Fund may pledge, mortgage or hypothecate assets to secure borrowings permitted by the Fund’s fundamental limitation on borrowing.

 

Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Manager, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund’s shareholders and its service providers.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Manager, to certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information.  Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15 - day time lag.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Manager reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

17



 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Manager, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Board, subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter.  The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company as defined in the 1940 Act are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.  

 

18



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

19



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate
Center, Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance , LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate
Center, Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012 Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 51

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

20



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square,
Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Age: 56

 

Assistant
Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


*                           Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

(1)                   Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

(2)                   Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.” He is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.    Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive level positions in the financial services industry.   Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Giordano and Chandler.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of theInterested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

21



 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano, and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twiceduring the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee. The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.    The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee.   The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

22



 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014:

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered 
Investment Companies Overseen by Director 
within the Family of Investment Companies

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Robert Sablowsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board Effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee each receives an additional fee of $10,000 for his services.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee each received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director , except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board and Committee meeting attended telephonically. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and each Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or any committee thereof.  Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company.  Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board.  For the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Company in the following amounts:

 

23



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund*

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

493

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

493

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

605

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

530

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director**

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0.00

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

702

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

493

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

571

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA
Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

6,053

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


* The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2014. Compensation is for the period December 31, 2014 to August 31, 2015.

** Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”).  Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company.  The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

24



 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Manager have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Fund’s Manager, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  The Fund and the Manager have agreed that the Manager will abstain from voting any proxies received.

 

The Company is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX.  The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30th is available upon request by calling 1-844-261-6488 or by writing to the Fund at: Campbell Core Trend Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., PO Box 9841, Providence, Rhode Island 02940. The Fund’s Form N-PX is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below.  See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below.  Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class.  Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

 

 

Number of Shares Owned

 

Percentage of Shares Owned

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

as of December 1, 2015

 

as of December 1, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEITH CAMPBELL TTEE

 

1,000,000.000

 

100.0000

 

KEITH CAMPBELL DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

U/A DTD 12/20/2004

 

 

 

 

 

C/O KEITH CAMPBELL FAMILY OFFICE

 

 

 

 

 

2850 QUARRY LAKE DR STE 302

 

 

 

 

 

BALTIMORE MD 21209-0000

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 1, 2015, Directors and Officers as a group did not own shares of the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

 

Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC (“Campbell” or the “Manager”) is located at 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, MD 21209.  The Manager was founded in 2005.  As of August 31, 2015, the Manager together with its affiliates had over $4.9 billion in assets under management.  The Manager is registered as an Investment Adviser with the SEC and as a Commodity Trading Adviser with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is a member of the National Futures Association.

 

The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, LP (“Campbell & Company”). Campbell & Company LLC is the General Partner of Campbell & Company. Campbell & Company is controlled by KC Holding, Inc. and EC LLC, which is wholly-owned by the numbers of Campbell & Company’s Executive Committee. Campbell & Company and its predecessor organization, Campbell & Company, Inc., were formed in 1972

 

25



 

and have over forty years of experience in creating and managing alternative investment vehicles.  Campbell & Company is registered with the CFTC as a CPO and a CTA.  Campbell & Company is a member of the NFA in such capacities.  The Manager has appointed Campbell & Company as the Fund’s Commodity Pool Operator.  Campbell & Company’s officers are:  G. William Andrews, Chief Executive Officer; Gregory T. Donovan, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary; Michael S. Harris, President; Xiaohua Hu, Chief Research Officer; Robert W. McBride, Chief Technology Officer; Heidi L. Kaiser, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer; Thomas P. Lloyd, General Counsel, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer; John R. Radle, Global Head of Trading; Darvin N. Sterner, Managing Director of Private Wealth Distribution; and Richard M. Johnson, Managing Director, Client Solutions Group.

 

The Manager also serves as the investment adviser to the Subsidiary, Campbell Core Offshore Limited, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Subsidiary.  The Manager does not receive additional compensation for its management of the Subsidiary.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Company.  The Manager renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”).

 

Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Manager will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of the securities and other investments to be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales of securities and other investments made for the Fund.  The Manager will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Manager will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Manager in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Manager is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses through December 31, 2016 in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to its Institutional Shares.  For the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 (the Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2014), the advisory fee paid was $0. The Manager waived $71,074 and reimbursed $88,302 to the Fund.

 

The Manager will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  The Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Manager.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Board in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities and other investments, including futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, and options, purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Manager; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy material that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in

 

26



 

connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value the Fund’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual report to shareholders and may be obtained by calling 1-844-261-6488 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Manager shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund.  The Manager may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Campbell

 

Other Accounts.   In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee Based on
Performance

 

1. G. William Andrews

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

9

 

$

1,903,153,655

 

9

 

$

1,686,047,431

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

11

 

$

3,033,114,889

 

7

 

$

2,808,631,886

 

2. Xiaohua Hu

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

9

 

$

1,903,153,655

 

9

 

$

1,686,047,431

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

11

 

$

3,033,114,889

 

7

 

$

2,808,631,886

 

 

Compensation.   As of the date of this SAI, Campbell compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of a cash base salary and a discretionary bonus that is based on the individual performance of the portfolio manager and overall profitability of Campbell, which is, in part, dependent on the performance of the Fund, and therefore in part based on the value of the Fund’s net assets and other client accounts they are managing.

 

Conflicts of Interests.   The portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other.  The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund.  Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another.  Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund.  However, Campbell has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities and other investments among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.

 

27



 

The Manager, its affiliates and their respective employees manage other investment funds that may pursue investment objectives similar to, or materially different from, those of the Fund. The Manager, its affiliates and their respective employees may also manage discretionary accounts in which the Fund will have no interest, some of which may have investment objectives similar to, or materially different from, those of the Fund. Conflicts of interest among the Fund and any such affiliated entities may include, but are not limited to, those described herein.

 

Principals of the Manager and its affiliates may trade futures, forward and options contracts for his or her own account. In addition, the Manager and its affiliates manage proprietary accounts for itself, its deferred compensation plan and for certain principals and employees. There are written procedures that govern proprietary trading by principals and employees. For instance, the Manager and its affiliates have implemented employee trading policies that prohibit employee trading in futures and options on futures unless consent is given to the employee in writing. Such consent will only be given on a case by case basis. All employees must preclear all trades in equities, equity options, equity indices or equity index options through a computer-based system. The proposed trades are compared to a restricted list that includes positions traded in material amounts. The daily feed received from its approved brokerage firms is compared against the preclearance lists to assure compliance.  Trading records for all proprietary trading are available for review by clients and investors upon reasonable notice. A conflict of interest exists if proprietary trades are executed and cleared at more favorable rates than trades executed and cleared on behalf of the Fund. It is the Manager’s policy to objectively allocate trade executions that afford each account the same likelihood of receiving favorable or unfavorable executions over time.

 

Conflicts of interest may also arise from the fact that the Manager and its affiliates generally will be carrying on substantial investment activities for other clients, including other investment funds and discretionary accounts, in which the Fund will have no interest. The Manager may have financial incentives to favor certain of such accounts over the Fund. Any of their proprietary accounts and other customer accounts may use the same or different information and trading strategies as those which are utilized on behalf of the Fund, may compete with the Fund for specific trades, or may hold positions opposite to positions maintained on behalf of the Fund. The Manager may give advice and recommend securities to, or buy or sell securities for, the Fund, which advice or securities may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought or sold for, other accounts and customers, even though their investment objectives may be the same as, or similar to, those of the Fund. The performance of the Fund may be adversely affected by the manner in which particular orders are entered for all accounts managed by and customers of the Manager.

 

The Manager may determine that an investment opportunity is appropriate for a particular investment fund or discretionary account that it manages or for itself, but not for the Fund. Situations may arise in which private investment funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates have made investments that would have been suitable for investment by the Fund but, for various reasons, were not pursued by, or available to, the Fund. To the extent that entities affiliated with the Manager trade pursuant to portfolios other than that which is traded on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may not participate in certain investment opportunities pursued by such other portfolios. The Manager, its affiliates, their respective employees and other investment funds or discretionary accounts, other than the Fund, managed by the Manager or its affiliates may invest on terms more favorable than those available to the Fund and may act in ways adverse to the interest of the Fund. The Manager and its affiliates regard their analyses as proprietary and confidential, and the Manager will not disclose its analyses, opinions or purchase and sale activities on behalf of the Fund, except to Shareholders in the periodic reports distributed by the Fund.

 

The Manager and its affiliates are major participants in the global currency, equity, commodity, fixed income, derivative and other markets. As such, the Manager and its affiliates are actively engaged in transactions in the same securities and other instruments in which the Fund may invest. The Manager and its affiliates are not under any obligation to share any investment opportunity, idea or strategy with the Fund. As a result, the Manager and its affiliates may indirectly compete with the Fund for appropriate investment opportunities, or engage in trading activities, either for its proprietary account or on behalf of other clients, that is detrimental to the trading positions of the Fund. The proprietary activities or other portfolio strategies of the Manager or its affiliates, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by the Manager or its affiliates, could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed on behalf of the Fund and may affect the prices and availability of the securities and instruments in which the Fund invests.

 

The Manager may invest the Fund’s cash reserve in investment funds managed or maintained by the Manager or its affiliates, to the extent permitted by applicable law. In such event, the Fund pays any expenses and fees associated with such investment, including any fees payable to the Manager or its affiliates. Accordingly, the Manager has a conflict of interest in evaluating any such investment.

 

28



 

Market quotations regarding certain investments by the Manager may not always be available. In such cases, valuations of such Fund investments may be made by the Manager in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures. The Manager will have a conflict of interest in making certain valuations, because any such valuation will affect the Fund’s net asset value and, consequently, the amount of Management Fee that the Manager receives for its services. However, any determination of the value of the Fund is ultimately the responsibility of the Board.

 

Other present and future activities of the Manager or its affiliates may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.

 

As of August 31, 2015, the Fund’s portfolio managers did not own any shares of the Fund.

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 1980, serves as administrator to the Fund pursuant to administration and accounting services agreements with respect to the Fund (the “Administration Agreements”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepare materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of:

 

·                                           .060% of the Fund’s first $250 million of average daily net assets;

·                                           .050% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets;

·                                           .040% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets; and

·                                           .030% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $750 million.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,833 per month, exclusive of Rule 38a-1 base compliance support services fees, costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

The administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees, including waivers and reimbursements, for the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 is as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Period*

 

Administration, Accounting and
Regulatory Administration Fees
Paid (after waivers)

 

Waivers (if any)

 

Reimbursements (if any)

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

58,928

 

$

38,078

 

$

0

 

 


*The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2014.

 

29



 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, 225 Liberty St., New York, New York 10286, (the “Custodian”) is custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement dated July 18, 2011.  Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio investments on account of the Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio investments; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Board concerning the Fund’s operations.  The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any affiliate, sub-custodian or domestic sub-custodian.  The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Fund’s average gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Board concerning the operations of the Fund.  BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any affiliate of BNY Mellon . For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Fund’s Customer Identification Program, including verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Manager, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Company, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Manager, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries

 

30



 

through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services.  Campbell & Company pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

Institutional Shares .  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Foreside Distributors acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of the Fund’s shares.  Foreside Distributors continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  Foreside Distributors has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  Foreside Distributors and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.  Foreside Distributors does not receive compensation from the Company for the distribution of the Fund’s Institutional Shares; however, Campbell & Company pays an annual fee to Foreside Distributors as compensation for underwriting services rendered to the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Manager and/or its affiliates, at their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets.  Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Manager and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events.  The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

31



 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Manager and/or its affiliates.  A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Manager through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board and applicable rules, the Manager is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Manager seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Manager generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

Brokerage Transactions

 

Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Manager may place a combined order for two or more accounts they manage, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Manager and the Board that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions. Nonetheless, the Manager believes that the ability of the Fund to participate in higher volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the Fund.

 

For the fiscal period December 31, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2015, the Fund paid $0 in commissions to brokers on account of research services. For the fiscal period December 31, 2014 (commenced operations) through August 31, 2015, the Fund paid $0 in aggregated brokerage commissions.

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Fund as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, there were no securities held by the Fund of its regular broker-dealers.

 

Brokerage Selection

 

The Company does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Fund’s Manager may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Manager. The Manager may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Act permits an investment adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause a fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Manager may receive brokerage

 

32



 

and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Manager believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Manager might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Manager may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Manager will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Manager under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Manager are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Manager may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Manager makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Manager will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Manager faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Manager believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Fund may purchase new issues of securities for clients in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Manager with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

Read the Fund’s Prospectus for information regarding the purchase and redemption of Fund shares. The following information supplements information in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm, financial institutions and industry professionals and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the

 

33



 

SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Board, desirable in order to prevent the Company or the Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account with an authorized dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner’s account will be performed by the authorized dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent.  Since the Fund will have no record of the beneficial owner’s transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the authorized dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account.  The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the authorized dealer.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than the Distributor), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

34



 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

35



 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a “regulated investment company” and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

Any annual net profit of the Subsidiary will be recognized as ordinary income by the Fund, but any annual net loss of the Subsidiary will not be recognized and will not carry forward.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each class of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class

 

36



 

or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such report given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning the Fund at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

37



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

A- 1



 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to

 

A- 2



 

future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

A- 3



 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This

 

A- 4



 

capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.   The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” — Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 5



 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. I n danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

A- 6



 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk,

 

A- 7



 

market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

MATSON MONEY, INC.

FAMILY OF FUNDS

 

of

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

Institutional Class

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund:  FMUEX

Free Market International Equity Fund:  FMNEX

Free Market Fixed Income Fund:  FMFIX

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

December 31, 2015

 

Investment Adviser:

 

Matson Money, Inc.

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).  The Funds are series of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”).  This information is in addition to the information contained in the Funds’ prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”).  This SAI is not a prospectus.  Copies of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.  The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

NON- PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

1

 

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

2

 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF UNDERLYING INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND RELATED RISKS

4

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

33

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

34

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

45

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

46

 

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

47

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

48

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

48

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

50

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

52

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

52

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT

53

 

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

55

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

57

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

58

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

58

 

 

TAXES

58

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

60

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

62

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

62

 

 

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

i



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate investment portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to Institutional Class shares representing interests in three diversified Funds, which are offered by the Prospectus.  Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Funds.

 

NON- PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

 

Although the Funds invest primarily in shares of other registered investment companies, for temporary defensive purposes, the Funds may hold cash or invest in a variety of money market instruments, including U.S. government securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and bankers’ acceptances.  When a Fund invests for temporary defensive purposes, it may do so without any percentage limitations.  A Fund may not achieve its investment objective during periods when it has taken such a temporary defensive position.

 

U.S. Government Securities.   Each Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government”) that have remaining maturities not exceeding one year.  Agencies and instrumentalities that issue or guarantee debt securities and that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government include the Export-Import Bank, the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Federal Land Banks, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”).

 

Bank Obligations.   Each Fund may invest in obligations of U.S. banks (including certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances) and U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion.  Such banks must be members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

The activities of banks are subject to extensive regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans that may be made and the interest rates that may be charged.  In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and costs of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions.  General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties play an important part in the operation of this industry.

 

Commercial Paper.   Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by bank holding companies, corporations, and finance companies.  The commercial paper purchased by the Funds consists of direct obligations of issuers which, at the time of investment, are (i) rated “P-1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”), or (ii) if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Standard & Poor’s. In the event that a security held by a Fund is placed on a credit watch or is downgraded by a rating agency, the value of such security may decline and the Fund invested in

 

1



 

such security may consequently experience losses in respect of such security.  See Appendix A for a description of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rating categories.

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Funds have adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act).  As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of a Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  Each Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders. Each Fund may not:

 

1.  Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund may enter into dollar rolls (including mortgage dollar rolls), for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing and provided that, for any borrowing with respect to the Fund, there is at least 300% asset coverage for borrowings of the Fund.  A Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing.  Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with a Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation.

 

2. Issue any senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

 

3.  Act as underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), except insofar as the Fund might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities.

 

4.  Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest:  (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts.

 

2



 

5.  Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that to the extent consistent with its investment policies and restrictions, the Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures.

 

6.   Make loans, except through loan portfolio instruments and repurchase agreements, provided that, for purposes of this restriction, the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.

 

7.  Purchase any security if, as a result of such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of issuers concentrated in a particular industry except that this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

8.  Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

With respect to Investment Limitation No. 1, in the event that asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowing to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2, the SEC has concluded that even though reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements, and standby commitment agreements fall within the meaning of the term “evidence indebtedness,” the issue of compliance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act will not be raised with the SEC by the Division of Investment Management if a Fund covers such securities by earmarking and maintaining certain assets on the books and records of the Fund’s custodian.

 

Similarly, so long as such earmarked assets are maintained, the issue of compliance with Section 18 will not be raised with respect to any of the following:  any swap contract; any borrowings or pledge or encumbrance of assets permitted by Investment Limitation No. 1; any collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and foreign currency contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to short sales and initial and variation margin; and purchases and sales of futures or related options

 

The Funds have adopted the following non-fundamental investment limitation, which may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without shareholder approval:

 

1.               No Fund will invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

3



 

Securities held by the Funds generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities by the Fund.) In the event that investments in illiquid instruments exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Fund to liquidate any instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF UNDERLYING INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

The underlying investment companies in which the Funds invest have their own investment objectives, policies, practices, and techniques, any one or all of which may subject their assets to varying degrees of risk.  In addition, as a shareholder of another investment company, each Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of that company’s expenses, including advisory and administrative fees.  These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.  Therefore, it may be more costly for a Fund to own shares of another investment company than to own directly the underlying securities owned by such company.  Investment companies in which the Funds may invest also may impose a sales or distribution charge in connection with the purchase or redemption of their shares and other types of commissions or charges.  Such charges will be payable by the Funds and, therefore, will be borne by shareholders. The underlying investment companies in which each Fund invests may purchase securities of affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds.

 

Set forth below is additional information with respect to the types of securities and instrument techniques of the underlying investment companies and the risks involved in certain of these practices and techniques.

 

Asset-Backed Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables.  Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of U.S. government securities, but are not direct obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.  Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose corporations.  Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be

 

4



 

present; however privately issued obligations collateralized by a portfolio of privately issued asset-backed securities do not involve any government-related guarantee or insurance.  In addition, asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets.  See “Mortgage-Backed Securities.”

 

Corporate Obligations.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, (i) rated Aa3 or better by Moody’s, or AA- or better by Standard & Poor’s, or AA- or better by Fitch, or (ii) if there is no rating for the debt security, determined by the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies to be of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA- or Aa3.  See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings.  An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.  Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

Convertible Securities and Preferred Stocks.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in convertible securities.  A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.  A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.  Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers.  Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities.  While no securities investment is completely without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security.  Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally:  (1) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities; (2) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics; and (3) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.

 

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock).  The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline.  The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value.  The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock.  If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value.  Generally the conversion value

 

5



 

decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity.  To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value.  A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

 

A convertible security might be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.  If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, that Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

 

Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest in a company and provide their owner with claims on the company’s earnings and assets prior to the claims of owners of common stocks but after those of bond owners.  Preferred stocks in which the Funds may invest include sinking fund, convertible, perpetual fixed and adjustable rate (including auction rate) preferred stocks.  There is no minimum credit rating applicable to a Fund’s investment in preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Funds and their service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting a Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact a Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject a Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which a Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Depository Arrangements .  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”).  ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying foreign securities. ADRs are denominated in U.S. dollars.  They are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States.

 

The underlying investment companies may invest in both sponsored and unsponsored ADR programs. There are certain risks associated with investments in unsponsored ADR programs.  Because the non-U.S. securities issuer does not actively participate in the creation of the ADR program, the underlying agreement for service and payment will be between the depository and the shareholder.  The company issuing the stock underlying the ADR pays nothing to establish the unsponsored facility because fees for ADR issuance and cancellation are paid by brokers.  Investors directly bear the expenses associated with certificate transfer, custody and dividend payment.

 

In an unsponsored ADR program, there also may be several depositories with no defined legal obligations to the non-U.S. company.  The duplicate depositories may lead to marketplace confusion because there would be no central source of information for buyers, sellers and intermediaries.  The efficiency of centralization gained in a sponsored program can greatly reduce the delays in delivery of dividends and annual reports.

 

The underlying investment companies may also invest in Holding Company Depository Receipts (“HOLDRS”).  HOLDRS represent trust-issued receipts that represent individual and undivided beneficial ownership interests in the common stock or ADRs of specific companies in a particular industry, sector or group.

 

6



 

The underlying investment companies of the Free Market International Equity Fund may also invest in European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), International Depository Receipts (“IDRs”) and Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”).  These are receipts issued by a non-U.S. financial institution evidencing ownership of underlying foreign or U.S. securities and are usually denominated in foreign currencies.  They may not be denominated in the same currency as the securities they represent.  Generally, EDRs, GDRs and IDRs are designed for use in the foreign securities markets. Investments in EDRs, GDRs and IDRs involve certain risks not typically involved in purely domestic investments, including currency exchange risk.  These risks are set forth under “Foreign Securities” in this SAI.

 

Dollar Rolls.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, the Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into dollar rolls in which the investment companies sell fixed income securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contract to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date.

 

During the roll period, an investment company would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the investment company would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale.  The return on dollar rolls may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in interest rates.  For additional information on dollar roll transactions, see the section entitled “Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions” in this SAI.

 

Equity Markets.  The underlying investment companies of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and Free Market International Equity Fund invest primarily in equity markets at all times.  Equity markets can be highly volatile, so that investing in the underlying investment companies involves substantial risk.  As a result, investing in the underlying investment companies involves the risk of loss of capital.

 

European Currency Unification.  On January 1, 1999, the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the national currencies of many European countries. The European Central Bank has control over each member country’s monetary policies. Therefore, the member countries no longer control their own monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The national governments of the participating countries, however, have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and public debt levels.

 

European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes for membership. Europe’s economies are diverse, its governments are decentralized, and its cultures vary widely. Several European Union (“EU”) countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal have faced budget issues, some of which may have negative long-term effects for the economies of those countries and other EU countries. There is continued concern about national-level support for the euro and the accompanying coordination of fiscal and wage policy among EMU member countries. Member countries are required to maintain tight control over inflation, public debt, and budget deficit to qualify for membership in

 

7



 

the EMU. These requirements can severely limit the ability of EMU member countries to implement monetary policy to address regional economic conditions. Also, it is possible that the EU’s single currency, the euro, could be abandoned in the future by countries that have already adopted its use. These or other events, including political and economic developments, could cause market disruptions, and could affect adversely the values of securities held by the Funds. Because of the number of countries using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets held by certain Funds may be denominated in the euro.

 

Foreign Securities.  The underlying investment companies of the Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund may invest in securities issued by foreign companies. Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments.  In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability.  Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations.  Inability to dispose of securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to an underlying investment company due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the underlying investment company has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.  Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges.  There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities.  Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.  Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of an underlying investment company is uninvested and no return is earned thereon.  The inability of an underlying investment company to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the underlying investment company to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the underlying investment companies may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, each investment company values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars.  As a result, the NAV of an underlying investment company’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the underlying investment company’s

 

8



 

securities in the various local markets and currencies.  Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which an underlying investment company makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the underlying investment company’s securities in their local markets.  Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of an underlying investment company’s securities in its foreign markets.  In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, an underlying investment company is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

 

The underlying investment companies may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The underlying investment companies may also invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, including Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations, but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

 

Forward Commitment and When-Issued Transactions.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis.  These transactions involve a commitment by an underlying investment company to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.

 

When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable an underlying investment company to lock in what is believed by the underlying investment adviser to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, an underlying investment company might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, an underlying investment company might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. When-issued securities or forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of an underlying investment company’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the underlying investment company is subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the

 

9



 

securities on that date. An underlying investment company does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. When an underlying investment company makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the underlying investment company’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the underlying investment company’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but an underlying investment company may agree to a longer settlement period.

 

An underlying investment company generally will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, an underlying investment company may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. An underlying investment company also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the underlying investment company on the settlement date. An underlying investment company may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions, and its distributions from any net realized capital gains will be taxable to shareholders.

 

When an underlying investment company purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the investment company or its custodian will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the underlying investment company’s purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that the underlying investment company will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions The Free Market International Equity and Free Market Fixed Income Funds’ underlying investment companies may, to the extent that they invest in foreign securities, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to facilitate the settlement of equity or bond purchases; exchange one currency for another, including to repatriate excess currencies; or, in the case of the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.  The underlying investment companies will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.  A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.  These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.  Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

10



 

The underlying investment companies may to enter into forward contracts under several circumstances. First, when an underlying investment company enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security quoted or denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed number of U.S. dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the underlying investment company will be able to insulate itself from a possible loss resulting from a change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. The underlying investment adviser(s) may also use non-U.S. currency to enter into a forward foreign exchange contract.

 

Second, the investment adviser to certain underlying fixed income investment companies may cause such investment companies to enter a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the investment company’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency in an effort to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.  These underlying fixed income investment companies may also engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in securities denominated or quoted in a different currency if the investment adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the two currencies. Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other U.S. foreign currency, if the investment adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the proxy currency and the U.S. dollar. With currency hedging techniques, the precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures.  Additionally, these techniques do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. They simply establish a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the underlying investment company’s foreign assets. It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

Third, the investment adviser may exchange one currency for another if it believes it may need the other currency to settle future equity purchases or to repatriate excess foreign currency to U.S. dollars.

 

11



 

The underlying investment companies generally will not enter into forward contracts to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of such contracts would obligate the investment company to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the investment company’s respective portfolio securities (including accrued interest or other accrued receivables) or other assets quoted or denominated in that currency. At the consummation of the forward contract, an underlying investment company may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If an underlying investment company chooses to make delivery of foreign currency, it may be required to obtain such delivery through the sale of portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Fund into such currency. If an underlying investment company engages in an offsetting transaction, the underlying investment company will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices.

 

The underlying investment companies’ transactions in forward contracts generally will be limited to those described above. Of course, the underlying investment companies are not required to enter into such transactions with regard to their foreign currency quoted or denominated securities, and the investment companies will not do so unless deemed appropriate by their respective investment advisers.

 

While the underlying investment company may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while an underlying investment company may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the underlying investment company than if it had not engaged in any such transactions.  Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the underlying investment company’s portfolio holdings or securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the underlying investment company. Such imperfect correlation may cause the underlying investment company to sustain losses, which will prevent the underlying investment company from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the underlying investment company to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparts to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive an underlying investment company of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force an underlying investment company to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The underlying investment companies’ foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

12



 

Futures Contracts.    A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).  When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, an underlying investment company can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, an underlying investment company, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it affects anticipated purchases.

 

To seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates or securities prices, an underlying investment company may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. An underlying investment company may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. The futures contracts may be based on various securities (such as U.S. government securities), securities indices, and any other financial instruments and indices. Generally an underlying investment company will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as described below or for purposes of seeking to increase total return, in each case, only to the extent permitted by regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). All futures contracts entered into by an underlying investment company are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the CFTC or on foreign exchanges.

 

The Funds intend to limit investments in commodity futures, commodity options contracts and swaps to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds). However, the application of the amended rules to “funds-of-funds” remains unclear. Accordingly, the Adviser has filed for relief with respect to each Fund which defers compliance until six months following the effective date of any CFTC guidance regarding the application of the amended rules to “fund-of-funds.” As of the date of this SAI, no such guidance has been issued.  For this reason, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing

 

13



 

trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO, the disclosure and operations of the Funds would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions, which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, an underlying investment company may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.

 

Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that an underlying investment company proposes to acquire or the exchange rate of currencies in which portfolio securities are quoted or denominated. An underlying investment company may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the value of the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by an underlying investment company or securities with characteristics similar to those of the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. If, in the opinion of the investment adviser to an underlying investment company, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for an underlying investment company’s portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the underlying investment company may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in an underlying investment company’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the underlying investment adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having the underlying investment company’s enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by seeking to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of an underlying investment company portfolio’s securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

 

On other occasions, an underlying investment company may take a “long” position by purchasing futures contracts. This would be done, for example, when the underlying investment company anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available.

 

14



 

Indexed Securities.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices.  Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.  An underlying investment company may also invest in exchange-traded funds, which generally track their related indices and trade like an individual stock throughout the trading day.  For example, an underlying investment company may invest in Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts (commonly referred to as “Spiders”), which are exchange-traded shares of a closed-end investment company that are designed to replicate the price performance and dividend yield of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Composite Stock Price Index.

 

Initial Public Offerings.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”).  An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public.  Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history.  The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs.  When an underlying investment company’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the underlying investment company’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the underlying investment company.  As an underlying investment company’s assets grow, the effect of the underlying investment company’s investments in IPOs on the underlying investment company’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the underlying investment company’s performance.  Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, an underlying investment company may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  This may increase the turnover of the underlying investment company’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the underlying investment company, such as commissions and transaction costs.  In addition, the underlying investment advisers cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities.   The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, known as “TIPs” or “Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities,” which are debt securities whose principal and interest payments are adjusted for inflation and interest is paid on the adjusted amount. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the consumer price index (“CPI”). A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest payments increase. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment.

 

Inflation-protected securities normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and inflation is 2%, the real interest rate

 

15



 

is 3%.) If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected security will decline and could result in losses for the Fund’s underlying investment companies.

 

Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by IRS regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, an underlying investment company holding these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.

 

Interest Rate Swaps, Floors and Caps and Currency Swaps.   The Free Market Fixed-Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into interest rate swaps and may purchase interest rate floors or caps. An underlying investment company will typically use interest rate swaps to preserve a return on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio or to shorten the effective duration of its portfolio investments. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the underlying investment company with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. The purchase of an interest rate floor or cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the seller, to the extent the specified index falls below (floor) or exceeds (cap) a predetermined interest rate. The Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund may enter into currency swaps, which involve the exchange of the rights of the underlying investment company and another party to make or receive payments in specific currencies.

 

An underlying investment company will only enter into interest rate swaps or interest rate floor or cap transactions on a net basis, i.e. the two payment streams are netted out, with the underlying investment company receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. In contrast, currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency.

 

The net amount of the excess, if any, of an underlying investment company’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each interest rate or currency swap will be accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be segregated by the underlying investment company.

 

If there is a default by the other party to such transaction, the underlying investment company will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

16



 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Funds may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Funds.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause a Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect a Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in a Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may lend their portfolio securities to financial institutions provided that (1) the loan is continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. government securities or cash or cash equivalents maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned; (2) the underlying investment company may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned; (3) the underlying investment company will receive any interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities; and (4) the aggregate market value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the underlying investment company.  Such loans would involve risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or risk of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially.

 

Loan Participations .   The Free Market Fixed-Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase participations in commercial loans. Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participation in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. An underlying investment company may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing loan participations, the underlying investment company assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The participation interests in which the Fund intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.

 

A loan is often administered by an agent bank acting as agent for all holders. The agent bank administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. In addition, the agent bank is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the corporate borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the underlying investment company has direct recourse against the corporate borrower, the underlying investment company may have to rely on the agent bank or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a corporate borrower.

 

Purchases of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the underlying investment company does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the underlying investment company’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer the underlying investment company more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated.

 

An underlying investment company invests in loan participations with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the

 

17



 

amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, the underlying investment company bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.

 

Loans and other types of direct indebtedness may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what the underlying investment company’s investment adviser believes to be a fair price.

 

Investments in loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution’s interests with respect to the loan may involve additional risks to an underlying investment company.  For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the underlying investment company could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, an underlying investment company could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, an underlying investment company relies on its investment adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Fund.

 

Market Fluctuation.  The market value of the investments of each underlying investment company, and thus each underlying investment company’s NAV, will change in response to market conditions affecting the value of its portfolio securities. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate loans are reset periodically, yields on investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

 

Micro Cap, Small Cap and Mid Cap Stocks.  Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-size capitalizations tend to be riskier than securities of companies with large capitalizations.  This is because micro, small and mid cap companies typically have smaller product lines and less access to liquidity than large cap companies, and are therefore more sensitive to economic downturns.  In addition, growth prospects of micro, small and mid cap companies tend to be less certain than large cap companies, and the dividends paid on micro, small and mid cap stocks are frequently negligible.  Moreover, micro, small and mid cap stocks have, on occasion, fluctuated in the opposite direction of large cap stocks or the general stock market.  Consequently, securities of micro, small and mid cap companies tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies.  The market for micro and small cap securities may be thinly traded and as a result, greater fluctuations in the price of micro and small cap securities may occur.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through securities, such as real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”) pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

 

18



 

Guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities represent participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans and are issued by U.S. governmental or private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, including but not limited to the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae certificates are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae certificates are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, a federally chartered and privately owned corporation, for full and timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations. Freddie Mac certificates are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government, for timely payment of interest and the ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA.  On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. A Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

CMOs and REMIC pass-through or participation certificates may be issued by, among others, U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities as well as private lenders. CMOs and REMIC certificates are issued in multiple classes and the principal of and interest on the mortgage assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates in various ways. Each class of CMOs or REMIC certificates, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates on a monthly basis.

 

Typically, CMOs are collateralized by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac certificates but also may be collateralized by other mortgage assets such as whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities. Debt service on CMOs is provided from payments of principal and interest on collateral of mortgaged assets and any reinvestment income thereon. Mortgage-backed securities that are collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-related securities depend on the payments of principal and interest made by or through the

 

19



 

underlying assets, which may not be sufficient to meet the payment obligations of the mortgage-backed securities. The quality and value of the underlying collateral may decline, or default, which has become a significant risk for collateral related to sub-prime mortgage loans, especially in a declining residential real estate market. Further, these securities generally are privately sold and may not be readily marketable, particularly after a rapid decrease in value.

 

A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Code and invests in certain mortgages primarily secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. Investors may purchase “regular” and “residual” interest shares of beneficial interest in REMIC trusts.

 

An underlying investment company may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by trusts or other entities formed or sponsored by private originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans and other non-governmental entities (or representing custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These private originators and institutions include savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.

 

Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. Since such mortgage-backed securities normally are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit standing of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in order to receive a high quality rating from the rating organizations (e.g., Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s), they often are structured with one or more types of “credit enhancement.” Such credit enhancement falls into two categories: (1) liquidity protection and (2) protection against losses resulting after default by a borrower and liquidation of the collateral (e.g., sale of a house after foreclosure). Liquidity protection refers to the payment of cash advances to holders of mortgage-backed securities when a borrower on an underlying mortgage fails to make its monthly payment on time. Protection against losses resulting after default and liquidation is designed to cover losses resulting when, for example, the proceeds of a foreclosure sale are insufficient to cover the outstanding amount on the mortgage. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit, through various means of structuring the securities or through a combination of such approaches.

 

Examples of credit enhancement arising out of the structure of the transaction include “senior-subordinated securities” (multiple class securities with one or more classes entitled to receive payment before other classes, with the result that defaults on the underlying mortgages are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class), creation of “spread accounts” or “reserve funds” (where cash or investments are held in reserve against future losses) and “over-collateralization” (where the scheduled payments on the underlying mortgages in a pool exceed the amount required to be paid on the mortgage-backed securities). The degree of credit enhancement for a particular issue of mortgage-backed securities is based on the level of credit risk associated with the particular mortgages in the related pool. Losses on a pool in excess of anticipated levels could nevertheless result in losses to security holders since credit enhancement rarely covers every dollar owed on a pool.

 

20



 

Investing in mortgage-backed securities (such as those described above) involves certain risks, including the failure of a counter-party to meet its commitments, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of prepayments on mortgage cash flows.  Further, the yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments (usually monthly), the adjustability of interest rates, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made substantially earlier than their final distribution dates.

 

Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. Both adjustable rate mortgage loans and fixed rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment. Under certain interest rate and prepayment rate scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in Mortgage-Backed Securities notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee. When a Fund reinvests amounts representing payments and unscheduled prepayments of principal, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities. Thus, mortgage-backed securities, and adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities in particular, may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities.  This possibility is often referred to as extension risk. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. The market for certain types of mortgage-backed securities (i.e., certain CMOs) may not be liquid under all interest rate scenarios, which may prevent a Fund from selling such securities held in its portfolio at times or prices that it desires.

 

Different types of derivative debt securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension and/or interest rate risk. Conventional mortgage pass-through securities and sequential pay CMOs are subject to all of these risks, but are typically not leveraged. Thus, the magnitude of exposure may be less than for more leveraged mortgage-backed securities.

 

Planned amortization class (“PAC”) and target amortization class (“TAC”) CMO bonds involve less exposure to prepayment, extension and interest rate risk than other mortgage-backed securities, provided that prepayment rates remain within expected prepayment ranges or “collars.” To the extent that prepayment rates remain within these prepayment ranges, the residual or support tranches of PAC and TAC CMOs assume the extra prepayment extension and interest rate risk associated with the underlying mortgage assets.

 

21



 

An underlying investment company may invest in floating rate securities based on the Cost of Funds Index (“COFI floaters”), other “lagging rate” floating rate securities, floating rate securities that are subject to a maximum interest rate (“capped floaters”), and mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount. The primary risks associated with these derivative debt securities are the potential extension of average life and/or depreciation due to rising interest rates.

 

Recently, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-related securities (which may include certain of the mortgage-related securities in which an underlying investment company may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future.  In the event that any mortgage-related security held by an underlying investment company is placed on credit watch or downgraded, the value of such mortgage-related security may decline and the underlying investment company invested in such security, and thus the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, may consequently experience losses in respect of such mortgage-related security.

 

Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into mortgage dollar roll transactions in which the underlying investment company sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity), but not identical securities on a specified future date.

 

During the roll period, the underlying investment company would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the underlying investment company would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) or fee income plus the interest on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase. Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of the underlying investment company compared with what such performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls.  Any benefits derived from the use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon mortgage prepayment assumptions, which will be affected by changes in interest rates.  There is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed.  For additional information on dollar rolls, please refer to the section entitled “Dollar Rolls” in this SAI.

 

Options on Futures Contracts.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give an underlying investment company the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, an underlying investment company obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

 

22



 

The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset a decline in the value of an underlying investment company’s assets. By writing a call option, an underlying investment company becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, (upon exercise of the option) to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that an underlying investment company intends to purchase.  However, the underlying investment company becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by an underlying investment company in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The underlying investment company will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.

 

The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected. An underlying investment company’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

 

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in some cases, may require the applicable underlying investment company to establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the underlying value of such contracts and options.

 

The use of futures contracts entails certain risks, including but not limited to the following: no assurance that futures contracts transactions can be offset at favorable prices; possible reduction of the underlying investment company’s income due to the use of hedging; possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument; possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations; imperfect correlation between the contract and the securities being hedged; and potential losses in excess of the amount initially invested in the futures contracts themselves. If the expectations of the adviser of the underlying investment company regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, the underlying investment company may have experienced better investment results without hedging. The use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts requires special skills in addition to those needed to select portfolio securities.

 

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks.  Thus, while an underlying investment company may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the underlying investment company than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and the underlying investment company may be exposed to risk of loss.

 

23



 

Perfect correlation between an underlying investment company’s futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. There are no futures contracts based upon individual securities, except certain U.S. government securities. Other futures contracts available to hedge an underlying investment company’s portfolio investments generally are limited to futures on various securities indices.

 

Options on Securities and Securities Indices.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may each write covered call and secured put options on any securities in which it may invest or on any domestic stock indices based on securities in which it may invest. An underlying investment company may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by an underlying investment company obligates the investment company to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price of the security.

 

A put option written by an underlying investment company obligates the underlying investment company to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price for the security. The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income. However, in return for the option premium, the underlying investment company accepts the risk that it will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.

 

A written call option or put option may be covered by (i) maintaining cash or liquid securities, either of which may be quoted or denominated in any currency, in a segregated account noted on the underlying investment company’s records or maintained by the underlying investment company’s custodian with a value at least equal to the underlying investment company’s obligation under the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment and/or (iii) purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the underlying investment company’s net exposure on its written option position.

 

An underlying investment company may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written.  Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparts to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions” and do not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying security. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the underlying investment company will have incurred a loss in the transaction.

 

24



 

An underlying investment company may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. The amount of this settlement will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the securities index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified amount.  In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

An underlying investment company may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. An underlying investment company may also cover call and put options on a securities index by using the other methods described above.

 

An underlying investment company would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease (“protective puts”) in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle an underlying investment company, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. An underlying investment company would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the underlying investment company would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle an underlying investment company, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of an underlying investment company’s securities. Put options may also be purchased by an underlying investment company for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. An underlying investment company would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the underlying investment company would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities.

 

An underlying investment company may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

25



 

Although an underlying investment company may use option transactions to seek to generate additional income and to seek to reduce the effect of any adverse price movement in the securities or currency subject to the option, they do involve certain risks that are different in some respects from investment risks associated with similar mutual funds, which do not engage in such activities. These risks include the following: for writing call options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the inability to participate in the appreciation of the underlying securities above the exercise price; for writing put options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the obligation to purchase the specified securities or to make a cash settlement on the securities index at prices which may not reflect current market values; and for purchasing call and put options, the possible loss of the entire premium paid. In addition, the effectiveness of hedging through the purchase or sale of securities index options, including options on the S&P 500 ®  Index, will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the portion of the securities portfolio being hedged correlate with the price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation may not be possible because the securities held or to be acquired by an underlying investment company may not exactly match the composition of the securities index on which options are written. If the forecasts of the adviser of the underlying investment company regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, an underlying investment company’s investment results may have been better without the hedge transactions.

 

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If an underlying investment company is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the investment company will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if an underlying investment company is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.

 

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

 

26



 

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options for hedging purposes depends in part on the adviser’s ability to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets.

 

Pay-in-Kind Securities, Zero Coupon and Capital Appreciation Bonds.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities.  PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash.  Similarly, zero coupon and capital appreciation bonds are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date.  The amount of the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable.  Such securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow.  PIK securities that are debt securities can either be senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest).  The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.

 

PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, an underlying investment company will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, an underlying investment company may obtain no return at all on its investment.  In addition, even though such securities may not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, an underlying investment company is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally is required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax.  Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, an underlying investment company may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the underlying investment company.  Additionally, the market prices of PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

 

27



 

Purchase Warrants.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in purchase warrants and similar rights.  Purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time.  Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration.  The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the underlying investment company could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the warrants’ expiration.  Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

Real Estate Investment Trust Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).  REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two. Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type.  A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level Federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities, derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property, and distribute to shareholders annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.

 

Generally, REITs can be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs.  Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales.  Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.  Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs.  The values of securities issued by REITs are affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act. Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on an underlying investment company, and therefore the Funds.

 

28



 

The REITs in which the underlying investment companies may invest may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry.  REITs are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.  Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws.  REITS whose underlying assets include long-term health care properties; such as nursing, retirement and assisted living homes, may be impacted by federal regulations concerning the health care industry.  An underlying investment company will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the underlying investment company.  An underlying investment company is also subject to the risk that the REITs in which it invests will fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and/or fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended.  A REIT’s return may be adversely affected when interest rates are high or rising.

 

Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities.  Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.

 

Repurchase Agreements.   Each Fund’s underlying investment companies may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price (“repurchase agreements”).  The securities held subject to a repurchase agreement may have stated maturities exceeding 397 days, provided the repurchase agreement itself matures in less than 13 months.  Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose an underlying investment company to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, expose an underlying investment company to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities.  Each Fund’s underlying investment companies may not invest more than 15% of their respective net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.  Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate; currency and mortgage swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; municipal leases; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation.

 

29



 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation.  Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days.  A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay.  Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

Each underlying investment company may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”).  These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the underlying investment adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities.  This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in an underlying investment company during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

The underlying investment adviser will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by an underlying investment company.  In reaching liquidity decisions, the underlying investment adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into reverse repurchase agreements.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by an underlying investment company subject to the underlying investment company’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by an underlying investment company may decline below the price of the securities the underlying investment company is obligated to repurchase and the interest received on the cash exchanged for the securities.  Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act.

 

Short Sales.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into short sales.  Short sales

 

30



 

are transactions in which an underlying investment company sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the underlying investment company must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  The underlying investment company then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement.  The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the underlying investment company.  Until the security is replaced, the underlying investment company is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan.  To borrow the security, the underlying investment company also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.  The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until an underlying investment company replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the underlying investment company will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

An underlying investment company will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the underlying investment company replaces the borrowed security.  The underlying investment company will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates.  This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security.  The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the underlying investment company may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

Short Sales “Against the Box.”  In addition to the short sales discussed above, an underlying investment company may make short sales “against the box,” a transaction in which a fund enters into a short sale of a security that the fund owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost.  The proceeds of the short sale will be held by a broker until the settlement date at which time the underlying investment company delivers the security to close the short position.  The underlying investment company receives the net proceeds from the short sale.

 

Structured Securities.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in structured securities.  The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References.  The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference.  Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices.

 

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, an underlying investment company could suffer a total

 

31



 

loss of its investment.  Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity.  In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference.  Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities.  Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally.  While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected.  These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the underlying investment companies’ investments.  It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets.  Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable.  Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude an underlying investment company’s, and thus a Fund’s, ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.  The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the underlying investment companies’ holdings.

 

32



 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Funds, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address conflicts of interests of Portfolio shareholders and their service providers.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities are designed to allow disclosure of Portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Funds’ portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian for the Funds; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Funds.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in a Fund’s portfolio.

 

33



 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information.  Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as 15-day time lag.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Funds’ portfolios.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Funds.

 

The Board of Directors provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board of Directors receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board of Directors receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Funds, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures.  Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

Portfolio Turnover.  Changes may be made to a Fund’s portfolio consistent with the investment objective and policies of such Fund whenever such changes are believed to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.  The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a Fund’s portfolio securities.  For purposes of this calculation, portfolio securities exclude all securities having a maturity when purchased of one year or less.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rates for the Funds can be found in the “Financial Highlights” section of the Funds’ Prospectus.  High portfolio turnover may result in increased brokerage costs to a Fund and also adverse tax consequences to a Fund’s shareholders.  Under normal circumstances each of the Funds expects to have a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be

 

34



 

“interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

35



 

Name, Address, 
and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in
the Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky


103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

36



 

Name, Address, 
and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in
the Past 5 Years

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 67

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

37



 

Name, Address, 
and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in
the Past 5 Years

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,

CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 53

 

President


Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present


2004 to
present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

38



 

Name, Address, 
and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in
the Past 5 Years

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center,

Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company) .

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

39



 

Name, Address, 
and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in
the Past 5 Years

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)          Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.   Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)          Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.    Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level

 

40



 

positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer. The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The

 

41



 

Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

42



 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Funds and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him) as of December 31, 2014.

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by
Director within the Family of
Investment Companies

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Robert Sablowsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director, a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who is not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the

 

43



 

rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically.  Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company.  Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Funds in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Funds

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Funds and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

20,767.28

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

19,343.89

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

22,213.33

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

19,668.95

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

24,856.25

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

18,606.47

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

24,224.40

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA, Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

83,125.65

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from each of the Funds in the following amounts:

 

44



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Free Market
U.S. Equity Fund

 

Free Market
International
Equity Fund

 

Free Market
Fixed Income
Fund

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

7,682.75

 

$

5,764.70

 

$

7,319.83

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

7,156.78

 

$

5,369.64

 

$

6,817.47

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

8,206.43

 

$

6,189.79

 

$

7,817.11

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

7,265.62

 

$

5,480.39

 

$

6,922.94

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

9,175.22

 

$

6,933.98

 

$

8,747.05

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

6,881.00

 

$

5,169.19

 

$

6,555.65

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

8,974.29

 

$

6,709.19

 

$

8,540.92

 

Officers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA, Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

29,733.85

 

$

24,564.98

 

$

28,826.82

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of each Fund as indicated below.  See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below.  Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class.  Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

45



 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015
*(Percentage of shares
owned rounded to the
nearest whole percentage)

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.

Special Custody Acct FBO Customers

Attn. Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

 

107,442,665.235

 

85.58

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

Trust Company of America

FBO 24

P.O. Box 6503

Centennial, Co 80155

 

15,768,563.657

 

12.56

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.

Special Custody Acct FBO Customers

Attn. Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

 

1,299,410,536.96

 

85.37

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

Trust Company of America

FBO 24

P.O. Box 6503

Centennial, Co 80155

 

192,772,713.36

 

12.67

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.

Special Custody Acct FBO Customers

Attn. Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

 

173,335,491.607

 

87.22

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

Trust Company of America

FBO 24

P.O. Box 6503

Centennial, Co 80155

 

23,305,277.539

 

11.73

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio and class within the Company.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

46



 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by each Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Funds.  The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Funds’ investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds.  A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies is included with this SAI.  Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-261-4073 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

47



 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser

 

The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated as of December 31, 2007.  The Adviser is not a subsidiary of or under the control of any other company.  Mark E. Matson, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Adviser, owns approximately 90% of the Adviser’s voting stock, and members of Mr. Matson’s family own all of the remaining shares of the Adviser’s voting stock.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Funds including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Funds, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Funds, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Funds.  The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with each Fund’s investment goal, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Funds in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.

 

For its services to the Funds, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Fund’s average daily net assets over $5 billion.  Prior to January 1, 2013, the Adviser was entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.50% of each Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses to the extent that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses exceeded 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets with respect to the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund, respectively.  The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements at any time.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2015

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

10,004,450

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

7,218,249

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

9,559,437

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

48



 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2014

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

8,303,943

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

6,125,897

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

7,786,205

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2013

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

5,752,391

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

4,187,917

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

5,506,994

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  Each Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value a portfolio’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders,

 

49



 

and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the continuation of the Funds’ investment advisory agreement is included in the Funds’ annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015, which may be obtained by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, at any time without penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser.  The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser at any time, without payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund.  The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund.  The Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

The Advisory Agreement further provides that no public reference to, or description of, the Adviser or its methodology or work shall be made by the Company, whether in the Prospectus, SAI or otherwise, without the Adviser’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In each case, the Company has agreed to provide the Adviser a reasonable opportunity to review any such reference or description before being asked for such consent.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Description of Compensation .  As of the date of this SAI, the portfolio managers receive a base salary, a year-end incentive bonus based on company profitability and may receive a quarterly bonus based on services provided to the Adviser.  Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Portfolio manager’s supervisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors.  The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that they manage.  The portfolio manager’s supervisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market.

 

Other Accounts . The table below discloses accounts, other than the Funds, for which each portfolio manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of August 31, 2015.

 

50



 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Mark E. Matson

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

56,439

 

6.015 billion

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Steven B. Miller

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

56,439

 

6.015 billion

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Kenneth E. Gatliff

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

56,439

 

6.015 billion

 

0

 

0

 

The portfolio managers utilize a team based approach to other accounts managed.  The portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of a portion of the total assets and number of accounts shown.

 

Conflicts of Interest.  Matson Money reviewed its conflicts of interest and risk factors and has attempted to develop policies and procedures to address these matters. Matson Money does not engage in transactions on behalf of client accounts with any affiliates. Matson Money does not have custody of any client securities or funds. Neither Matson Money nor any of its related persons act as general partners or managing members of any unregistered pooled investment vehicle. Matson Money does not manage its own proprietary account. Moreover, none of Matson Money’s officers or employees engage in any outside business activities that conflict with Matson Money’s duties to its clients. Finally, Matson Money does not purchase IPOs or individual securities for clients. Thus, Matson Money’s conflicts and risk factors are in the following areas: solicitation practices, suitability of Matson Money’s services for a client, trade errors, marketing practices, compliance with any client guidelines and restrictions, valuation of client accounts and calculation of fees, safeguarding of client assets, safeguarding of the privacy of client information, disaster recovery, accurate disclosure of information to clients and regulators, and accurate creation and secure maintenance of client records.  Matson Money’s Compliance Manual is available upon request, which has more detailed explanations of policies and procedures currently in place to safeguard against potential conflicts/risks.

 

Securities Ownership .  The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager in each of the Funds as of August 31, 2015:

 

51



 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market U.S. Equity

 

 

 

Mark E. Matson

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Steven B. Miller

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Kenneth E. Gatliff

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market International Equity

 

 

 

Mark E. Matson

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Steven B. Miller

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

Kenneth E. Gatliff

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market Fixed Income

 

 

 

Mark E. Matson

 

Over $1 million

 

Steven B. Miller

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Kenneth E. Gatliff

 

None

 

 

Custodian Agreement

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10286, serves as the custodian of the Funds’ assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between BNY and the Company dated as of July 18, 2011, as amended, and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, BNY:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of each Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of each Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of each Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of each Fund’s portfolio securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Funds’ operations.  BNY is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Funds, provided that BNY remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Company harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian .  The Funds have made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Funds under the Custodian Agreement, BNY receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Funds’ average gross assets; exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Funds.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement

 

BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (collectively, the “Transfer Agency Agreement”).  Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of each Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Funds to record owners of Shares of the Fund, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and

 

52



 

proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Funds.  For its services to the Funds under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Funds, subject to a minimum fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 - $50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Funds will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement

 

BNY Mellon also serves as the Funds’ administrator and fund accounting agent pursuant to an Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Funds statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Funds.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard.

 

Effective June 1, 2013, for its services to each Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.045% of the Funds’ first $1.5 billion of aggregate average net assets; 0.035% of the Funds’ next $1.5 billion of aggregate average net assets; 0.030% of the Funds’ next $2 billion of aggregate average net assets; and 0.020% of the Funds’ aggregate average net assets in excess of $5 billion.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,208 per month for each Fund, exclusive of costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

For the past three fiscal years, each Fund paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out of pocket expenses as follows:

 

53



 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2015

 

Administration, Accounting
and Regulatory
Administration Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

992,370

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

749,024

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

956,796

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2014

 

Administration, Accounting
and Regulatory
Administration Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

748,303

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

551,765

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

701,550

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2013

 

Administration, Accounting
and Regulatory
Administration Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

592,690

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

465,968

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

573,352

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or a Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Company’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

From September 1, 2011 to June 1, 2013, for its services to each Fund, BNY Mellon was entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.065% of each Fund’s first $250 million of average net assets; 0.055% of each Fund’s next $250 million of average net assets; 0.040 of each Fund’s next $200 million of average net assets; 0.030% of each Fund’s average net assets in excess of $700 million.

 

54



 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Distribution Agreement

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Funds pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement dated October 28, 2014 (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Funds.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Company, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Funds.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Funds on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Funds.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Funds and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Funds.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Funds through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Funds for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The

 

55



 

Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Funds.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Funds, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

No Fund has any obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions.  The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Funds and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Funds and other clients of the Adviser.  Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts.  A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to a Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by a Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to a Fund over the long-term.

 

Investment decisions for each Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser are made independently of each other in the light of differing conditions.  However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts.  In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable.  Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account.  While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as a Fund is concerned, in other cases it is believed to be beneficial to a Fund.

 

No Fund paid brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions for the past three fiscal years.

 

56



 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist that make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of a Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing that Fund’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that each Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse a Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

Each Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the particular Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

57



 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than Foreside Distributors), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of each Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than a Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, a Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Funds are valued under the direction of the Funds’ administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Funds may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on a Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Funds may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Funds do not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain tax considerations generally affecting the Funds, the underlying investment companies, and Fund shareholders that are not fully described in the Prospectus.  No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds, the underlying investment companies, or Fund shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.  Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

58



 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

Each Fund and each underlying investment company intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.  As such, each Fund and underlying investment company generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders.  To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, each Fund and underlying investment company must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, each Fund and underlying investment company must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s and each underlying investment company’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s and the underlying investment companies’ assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund or underlying investment company has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of such issuer and as to which the Fund or underlying investment company does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer), and no more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s and each underlying investment company’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund or underlying investment company controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, each Fund and underlying investment company must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of the Fund’s or underlying investment company’s investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

Each Fund and underlying investment company intends to comply with these requirements.  If a Fund or underlying investment company were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund or underlying investment company could be disqualified as a regulated investment company.  If for any taxable year a Fund or underlying investment company were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions

 

59



 

to shareholders.  In that event, shareholders in a Fund or underlying investment company would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s or underlying investment company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses).  Each Fund and underlying investment company intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although each Fund and underlying investment company expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, a Fund or an underlying investment company may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by a Fund or an underlying investment company, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain.  Such transactions and investments may cause a Fund or an underlying investment company to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund or the underlying investment company to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which a Fund or an underlying investment company invests, the Fund or the underlying investment company may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund or the underlying investment company fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 82.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

60



 

Each share that represents an interest in a Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders collectively owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of Common Stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each Fund will vote in the aggregate on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

61



 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Funds’ Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein.  The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated by reference into this SAI.  Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.  Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

62



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

A- 1



 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

A- 2



 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

A- 3



 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial

 

A- 4



 

commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

A- 5



 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

A- 6



 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 7



 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while

 

A- 8



 

speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

A- 9



 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 10



 

APPENDIX B

 

PROXY POLICY STATEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

 

STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

Matson Money, Inc. (formerly known as Abundance Technologies, Inc.) views the fiduciary act of managing plan assets to include the voting of proxies appurtenant to shares held in the plan.  As a rule, Matson Money, Inc. strives to ensure that all proxies are received from the custodian in a timely manner and then exercises its right to vote all proxies.  In keeping with the ERISA definition of fiduciary responsibility and the Department of Labor directives, all proxy voting decisions are made “solely in the best interest of the client’s plan participants and beneficiaries.”

 

This document represents what the firm believes to be important elements of sound corporate governance and social responsibility.  In our opinion, good corporate governance should maintain an appropriate balance between the rights of shareholders (the owners of the corporation) and the needs of management to direct the corporation’s affairs devoid of distracting short-term pressures.  As a responsible long term investment manager, Matson Money, Inc. acknowledges its responsibility to strive for improved corporate governance and performance discipline.  Matson Money, Inc. offers this policy as a basis for dialogue with the objective of improving corporate governance and social practices.  This statement identifies Matson Moneys’ voting guidelines on numerous proxy issues.  These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of every issue that may arise.  Proxy issues that are not described herein will be considered in light of the relevant facts and circumstances.

 

CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

 

Each proxy issue is reviewed on its own merits, on a case-by-case basis.  Every proxy voting decision, whether on Corporate Governance or Social Issues, is made with the exclusive purpose of maximizing the economic value of the client’s investment.  Matson Money, Inc. gives special consideration to “out of the ordinary” matters and may vote against management on specific issues which are deemed to impair shareholder rights or value.  Furthermore, Matson Money, Inc. would oppose any proposal which would entrench or protect management interest contrary to the financial interests of the stockholder.

 

PROXY ADMINISTRATION

 

The portfolio manager and compliance officer are primarily responsible for monitoring corporate actions, making voting decisions and ensuring that proxies are submitted timely, consistent with this policy.  Matson Money, Inc. may form special committees, from time to time, to address unusual proxy voting issues or conflicts.

 

B- 1



 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

All conflicts of interest will be resolved in the interest of the clients.  Occasionally, Matson Money, Inc. may be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or personal relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of certain votes.  In situations where Matson Money, Inc. perceives a material conflict of interest, Matson Money, Inc. may disclose the conflict to the relevant clients; defer to the voting recommendation of the clients or of an independent third party provider of proxy services; send the proxy directly to the clients for a voting decision; abstain from voting; or take such other action in good faith, in consultation with counsel, to determine the appropriate method to resolve the conflict in the interest of clients, based upon the particular facts and circumstances.  With respect to investment company clients, conflicts may arise as to votes involving the investment adviser, the underwriter, their affiliates or affiliates of the investment company.  In such cases, Matson Money, Inc. will follow the voting guidelines described herein, including the process for handling conflicts.  Under normal circumstances, if a conflict is determined not to be material, Matson Money, Inc. will vote the proxy in accordance with this policy.  The method selected by Matson Money, Inc. to vote proxies in the presence of a conflict may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law.

 

I.                                         CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:

 

A.                                     BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

 

A company’s board of directors represents the focal point of corporate governance.  The board is a group of elected individuals which oversees the operation and direction of the company on behalf of its owners.  The principal responsibility of the board is to further the long term success of the corporation while remaining true to its fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders.  Matson Money, Inc. supports the primary authority of the board; however, at the same time, the firm believes that directors must remain accountable to the shareholders.  Consequently, Matson Moneys’ guidelines are as follows:

 

1.                                       Election of Directors:   While Matson Money, Inc. normally votes for the board’s nominees, the firm may decline to vote for unopposed candidates when their record indicates that their election to the board would not be in the interest of shareholders.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. may vote for alternative candidates when its analysis indicates that these candidates will better represent shareholder interests.

 

2.                                       Independent Directors:    In Matson Moneys’ opinion, the ideal board should be comprised primarily of independent (non-management) directors who are both willing and qualified to serve in such capacity.  In this context, independence means no present or former employment by the company or its management which could interfere with the director’s loyalty to the shareholders.

 

3.                                       Cumulative Voting:   This voting procedure entitles each stockholder to as many votes as shall equal the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of directors to be elected.  Such votes may all be cast for a single candidate or for any two or more as the stockholder sees fit.  Matson Money, Inc. believes this method is an important democratic means of electing directors and allows shareholders to obtain representation on the

 

B- 2



 

board by significant vote.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. generally supports the practice of cumulative voting.

 

4.                                       Classified Board:   A classified board is a staggered board arrangement in which each director is elected for an established term of two, three, or four years, depending on the number of classes established.  Only those directors in the class up for election can be approved or rejected by shareholders in any given year.  In Matson Moneys’ opinion, a classified board serves to entrench management and limit shareholders’ ability to effect favorable change.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes classified boards.

 

5.                                       Director Liability and Indemnification:   A proper director liability policy should balance the need to hold directors accountable for improper actions with the need to attract competent and diligent individuals for board positions.  The Corporation should be free to indemnify directors for legal expenses and judgments in connection with their service as directors and eliminate the directors’ liability for ordinary negligence.  However, directors should be held liable to the corporation for violations of their fiduciary duty involving gross negligence.  Similarly, proposals that indemnify directors who have committed fraud or dereliction of duty would be opposed.

 

6.                                       Director Compensation:   Normally, the remuneration of Directors is considered a routine item of business.  Therefore, it is not usually submitted for a shareholder vote.  However, non-employee director compensation has become a shareholder issue recently.  Generally, Matson Money, Inc. would prefer to see more of the directors’ compensation based upon shareholder returns as measured by stock price appreciation or some other meaningful performance measure.  Furthermore, Matson Money, Inc. encourages corporations to phase out pension or retirement plans for their non-employee directors.  Most non-employee directors have retirement benefits from their primary employer; however, Matson Money, Inc. recognizes that a blanket vote to eliminate all such retirement plans could negatively impact a company’s access to potentially valuable directors.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. will not vote in favor of unilaterally eliminating retirement benefits.

 

7.                                       General:   Matson Money, Inc. recognizes the responsibilities of the board to organize its function and conduct its business in an efficient manner.  Therefore, barring unusual circumstances, Matson Money, Inc. would favor management proposals related to board size and oppose shareholder resolutions calling for the separation of the CEO and Chairman positions, establishing age limits for directors, special interest representation, and the formation of shareholder advisory committees, or term limits for directors.  Matson Money, Inc. is also against restricting the date or location of the annual meeting.

 

B.                                     CAPITALIZATION ISSUES:   Capitalization related proposals pertain to the creation, repurchase, or reclassification of securities.  Matson Money, Inc. may support the authorization of additional stock if management provides a satisfactory explanation of its plans for the stock; however, Matson Money, Inc. will oppose large unexplained increases in common stock.  Matson Money, Inc.

 

B- 3



 

will also oppose the issuance of “blank check” preferred or convertible stock which could potentially be used as a takeover deterrent or dilute/jeopardize the clients’ common stock ownership.

 

1.                                       Increase Authorized Common Stock:   Matson Money, Inc. considers a proposal to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock on case-by-case basis.  Matson Money, Inc. takes into account the size of the requested increase, its stated purpose, and how much authorized but unissued common stock remains.  The firm generally supports a stock split or a reasonable replenishment after a stock split.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. may approve an increase to support a shareholder value enhancing acquisition, to provide the necessary flexibility to maintain an optimal capital structure, or to fund stock option and stock purchase plans.  Requests to significantly increase the number of authorized shares (those resulting in greater than 10% dilution) without a stated reason or demonstrated need would be opposed.  Similarly, Matson Money, Inc. would oppose an increase when additional shares are to be used for anti-takeover measures.

 

2.                                       Authorize Blank Check Preferred Stock:   This proposal would grant authority to the board to create and issue a new class of preferred stock with unspecified terms and conditions.  “Blank check” preferred stock could be granted special voting rights and be used to entrench management or deter takeover attempts.  Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes proposals to vest the board with such power.

 

3.                                       Authorize Convertible Stock:   Matson Money, Inc. would review the rationale on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s current capitalization structure, the stated purpose for the security and the potential dilution effect this security would have on existing common shareholders upon conversion.  Matson Money, Inc. would oppose any request which is “blank check” in nature, where the company’s rationale is unclear, and where the request appears to blunt possible takeover attempts.

 

C.                                     SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AND PROXY VOTING:   The proxy vote is the key mechanism by which shareholders render their opinion in corporate governance.  In exercising its votes, Matson Money, Inc. believes:

 

1.                                       Confidential Voting should be adopted by all corporations on all matters brought before the shareholders.  Such provisions would protect the importance of the proxy vote and eliminate the appearance of any impropriety.

 

2.                                       Multiple Classes of Common Stock with disparate voting rights should not exist.  Rather, the board should adhere to the principle of one share-one vote.

 

3.                                       Super-majority rules or requirements which interfere with the shareholder’s right to elect directors and ratify corporate actions should be opposed.

 

4.                                       Changes in Corporation’s Domicile should only be proposed for valid business reasons, not to obtain protection against unfriendly takeovers.

 

5.                                       Change of Control occurs when a third party becomes, or obtains the right to become, the beneficial owner of Company securities having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of

 

B- 4



 

the company.  Change of Control also would occur when the directors prior to a given event cease to constitute a majority of the Board as a result of the event.

 

6.                                       Fair Price Provisions and measures to limit the corporation’s ability to buy back shares from a particular shareholder at higher than market prices are generally supported.

 

7.                                       Pre-emptive Rights allow shareholders the option to buy part of any new issue prior to its public offering.  This provision allows existing shareholders to maintain their original ownership percentage.  However, pre-emptive rights often raise the cost of capital by increasing both the time and expense of issuing new shares.  Therefore, pre-emptive rights should generally be eliminated, except where Matson Moneys’ analysis concludes such rights have value to the shareholders.

 

8.                                       “Anti-Takeover” measures should be submitted for shareholder approval.  Matson Money, Inc. is generally against such measures.

 

9.                                       Bundled Proposals: Occasionally management will attempt to tie a non-routine issue to one that is routine, attempting to pass both items in the form of a bundled proposal.  Disparate issues should not be combined and presented for a single vote.  Such proposals are generally not well received and must be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

10.                                Special Meetings of the Board of Directors, on such issues as takeovers and changes in the make-up of the Board, by its shareholders is permitted at most companies. Matson Money, Inc. is generally against limitations on the calling of Special Meetings.

 

D.                                     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION:   The board and its compensation committee should set executive compensation levels adequate to attract and retain qualified executives.  These managers should be rewarded in direct relationship to the contribution they make in maximizing shareholder value.  Matson Money, Inc. readily admits it is not qualified to thoroughly evaluate the specific issues of executive compensation for each of its portfolio holdings; however the firm does evaluate the reasonableness of compensation policies, criteria and formulas.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. decides what constitutes adequate disclosure of executive compensation.  Matson Money, Inc. generally supports sound “pay for performance” plans which ensure equitable treatment of both corporate management and shareholders.  Compensation should include both salary and performance components.  The salary should have a defined relationship to salaries in an industry peer group.  Similarly, performance measures should relate to key industry success measurements and be judged over adequate time periods.

 

1.                                       Incentive Plans should be set forth annually in the proxy statement.  The criteria used to evaluate the performance of senior executives should be clearly stated.  Terms of the awards, such as type, coverage and option price should be specified.  Excess discretion will not be approved.  Matson Money, Inc. generally supports management if the company defines their performance goals.  However, Matson Money, Inc. opposes incentive plans where no specific goals are defined.  Without specific performance goals, there is no assurance that awards will be paid based upon realistic performance criteria.  Matson Money, Inc. also votes against plans where performance hurdles are, in its opinion, set too low.  Total potential

 

B- 5



 

dilution from existing and proposed compensation plans should not exceed 10% over the duration of the plan(s).  Finally, Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes plans which grant reload options (favorable repricing of options) or where options become immediately exercisable following a change of control defined as anything less than 50%.

 

2.                                       Stock/Stock Option Plans:   Matson Money, Inc. generally votes against a plan if the exercise price is unspecified or below 90% of the fair market value on the date of the grant.

 

3.                                       Golden Parachutes should always be put to shareholder vote because they often exceed ordinary compensation practices.  We are generally against Golden Parachutes.

 

E.                                      ROUTINE CORPORATE ISSUES:   Proposals in this category, which have been seen repeatedly on an historical basis, are usually non-controversial.  Generally, these issues revolve around items that are related to the normal operating procedures of the company.  Matson Money, Inc., however, votes against a management proposal to “approve any other business that properly comes before the meeting.”  As a fiduciary, Matson Money, Inc. opposes any attempt by management to get a blanket approval without full disclosure.  Conversely, each of the proposals listed below are generally supported, unless compelling reasons exist to question why it is not in the best interest of shareholders.

 

1.                                       Appointment of Auditors

2.                                       Corporate Name and/or Ticker Change

3.                                       Approval of Articles of Incorporation

4.                                       Changes to the Articles of Incorporation

5.                                       Changes in the Date, Time and/or Location of Annual Meeting

6.                                       Stock Splits

7.                                       Acceptance of Director’s Report

8.                                       Approval of Corporate Dividend

 

II.                                    SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES:  Matson Money, Inc. acknowledges its duty both as a corporate citizen and as a manager of investment funds to address important social issues.  The intention of our firm is not to impose its moral or social views upon clients.  Nor should Matson Money, Inc. restrict in any way the day-to-day operating procedures of a corporation unless, in so doing, the economic value of the client’s investment is enhanced.

 

B- 6



 

DOCUMENTATION OF VOTING DECISIONS

 

Matson Money, Inc. maintains accurate records of each corporate proxy received and voted along with documentation of the proxy voting decisions on each issue.  The records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

 

REPORTING

 

In order to facilitate a client’s monitoring of proxy decisions made and actions taken by Matson Money, Inc., a report summarizing each corporate issue and corresponding proxy vote is available to clients upon request.

 

B- 7



 

MATSON MONEY, INC.

FAMILY OF PORTFOLIOS

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

Institutional Class

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio:  FMVUX

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio:  FMVIX

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio:  FMVFX

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

December 31, 2015

 

Investment Adviser:

 

Matson Money, Inc.

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio (each a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).  The Portfolios are series of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”).  This information is in addition to the information contained in the Portfolios’ prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”).  This SAI is not a prospectus.  Copies of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.  The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

NON- PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

1

 

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

2

 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF UNDERLYING INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND RELATED RISKS

4

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

32

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

34

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

45

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

45

 

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

46

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

46

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

46

 

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

48

 

 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

50

 

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

50

 

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT

51

 

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

52

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

54

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

54

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

55

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

56

 

 

TAXES

56

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

60

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

61

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

61

 

 

APPENDIX A

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

i



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate investment portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to Institutional Class shares representing interests in three diversified Portfolios, which are offered by the Prospectus.  Shares of the Portfolios may be purchased and held by the separate accounts (“Separate Accounts”) of participating insurance companies (“Participating Insurance Companies”) for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.  Shares of the Portfolios are not offered directly to the general public.  Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Portfolios.

 

NON- PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

 

Although the Portfolios invest primarily in shares of other registered investment companies, for temporary defensive purposes, the Portfolios may hold cash or invest in a variety of money market instruments, including U.S. government securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and bankers’ acceptances.  When a Portfolio invests for temporary defensive purposes, it may do so without any percentage limitations.  A Portfolio may not achieve its investment objective during periods when it has taken such a temporary defensive position.

 

U.S. Government Securities.   Each Portfolio may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government”) that have remaining maturities not exceeding one year.  Agencies and instrumentalities that issue or guarantee debt securities and that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government include the Export-Import Bank, the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Federal Land Banks, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”).

 

Bank Obligations.   Each Portfolio may invest in obligations of U.S. banks (including certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances) and U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion.  Such banks must be members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

The activities of banks are subject to extensive regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans that may be made and the interest rates that may be charged.  In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and costs of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions.  General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties play an important part in the operation of this industry.

 

Commercial Paper.   Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by bank holding companies, corporations, and finance companies.  The commercial paper purchased by the Portfolios consists of direct obligations of issuers which, at the time of

 

1



 

investment, are (i) rated “P-1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”), or (ii) if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by Standard & Poor’s.      In the event that a security held by a Portfolio is placed on a credit watch or is downgraded by a rating agency, the value of such security may decline and the Portfolio invested in such security may consequently experience losses in respect of such security.  See Appendix A for a description of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rating categories.

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Portfolios have adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to a Portfolio without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Portfolio outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2 (a) (42) of the 1940 Act).  As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of a Portfolio means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Portfolio represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.  Each Portfolio’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Portfolio’s shareholders. Each Portfolio may not:

 

1.  Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Portfolio may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements and the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio may enter into dollar rolls (including mortgage dollar rolls), for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets at the time of such borrowing and provided that, for any borrowing with respect to the Portfolio, there is at least 300% asset coverage for borrowings of the Portfolio.  A Portfolio may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets at the time of such borrowing.  Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with a Portfolio’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation.

 

2. Issue any senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

 

3.  Act as underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), except insofar as the Portfolio might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities.

 

4.  Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Portfolio may invest:  (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts.

 

2



 

5.  Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that to the extent consistent with its investment policies and restrictions, the Portfolio may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures.

 

6.   Make loans, except through loan portfolio instruments and repurchase agreements, provided that, for purposes of this restriction, the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.

 

7.  Purchase any security if, as a result of such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in the securities of issuers concentrated in a particular industry except that this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

8.  Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Portfolio, except that up to 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

With respect to Investment Limitation No. 1, in the event that asset coverage is below 300%, the Portfolio will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowing to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2, the SEC has concluded that even though reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements, and standby commitment agreements fall within the meaning of the term “evidence indebtedness,” the issue of compliance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act will not be raised with the SEC by the Division of Investment Management if a Portfolio covers such securities by earmarking and maintaining certain assets on the books and records of the Portfolio’s custodian.

 

Similarly, so long as such earmarked assets are maintained, the issue of compliance with Section 18 will not be raised with respect to any of the following:  any swap contract; any borrowings or pledge or encumbrance of assets permitted by Investment Limitation No. 1; any collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and foreign currency contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to short sales and initial and variation margin; and purchases and sales of futures or related options

 

The Portfolios have adopted the following non-fundamental investment limitation, which may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without shareholder approval:

 

1.               No Portfolio will invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

3



 

Securities held by the Portfolios generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Portfolio’s investment policies or limitations is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities by the Portfolio.)  In the event that investments in illiquid instruments exceed 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets, the Portfolio must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Portfolio to liquidate any instrument where the Portfolio would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF UNDERLYING INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

The underlying investment companies in which the Portfolios invest have their own investment objectives, policies, practices, and techniques, any one or all of which may subject their assets to varying degrees of risk.  In addition, as a shareholder of another investment company, each Portfolio would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of that company’s expenses, including advisory and administrative fees.  These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Portfolio bears directly in connection with its own operations.  Therefore, it may be more costly for a Portfolio to own shares of another investment company than to own directly the underlying securities owned by such company.  Investment companies in which the Portfolios may invest also may impose a sales or distribution charge in connection with the purchase or redemption of their shares and other types of commissions or charges.  Such charges will be payable by the Portfolios and, therefore, will be borne by shareholders. The underlying investment companies in which each Portfolio invests may purchase securities of affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds.

 

Set forth below is additional information with respect to the types of securities and instrument techniques of the underlying investment companies and the risks involved in certain of these practices and techniques.

 

Asset-Backed Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables.  Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of U.S. government securities, but are not direct obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.  Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose corporations.  Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be

 

4



 

present; however privately issued obligations collateralized by a portfolio of privately issued asset-backed securities do not involve any government-related guarantee or insurance.  In addition, asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets.  See “Mortgage-Backed Securities.”

 

Corporate Obligations.  The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, (i) rated Aa3 or better by Moody’s, or AA- or better by Standard & Poor’s, or AA- or better by Fitch, or (ii) if there is no rating for the debt security, determined by the investment adviser(s) to the underlying investment companies to be of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA- or Aa3.  See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings.  An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.  Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

Convertible Securities and Preferred Stocks.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in convertible securities.  A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.  A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.  Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers.  Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities.  While no securities investment is completely without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security.  Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally:  (1) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities; (2) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics; and (3) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.

 

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock).  The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline.  The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value.  The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock.  If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value.  Generally the conversion value

 

5



 

decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity.  To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value.  A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

 

A convertible security might be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.  If a convertible security held by a Portfolio is called for redemption, that Portfolio will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

 

Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest in a company and provide their owner with claims on the company’s earnings and assets prior to the claims of owners of common stocks but after those of bond owners.  Preferred stocks in which the Portfolios may invest include sinking fund, convertible, perpetual fixed and adjustable rate (including auction rate) preferred stocks.  There is no minimum credit rating applicable to a Portfolio’s investment in preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Portfolios and their service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Portfolio to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting a Portfolio or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact a Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Portfolio’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject a Portfolio to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Portfolios may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which a Portfolio may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Portfolio’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Depository Arrangements . To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”).  ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying foreign securities. ADRs are denominated in U.S. dollars.  They are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States.

 

The underlying investment companies may invest in both sponsored and unsponsored ADR programs. There are certain risks associated with investments in unsponsored ADR programs.  Because the non-U.S. securities issuer does not actively participate in the creation of the ADR program, the underlying agreement for service and payment will be between the depository and the shareholder.  The company issuing the stock underlying the ADR pays nothing to establish the unsponsored facility because fees for ADR issuance and cancellation are paid by brokers.  Investors directly bear the expenses associated with certificate transfer, custody and dividend payment.

 

In an unsponsored ADR program, there also may be several depositories with no defined legal obligations to the non-U.S. company.  The duplicate depositories may lead to marketplace confusion because there would be no central source of information for buyers, sellers and intermediaries.  The efficiency of centralization gained in a sponsored program can greatly reduce the delays in delivery of dividends and annual reports.

 

The underlying investment companies may also invest in Holding Company Depository Receipts (“HOLDRS”).  HOLDRS represent trust-issued receipts that represent individual and undivided beneficial ownership interests in the common stock or ADRs of specific companies in a particular industry, sector or group.

 

6



 

The underlying investment companies of the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio may also invest in European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), International Depository Receipts (“IDRs”) and Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”).  These are receipts issued by a non-U.S. financial institution evidencing ownership of underlying foreign or U.S. securities and are usually denominated in foreign currencies.  They may not be denominated in the same currency as the securities they represent.  Generally, EDRs, GDRs and IDRs are designed for use in the foreign securities markets. Investments in EDRs, GDRs and IDRs involve certain risks not typically involved in purely domestic investments, including currency exchange risk.  These risks are set forth under “Foreign Securities” in this SAI.

 

Dollar Rolls.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may enter into dollar rolls in which the investment companies sell fixed income securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contract to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date.

 

During the roll period, an investment company would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the investment company would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale.  The return on dollar rolls may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in interest rates.  For additional information on dollar roll transactions, see the section entitled “Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions” in this SAI.

 

Equity Markets.  The underlying investment companies of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio invest primarily in equity markets at all times.  Equity markets can be highly volatile, so that investing in the underlying investment companies involves substantial risk.  As a result, investing in the underlying investment companies involves the risk of loss of capital.

 

European Currency Unification.  On January 1, 1999, the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the national currencies of many European countries. The European Central Bank has control over each member country’s monetary policies. Therefore, the member countries no longer control their own monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The national governments of the participating countries, however, have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and public debt levels.

 

European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes for membership. Europe’s economies are diverse, its governments are decentralized, and its cultures vary widely. Several European Union (“EU”) countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal have faced budget issues, some of which may have negative long-term effects for the economies of those countries and other EU countries. There is continued concern about national-level support for the euro and the accompanying coordination of fiscal and wage policy among EMU member countries. Member countries are required to maintain tight control over inflation, public debt, and budget deficit to qualify for membership in

 

7



 

the EMU. These requirements can severely limit the ability of EMU member countries to implement monetary policy to address regional economic conditions. Also, it is possible that the EU’s single currency, the euro, could be abandoned in the future by countries that have already adopted its use. These or other events, including political and economic developments, could cause market disruptions, and could affect adversely the values of securities held by the Portfolios. Because of the number of countries using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets held by certain Portfolios may be denominated in the euro.

 

Foreign Securities.  The underlying investment companies of the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio may invest in securities issued by foreign companies. Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments.  In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability.  Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations.  Inability to dispose of securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to an underlying investment company due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the underlying investment company has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.  Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges.  There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities.  Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.  Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of an underlying investment company is uninvested and no return is earned thereon.  The inability of an underlying investment company to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the underlying investment company to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the underlying investment companies may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, each investment company values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars.  As a result, the NAV of an underlying investment company’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the underlying investment company’s

 

8



 

securities in the various local markets and currencies.  Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which an underlying investment company makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the underlying investment company’s securities in their local markets.  Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of an underlying investment company’s securities in its foreign markets.  In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, an underlying investment company is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

 

The underlying investment companies may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The underlying investment companies may also invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, including Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations, but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

 

Forward Commitment and When-Issued Transactions.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis.  These transactions involve a commitment by an underlying investment company to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.

 

When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable an underlying investment company to lock in what is believed by the underlying investment adviser to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, an underlying investment company might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, an underlying investment company might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. When-issued securities or forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of an underlying investment company’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the underlying investment company is subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the

 

9



 

securities on that date. An underlying investment company does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. When an underlying investment company makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the underlying investment company’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the underlying investment company’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but an underlying investment company may agree to a longer settlement period.

 

An underlying investment company generally will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, an underlying investment company may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. An underlying investment company also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the underlying investment company on the settlement date. An underlying investment company may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions, and its distributions from any net realized capital gains will be taxable to shareholders.

 

When an underlying investment company purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the investment company or its custodian will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the underlying investment company’s purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that the underlying investment company will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions The Matson Money International Equity VI and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolios’ underlying investment companies may, to the extent that they invest in foreign securities, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to facilitate the settlement of equity or bond purchases; exchange one currency for another, including to repatriate excess currencies; or, in the case of the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.  The underlying investment companies will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.  A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.  These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.  Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

10



 

The underlying investment companies generally may enter into forward contracts under several circumstances. First, when an underlying investment company enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security quoted or denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed number of U.S. dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the underlying investment company will be able to insulate itself from a possible loss resulting from a change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received.  The underlying investment adviser(s) may also use non-U.S. currency to enter into a forward foreign exchange contract.

 

Second, the investment adviser to certain underlying fixed income investment companies may cause such investment companies to enter a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the investment company’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency in an effort to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.  These underlying fixed income investment companies may also engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in securities denominated or quoted in a different currency if the investment adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the two currencies. Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other U.S. foreign currency, if the investment adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the proxy currency and the U.S. dollar. With currency hedging techniques, the precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures.  Additionally, these techniques do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. They simply establish a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the underlying investment company’s foreign assets. It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

Third, the investment adviser may exchange one currency for another if it believes it may need the other currency to settle future equity purchases or to repatriate excess foreign currency to U.S. dollars.

 

The underlying investment companies generally will not enter into forward contracts to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of such contracts would obligate the investment company to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the investment company’s respective portfolio securities (including accrued interest or other accrued receivables) or other assets quoted or denominated in that currency. At the consummation of the forward contract, an underlying investment company may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an

 

11



 

offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If an underlying investment company chooses to make delivery of foreign currency, it may be required to obtain such delivery through the sale of portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Portfolio into such currency. If an underlying investment company engages in an offsetting transaction, the underlying investment company will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices.

 

The underlying investment companies’ transactions in forward contracts generally will be limited to those described above. Of course, the underlying investment companies are not required to enter into such transactions with regard to their foreign currency quoted or denominated securities, and the investment companies will not do so unless deemed appropriate by their respective investment advisers.

 

While the underlying investment company may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while an underlying investment company may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the underlying investment company than if it had not engaged in any such transactions.  Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the underlying investment company’s portfolio holdings or securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the underlying investment company. Such imperfect correlation may cause the underlying investment company to sustain losses, which will prevent the underlying investment company from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the underlying investment company to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparts to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive an underlying investment company of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force an underlying investment company to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The underlying investment companies’ foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Futures Contracts.  A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).  When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, an underlying investment company can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, an underlying

 

12



 

investment company, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it affects anticipated purchases.

 

To seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates or securities prices, an underlying investment company may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. An underlying investment company may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. The futures contracts may be based on various securities (such as U.S. government securities), securities indices, and any other financial instruments and indices. Generally an underlying investment company will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as described below or for purposes of seeking to increase total return, in each case, only to the extent permitted by regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). All futures contracts entered into by an underlying investment company are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the CFTC or on foreign exchanges.

 

The Portfolios intend to limit investments in commodity futures, commodity options contracts and swaps to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  However, the application of the amended rules to “funds-of-funds” remains unclear. Accordingly, the Adviser has filed for relief with respect to each Portfolio which defers compliance until six months following the effective date of any CFTC guidance regarding the application of the amended rules to “fund-of-funds.” As of the date of this SAI, no such guidance has been issued.  For this reason, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO, the disclosure and operations of the Portfolios would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

13



 

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions, which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, an underlying investment company may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.

 

Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that an underlying investment company proposes to acquire or the exchange rate of currencies in which portfolio securities are quoted or denominated. An underlying investment company may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the value of the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by an underlying investment company or securities with characteristics similar to those of the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. If, in the opinion of the investment adviser to an underlying investment company, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for an underlying investment company’s portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the underlying investment company may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in an underlying investment company’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the underlying investment adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having the underlying investment company’s enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by seeking to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of an underlying investment company portfolio’s securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

 

On other occasions, an underlying investment company may take a “long” position by purchasing futures contracts. This would be done, for example, when the underlying investment company anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available.

 

Indexed Securities.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices.  Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.  An underlying investment company may also

 

14



 

invest in exchange-traded funds, which generally track their related indices and trade like an individual stock throughout the trading day.  For example, an underlying investment company may invest in Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts (commonly referred to as “Spiders”), which are exchange-traded shares of a closed-end investment company that are designed to replicate the price performance and dividend yield of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Composite Stock Price Index.

 

Initial Public Offerings.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”).  An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public.  Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history.  The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs.  When an underlying investment company’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the underlying investment company’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the underlying investment company.  As an underlying investment company’s assets grow, the effect of the underlying investment company’s investments in IPOs on the underlying investment company’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the underlying investment company’s performance.  Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, an underlying investment company may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  This may increase the turnover of the underlying investment company’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the underlying investment company, such as commissions and transaction costs.  In addition, the underlying investment advisers cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities.   The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, known as “TIPs” or “Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities,” which are debt securities whose principal and interest payments are adjusted for inflation and interest is paid on the adjusted amount. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the consumer price index (“CPI”). A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest payments increase. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment.

 

Inflation-protected securities normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and inflation is 2%, the real interest rate is 3%.) If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected security will decline and could result in losses for the Portfolio’s underlying investment companies.

 

Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by IRS regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, an

 

15



 

underlying investment company holding these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.

 

Interest Rate Swaps, Floors and Caps and Currency Swaps.   The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may enter into interest rate swaps and may purchase interest rate floors or caps. An underlying investment company will typically use interest rate swaps to preserve a return on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio or to shorten the effective duration of its portfolio investments. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the underlying investment company with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. The purchase of an interest rate floor or cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the seller, to the extent the specified index falls below (floor) or exceeds (cap) a predetermined interest rate. The Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio may enter into currency swaps, which involve the exchange of the rights of the underlying investment company and another party to make or receive payments in specific currencies.

 

An underlying investment company will only enter into interest rate swaps or interest rate floor or cap transactions on a net basis, i.e. the two payment streams are netted out, with the underlying investment company receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. In contrast, currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency.

 

The net amount of the excess, if any, of an underlying investment company’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each interest rate or currency swap will be accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be segregated by the underlying investment company.

 

If there is a default by the other party to such transaction, the underlying investment company will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.  The Portfolios may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Portfolios.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause a Portfolio to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Portfolio’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect a Portfolio’s performance to the extent that the Portfolio is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in a Portfolio’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Portfolio’s expense ratio. However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and a Portfolio have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may lend their portfolio securities to financial institutions provided that (1) the loan is continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. government securities or cash or cash equivalents maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned; (2) the underlying investment company may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned; (3) the underlying investment company will receive any interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities; and (4) the aggregate market value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the underlying investment company.  Such loans would involve risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or risk of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially.

 

16



 

Loan Participations .   The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may purchase participations in commercial loans. Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participation in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. An underlying investment company may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing loan participations, the underlying investment company assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The participation interests in which the Portfolio intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.

 

A loan is often administered by an agent bank acting as agent for all holders. The agent bank administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. In addition, the agent bank is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the corporate borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the underlying investment company has direct recourse against the corporate borrower, the underlying investment company may have to rely on the agent bank or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a corporate borrower.

 

Purchases of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the underlying investment company does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the underlying investment company’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer the underlying investment company more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated.

 

An underlying investment company invests in loan participations with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, the underlying investment company bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.

 

Loans and other types of direct indebtedness may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what the underlying investment company’s investment adviser believes to be a fair price.

 

Investments in loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution’s interests with respect to the loan may involve additional risks to an underlying investment company.  For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the underlying investment company could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of

 

17


 


 

the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, an underlying investment company could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, an underlying investment company relies on its investment adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Portfolio.

 

Market Fluctuation.  The market value of the investments of each underlying investment company, and thus each underlying investment company’s NAV, will change in response to market conditions affecting the value of its portfolio securities. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate loans are reset periodically, yields on investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

 

Micro Cap, Small Cap and Mid Cap Stocks.  Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-size capitalizations tend to be riskier than securities of companies with large capitalizations.  This is because micro, small and mid cap companies typically have smaller product lines and less access to liquidity than large cap companies, and are therefore more sensitive to economic downturns.  In addition, growth prospects of micro, small and mid cap companies tend to be less certain than large cap companies, and the dividends paid on micro, small and mid cap stocks are frequently negligible.  Moreover, micro, small and mid cap stocks have, on occasion, fluctuated in the opposite direction of large cap stocks or the general stock market.  Consequently, securities of micro, small and mid cap companies tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies.  The market for micro and small cap securities may be thinly traded and as a result, greater fluctuations in the price of micro and small cap securities may occur.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities.  The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through securities, such as real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”) pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

 

Guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities represent participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans and are issued by U.S. governmental or private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, including but not limited to the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae certificates are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae certificates are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, a federally chartered and privately owned corporation, for full and timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations. Freddie Mac certificates are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government, for timely payment of interest and the ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans.

 

18



 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA.  On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. A Portfolio may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by a Portfolio may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

CMOs and REMIC pass-through or participation certificates may be issued by, among others, U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities as well as private lenders. CMOs and REMIC certificates are issued in multiple classes and the principal of and interest on the mortgage assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates in various ways. Each class of CMOs or REMIC certificates, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates on a monthly basis.

 

Typically, CMOs are collateralized by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac certificates but also may be collateralized by other mortgage assets such as whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities. Debt service on CMOs is provided from payments of principal and interest on collateral of mortgaged assets and any reinvestment income thereon.  Mortgage-backed securities that are collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-related securities depend on the payments of principal and interest made by or through the underlying assets, which may not be sufficient to meet the payment obligations of the mortgage-backed securities. The quality and value of the underlying collateral may decline, or default, which has become a significant risk for collateral related to sub-prime mortgage loans, especially in a declining residential real estate market. Further, these securities generally are privately sold and may not be readily marketable, particularly after a rapid decrease in value.

 

A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Code and invests in certain mortgages primarily secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. Investors may purchase “regular” and “residual” interest shares of beneficial interest in REMIC trusts.

 

An underlying investment company may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by trusts or other entities formed or sponsored by private originators of and institutional investors in

 

19



 

mortgage loans and other non-governmental entities (or representing custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These private originators and institutions include savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.

 

Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. Since such mortgage-backed securities normally are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit standing of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in order to receive a high quality rating from the rating organizations (e.g., Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s), they often are structured with one or more types of “credit enhancement.” Such credit enhancement falls into two categories: (1) liquidity protection and (2) protection against losses resulting after default by a borrower and liquidation of the collateral (e.g., sale of a house after foreclosure). Liquidity protection refers to the payment of cash advances to holders of mortgage-backed securities when a borrower on an underlying mortgage fails to make its monthly payment on time. Protection against losses resulting after default and liquidation is designed to cover losses resulting when, for example, the proceeds of a foreclosure sale are insufficient to cover the outstanding amount on the mortgage. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit, through various means of structuring the securities or through a combination of such approaches.

 

Examples of credit enhancement arising out of the structure of the transaction include “senior-subordinated securities” (multiple class securities with one or more classes entitled to receive payment before other classes, with the result that defaults on the underlying mortgages are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class), creation of “spread accounts” or “reserve funds” (where cash or investments are held in reserve against future losses) and “over-collateralization” (where the scheduled payments on the underlying mortgages in a pool exceed the amount required to be paid on the mortgage-backed securities). The degree of credit enhancement for a particular issue of mortgage-backed securities is based on the level of credit risk associated with the particular mortgages in the related pool. Losses on a pool in excess of anticipated levels could nevertheless result in losses to security holders since credit enhancement rarely covers every dollar owed on a pool.

 

Investing in mortgage-backed securities (such as those described above) involves certain risks, including the failure of a counter-party to meet its commitments, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of prepayments on mortgage cash flows.  Further, the yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments (usually monthly), the adjustability of interest rates, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made substantially earlier than their final distribution dates.

 

Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. Both adjustable rate mortgage loans and fixed rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment. Under certain interest rate and prepayment rate scenarios, a Portfolio may fail to recoup fully its investment in Mortgage-

 

20



 

Backed Securities notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee. When a Portfolio reinvests amounts representing payments and unscheduled prepayments of principal, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities. Thus, mortgage-backed securities, and adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities in particular, may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities.  This possibility is often referred to as extension risk. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. The market for certain types of mortgage-backed securities (i.e., certain CMOs) may not be liquid under all interest rate scenarios, which may prevent a Portfolio from selling such securities held in its portfolio at times or prices that it desires.

 

Different types of derivative debt securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension and/or interest rate risk. Conventional mortgage pass-through securities and sequential pay CMOs are subject to all of these risks, but are typically not leveraged. Thus, the magnitude of exposure may be less than for more leveraged mortgage-backed securities.

 

Planned amortization class (“PAC”) and target amortization class (“TAC”) CMO bonds involve less exposure to prepayment, extension and interest rate risk than other mortgage-backed securities, provided that prepayment rates remain within expected prepayment ranges or “collars.” To the extent that prepayment rates remain within these prepayment ranges, the residual or support tranches of PAC and TAC CMOs assume the extra prepayment extension and interest rate risk associated with the underlying mortgage assets.

 

An underlying investment company may invest in floating rate securities based on the Cost of Funds Index (“COFI floaters”), other “lagging rate” floating rate securities, floating rate securities that are subject to a maximum interest rate (“capped floaters”), and mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount. The primary risks associated with these derivative debt securities are the potential extension of average life and/or depreciation due to rising interest rates.

 

Recently, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-related securities (which may include certain of the mortgage-related securities in which an underlying investment company may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future.  In the event that any mortgage-related security held by an underlying investment company is placed on credit watch or downgraded, the value of such mortgage-related security may decline and the underlying investment company invested in such security, and thus the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, may consequently experience losses in respect of such mortgage-related security.

 

Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions.  The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may enter into mortgage dollar roll transactions in which the

 

21



 

underlying investment company sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity), but not identical securities on a specified future date.

 

During the roll period, the underlying investment company would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the underlying investment company would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) or fee income plus the interest on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase. Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of the underlying investment company compared with what such performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls.  Any benefits derived from the use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon mortgage prepayment assumptions, which will be affected by changes in interest rates.  There is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed.  For additional information on dollar rolls, please refer to the section entitled “Dollar Rolls” in this SAI.

 

Options on Futures Contracts.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give an underlying investment company the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, an underlying investment company obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

 

The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset a decline in the value of an underlying investment company’s assets. By writing a call option, an underlying investment company becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, (upon exercise of the option) to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that an underlying investment company intends to purchase.  However, the underlying investment company becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by an underlying investment company in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The underlying investment company will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.

 

The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee

 

22



 

that such closing transactions can be effected. An underlying investment company’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

 

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in some cases, may require the applicable underlying investment company to establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the underlying value of such contracts and options.

 

The use of futures contracts entails certain risks, including but not limited to the following: no assurance that futures contracts transactions can be offset at favorable prices; possible reduction of the underlying investment company’s income due to the use of hedging; possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument; possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations; imperfect correlation between the contract and the securities being hedged; and potential losses in excess of the amount initially invested in the futures contracts themselves. If the expectations of the adviser of the underlying investment company regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, the underlying investment company may have experienced better investment results without hedging. The use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts requires special skills in addition to those needed to select portfolio securities.

 

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks.  Thus, while an underlying investment company may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the underlying investment company than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and the underlying investment company may be exposed to risk of loss.

 

Perfect correlation between an underlying investment company’s futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. There are no futures contracts based upon individual securities, except certain U.S. government securities. Other futures contracts available to hedge an underlying investment company’s portfolio investments generally are limited to futures on various securities indices.

 

Options on Securities and Securities Indices.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may each write covered call and secured put options on any securities in which it may invest or on any domestic stock indices based on securities in which it may invest. An underlying investment company may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by an underlying investment company obligates the investment company to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price of the security.

 

23



 

A put option written by an underlying investment company obligates the underlying investment company to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price for the security. The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income. However, in return for the option premium, the underlying investment company accepts the risk that it will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.

 

A written call option or put option may be covered by (i) maintaining cash or liquid securities, either of which may be quoted or denominated in any currency, in a segregated account noted on the underlying investment company’s records or maintained by the underlying investment company’s custodian with a value at least equal to the underlying investment company’s obligation under the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment and/or (iii) purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the underlying investment company’s net exposure on its written option position.

 

An underlying investment company may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written.  Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparts to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions” and do not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying security. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the underlying investment company will have incurred a loss in the transaction.

 

An underlying investment company may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. The amount of this settlement will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the securities index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified amount.  In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

An underlying investment company may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. An underlying investment company may also cover call and put options on a securities index by using the other methods described above.

 

24



 

An underlying investment company would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease (“protective puts”) in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle an underlying investment company, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. An underlying investment company would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the underlying investment company would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle an underlying investment company, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of an underlying investment company’s securities. Put options may also be purchased by an underlying investment company for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. An underlying investment company would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the underlying investment company would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities.

 

An underlying investment company may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Although an underlying investment company may use option transactions to seek to generate additional income and to seek to reduce the effect of any adverse price movement in the securities or currency subject to the option, they do involve certain risks that are different in some respects from investment risks associated with similar mutual funds, which do not engage in such activities. These risks include the following: for writing call options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the inability to participate in the appreciation of the underlying securities above the exercise price; for writing put options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the obligation to purchase the specified securities or to make a cash settlement on the securities index at prices which may not reflect current market values; and for purchasing call and put options, the possible loss of the entire premium paid. In addition, the effectiveness of hedging through the purchase or sale of securities index options, including options on the S&P 500 ®  Index, will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the portion of the securities portfolio being hedged correlate with the price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation may not be possible because the securities held or to be acquired by an underlying investment company may not exactly match the composition of the securities index on which options are written. If the forecasts of the adviser of the underlying investment company regarding movements in securities prices or

 

25



 

interest rates are incorrect, an underlying investment company’s investment results may have been better without the hedge transactions.

 

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If an underlying investment company is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the investment company will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if an underlying investment company is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.

 

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

 

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options for hedging purposes depends in part on the adviser’s ability to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets.

 

Pay-in-Kind Securities, Zero Coupon and Capital Appreciation Bonds.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities.  PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash.  Similarly, zero coupon and capital appreciation bonds are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date.  The amount of the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable.  Such securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing

 

26



 

cash flow.  PIK securities that are debt securities can either be senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest).  The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.

 

PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, an underlying investment company will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, an underlying investment company may obtain no return at all on its investment.  In addition, even though such securities may not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, an underlying investment company is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally is required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax.  Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, an underlying investment company may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the underlying investment company.  Additionally, the market prices of PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

 

Purchase Warrants.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in purchase warrants and similar rights.  Purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time.  Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration.  The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the underlying investment company could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the warrants’ expiration.  Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

27



 

Real Estate Investment Trust Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).  REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two. Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type.  A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level Federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities, derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property, and distribute to shareholders annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.

 

Generally, REITs can be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs.  Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales.  Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.  Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs.  The values of securities issued by REITs are affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.  Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on an underlying investment company and, therefore, the Portfolios.

 

The REITs in which the underlying investment companies may invest may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry.  REITs are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.  Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws.  REITS whose underlying assets include long-term health care properties; such as nursing, retirement and assisted living homes, may be impacted by federal regulations concerning the health care industry.  An underlying investment company will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the underlying investment company.  An underlying investment company is also subject to the risk that the REITs in which it invests will fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and/or fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended.  A REIT’s return may be adversely affected when interest rates are high or rising.

 

28



 

Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities.  Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® Index.

 

Repurchase Agreements.   Each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price (“repurchase agreements”).  The securities held subject to a repurchase agreement may have stated maturities exceeding 397 days, provided the repurchase agreement itself matures in less than 13 months.  Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose an underlying investment company to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, expose an underlying investment company to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities.  Each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may not invest more than 15% of their respective net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.  Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate; currency and mortgage swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; municipal leases; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation.  Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days.  A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay.  Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

Each underlying investment company may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”).  These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the underlying investment adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities.  This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in an underlying investment company during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

29



 

The underlying investment adviser will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by an underlying investment company.  In reaching liquidity decisions, the underlying investment adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may enter into reverse repurchase agreements.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by an underlying investment company subject to the underlying investment company’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by an underlying investment company may decline below the price of the securities the underlying investment company is obligated to repurchase and the interest received on the cash exchanged for the securities.  Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act.

 

Short Sales.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may enter into short sales.  Short sales are transactions in which an underlying investment company sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the underlying investment company must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  The underlying investment company then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement.  The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the underlying investment company.  Until the security is replaced, the underlying investment company is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan.  To borrow the security, the underlying investment company also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.  The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until an underlying investment company replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the underlying investment company will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that  the amount

 

30



 

deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

An underlying investment company will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the underlying investment company replaces the borrowed security.  The underlying investment company will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates.  This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security.  The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the underlying investment company may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

Short Sales “Against the Box.”  In addition to the short sales discussed above, an underlying investment company may make short sales “against the box,” a transaction in which a fund enters into a short sale of a security that the fund owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost.  The proceeds of the short sale will be held by a broker until the settlement date at which time the underlying investment company delivers the security to close the short position.  The underlying investment company receives the net proceeds from the short sale.

 

Structured Securities.  The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying investment companies may invest in structured securities.  The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References.  The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference.  Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices.

 

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, an underlying investment company could suffer a total loss of its investment.  Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity.  In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference.  Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities.  Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally.  While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected.  These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the underlying investment companies’ investments.  It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

31



 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets.  Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Portfolio invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable.  Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude an underlying investment company’s, and thus a Portfolio’s, ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.  The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the underlying investment companies’ holdings.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Portfolios, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of each Portfolio’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio

 

32



 

holdings is in the best interest of Portfolio shareholders and to address conflicts of interests of Portfolio shareholders and their service providers.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to a Portfolio’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Portfolio.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of a Portfolio’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Portfolios’ portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Portfolios’ portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian for the Portfolios; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Portfolios’ independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Portfolios.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in a Portfolio’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information. Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15-day time lag.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Portfolios’ portfolios.

 

33



 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Portfolios.

 

The Board of Directors provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board of Directors receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board of Directors receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Portfolios, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

Portfolio Turnover.  Changes may be made to a Portfolio’s portfolio consistent with the investment objective and policies of such Portfolio whenever such changes are believed to be in the best interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders.  The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a Portfolio’s portfolio securities.  For purposes of this calculation, portfolio securities exclude all securities having a maturity when purchased of one year or less.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rates for the Portfolios can be found in the “Financial Highlights” section of the Portfolios’ Prospectus. High portfolio turnover may result in increased brokerage costs to a Portfolio.  Under normal circumstances each of the Portfolios expects to have a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

34



 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

35



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 67

 

Chairman

 

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

36



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,

CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 53

 

President Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

2004 to

present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center,

Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); Since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

37



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of
Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 55

 

Assistant

Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)       Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.   Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)       Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

38



 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.  Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

39



 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss. Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer. The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products.  The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

40



 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Portfolios and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him) as of December 31, 2014.  Shares of the Portfolios are offered only to Separate Accounts of Participating Insurance Companies for the purpose of funding various annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and are not available for direct investment by the Directors.

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Portfolios

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment Companies
Overseen by Director within the
Family of Investment Companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001 - $50,000

 

41



 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Portfolios

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment Companies
Overseen by Director within the
Family of Investment Companies

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001 - $50,000

 

 

 

 

 

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director, a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically.  The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight

 

42



 

Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company.  Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Portfolios in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from
Portfolios

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of
Portfolio
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Portfolios
and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

2,951.87

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

2,945.49

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

3,613.47

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

3,197.87

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

4,245.02

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

2,942.08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

3,374.96

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

36,286.09

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


 * Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from each of the Portfolios in the following amounts:

 

43



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Matson Money
U.S. Equity VI
Portfolio

 

Matson Money
International
Equity VI
Portfolio

 

Matson Money
Fixed Income VI
Portfolio

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

984.83

 

$

974.35

 

$

992.69

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

982.72

 

$

972.83

 

$

989.94

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,205.52

 

$

1,194.26

 

$

1,213.69

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,066.83

 

$

1,056.93

 

$

1,074.11

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,416.13

 

$

1,403.65

 

$

1,425.24

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

981.58

 

$

972.04

 

$

988.46

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,126.16

 

$

1,113.56

 

$

1,135.24

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA, Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,097.78

 

$

12,069.63

 

$

12,118.68

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

44



 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of each Portfolio as indicated below.  See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below.  Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class.  Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

Name of Portfolio

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015
*(Percentage of shares
owned rounded to the
nearest whole percentage)

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank Cust. FBO
Intelligent Variable Annuity
TIAA-CREF Life SEP A/C VA-1 of
TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company
8625 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262

 

550,832.587

 

97.90

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank Cust. FBO
Intelligent Variable Annuity
TIAA-CREF Life SEP A/C VA-1 of
TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company
8625 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262

 

459,511.959

 

97.96

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank Cust. FBO
Intelligent Variable Annuity
TIAA-CREF Life SEP A/C VA-1 of
TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company
8625 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262

 

721,588.254

 

97.53

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio and class within the Company.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

45



 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by each Portfolio to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Portfolios.  The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Portfolios’ investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Portfolios.  A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies is included with this SAI.  Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-261-4073 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser

 

The Adviser renders advisory services to the Portfolio pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”).  The Adviser is not a subsidiary of or under the control of any other company.  Mark E. Matson, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Adviser, owns approximately 90% of the Adviser’s voting stock, and members of Mr. Matson’s family own all of the remaining shares of the Adviser’s voting stock.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Portfolios including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Portfolios, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Portfolios, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Portfolios.  The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with each Portfolio’s investment goal, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Portfolios in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.

 

For its services to the Portfolios the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets over $5 billion.  The Adviser has contractually agreed to

 

46



 

waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit total annual Portfolio operating expenses to 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, respectively. In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and certain of these expenses could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. The Adviser may not recoup waived management fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the period February 18, 2014 through August 31, 2014 and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2015

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

22,453

 

$

37,729

 

$

0

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

15,582

 

$

27,575

 

$

0

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

 

$

18,903

 

$

54,542

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2014*

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

(55,147

)

$

11,304

 

$

55,147

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

(50,532

)

$

7,847

 

$

50,532

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

 

$

(61,193

)

$

16,126

 

$

61,193

 

 


*Commencement of operations — February 18, 2014

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  Each Portfolio bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Portfolio include, but are not limited to the following (or the Portfolio’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Portfolio and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Portfolio by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Portfolio’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs,

 

47



 

expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Portfolio for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value a portfolio’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the Portfolios’ investment advisory agreement is included in the Portfolios’ annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015, which may be obtained by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio, at any time without penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser.  The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser at any time, without payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Portfolio.  The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Portfolio’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Portfolio.  The Adviser may use the Portfolio’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

The Advisory Agreement further provides that no public reference to, or description of, the Adviser or its methodology or work shall be made by the Company, whether in the Prospectus, SAI or otherwise, without the Adviser’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In each case, the Company has agreed to provide the Adviser a reasonable opportunity to review any such reference or description before being asked for such consent.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Description of Compensation .  As of the date of this SAI, the portfolio managers currently and will continue to receive a base salary, a year-end incentive bonus based on

 

48



 

company profitability and may receive a quarterly bonus based on services provided to the Adviser.  Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the portfolio manager’s supervisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors.  The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that they manage.  The portfolio manager’s supervisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market.

 

Other Accounts . The table below discloses accounts, other than the Portfolios, for which each portfolio manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee Based on
Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Mark E. Matson

 

Other Portfolios of the Company:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

56,439

 

6.015billion

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Steven B. Miller

 

Other Portfolios of the Company:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

56,439

 

6.015billion

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Kenneth E. Gatliff

 

Other Portfolios of the Company:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

56,439

 

6.015 billion

 

0

 

0

 

 

The portfolio managers utilize a team based approach to other accounts managed.  The portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of a portion of the total assets and number of accounts shown.

 

Conflicts of Interest.  Matson Money reviewed its conflicts of interest and risk factors and has attempted to develop policies and procedures to address these matters. Matson Money does not engage in transactions on behalf of client accounts with any affiliates. Matson Money does not have custody of any client securities or funds. Neither Matson Money nor any of its related persons act as general partners or managing members of any unregistered pooled investment vehicle. Matson Money does not manage its own proprietary account. Moreover, none of Matson Money’s officers or employees engage in any outside business activities that conflict with Matson Money’s duties to its clients. Finally, Matson Money does not purchase IPOs or individual securities for clients. Thus, Matson Money’s conflicts and risk factors are in the following areas: solicitation practices, suitability of Matson Money’s services for a client, trade errors, marketing practices, compliance with any client guidelines and restrictions, valuation of client accounts and calculation of fees, safeguarding of client assets, safeguarding of the privacy of client information, disaster recovery, accurate disclosure of information to clients and regulators, and accurate creation and secure

 

49



 

maintenance of client records.  Matson Money’s Compliance Manual is available upon request, which has more detailed explanations of policies and procedures currently in place to safeguard against potential conflicts/risks.

 

Securities Ownership .  As of the date of this SAI, no Portfolio Manager owned shares of any Portfolio.  Shares of the Portfolios are only offered to Separate Accounts of Participating Insurance Companies for the purpose of funding various annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and are not available for direct investment by the Portfolio Managers.

 

Custodian Agreement

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10286, serves as the custodian of the Portfolios’ assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between BNY and the Company dated as of July 18, 2011, as amended, and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, BNY:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of each Portfolio; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of each Portfolio; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of each Portfolio; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of each Portfolio’s portfolio securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Portfolios’ operations.  BNY is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Portfolios, provided that BNY remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Company harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian .  The Portfolios have made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). For its services to the Portfolios under the Custodian Agreement, BNY receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Portfolios’ average gross assets; exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Portfolios.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement

 

BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Portfolios pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (collectively, the “Transfer Agency Agreement”).  Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of each Portfolio; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Portfolios to record owners of Shares of the Portfolio, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Portfolios.  For its services to the Portfolios under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Portfolios, subject to a minimum fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 -

 

50



 

$50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Portfolios will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement

 

BNY Mellon also serves as the Portfolios’ administrator and fund accounting agent pursuant to an Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Portfolios statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Portfolios.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard.  For its services to each Portfolio, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.045% of the Portfolios’ first $1.5 billion of aggregate average net assets; 0.035% of the Portfolios’ next $1.5 billion of aggregate average net assets; 0.030% of the Portfolios’ next $2 billion of aggregate average net assets; and 0.020% of the Portfolios’ aggregate average net assets in excess of $5 billion.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,208 per month for each Portfolio, exclusive of costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

For the period February 18, 2014 through August 31, 2014 and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each Portfolio paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out of pocket expenses as follows:

 

51



 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2015

 

Administration, Accounting
and Regulatory
Administration Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

7,716

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

6,174

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

 

$

9,285

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2014*

 

Administration, Accounting
and Regulatory
Administration Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

10,322

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

 

$

9,979

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

 

$

10,718

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 


*Commencement of operations — February 18, 2014

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or a Portfolio in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Company’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Distribution Agreement

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC  (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Portfolios pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement dated October 28, 2014 (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the

 

52



 

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Portfolios.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Company, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Portfolios.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Portfolio on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Portfolio shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Portfolios.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Portfolios and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Portfolios.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Portfolios through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Portfolios for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Portfolio’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Portfolios on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the

 

53



 

Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Portfolios.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Portfolios, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

No Portfolio has any obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions.  The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Portfolios and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Portfolios and other clients of the Adviser.  Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts.  A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to a Portfolio and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by a Portfolio will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to a Portfolio over the long-term.

 

Investment decisions for each Portfolio and for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser are made independently of each other in the light of differing conditions.  However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts.  In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable.  Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account.  While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as a Portfolio is concerned, in other cases it is believed to be beneficial to a Portfolio.

 

No Portfolio paid brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions for the past three fiscal years.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist that make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of a Portfolio’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing that Portfolio’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting

 

54



 

these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that each Portfolio is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Portfolio. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse a Portfolio for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any Portfolio from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

Each Portfolio has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the particular Portfolio for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Portfolio you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Portfolio, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than Foreside Distributors), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other

 

55



 

industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of each Portfolio is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than a Portfolio’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, a Portfolio may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Portfolios are valued under the direction of the Portfolios’ administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Portfolios may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on a Portfolio’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Portfolios’ Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Portfolios may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Portfolios do not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Portfolio shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

Shares of the Portfolios are offered to Separate Accounts that fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by Participating Insurance Companies.  See the prospectuses for such contracts or policies for a discussion of the special taxation of insurance companies with respect to the Separate Accounts, the variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and the holders thereof.

 

The following summarizes certain tax considerations generally affecting the Portfolios, the underlying investment companies, and Portfolio shareholders that are not fully described in the Prospectus.  No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolios, the underlying investment companies, or Portfolio shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.  Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The holders of variable life insurance policies or annuity contracts should not be subject to tax with respect to distributions made on, or redemptions of, Portfolio shares, assuming that the variable life insurance policies and annuity contracts qualify under the Code, as life insurance or annuities, respectively, and that the Separate Accounts (rather than the holders of such policies or contracts) are treated as owners of the Portfolio shares.  Thus, this summary does not describe

 

56



 

the tax consequences to a holder of a life insurance policy or annuity contract as a result of the ownership of such policies or contracts.  Policy or contract holders must consult the prospectuses of their respective policies or contracts for information concerning the federal income tax consequences of owning such policies or contracts.  This summary also does not describe the tax consequences applicable to the owners of the Portfolio shares because the Portfolio shares will be sold only to insurance companies.  Thus, purchasers of Portfolio shares must consult their own tax advisers regarding the federal, state, and local tax consequences of owning Portfolio shares.

 

Each Portfolio and each underlying investment company intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.  As such, each Portfolio and underlying investment company generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders.  To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, each Portfolio and underlying investment company must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, each Portfolio and underlying investment company must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of each Portfolio’s and each underlying investment company’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s and the underlying investment companies’ assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio or underlying investment company has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of such issuer and as to which the Portfolio or underlying investment company does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer), and no more than 25% of the value of each Portfolio’s and each underlying investment company’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Portfolio or underlying investment company controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, each Portfolio and underlying investment company must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of the Portfolio’s or underlying investment company’s investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

Each Portfolio and underlying investment company intends to comply with these requirements.  If a Portfolio or underlying investment company were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the

 

57



 

shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Portfolio or underlying investment company could be disqualified as a regulated investment company.  If for any taxable year a Portfolio or underlying investment company were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. Moreover, a failure of a Portfolio to qualify as a regulated investment company could cause Separate Accounts that invest in the Portfolio to fail to meet the applicable diversification requirements described below, which in turn, could have adverse tax effects on policy or contract holders.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses).  Each Portfolio and underlying investment company intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

Each Portfolio intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.  Under Code Section 817(h), a variable life insurance or annuity contract will not be treated as a life insurance policy or annuity contract, respectively, under the Code, unless the Separate Account upon which such contract or policy is based is “adequately diversified.”  A Separate Account will be adequately diversified if it satisfies one of two alternative tests set forth in the Treasury regulations.  Specifically, the Treasury regulations provide that, except as permitted by the “safe harbor” discussed below, as of the end of each calendar quarter (or within 30 days thereafter) no more than 55% of the Separate Account’s total assets may be represented by any one investment, no more than 70% by any two investments, no more than 80% by any three investments and no more than 90% by any four investments.  For this purpose, all securities of the same issuer are considered a single investment, and each U.S. government agency and instrumentality is considered a separate issuer.  As a safe harbor, a Separate Account will be treated as being adequately diversified if the diversification requirements under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code are satisfied and no more than 55% of the value of the account’s total assets are cash and cash items, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies.  In addition, a Separate Account with respect to a variable life insurance contract is treated as adequately diversified to the extent of its investment in securities issued by the United States Treasury.

 

For purposes of these alternative diversification tests, a Separate Account investing in shares of a regulated investment company generally will be entitled to “look through” the regulated investment company to its pro rata portion of the regulated investment company’s assets, provided that the shares of such regulated investment company are generally held only by insurance companies in their general account or in Separate Accounts and certain fund managers (a “Closed Portfolio”). Public access to such regulated investment company is available exclusively through the purchase of a variable contract. Each Portfolio will be a Closed Portfolio.

 

If the Separate Account upon which a variable contract is based is not “adequately diversified” under the foregoing rules, then the variable contract will not be treated as a life insurance contract or annuity contract under the Code, and the taxation and treatment of a policy

 

58



 

or contract holder will be other than as described in the applicable prospectus of such policy or contract and generally will be more adverse to the holder.

 

In addition, if a Portfolio did not constitute a Closed Portfolio or the holders of the contracts and annuities which invest in the Portfolio through a Separate Account were able, or were treated as able, to direct the Portfolio’s investment in any particular asset, those holders might be treated as owners of Portfolio shares and might be subject to tax on distributions made by the Portfolio.  The IRS may consider several factors in determining whether a contract holder has an impermissible level of investor control.  One factor the IRS considers when a Separate Account invests in one or more regulated investment companies is whether a regulated investment company’s investment strategies are sufficiently broad to prevent a contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in the Separate Account.  Current IRS guidance indicates that typical regulated investment company investment strategies, even those with a specific sector or geographic focus, are generally considered sufficiently broad to prevent a contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in a Separate Account.  Another factor that the IRS examines concerns actions of contract holders.  Under the IRS pronouncements, a contract holder may not select or control particular investments, other than choosing among broad investment choices such as selecting a particular regulated investment company.  A contract holder thus may not select or direct the purchase or sale of a particular investment of the Portfolio.  The relationship between the Portfolio and the variable contracts is designed to satisfy the current expressed view of the IRS on this subject, such that the investor control doctrine should not apply.

 

The Portfolios requested and received a private letter ruling from the IRS that the contract holders will not be treated as the owners of the Portfolios’ shares for federal income tax purposes based on the structure and intended operation of the Portfolios.  However, it is possible that the Treasury Department may issue future pronouncements addressing the circumstances in which a contract holder’s control of the investments of a Separate Account may cause the contract holder, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the Separate Account.  It is not known what standards will be set forth in any such pronouncements or when, if at all, these pronouncements may be issued.  If such pronouncements are issued, the Portfolios would seek to modify the structure of the Portfolios.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although each Portfolio and underlying investment company expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, a Portfolio or an underlying investment company may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

59



 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by a Portfolio or an underlying investment company, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain.  Such transactions and investments may cause a Portfolio or an underlying investment company to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Portfolio or the underlying investment company to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which a Portfolio or an underlying investment company invests, the Portfolio or the underlying investment company may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Portfolio or the underlying investment company fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in a Portfolio has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Portfolio with each other share that represents an interest in such Portfolio, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Portfolio.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders collectively owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of Common Stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each Portfolio will vote in the aggregate on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to

 

60



 

be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Portfolios’ independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Portfolios’ Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein.  The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Portfolios’ independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, whose

 

61



 

report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated by reference into this SAI.  Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.  Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

62



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency

 

A- 1



 

rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

A- 2



 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

A- 3



 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial

 

A- 4



 

commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

A- 5



 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

A- 6



 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 7



 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while

 

A- 8



 

speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

A- 9



 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 10



 

APPENDIX B

 

PROXY POLICY STATEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

 

STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

Matson Money, Inc. (formerly known as Abundance Technologies, Inc.) views the fiduciary act of managing plan assets to include the voting of proxies appurtenant to shares held in the plan.  As a rule, Matson Money, Inc. strives to ensure that all proxies are received from the custodian in a timely manner and then exercises its right to vote all proxies.  In keeping with the ERISA definition of fiduciary responsibility and the Department of Labor directives, all proxy voting decisions are made “solely in the best interest of the client’s plan participants and beneficiaries.”

 

This document represents what the firm believes to be important elements of sound corporate governance and social responsibility.  In our opinion, good corporate governance should maintain an appropriate balance between the rights of shareholders (the owners of the corporation) and the needs of management to direct the corporation’s affairs devoid of distracting short-term pressures.  As a responsible long term investment manager, Matson Money, Inc. acknowledges its responsibility to strive for improved corporate governance and performance discipline.  Matson Money, Inc. offers this policy as a basis for dialogue with the objective of improving corporate governance and social practices.  This statement identifies Matson Moneys’ voting guidelines on numerous proxy issues.  These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of every issue that may arise.  Proxy issues that are not described herein will be considered in light of the relevant facts and circumstances.

 

CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

 

Each proxy issue is reviewed on its own merits, on a case-by-case basis.  Every proxy voting decision, whether on Corporate Governance or Social Issues, is made with the exclusive purpose of maximizing the economic value of the client’s investment.  Matson Money, Inc. gives special consideration to “out of the ordinary” matters and may vote against management on specific issues which are deemed to impair shareholder rights or value.  Furthermore, Matson Money, Inc. would oppose any proposal which would entrench or protect management interest contrary to the financial interests of the stockholder.

 

PROXY ADMINISTRATION

 

The portfolio manager and compliance officer are primarily responsible for monitoring corporate actions, making voting decisions and ensuring that proxies are submitted timely, consistent with this policy.  Matson Money, Inc. may form special committees, from time to time, to address unusual proxy voting issues or conflicts.

 

B- 1



 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

All conflicts of interest will be resolved in the interest of the clients.  Occasionally, Matson Money, Inc. may be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or personal relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of certain votes.  In situations where Matson Money, Inc. perceives a material conflict of interest, Matson Money, Inc. may disclose the conflict to the relevant clients; defer to the voting recommendation of the clients or of an independent third party provider of proxy services; send the proxy directly to the clients for a voting decision; abstain from voting; or take such other action in good faith, in consultation with counsel, to determine the appropriate method to resolve the conflict in the interest of clients, based upon the particular facts and circumstances.  With respect to investment company clients, conflicts may arise as to votes involving the investment adviser, the underwriter, their affiliates or affiliates of the investment company.  In such cases, Matson Money, Inc. will follow the voting guidelines described herein, including the process for handling conflicts.  Under normal circumstances, if a conflict is determined not to be material, Matson Money, Inc. will vote the proxy in accordance with this policy.  The method selected by Matson Money, Inc. to vote proxies in the presence of a conflict may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law.

 

I.                                         CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:

 

A.                                     BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

 

A company’s board of directors represents the focal point of corporate governance.  The board is a group of elected individuals which oversees the operation and direction of the company on behalf of its owners.  The principal responsibility of the board is to further the long term success of the corporation while remaining true to its fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders.  Matson Money, Inc. supports the primary authority of the board; however, at the same time, the firm believes that directors must remain accountable to the shareholders.  Consequently, Matson Moneys’ guidelines are as follows:

 

1.                                       Election of Directors:   While Matson Money, Inc. normally votes for the board’s nominees, the firm may decline to vote for unopposed candidates when their record indicates that their election to the board would not be in the interest of shareholders.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. may vote for alternative candidates when its analysis indicates that these candidates will better represent shareholder interests.

 

2.                                       Independent Directors:    In Matson Moneys’ opinion, the ideal board should be comprised primarily of independent (non-management) directors who are both willing and qualified to serve in such capacity.  In this context, independence means no present or former employment by the company or its management which could interfere with the director’s loyalty to the shareholders.

 

3.                                       Cumulative Voting:   This voting procedure entitles each stockholder to as many votes as shall equal the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of directors to be elected.  Such votes may all be cast for a single candidate or for any two or more as the stockholder sees fit.  Matson Money, Inc. believes this method is an important democratic means of

 

B- 2



 

electing directors and allows shareholders to obtain representation on the board by significant vote.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. generally supports the practice of cumulative voting.

 

4.                                       Classified Board:   A classified board is a staggered board arrangement in which each director is elected for an established term of two, three, or four years, depending on the number of classes established.  Only those directors in the class up for election can be approved or rejected by shareholders in any given year.  In Matson Moneys’ opinion, a classified board serves to entrench management and limit shareholders’ ability to effect favorable change.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes classified boards.

 

5.                                       Director Liability and Indemnification:   A proper director liability policy should balance the need to hold directors accountable for improper actions with the need to attract competent and diligent individuals for board positions.  The Corporation should be free to indemnify directors for legal expenses and judgments in connection with their service as directors and eliminate the directors’ liability for ordinary negligence.  However, directors should be held liable to the corporation for violations of their fiduciary duty involving gross negligence.  Similarly, proposals that indemnify directors who have committed fraud or dereliction of duty would be opposed.

 

6.                                       Director Compensation:   Normally, the remuneration of Directors is considered a routine item of business.  Therefore, it is not usually submitted for a shareholder vote.  However, non-employee director compensation has become a shareholder issue recently.  Generally, Matson Money, Inc. would prefer to see more of the directors’ compensation based upon shareholder returns as measured by stock price appreciation or some other meaningful performance measure.  Furthermore, Matson Money, Inc. encourages corporations to phase out pension or retirement plans for their non-employee directors.  Most non-employee directors have retirement benefits from their primary employer; however, Matson Money, Inc. recognizes that a blanket vote to eliminate all such retirement plans could negatively impact a company’s access to potentially valuable directors.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. will not vote in favor of unilaterally eliminating retirement benefits.

 

7.                                       General:   Matson Money, Inc. recognizes the responsibilities of the board to organize its function and conduct its business in an efficient manner.  Therefore, barring unusual circumstances, Matson Money, Inc. would favor management proposals related to board size and oppose shareholder resolutions calling for the separation of the CEO and Chairman positions, establishing age limits for directors, special interest representation, and the formation of shareholder advisory committees, or term limits for directors.  Matson Money, Inc. is also against restricting the date or location of the annual meeting.

 

B.                                     CAPITALIZATION ISSUES:   Capitalization related proposals pertain to the creation, repurchase, or reclassification of securities.  Matson Money, Inc. may support the authorization of additional stock if management provides a satisfactory explanation of its plans for the stock; however, Matson Money, Inc.

 

B- 3



 

will oppose large unexplained increases in common stock.  Matson Money, Inc. will also oppose the issuance of “blank check” preferred or convertible stock which could potentially be used as a takeover deterrent or dilute/jeopardize the clients’ common stock ownership.

 

1.                                       Increase Authorized Common Stock:   Matson Money, Inc. considers a proposal to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock on case-by-case basis.  Matson Money, Inc. takes into account the size of the requested increase, its stated purpose, and how much authorized but unissued common stock remains.  The firm generally supports a stock split or a reasonable replenishment after a stock split.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. may approve an increase to support a shareholder value enhancing acquisition, to provide the necessary flexibility to maintain an optimal capital structure, or to fund stock option and stock purchase plans.  Requests to significantly increase the number of authorized shares (those resulting in greater than 10% dilution) without a stated reason or demonstrated need would be opposed.  Similarly, Matson Money, Inc. would oppose an increase when additional shares are to be used for anti-takeover measures.

 

2.                                       Authorize Blank Check Preferred Stock:   This proposal would grant authority to the board to create and issue a new class of preferred stock with unspecified terms and conditions.  “Blank check” preferred stock could be granted special voting rights and be used to entrench management or deter takeover attempts.  Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes proposals to vest the board with such power.

 

3.                                       Authorize Convertible Stock:   Matson Money, Inc. would review the rationale on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s current capitalization structure, the stated purpose for the security and the potential dilution effect this security would have on existing common shareholders upon conversion.  Matson Money, Inc. would oppose any request which is “blank check” in nature, where the company’s rationale is unclear, and where the request appears to blunt possible takeover attempts.

 

C.                                     SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AND PROXY VOTING:   The proxy vote is the key mechanism by which shareholders render their opinion in corporate governance.  In exercising its votes, Matson Money, Inc. believes:

 

1.                                       Confidential Voting should be adopted by all corporations on all matters brought before the shareholders.  Such provisions would protect the importance of the proxy vote and eliminate the appearance of any impropriety.

 

2.                                       Multiple Classes of Common Stock with disparate voting rights should not exist.  Rather, the board should adhere to the principle of one share-one vote.

 

3.                                       Super-majority rules or requirements which interfere with the shareholder’s right to elect directors and ratify corporate actions should be opposed.

 

4.                                       Changes in Corporation’s Domicile should only be proposed for valid business reasons, not to obtain protection against unfriendly takeovers.

 

5.                                       Change of Control occurs when a third party becomes, or obtains the right to become, the beneficial owner of Company securities having 50%

 

B- 4



 

or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the company.  Change of Control also would occur when the directors prior to a given event cease to constitute a majority of the Board as a result of the event.

 

6.                                       Fair Price Provisions and measures to limit the corporation’s ability to buy back shares from a particular shareholder at higher than market prices are generally supported.

 

7.                                       Pre-emptive Rights allow shareholders the option to buy part of any new issue prior to its public offering.  This provision allows existing shareholders to maintain their original ownership percentage.  However, pre-emptive rights often raise the cost of capital by increasing both the time and expense of issuing new shares.  Therefore, pre-emptive rights should generally be eliminated, except where Matson Moneys’ analysis concludes such rights have value to the shareholders.

 

8.                                       “Anti-Takeover” measures should be submitted for shareholder approval.  Matson Money, Inc. is generally against such measures.

 

9.                                       Bundled Proposals: Occasionally management will attempt to tie a non-routine issue to one that is routine, attempting to pass both items in the form of a bundled proposal.  Disparate issues should not be combined and presented for a single vote.  Such proposals are generally not well received and must be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

10.                                Special Meetings of the Board of Directors, on such issues as takeovers and changes in the make-up of the Board, by its shareholders is permitted at most companies. Matson Money, Inc. is generally against limitations on the calling of Special Meetings.

 

D.                                     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION:   The board and its compensation committee should set executive compensation levels adequate to attract and retain qualified executives.  These managers should be rewarded in direct relationship to the contribution they make in maximizing shareholder value.  Matson Money, Inc. readily admits it is not qualified to thoroughly evaluate the specific issues of executive compensation for each of its portfolio holdings; however the firm does evaluate the reasonableness of compensation policies, criteria and formulas.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. decides what constitutes adequate disclosure of executive compensation.  Matson Money, Inc. generally supports sound “pay for performance” plans which ensure equitable treatment of both corporate management and shareholders.  Compensation should include both salary and performance components.  The salary should have a defined relationship to salaries in an industry peer group.  Similarly, performance measures should relate to key industry success measurements and be judged over adequate time periods.

 

1.                                       Incentive Plans should be set forth annually in the proxy statement.  The criteria used to evaluate the performance of senior executives should be clearly stated.  Terms of the awards, such as type, coverage and option price should be specified.  Excess discretion will not be approved.  Matson Money, Inc. generally supports management if the company defines their performance goals.  However, Matson Money, Inc. opposes incentive plans where no specific goals are defined.  Without specific performance goals, there is no assurance that awards will be paid based upon realistic performance criteria.  Matson Money, Inc. also votes against plans where

 

B- 5



 

performance hurdles are, in its opinion, set too low.  Total potential dilution from existing and proposed compensation plans should not exceed 10% over the duration of the plan(s).  Finally, Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes plans which grant reload options (favorable repricing of options) or where options become immediately exercisable following a change of control defined as anything less than 50%.

 

2.                                       Stock/Stock Option Plans:   Matson Money, Inc. generally votes against a plan if the exercise price is unspecified or below 90% of the fair market value on the date of the grant.

 

3.                                       Golden Parachutes should always be put to shareholder vote because they often exceed ordinary compensation practices.  We are generally against Golden Parachutes.

 

E.                                      ROUTINE CORPORATE ISSUES:   Proposals in this category, which have been seen repeatedly on an historical basis, are usually non-controversial.  Generally, these issues revolve around items that are related to the normal operating procedures of the company.  Matson Money, Inc., however, votes against a management proposal to “approve any other business that properly comes before the meeting.”  As a fiduciary, Matson Money, Inc. opposes any attempt by management to get a blanket approval without full disclosure.  Conversely, each of the proposals listed below are generally supported, unless compelling reasons exist to question why it is not in the best interest of shareholders.

 

1.                                       Appointment of Auditors

2.                                       Corporate Name and/or Ticker Change

3.                                       Approval of Articles of Incorporation

4.                                       Changes to the Articles of Incorporation

5.                                       Changes in the Date, Time and/or Location of Annual Meeting

6.                                       Stock Splits

7.                                       Acceptance of Director’s Report

8.                                       Approval of Corporate Dividend

 

II.                                    SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES:  Matson Money, Inc. acknowledges its duty both as a corporate citizen and as a manager of investment funds to address important social issues.  The intention of our firm is not to impose its moral or social views upon clients.  Nor should Matson Money, Inc. restrict in any way the day-to-day operating procedures of a corporation unless, in so doing, the economic value of the client’s investment is enhanced.

 

B- 6



 

DOCUMENTATION OF VOTING DECISIONS

 

Matson Money, Inc. maintains accurate records of each corporate proxy received and voted along with documentation of the proxy voting decisions on each issue.  The records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

 

REPORTING

 

In order to facilitate a client’s monitoring of proxy decisions made and actions taken by Matson Money, Inc., a report summarizing each corporate issue and corresponding proxy vote is available to clients upon request.

 

B- 7



 

STATEMENT OF

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

BOSTON PARTNERS INVESTMENT FUNDS

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

Institutional Class

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II - BPSIX

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund - BPAIX

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund - BPLSX

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund - BPIRX

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund - WPGTX

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund — BPGIX

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund - BGLSX

 

Investor Class

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II — BPSCX

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund — BPAVX

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund — BPLEX

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — BPRRX

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund — BPGRX

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund — BGRSX

 

December 31, 2015

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (the “Small Cap Value Fund”), Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund (the “All-Cap Value Fund”), Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (the “Long/Short Equity Fund”), Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund (the “Long/Short Research Fund”), Boston Partners Global Equity Fund (the “Global Equity Fund”), Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund (the “Global Long/Short Fund”)  (collectively, the “Boston Partners Funds”) and the WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund (the “WPG Fund”), (each, a “Fund,” two or more together, the “Funds”). The Funds are series of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This information is in addition to the information contained in the Institutional Class and Investor Class shares’ Prospectuses of the Funds dated December 31, 2015 (each, a “Prospectus” and together, the “Prospectuses”).

 

This SAI is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectuses and the Funds’ Annual Report dated August 31, 2015. Copies of the Prospectuses and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained by calling toll-free (888) 261-4073. The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND POLICIES

1

 

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

20

 

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

25

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

32

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

33

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

41

 

 

PROXY VOTING

41

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

42

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

47

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

47

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

51

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

55

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

55

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

55

 

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

57

 

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION

57

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

60

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

62

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

63

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

63

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

64

 

 

TAXES

64

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

66

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

67

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

67

 

 

APPENDIX A

A-1

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

i



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate portfolios. The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988. This SAI pertains to the Institutional Class and Investor Class shares representing interests in the Boston Partners Investment Funds, which are offered by the Prospectuses.  Each of the Funds except for the Global Equity Fund and the Global Long/Short Fund is diversified.  Robeco Investment Management Inc. (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Boston Partners Funds and the WPG Fund.

 

INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND POLICIES

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectuses concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Funds.  To the extent an investment policy is discussed in this SAI but not in the Prospectuses, such policy is not a principal policy of the Funds.  Except as indicated, the information below relates only to those Funds that are authorized to invest in the instruments or securities described below.

 

The Small Cap Value Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital primarily through investment in equity securities. Current income is a secondary objective.

 

The All-Cap Value Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital primarily through investment in equity securities. Current income is a secondary objective.

 

The Long/Short Equity Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation while reducing exposure to general equity market risk. The Fund seeks a total return greater than that of the S&P 500 ®  Index over a full market cycle.

 

The Long/Short Research Fund seeks to provide long-term total return.

 

The WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund seeks capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and in special situations.

 

The Global Equity Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth.

 

The Global Long/Short Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

 

The Adviser may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Funds’ Prospectuses and this SAI, or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Funds’ investment policies and limitations.

 

Asset-Backed Securities. The Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables. Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of U.S. government securities, but are not direct obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose corporations. Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be present; however privately issued obligations collateralized by a portfolio of privately issued asset-backed securities do not involve any government-related guarantee or insurance. Asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. That is because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets.

 

1



 

Bank and Corporate Obligations. Each Fund may purchase obligations of issuers in the banking industry, such as short-term obligations of bank holding companies, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits issued by U.S. or foreign banks or savings institutions having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion. Investment in obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches of U.S. banks may entail risks that are different from those of investments in obligations of U.S. banks due to differences in political, regulatory and economic systems and conditions. The Funds may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 5% of its total assets.

 

The activities of banks are subject to extensive regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans that may be made and the interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and costs of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties play an important part in the operation of this industry.

 

Each of the Boston Partners Funds may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations that are rated at the time of purchase within the three highest ratings categories of Standard & Poor’s ®  (“S&P”), Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Moody’s Investors, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (or which, if unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality). Unrated securities will be determined to be of comparable quality to rated debt obligations if, among other things, other outstanding obligations of the issuers of such securities are rated A or better. See Appendix A to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

Borrowing. Each Fund may borrow up to 33 1/3 percent of its respective total assets. The Adviser intends to borrow only for temporary or emergency purposes, including to meet portfolio redemption requests so as to permit the orderly disposition of portfolio securities, or to facilitate settlement transactions on portfolio securities. Investments will not be made when borrowings exceed 5% of a Fund’s total assets. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, a Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Each Fund expects that some of its borrowings may be made on a secured basis. In such situations, either the custodian will segregate the pledged assets for the benefit of the lender or arrangements will be made with a suitable subcustodian, which may include the lender. If the securities held by a Fund should decline in value while borrowings are outstanding, the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s outstanding shares will decline in value by proportionately more than the decline in value suffered by the Fund’s securities. As a result, a Fund’s share price may be subject to greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. A Fund’s short sales and related borrowings are not subject to the restrictions outlined above. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank.  In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

Contracts for Differences . The Global Long/Short Fund and Long/Short Research Fund (for this section only, each a “Fund”) may enter into Contracts for Differences (“CFDs”). CFDs are leveraged derivative instruments that allow a Fund to take a position on the change in the market price of an underlying asset, such as a stock, or the value of an index or currency exchange rate. With a long CFD, a Fund is looking to profit from increases in the market price of a particular asset. With a short CFD a Fund is seeking to profit from falls in the market price of the asset. CFDs are subject to liquidity risk because the liquidity of CFDs is based on the liquidity of the underlying instrument, and are subject to counterparty risk, i.e., the risk that the counterparty to the CFD transaction may be unable or unwilling to make payments or to otherwise honor its financial obligations under the terms of the contract. It is also possible that the market price of the CFD will move between the time the order is placed by a Fund and when it is executed by the issuer, which can result in the trade being executed at a less favorable price. CFDs, like many other derivative instruments, involve the risk that, if the derivative security declines in value, additional margin would be required to maintain the margin level. The seller may require a Fund to deposit additional sums to cover this, and this may be at short notice. If additional margin is not provided in time, the seller may liquidate the positions at a loss for which a Fund is liable.  Most CFDs are traded over-the-counter. CFDs are not registered with the SEC or any U.S. regulator, and are not subject to U.S. regulation.

 

2



 

Convertible Securities and Preferred Stocks. Each Fund may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. While no securities investment is completely without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally: (1) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities; (2) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics; and (3) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.

 

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. Generally the conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

 

A convertible security might be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, that Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. The Small Cap Value Fund and WPG Fund do not presently intend to invest more than 5% (10% with respect to the All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund, Global Equity Fund,  and Global Long/Short Fund) of each Fund’s respective net assets, in convertible securities, or securities received by a Fund upon conversion thereof.

 

Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest in a company and provide their owner with claims on the company’s earnings and assets prior to the claims of owners of common stocks but after those of bond owners. Preferred stocks in which the Long/Short Equity Fund, WPG Fund, Global Equity Fund,  and Global Long/Short Fund may invest include sinking fund, convertible, perpetual fixed and adjustable rate (including auction rate) preferred stocks. There is no minimum credit rating applicable to a Fund’s investment in preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock.

 

Currency Swaps and Total Return Swaps.  The Global Equity Fund,  Global Long/Short Fund and Long/Short Research Fund may enter into currency swaps and total return swaps.

 

The Global Equity Fund,  Global Long/Short Fund and Long/Short Research Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes, and the Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may also use these swaps to seek to increase total return. As examples, a Fund may enter into swap transactions for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in an economical way.

 

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In a standard

 

3



 

“swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a particular foreign currency or security, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index, or an index component.

 

A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However, generally a Fund will enter into total return swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Total return swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to total return swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to a total return swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. In contrast, currency swaps may involve the delivery of the entire principal amount of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued the concept release “Use of Derivatives by Investment Companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940,” which discusses, among other matters, whether current market practices involving derivatives are consistent with the leverage provisions of the Act.  Accordingly, investors should be aware that the SEC may offer additional guidance in the future that may impact the manner in which a Fund operates.

 

To the extent that a Fund’s exposure in a transaction involving a swap is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets, or is covered by other means in accordance with SEC guidance, the Fund and the Adviser believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

 

The Global Equity Fund, Global Long/Short Fund and Long/Short Research Fund will not enter into any swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is rated investment grade by S&P’s or Moody’s, or, if unrated by such rating organization, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund and Long/Short Research Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of the Funds would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment instruments were not used.

 

Equity Markets. The Funds invest primarily in equity markets at all times. Equity markets can be highly volatile, so that investing in the Funds involves substantial risk. As a result, investing in the Funds involves the risk of loss of capital.

 

European Currency Unification. As of January 1, 1999, the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the national currencies of many European countries. The European Central Bank has control over each member country’s monetary policies. Therefore, the member countries no longer control their own monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The national governments of the participating countries, however, have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and public debt levels.

 

4



 

European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the EMU imposes for membership. Europe’s economies are diverse, its governments are decentralized, and its cultures vary widely. Several European Union (“EU”) countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal have faced budget issues, some of which may have negative long-term effects for the economies of those countries and other EU countries. There is continued concern about national-level support for the euro and the accompanying coordination of fiscal and wage policy among EMU member countries. Member countries are required to maintain tight control over inflation, public debt, and budget deficit to qualify for membership in the EMU. These requirements can severely limit the ability of EMU member countries to implement monetary policy to address regional economic conditions. Also, it is possible that the EU’s single currency, the euro, could be abandoned in the future by countries that have already adopted its use. These or other events, including political and economic developments, could cause market disruptions, and could affect adversely the values of securities held by the Funds. Because of the number of countries using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets held by certain Funds may be denominated in the euro.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Each Fund may invest in open-end investment companies whose shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq Market System. ETF shares typically trade like shares of common stock and provide investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the component stocks of a widely recognized index such as the S&P 500 ®  Index. There can be no assurance, however, that this can be accomplished as it may not be possible for an ETF to replicate the composition and relative weightings of the securities of its corresponding index. Additionally, some ETFs are actively-managed by an investment adviser and/or sub-advisers and do not seek to provide investment results that correspond to an index.

 

ETFs are subject to risks of an investment in a broadly based portfolio of common stocks, including the risk that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of such investment. Actively-managed ETFs are subject to risk of poor investment, and the individual investments of an actively-managed ETF may not perform as well as its investment adviser and/or sub-advisers expect, and/or the actively-managed ETFs portfolio management practices do not work to achieve their desired result. Individual shares of an ETF are generally not redeemable at their net asset value, but trade on an exchange during the day at prices that are normally close to, but not the same as, their net asset value. There is no assurance that an active trading market will be maintained for the shares of an ETF or that market prices of the shares of an ETF will be close to their net asset values.

 

Investments in securities of ETFs beyond the limitations set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act are subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an exemptive order issued by the SEC to the exchange-traded fund. Section 12(d)(1)(A) states that a mutual fund may not acquire shares of other investment companies, such as ETFs, in excess of: 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company; 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company; or more than 10% of the fund’s total assets were to be invested in the aggregate in all investment companies. The purchase of shares of ETFs may result in duplication of expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to a mutual fund’s own expenses.

 

Each Fund may also acquire investment company shares received or acquired as dividends, through offers of exchange or as a result of reorganization, consolidation or merger. The purchase of shares of other investment companies may result in duplication of expenses such that investors indirectly bear a proportionate share of the expenses of such mutual funds including operating costs and investment advisory and administrative fees.

 

Foreign Securities. Each Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers either directly or through American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”). ADRs are securities, typically issued by a U.S. financial institution (a “depository”), that evidence ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer and deposited with the depository. ADRs may be listed on a national securities exchange or may trade in the over-the-counter market. ADR prices are denominated in U.S. dollars; the underlying security may be denominated in a foreign currency. GDRs, EDRs and IDRs are securities that represent ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a non-U.S. or U.S. corporation. Depositary receipts may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute

 

5



 

shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Investments in depositary receipts do not eliminate the risks in investing in foreign issuers. The underlying security may be subject to foreign government taxes, which would reduce the yield on such securities.

 

Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability. Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations. Inability to dispose of Fund securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to a Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Funds endeavor to achieve the most favorable net results on their portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics (e.g., mail service between the United States and foreign countries) may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of a Fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Funds to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause a Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the Funds may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, each Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the NAV of a Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which a Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s securities in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of a Fund’s securities in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, each Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

 

Each Fund may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The Funds may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations, but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

 

Investing in Emerging Countries, including Asia and Eastern Europe. The Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may invest in securities of issuers located in emerging countries. The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid and subject to greater price volatility, and have a smaller market capitalization, than the U.S. securities markets. In certain countries, there may be fewer publicly traded securities and the market may be dominated by a few issues or sectors. Issuers and securities markets in such countries are not subject to as

 

6



 

extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements or as comprehensive government regulations as are issuers and securities markets in the U.S. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of emerging country issuers may not reflect their financial position or results of operations in the same manner as financial statements for U.S. issuers. Substantially less information may be publicly available about emerging country issuers than is available about issuers in the United States.

 

Emerging country securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of investors. The markets for securities in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging countries may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of developed countries. The limited size of many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging country securities may also affect the Fund’s ability to accurately value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.

 

With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may have an adverse impact on the Fund. For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders in U.S. corporations.

 

Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries may be higher than in the United States and other developed securities markets. In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in emerging countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law.

 

Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit a Fund’s investment in certain emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer’s outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operation of the Funds. The Funds may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.

 

Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western European countries. This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making, including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing foreign private investments and private property. Such economic, political and social instability could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Funds may invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds’ assets. The Funds’ investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.

 

The Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may seek investment opportunities within former “east bloc” countries in Eastern Europe. Most Eastern European countries had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time. The governments of many Eastern European countries have more recently been

 

7



 

implementing reforms directed at political and economic liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move towards a market economy. However, business entities in many Eastern European countries do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of Eastern European countries’ attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently unclear. In addition, any change in the leadership or policies of Eastern European countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.

 

The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments. Many emerging countries have experienced in the past, and continue to experience, high rates of inflation. In certain countries inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. Other emerging countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic recessions. The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to weakness in world prices for their commodity exports. A Fund’s income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign stocks and securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates.

 

Forward Commitment and When-Issued Transactions. Each Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis (subject to its investment policies and restrictions). These transactions involve a commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges. A Fund will not enter into such transactions for the purpose of leverage.

 

When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable a Fund to lock in what is believed by the Adviser to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, a Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, a Fund might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. When-issued securities or forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of a Fund’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the Fund is subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the securities on that date. A Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. When a Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the Fund’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but a Fund may agree to a longer settlement period.

 

A Fund will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment. A Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. A Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions, and its distributions from any net realized capital gains will be taxable to shareholders.

 

When a Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund or its custodian will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the

 

8



 

amount of the Fund’s purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that the Fund will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions. Each of the Long/Short Research Fund, WPG Fund, Global Equity Fund  and Global Long/Short Fund may, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Funds will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

A Fund is permitted to enter into forward contracts for foreign currency under two circumstances. First, when a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security quoted or denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed number of U.S. dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the Fund will be able to insulate itself from a possible loss resulting from a change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received.

 

Second, when the Adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may cause a Fund to enter a forward contract to sell, for a fixed U.S. dollar amount, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of a Fund’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures.  There is no current intention to hedge the currency exposure of any of the Funds.

 

Although the Funds have no current intention to do so, they may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in securities denominated or quoted in a different currency if the Adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the two currencies. Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other U.S. foreign currency, if the Adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the proxy currency and the U.S. dollar.

 

The Funds will not enter into forward contracts to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of such contracts would obligate the Funds to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the Funds’ respective portfolio securities or other assets quoted or denominated in that currency. At the consummation of the forward contract, the Funds may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If a Fund chooses to make delivery of foreign currency, it may be required to obtain such delivery through the sale of portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of a Fund into such currency. If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is party to the original forward contract.

 

The Funds’ transactions in forward contracts will be limited to those described above. Of course, a Fund is not required to enter into such transactions with regard to its foreign currency quoted or denominated securities, and a Fund will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Adviser.

 

9



 

When entering into a forward contract, the Funds will segregate either cash or liquid securities quoted or denominated in any currency in an amount equal to the value of the Funds’ total assets committed to the consummation of forward currency exchange contracts which require the Funds to purchase a foreign currency. If the value of the segregated securities declines, additional cash or securities will be segregated by the Funds on a daily basis so that the value of the segregated securities will equal the amount of the Funds’ commitments with respect to such contracts.

 

This method of protecting the value of the Funds’ portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the Funds’ foreign assets. It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

While the Funds may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while the Funds may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Funds than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between the Funds’ portfolio holdings or securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Funds. Such imperfect correlation may cause the Funds to sustain losses, which will prevent the Funds from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the Funds to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive the Funds of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Funds to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The Funds’ foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Initial Public Offerings. Each of the Funds may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”). An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public. Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. When a Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As a Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

 

Investment Company Securities. Each Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, each Fund’s investments in such securities currently are limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other investment companies will involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act permits a Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund so long as, among other things, said investment is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund would bear its pro rata portion of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities to financial institutions in accordance with the investment restrictions described below. Such loans would involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or of

 

10



 

delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed by the Adviser to be of good standing and only when, in the Adviser’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. Any loans of a Fund’s securities will be fully collateralized and marked to market daily. The Funds do not have the right to vote loaned securities. A Fund will attempt to call all loaned securities back to permit the exercise of voting rights, if time and jurisdictional restrictions permit. There is no guarantee that all loans can be recalled.

 

Leveraging.   The Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may employ leverage in accordance with the fundamental investment limitations described below.  Leveraging the Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income, but, at the same time, creates special risk considerations. For example, leveraging may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the Fund’s shares and in the yield on the Fund’s portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Leveraging creates interest expenses for the Fund which could exceed the income from the assets retained. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest that the Fund will have to pay, the Fund’s net income will be greater than if leveraging were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets retained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Fund will be less than if leveraging were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to stockholders as dividends will be reduced. Because the SEC staff believes both reverse repurchase agreements and dollar roll transactions are collateralized borrowings, the SEC staff believes that they create leverage, which is a speculative factor. The requirement that such transactions be fully collateralized by assets segregated by the Fund’s custodian imposes a practical limit on the leverage these transactions create.

 

Market Fluctuation. The market value of each Fund’s investments, and thus each Fund’s NAV, will change in response to market conditions affecting the value of its portfolio securities. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate loans are reset periodically, yields on investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. Because the investment alternatives available to each Fund may be limited by the specific objective of that Fund, investors should be aware that an investment in a particular Fund may be subject to greater market fluctuation than an investment in a portfolio of securities representing a broader range of investment alternatives. In view of the specialized nature of the investment activities of each Fund, an investment in any single Fund should not be considered a complete investment program.

 

Micro-Cap, Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Stocks. Each Fund may invest in securities of companies with micro-, small- and mid-size capitalizations which  tend to be riskier than securities of companies with large capitalizations. This is because micro-, small- and mid-cap companies typically have smaller product lines and less access to liquidity than large cap companies, and are therefore more sensitive to economic downturns. In addition, growth prospects of micro-, small- and mid-cap companies tend to be less certain than large cap companies, and the dividends paid on micro-, small- and mid-cap stocks are frequently negligible. Moreover, micro-, small- and mid-cap stocks have, on occasion, fluctuated in the opposite direction of large cap stocks or the general stock market. Consequently, securities of micro-, small- and mid-cap companies tend to be more volatile than those of large-cap companies. The market for micro- and small-cap securities may be thinly traded and as a result, greater fluctuations in the price of micro- and small-cap securities may occur.

 

Options on Securities and Securities Indices. The All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund, WPG Fund, Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may each write covered call and secured put options on any securities in which it may invest or on any domestic stock indices based on securities in which it may invest. A Fund may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by a Fund obligates the Fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price of the security. All call options written by a Fund are covered, which means that the Fund will own the securities subject to the option so long as the option is outstanding or use the other methods described below. The purpose of a Fund in writing covered call options is to realize greater income than would be realized in portfolio securities transactions alone. However, in writing covered call options for additional income, a Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security.

 

11



 

A put option written by a Fund obligates the Fund to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price for the security. The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income. However, in return for the option premium, the Fund accepts the risk that it will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.

 

All call and put options written by a Fund are covered. A written call option or put option may be covered by (i) maintaining cash or liquid securities, either of which, in the case of the WPG Fund, may be quoted or denominated in any currency, in a segregated account noted on the Fund’s records or maintained by the Fund’s custodian with a value at least equal to the Fund’s obligation under the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment and/or (iii) purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Fund’s net exposure on its written option position.

 

A Fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparts to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions” and do not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying security. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction.

 

A Fund may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. The amount of this settlement will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the of the securities index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified amount. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

The Funds may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. A Fund may also cover call and put options on a securities index by using the other methods described above.

 

The All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund, WPG Fund, Global Equity Fund  and Global Long/Short Fund may each purchase put and call options on any securities in which it may invest or on any securities index based on securities in which it may invest, and a Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased.

 

A Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease (“protective puts”) in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle a Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle a Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of a Fund’s securities. Put options may also be purchased by a Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities.

 

12



 

A Fund may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Transactions by a Fund in options on securities and securities indices will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options that a Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

 

Although the Funds may use option transactions to seek to generate additional income and to seek to reduce the effect of any adverse price movement in the securities or currency subject to the option, they do involve certain risks that are different in some respects from investment risks associated with similar mutual funds, which do not engage in such activities. These risks include the following: for writing call options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the inability to participate in the appreciation of the underlying securities above the exercise price; for writing put options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the obligation to purchase the specified securities or to make a cash settlement on the securities index at prices which may not reflect current market values; and for purchasing call and put options, the possible loss of the entire premium paid. In addition, the effectiveness of hedging through the purchase or sale of securities index options, including options on the S&P 500 ®  Index, will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the portion of the securities portfolio being hedged correlate with the price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation may not be possible because the securities held or to be acquired by a Fund may not exactly match the composition of the securities index on which options are written. If the forecasts of the Adviser regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, a Fund’s investment results may have been better without the hedge transactions.

 

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if a Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.

 

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

 

A Fund’s ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. The Adviser will monitor the liquidity of over-the-counter options and, if it determines that such options are not readily marketable, a Fund’s ability to enter such options will be subject to the Fund’s limitation on investments on illiquid securities.

 

13



 

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options for hedging purposes depends in part on the Adviser’s ability to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets.

 

Pay-in-Kind Securities, Zero Coupon and Capital Appreciation Bonds. To the extent consistent with its investment objective, the All-Cap Value Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities. PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash. Similarly, zero coupon and capital appreciation bonds are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date. The amount of the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable. Such securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. PIK securities that are debt securities can either be senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest). The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.

 

PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. In addition, even though such securities may not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, the Fund is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally is required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax. Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, the Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the Fund. Additionally, the market prices of PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

 

Portfolio Turnover. Those investment strategies that require periodic changes to portfolio holdings with the expectation of outperforming equity indices are typically referred to as “active” strategies. These strategies contrast with “passive” (“index”) strategies that buy and hold only the stocks in the equity indices. Passive strategies tend to trade infrequently—only as the stocks in the indices change (largely due to changes in the sizes of the companies in the indices, takeovers or bankruptcies). Most equity mutual funds pursue active strategies, which have higher turnover than passive strategies.

 

The generally higher portfolio turnover of active investment strategies can adversely affect taxable investors, especially those in higher marginal tax brackets, in two particularly significant ways. First, short-term capital gains, which often accompany higher turnover investment strategies, are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. Ordinary income tax rates are generally higher than long-term capital gain tax rates. Thus, the tax liability is often higher for investors in active strategies. Second, the more frequent realization of gains caused by higher turnover investment strategies means that taxes will be paid sooner. Such acceleration of the tax liability is financially more costly to investors. Less frequent realization of capital gains allows the payment of taxes to be deferred until later years, allowing more of the gains to compound before taxes are paid. Consequently, after-tax compound rates of return will generally be higher for taxable investors using investment strategies with very low turnover, compared with high turnover strategies. The difference is particularly large when the general market rates of return are higher than average.

 

There are no limitations on the length of time that securities must be held by any Fund and a Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary significantly from year to year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater transaction costs, which must be borne by the applicable Fund and its shareholders.

 

14



 

In determining such portfolio turnover, U.S. government securities and all other securities (including options) which have maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less (“short-term securities”) are excluded. The annual portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the cost of purchases or proceeds from sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the applicable Fund during the year. The monthly average is calculated by totaling the values of the portfolio securities as of the beginning and end of the first month of the year and as of the end of the succeeding 11 months and dividing the sum by 13. A turnover rate of 100% would occur if all of a Fund’s portfolio securities (other than short-term securities) were replaced once in a period of one year. If a Fund were to write a substantial number of options, which are exercised, the portfolio turnover rate of that Fund would increase. Increased portfolio turnover results in increased brokerage costs, which a Fund must pay, and the possibility of more short-term gains, distributions of which are taxable as ordinary income.

 

The Funds will trade their portfolio securities without regard to the length of time for which they have been held. To the extent that a Fund’s portfolio is traded for short-term market considerations and portfolio turnover rate exceeds 100%, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund could be higher than most mutual funds.

 

Real Estate Investment Trust Securities. Each Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two. Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type. A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level Federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for Federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities, derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property, and distribute to shareholders annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.

 

Generally, REITs can be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs. The values of securities issued by REITs are affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act. Unexpected high rates of default on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a mortgage REIT. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. To the extent that a mortgage REIT’s portfolio is exposed to lower-rated, unsecured or subordinated instruments, the risk of loss may increase, which may have a negative impact on the Fund.

 

The REITs in which the Funds may invest may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. REITs are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. REITS whose underlying assets include long-term health care properties; such as nursing, retirement and assisted living homes, may be impacted by federal regulations concerning the health care industry. Each Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. Each Fund is also subject to the risk that the REITs in which it invests will fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and/or fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended. A REIT’s return may be adversely affected when interest rates are high or rising.

 

Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, small

 

15



 

capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 ® .

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities. Each Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate; currency, mortgage and credit default swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; municipal leases; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation. With respect to each Fund, repurchase agreements subject to demand are deemed to have a maturity equal to the notice period.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days. A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

Each Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”). These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in a Fund during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

The Adviser will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by a Fund under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors. In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

Risk Considerations of Medium Grade Securities. Obligations in the lowest investment grade (i.e., BBB or Baa), referred to as “medium grade” obligations, have speculative characteristics, and changes in economic conditions and other factors are more likely to lead to weakened capacity to make interest payments and repay principal on these obligations than is the case for higher rated securities. In the event that a security purchased by a Fund is subsequently downgraded below investment grade, the Adviser will consider such event in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the security.

 

16



 

Risk Considerations of Lower Rated Securities. The WPG Fund and the All-Cap Value Fund may invest in fixed income securities that are not investment grade but are rated as low as B by Moody’s or B by S&P (or their equivalents or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). In the case of a security that is rated differently by two or more rating services, the higher rating is used in connection with the foregoing limitation. In the event that the rating on a security held in a Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating service, such action will be considered by the Adviser in its evaluation of the overall investment merits of that security, but will not necessarily result in the sale of the security. The widespread expansion of government, consumer and corporate debt within the U.S. economy has made the corporate sector, especially cyclically sensitive industries, more vulnerable to economic downturns or increased interest rates.

 

An economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for high yield fixed income securities and adversely affect the value of outstanding fixed income securities and the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest.

 

The Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high yield fixed income obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. The Funds will invest in high yield fixed income instruments when the Funds believe that such instruments offer a better risk/reward profile than comparable equity opportunities. High yield fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are considered speculative investments and, while generally providing greater income than investments in higher rated securities, involve greater risk of loss of principal and income (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities) and may involve greater volatility of price (especially during periods of economic uncertainty or change) than securities in the higher rating categories. However, since yields vary over time, no specific level of income can ever be assured.

 

The prices of high yield fixed income securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. Also, during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress, which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals, and to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed income security owned by a Fund defaulted, the Fund could incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices of high yield fixed income securities and a Fund’s net asset value, to the extent it holds such securities.

 

High yield fixed income securities also present risks based on payment expectations. For example, high yield fixed income securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, a Fund may, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities, have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which may result in a decreased return for investors. Conversely, a high yield fixed income security’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of a Fund’s assets, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities.

 

In addition, to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of high yield fixed income securities, and this may have an impact on the Adviser’s ability to accurately value such securities and a Fund’s assets and on the Fund’s ability to dispose of such securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield fixed income securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

 

New laws proposed or adopted from time to time may have an impact on the market for high yield securities.

 

Finally, there are risks involved in applying credit or dividend ratings as a method for evaluating high yield securities. For example, ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest or dividend payments, not market value risk of high yield securities. Also, since rating agencies may fail to timely change the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events, a Fund will continuously monitor the issuers of high yield securities in its portfolio, if any, to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flow and profits to meet required principal and interest payments, and to assure the security’s liquidity so the Fund can meet redemption requests.

 

17



 

Special Situation Companies. Each Fund, except the Small Cap Value Fund, may invest in “Special Situations.” The term “Special Situation” shall be deemed to refer to a security of a company in which an unusual and possibly non-repetitive development is taking place which, in the opinion of the investment adviser of the Fund, may cause the security to attain a higher market value independently, to a degree, of the trend in the securities market in general. The particular development (actual or prospective), which may qualify a security as a “Special Situation,” may be one of many different types.

 

Such developments may include, among others, a technological improvement or important discovery or acquisition which, if the expectation for it materialized, would effect a substantial change in the company’s business; a reorganization; a recapitalization or other development involving a security exchange or conversion; a merger, liquidation or distribution of cash, securities or other assets; a breakup or workout of a holding company; litigation which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock; a new or changed management; or material changes in management policies. A “Special Situation” may often involve a comparatively small company, which is not well known, and which has not been closely watched by investors generally, but it may also involve a large company. The fact, if it exists, that an increase in the company’s earnings, dividends or business is expected, or that a given security is considered to be undervalued, would not in itself be sufficient to qualify as a “Special Situation.” A Fund may invest in securities (even if not “Special Situations”) which, in the opinion of the investment adviser of the Fund, are appropriate investments for the Fund, including securities which the investment adviser of the Fund believes are undervalued by the market. A Fund shall not be required to invest any minimum percentage of its aggregate portfolio in “Special Situations,” nor shall it be required to invest any minimum percentage of its aggregate portfolio in securities other than “Special Situations.”

 

Securities of Unseasoned Issuers. Each of the Funds may invest in securities of unseasoned issuers, including equity securities of unseasoned issuers which are not readily marketable, to the extent consistent with each Fund’s primary investment strategies as set forth in the Prospectuses and with each Fund’s policy on investments in illiquid securities.  The aggregate investment in such securities will not exceed (a) 25% of net assets for the Long/Short Equity Fund, WPG Fund and Global Long/Short Fund, or (b) 5% of net assets for each of the Small Cap Value and All-Cap Value Funds. The term “unseasoned” refers to issuers which, together with their predecessors, have been in operation for less than three years.

 

Short Sales. The All-Cap Value, Long/Short Equity, Long/Short Research and Global Long/Short Fund may each enter into short sales. Short sales are transactions in which a Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until a Fund replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the Fund will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the SEC.

 

A Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. A Fund may purchase call options to provide a hedge against an increase in the price of a security sold short by the Fund. See the section entitled “Options” above.

 

Short Sales “Against the Box.” In addition to the short sales discussed above, the All-Cap Value Fund,  Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may each make short sales

 

18



 

“against the box,” transactions in which a Fund enters into a short sale of a security that the Fund owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost. The proceeds of the short sale will be held by a broker until the settlement date at which time the Fund delivers the security to close the short position. The Fund receives the net proceeds from the short sale.

 

Structured Securities. The All-Cap Value Fund, Global Equity Fund,  and Global Long/Short Fund may invest in structured securities. The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices. The All-Cap Value Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of its net assets in structured securities.

 

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, a Fund could suffer a total loss of its investment. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities. Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

U.S. Government Obligations. Each Fund may purchase U.S. government agency and instrumentality obligations that are debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and federal agencies. Some obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or by U.S. Treasury guarantees, such as securities of the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the Federal Housing Authority; others, by the ability of the issuer to borrow, provided approval is granted, from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and others, only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation, such as securities of Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”). Such guarantees of U.S. government securities held by a Fund do not, however, guarantee the market value of the shares of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government will continue to provide support to its agencies or instrumentalities in the future. U.S. government obligations that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All U.S. government obligations are subject to interest rate risk.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and Federal Housing finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

Each Fund’s net assets may be invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or the agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including, if applicable, options and futures on such obligations. The maturities of U.S. government securities usually range from three months to thirty years. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations include U.S. Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds and the obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Fannie Mae, GNMA, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Maritime Administration, the Asian-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. U.S. government securities may include inflation-indexed fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”). The interest rate of TIPS, which is set at auction, remains fixed throughout the term of the security and the principal amount of the security is adjusted for inflation. The inflation-adjusted principal is not paid until maturity.

 

19



 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. Each Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

The Small Cap Value and All-Cap Value Funds do not presently intend to invest more than 5% of each Fund’s respective net assets in U.S. government obligations.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Funds’ investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which a Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Funds’ holdings.

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

Commercial Paper. Each Fund may purchase commercial paper rated (at the time of purchase) “A-1” by S&P ®  or “Prime-1” by Moody’s or, when deemed advisable by the Adviser, issues rated “A-2” or “Prime-2” by S&P ®  or Moody’s, respectively. These rating categories are described in Appendix “A” to this SAI. The Funds may also purchase unrated commercial paper provided that such paper is determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser pursuant to guidelines approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. Commercial paper issues in which a Fund may invest include securities issued by corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in reliance on the exemption from such registration afforded by Section 3(a) (3) thereof, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration, which is afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act (“Section 4(2) paper”). Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who make a market in Section 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity. Each Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of its net assets in commercial paper.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Funds and their service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting a Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact a Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject a Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber

 

20



 

security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which a Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Futures Contracts. The Long/Short Research Fund, WPG Fund, Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may invest in futures contracts.  A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract). When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, a Fund can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, a Fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated purchases.

 

To seek to increase total return, to equalize cash or to hedge against changes in interest rates or securities prices a Fund may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. A Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. The futures contracts may be based on various securities (such as U.S. government securities), securities indices, and any other financial instruments and indices. A Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as described below or for purposes of seeking to increase total return, in each case, only to the extent permitted by regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). All futures contracts entered into by a Fund are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the CFTC or on foreign exchanges.

 

The Funds will limit investments in futures to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets.

 

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions, which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, a Fund may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date. Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that a Fund proposes to acquire or the exchange rate of currencies in which portfolio securities are quoted or denominated. A Fund may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by a Fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of the Fund’s portfolio securities. If, in the opinion of the Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for a Fund’s portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in a Fund’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having the Fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by seeking to achieve only a partial hedge against price

 

21



 

changes affecting the Fund’s portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

 

On other occasions, a Fund may take a “long” position by purchasing futures contracts. This would be done, for example, when a Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available.

 

Options on Futures Contracts. The WPG Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund, Global Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give the Funds the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, a Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

 

The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset a decline in the value of the Fund’s assets. By writing a call option, a Fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, (upon exercise of the option) to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that the Fund intends to purchase. However, a Fund becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by a Fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. A Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.

 

The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected. The Funds’ ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

 

The Funds will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging and to seek to increase total return as permitted by the CFTC regulations.  The Funds will determine that the price fluctuations in the futures contracts and options on futures used for hedging purposes are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by the Funds or securities or instruments which it expects to purchase. Except as stated below, the Funds’ futures transactions will be entered into for traditional hedging purposes — i.e., futures contracts will be sold to protect against a decline in the price of securities that the Funds own or futures contracts will be purchased to protect the Funds against an increase in the price of securities it intends to purchase. As evidence of this hedging intent, each Fund expects that on 75% or more of the occasions on which it takes a long futures or option position (involving the purchase of futures contracts), the Fund will have purchased, or will be in the process of purchasing, equivalent amounts of related securities in the cash market at the time when the futures or option position is closed out. However, in particular cases, when it is economically advantageous for the Fund to do so, a long futures position may be terminated or an option may expire without the corresponding purchase of securities or other assets.

 

The Funds will engage in transactions in currency forward contracts, futures contracts and options only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Code, for maintaining its qualification as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.

 

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in some cases, may require the applicable Fund to establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the underlying value of such contracts and options.

 

The use of futures contracts entails certain risks, including but not limited to the following: no assurance that futures contracts transactions can be offset at favorable prices; possible reduction of the Fund’s income due to the use of hedging; possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument; possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations; imperfect correlation between the contract and the securities

 

22



 

being hedged; and potential losses in excess of the amount initially invested in the futures contracts themselves. If the expectations of the Adviser regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, the Fund may have experienced better investment results without hedging. The use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts requires special skills in addition to those needed to select portfolio securities.

 

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks. Thus, while a Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for a Fund than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to risk of loss.

 

Perfect correlation between a Fund’s futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. There are no futures contracts based upon individual securities, except certain U.S. government securities. Other futures contracts available to hedge the Funds’ portfolio investments generally are limited to futures on various securities indices.

 

Holding Company Depository Receipts. The Funds may invest in Holding Company Depository Receipts (“HOLDRS”). HOLDRS represent trust-issued receipts that represent individual and undivided beneficial ownership interests in the common stock or ADRs of specific companies in a particular industry, sector or group. Each of the Funds do not presently intend to invest more than 5% of their respective net assets in HOLDRS.

 

Indexed Securities. The Funds may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices. Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.   Each of the Funds do not presently intend to invest more than 5% of their respective net assets in indexed securities.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Funds may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Funds.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause a Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect a Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in a Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and a Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Money Market Instruments. Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in short-term, high-quality instruments for purposes of temporary defensive measures, which instruments include, among other things, bank obligations. Bank obligations include bankers’ acceptances, negotiable certificates of deposit, and non-negotiable time deposits earning a specified return and issued by a U.S. bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or insured by the Bank Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), or by a savings and loan association or savings bank which is insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the FDIC. Such deposits are not FDIC insured and a Fund bears the risk of bank failure. Bank obligations also include U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks. Such investments may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held in a Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. A Fund will invest in obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks only when the Adviser believes that the risks associated with such investment are minimal. The value of money market instruments tends to fall when current interest rates rise. Money market instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer-term securities.

 

23



 

Purchase Warrants. Each Fund may invest in purchase warrants and similar rights. Purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration. The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the warrants’ expiration. Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security. These Funds may not invest more than 5% of each Fund’s respective net assets in purchase warrants and similar rights.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price (“repurchase agreements”). The securities held subject to a repurchase agreement may have stated maturities exceeding 397 days, provided the repurchase agreement itself matures in less than 13 months. Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose a Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

The repurchase price under the repurchase agreements described above generally equals the price paid by a Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the securities underlying the repurchase agreement). The financial institutions with whom the Funds may enter into repurchase agreements will be banks which the Adviser considers creditworthy pursuant to criteria approved by the Board of Directors and non-bank dealers of U.S. government securities that are listed on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s list of reporting dealers. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of a seller in determining whether to have a Fund enter into a repurchase agreement. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price plus accrued interest. The Adviser will mark to market daily the value of the securities, and will, if necessary, require the seller to maintain additional securities, to ensure that the value is not less than the repurchase price.

 

Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose a Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities for temporary purposes (such as to obtain cash to meet redemption requests) when the liquidation of portfolio securities is deemed disadvantageous or inconvenient by the Adviser. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by a Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest. Such agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act, and may be entered into only for temporary or emergency purposes. While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, a Fund will maintain in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian or a qualified sub-custodian, cash or liquid securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities, plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase and the interest received on the cash exchanged for the securities.

 

Temporary Investments. Although the Funds invest primarily in equity securities, for temporary defensive purposes, the Funds may hold cash or invest in a variety of money market instruments and short-term and medium-term debt securities including: (a) obligations of the United States or foreign governments, their respective agencies or instrumentalities; (b) bank deposits and bank obligations (including certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. or foreign banks denominated in any currency; (c) floating rate securities and other instruments denominated in any currency issued by international development agencies; (d) finance company and corporate commercial paper and other short-term corporate debt obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations; and (e) repurchase agreements with banks and broker-dealers with respect to such securities.

 

24



 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Funds have adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to the Funds without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Funds’ outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a) (42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectuses, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of a Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the particular Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund. Each Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectuses may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

Each Boston Partners Fund other than the Long/Short Research Fund, Global Equity Fund, and Global Long/Short Fund, may not:

 

1.                        Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that each Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements, and the Small Cap Value Fund, All-Cap Value Fund and Global Long/Short Fund may enter into dollar rolls for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of each Fund’s respective total assets at the time of such borrowing and provided that, for any borrowing with respect to the All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund there is at least 300% asset coverage for the borrowings of the Fund. A Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. However, with respect to the All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund the amount shall not be in excess of lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing, provided that for the All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund and Global Long/Short Fund: (a) short sales and related borrowings of securities are not subject to this restriction; and (b) for the purposes of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to options, short sales, stock index, interest rate, currency or other futures, options on futures contracts, collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin and collateral arrangements with respect to swaps and other derivatives are not deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets, and provided that for the All-Cap Value Fund, any collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. The Small Cap Value and All-Cap Value Funds will not purchase securities while aggregate borrowings (including reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings from banks) are in excess of 5% of total assets. Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with a Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation; (For purposes of this Limitation No. 1, any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets).

 

2.                        Issue any senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act; (For purposes of this Limitation No. 2, neither the collateral arrangements with respect to options and futures identified in Limitation No. 1, nor the purchase or sale of futures or related options are deemed to be the issuance of senior securities).

 

3.                        Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

4.                        Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

5.                        Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that a Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures;

 

25



 

6.                        Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan; or

 

7.                        Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities).

 

Additionally, each Boston Partners Fund other than the Long/Short Research Fund, Global Equity Fund, and Global Long/Short Fund may not:

 

Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 1, collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets and neither such arrangements nor the purchase or sale of futures or related options are deemed to be the issuance of a senior security for purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2.  Neither the purchase nor the sale of futures or related options will be deemed to be the issuance of senior securities because such transactions will be covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets or by other means in compliance with applicable SEC guidance.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Long/Short Equity Fund may not:

 

Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Long/Short Equity Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations. These non-fundamental restrictions may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Long/Short Equity Fund may not:

 

1.                        Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                        Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, transactions in currencies or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

26



 

The Long/Short Research Fund may not:

 

1.                            Borrow money except that (a) the Fund may borrow from banks or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33 1 / 3 % of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); and (b) the Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which are accounted for as financings.  For purposes of this limitation, investment strategies which either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowings.  Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowings, except where the Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% of its total assets;

 

2.                            Issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act, except as permitted by rule, regulation or order of the SEC;

 

3.                         Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

4.                         Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

5.                         Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures;

 

6.                         Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

7.                         Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities); or

 

8.                         Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Long/Short Research Fund may not:

 

Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents; (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; (d) and the Fund may invest up to 30% in ETFs to the extent permitted for the 1940 Act and applicable SEC orders.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Long/Short Research Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations. These non-fundamental restrictions may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Long/Short Research Fund may not:

 

27



 

1.                        Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                        Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, transactions in currencies or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

3.                        Pledge, manage or hypothecate assets, except as permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

The Global Equity Fund may not:

 

1.               Borrow money except that a Fund may borrow from banks or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed). For purposes of this limitation, investment strategies which either obligate a Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowings. Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowings, except where a Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% of its total assets;

 

2.               Issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act, except as permitted by rule, regulation or order of the SEC;

 

3.               Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

4.               Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

5.               Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that a Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures;

 

6.               Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan; or

 

7.               Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities); or

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Global Equity Fund may not:

 

Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States or any of its authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of

 

28



 

the parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Global Equity Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations. These non-fundamental restrictions may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Fund may not:

 

1.                             Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by a Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                             Purchase securities on margin, except that a Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, transactions in currencies or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

3.                             Pledge, manage or hypothecate assets, except as permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

4.                             Hold illiquid securities in an amount exceeding, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

Any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, short sales and other similar instruments, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets.

 

Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

The Global Long/Short Fund may not:

 

1.               Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing and provided that there is at least 300% asset coverage for the borrowings of the Fund. The Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. However, the amount shall not be in excess of lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing, provided that: (a) short sales and related borrowings of securities are not subject to this restriction; and (b) for the purposes of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to options, short sales, stock index, interest rate, currency or other futures, options on futures contracts, collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin and collateral arrangements with respect to swaps and other derivatives are not deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets.  Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation; (For purposes of this Limitation No. 1, any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets);

 

2.               Issue any senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act; (For purposes of this Limitation No. 2, neither the collateral arrangements with respect to options and futures identified in Limitation No. 1, nor the purchase or sale of futures or related options are deemed to be the issuance of senior securities);

 

3.               Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

29



 

4.               Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

5.               Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures;

 

6.               Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan; or

 

7.               Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities).

 

For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 1, collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets and neither such arrangements nor the purchase or sale of futures or related options are deemed to be the issuance of a senior security for purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2. Neither the purchase nor the sale of futures or related options will be deemed to be the issuance of senior securities because such transactions will be covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets or by other means in compliance with applicable SEC guidance.

 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Global Long/Short Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations. These non-fundamental restrictions may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Fund may not:

 

1.                             Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                            Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, transactions in currencies or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

3.                            Hold illiquid securities in an amount exceeding, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

The Boston Partners Funds may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that a Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Securities held by the Boston Partners Funds generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act. Neither the Company nor the Adviser has obtained such an exemptive order.

 

30



 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Boston Partners Funds’ investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

 

The WPG Fund may not:

 

1.                        Purchase securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activity in the same industry, if immediately after such purchase the value of its investments in such industry would exceed 25% or more of its total assets provided that this restriction shall not apply to securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; provided, however, that the Fund may invest all or part of its investable assets in an open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund.

 

2.                        With respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not purchase securities of an issuer (other than the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or authorities or repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities and other investment companies), if:

 

(a)                   such purchase would cause more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets taken at market value to be invested in the securities of such issuer; or

 

(b)                   such purchase would at the time result in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer being held by the Fund; provided, however, that the Fund may invest all or part of its investable assets in an open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund.

 

3.                        Lease, acquire, purchase, sell or hold real estate, but it may lease office space for its own use and invest in marketable securities of companies holding real estate or interests in real estate, including real estate investment trusts.

 

4.                        Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts, except futures contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the future delivery of securities and contracts based on securities indices and options on such futures contracts, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

5.                        Lend money, except that it may (i) invest in all or a portion of an issue of bonds, debentures and other obligations distributed publicly or of a type commonly purchased by financial institutions (e.g., certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or other short-term debt obligations) or other debt obligations in accordance with its objectives or (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; provided that the Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements of more than one week’s duration if more than 15% of its net assets would be invested therein together with other illiquid or not readily marketable securities.

 

6.                        Lend its portfolio securities unless the borrower is a broker, dealer, bank or other qualified financial institution; provided that the terms, the structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC thereunder.

 

7.                        Engage in the business of underwriting the securities of others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act when it purchases or sells portfolio securities; provided, however, that the Fund may invest all or part of its investable assets in an open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objective, policies and restrictions as the Fund.

 

8.                        Borrow money except as a temporary measure to facilitate the meeting of redemption requests or for extraordinary or emergency purposes, provided that the aggregate amount of such borrowings may not exceed 33% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed), at the time of such borrowing.

 

9.                        Issue senior securities except as permitted under the 1940 Act and except that the Fund may issue shares of beneficial interest in multiple classes or series.

 

The Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental or non-fundamental investment restriction or policy, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, restrictions and policies as that Fund.

 

31



 

For purposes of the above fundamental investment restrictions regarding industry concentration, the Adviser generally classifies issuers by industry in accordance with classifications established by nationally recognized third-party statistical information services, such as S&P. In the absence of such classification or if the Adviser determines in good faith based on its own information that the economic characteristics affecting a particular issuer make it more appropriately considered to be engaged in a different industry, the Adviser may classify an issuer according to its own sources.

 

In addition to the fundamental policies mentioned above, the Board has adopted the following non-fundamental policies which may be changed or amended by action of the Board without approval of shareholders. So long as these non-fundamental restrictions are in effect, the Fund may not:

 

(a)                   Invest in the securities of an issuer for the purpose of exercising control or management, but it may do so where it is deemed advisable to protect or enhance the value of an existing investment.

 

(b)                   Purchase securities of any other investment company except as permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

(c)                    Purchase securities on margin, except any short-term credits, which may be necessary for the clearance of transactions and the initial, or maintenance margin in connection with options and futures contracts and related options.

 

(d)                   Invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities which are illiquid.

 

(e)                    Purchase additional securities if the Fund’s borrowings exceed 5% of its net assets.

 

Except with respect to the WPG Fund’s fundamental investment restriction regarding borrowings, any investment limitation of the WPG Fund that is expressed as a percentage is determined at the time of investment by the Fund. An increase or decrease in a Fund’s net asset value or a company’s market capitalization subsequent to a Fund’s initial investment will not affect the Fund’s compliance with the percentage limitation or the company’s status as small, medium or large cap. From time to time, the Adviser may include as small, medium or large cap certain companies having market capitalizations outside the definitions described in the Prospectuses. Under the 1940 Act, the WPG Fund will be required to maintain continuous asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank. In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the applicable Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage, within three days (not including weekends and holidays) or such longer period as the rules and regulations of the SEC prescribe. In addition, under the 1940 Act, the WPG Fund may not invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities of any issuer that derives more than 15% of its gross revenue from a securities-related business, unless an exemption is available under the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Funds, a policy relating to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders. The policies relating to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund. It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Funds’ portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Adviser currently makes the Funds’ complete portfolio holdings, top ten holdings, sector weightings and other portfolio characteristics publicly available on its web site, www.boston-partners.com as disclosed in the following table:

 

32



 

Information Posting

 

Frequency of Disclosure

 

Date of Web Posting

Complete Portfolio Holdings

 

Monthly/Quarterly*

 

15 days after the end of each calendar month for the Funds

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Portfolio Holdings and other portfolio characteristics

 

Monthly/Quarterly

 

10 days after the end of each calendar month for the Funds

 


* For the All-Cap Value Fund, Long/Short Equity Fund, Long/Short Research Fund and Global Long/Short Fund, the complete long positions only for the Funds will be publicly available on the Adviser’s website at www.boston-partners.com.

 

The scope of the information relating to the Funds’ portfolios that is made available on the web site may change from time to time without notice. The Adviser or its affiliates may include each Fund’s portfolio information that has already been made public through a Web posting or SEC filing in marketing literature and other communications to shareholders, advisors or other parties, provided that, in the case of information made public through the Web, the information is disclosed no earlier than the day after the date of posting to the Web site.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; Ernst & Young LLP, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; Merrill Corporation and Command Financial, the financial printers; and RiskMetrics Group, the Funds’ proxy voting service. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Funds. Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in a Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information.  Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15-day time lag. The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions.  Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Funds’ portfolios.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Funds.

 

The Board of Directors provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board of Directors receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board of Directors receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Funds, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter.  The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one  

 

33



 

Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Product Development, Contract, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex 
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

34



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex 
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and wealth appointment booking service).

 

23

 

Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

35



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex 
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg
Vigilant Compliance, LLC Gateway Corporate Center Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 51

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

36



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of 
Portfolios in 
Fund Complex 
Overseen by 
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the Past 5 Years

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square
Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Age: 56

 

Assistant
Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)          Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.   Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)          Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.  Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and also serves on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.  

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee.   The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors.  The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and

 

37



 

Sablowsky.  The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee. The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.    The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

38



 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Funds and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014.

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Funds

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by
Director within the Family of
Investment Companies

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

Over $100,000

 

Over $100,000

J. Richard Carnall

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

$10,001-$50,000

Gregory P. Chandler

 

$1-$10,000

 

$1-10,000

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

Over $100,000

 

Over $100,000

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee each receives an additional fee of $10,000 for his services.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid  each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee each received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who is not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically.  Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the  Chairman of each of the Audit  

 

39



 

Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company.  Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Funds in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Funds

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

34,119.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

32,091.79

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

37,061.09

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

32,785.54

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

41,646.54

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

31,003.61

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

39,973.32

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

156,528.27

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from each of the Funds in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Boston
Partners Small
Cap Value
Fund II

 

Boston
Partners
All-Cap
Value Fund

 

Boston
Partners
Long/Short
Equity Fund

 

Boston
Partners
Long/Short
Research Fund

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1674.36

 

$

4,257.40

 

$

3,669.96

 

$

20,882.47

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1.654.18

 

$

3,998.28

 

$

3,445.08

 

$

19,393.58

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,981.83

 

$

4,624.55

 

$

3,965.54

 

$

22,129.66

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,740.83

 

$

4,095.08

 

$

3,529.00

 

$

19,553.96

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

2,287.17

 

$

5,206.78

 

$

4,497.38

 

$

24,583.99

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,647.95

 

$

3,862.33

 

$

3,319.53

 

$

18,618.42

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

2,032.30

 

$

4,956.97

 

$

4,223.55

 

$

24,574.37

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

13,775.98

 

$

20,674.65

 

$

19,137.25

 

$

64,399.19

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

40



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

WPG Partners
Small/
Micro Cap
Value Fund

 

Boston Partners
Global
Equity Fund

 

Boston Partners
Global
Long/Short
Fund

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,092.29

 

$

1,180.51

 

$

1,362.01

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,079.64

 

$

1,162.51

 

$

1,358.52

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,314.74

 

$

1,410.91

 

$

1,633.86

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,164.28

 

$

1,247.79

 

$

1,454.60

 

Jay F. Nusblastt, Director*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,537.31

 

$

1,642.48

 

$

1,891.43

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,073.24

 

$

1,154.04

 

$

1,328.11

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,249.05

 

$

1,357.02

 

$

1,580.06

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA, Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,376.31

 

$

12,617.04

 

$

13,547.85

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by each Fund to the Fund’s Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, each Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Funds. The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Funds’ investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds. The Adviser employs a third party service provider, RiskMetrics Group, to assist in the voting of proxies. These procedures have been provided to the service provider, who analyzes the proxies and makes recommendations, based on the Adviser’s policy, as to how to vote such proxies. A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is included with this SAI.  Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-261-4073 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

41



 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of each Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

Name of Fund and

 

Number of Shares Owned

 

Percentage of Shares Owned

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

as of December 1, 2015

 

as of December 1, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

193,171.990

 

8.37

%

REINVEST ACCOUNT

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN: MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY STREET

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94101-0000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

121,620.549

 

5.27

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4 TH  FL.

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD.

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II Institutional Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

3,114,520.253

 

34.61

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

1,990,978.465

 

22.12

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIMS/PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT

 

967,254.452

 

10.75

%

AS NOMINEE FOR THE TTEE/CUST PL 768

 

 

 

 

 

AUTOZONE, INC. 401(K) PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

123 SOUTH FRONT STREET

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 2198

 

 

 

 

 

MEMPHIS TN 38103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLUMBERS AND STEAMFITTERS

 

655,004.920

 

7.28

%

LOCAL NO 7 PENSION FUND

 

 

 

 

 

ROBERT W VALENTY ADMINSTRATOR

 

 

 

 

 

18 AVIS DR

 

 

 

 

 

LATHAM NY 12110-2605

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

42



 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

3,492,382.055

 

56.24

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

1,703,376.839

 

27.43

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund Institutional Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

7,854,849.868

 

29.83

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENE OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH

 

4,478,381.269

 

17.01

%

MUTUAL FUND OPERATIONS 3RD FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN TRANSFER SUPERVISOR

 

 

 

 

 

4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST

 

 

 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

3,991,110.896

 

15.16

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSHING LLC

 

3,147,454.075

 

11.95

%

1 PERSHING PLAZA

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

2,555,210.680

 

32.14

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

1,714,409.983

 

33.60

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

43



 

PERSHING LLC

 

285,381.318

 

5.59

%

1 PERSHING PLAZA

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund Institutional Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

12,555,580.466

 

32.96

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

4,366,287.813

 

11.46

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MLPF&S INC

 

3,038,249.212

 

7.98

%

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS

 

 

 

 

 

4800 DEER LAKE DR E

 

 

 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6486

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLTRUST & CO CASH/CASH

 

2,673,591.058

 

7.02

%

OLD NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 966

 

 

 

 

 

EVANSVILLE, IN 47706-9947

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

 

1,934,730.256

 

5.08

%

FBO HENRY FORD

 

 

 

 

 

A/C # 26-20569

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 92956

 

 

 

 

 

CHICAGO IL 60675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

7,547,252.999

 

60.35

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

2,172,043.942

 

17.37

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TD AMERITRADE INC FOR THE

 

1,163,961.988

 

9.31

%

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CLIENTS

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 2226

 

 

 

 

 

 

44



 

OMAHA NE 68103-2226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund Institutional Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MLPF&S INC

 

82,371,165.464

 

17.93

%

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS

 

 

 

 

 

4800 DEER LAKE DR E

 

 

 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6486

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

74,710,792.008

 

16.27

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

68,841,981.998

 

14.99

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAND & CO

 

35,536,782.183

 

7.74

%

C/O US BANK NA

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 1787

 

 

 

 

 

MILWAUKEE WI 53201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

8,822,102.898

 

48.45

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR
BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

5,996,621.491

 

32.93

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAYMOND JAMES

 

1,745,982.937

 

9.59

%

OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE ACCT FIRM 92500015

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN COURTNEY WALLER

 

 

 

 

 

880 CARILLON PARKWAY

 

 

 

 

 

ST PETERSBURG FL 33716

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund Institutional Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N. A. AS
CUSTODIAN FBO

 

10,032,784.050

 

47.61

%

FBO: P 23860

 

 

 

 

 

 

45



 

14201 DALLAS PARKWAY

 

 

 

 

 

13TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

DALLAS, TX 75254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N. A. AS
CUSTODIAN FBO

 

2,582,311.168

 

12.25

%

FBO: P 23863

 

 

 

 

 

14201 DALLAS PARKWAY

 

 

 

 

 

13TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

DALLAS, TX 75254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PATRICK DOLAN JR PRES ENT ASSOC &
ANTHONY SAPORITO EVP TTEES

 

1,836,535.544

 

48.71

%

U/A DTD 071/1965

 

 

 

 

 

METAL TRADES BRANCH LOCAL 638 PENS

 

 

 

 

 

5 PENN PLAZA 21ST FL

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK NY 10001-1887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PATRICK DOLAN JR PRES ENT ASSOC &

 

1,584,796.276

 

7.52

%

ANTHONY SAPORITO EVP TTEES

 

 

 

 

 

STEAMFITTERS INDUSTRY PENSION FUND

 

 

 

 

 

U/A DTD 11/1/1950

 

 

 

 

 

5 PENN PLAZA 21ST FL

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK NY 10001-1887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GERLACH (NOMINEE) & CO LLC

 

\1,368,455.931

 

6.49

%

FBO A/C XX4800

 

 

 

 

 

3800 CITIGROUP CENTER SUITE B3-14

 

 

 

 

 

TAMPA FL 33610-0000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN AND COMPANY

 

1,180,173.672

 

5.60

%

AS CUSTODIAN FOR 6659361

 

 

 

 

 

525 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund Institutional Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

11,404,006.062

 

23.23

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

 

 

 

 

 

CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UBS WM USA

 

10,889,858.693

 

22.18

%

0O0 11011 6100

 

 

 

 

 

OMNI ACCOUNT MF

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN DEPARTMENT MANAGER

 

 

 

 

 

1000 HARBOR BLVD 5TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

10,280,988.826

 

20.94

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR

 

 

 

 

 

BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

46



 

ROBECO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC

 

4,402,411.605

 

8.97

%

DEFERRED BONUS PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

909 3RD AVE FL 32

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK NY 10022-4751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALHOUN & CO C/O COMERICA BK

 

3,252,138.280

 

6.62

%

ATTN: MUTUAL FUNDS MC 3446

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 75000

 

 

 

 

 

DETROIT, MI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MLPF&S INC 012 0161

 

2,693,844.543

 

5.49

%

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS

 

 

 

 

 

4800 DEER LAKE DR E

 

 

 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6486

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund Investor Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

2,249,085.541

 

54.08

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR

 

 

 

 

 

BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY ST

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

1,338,032.983

 

32.17

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

 

 

 

 

 

CUSTOMER

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 1, 2015, Directors and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio of the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser

 

The Adviser, located at 909 Third Avenue, 32 nd  Floor, New York, New York 10022, is a subsidiary of Robeco Groep N.V., a Dutch public limited liability company (“Robeco Groep”). Founded in 1929, Robeco Groep is one of the world’s oldest asset management organizations.  Robeco Groep is primarily owned by ORIX Corporation, an integrated financial services group based in Tokyo, Japan.  The Adviser provides investment management and investment advisory services to other institutional and proprietary accounts.

 

The Adviser has investment discretion for the Funds and will make all decisions affecting the assets of those Funds under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors and in accordance with each Fund’s stated policies. The Adviser will select investments for the Funds.

 

47



 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Funds, including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Funds, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Funds, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Funds. The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Funds’ investment goals, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectuses and in this SAI.

 

For its services to the Boston Partners Funds under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee computed at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Small Cap Value Fund’s average daily net assets, 2.25% of the Long/Short Equity Fund’s average daily net assets, 1.25% of the Long/Short Research Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.80% of the All-Cap Value Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.90% of the Global Equity Fund’s average daily net assets, and 1.50% of the Global Long/Short Fund’s average daily net assets, respectively.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees to the extent necessary to maintain the following expense ratios (excluding certain items noted below) for the Boston Partners Funds:

 

 

 

Institutional

 

Investor

 

Long/Short Equity Fund

 

2.50

%

2.75

%

All-Cap Value Fund

 

0.80

%

1.05

%

Long/Short Research Fund

 

1.50

%

1.75

%

Global Long/Short Fund

 

2.00

%

2.25

%

Global Equity Fund

 

0.95

%

1.20

%

Small Cap Value Fund

 

1.10

%

1.35

%

 

These limits are calculated daily based on the Funds’ average daily net assets.  These limitations are effected in waivers of advisory fees and reimbursements of expenses exceeding the advisory fee as necessary. The contractual limitations are in effect until at least December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

For the Long/Short Research Fund, Global Long/Short Fund and Global Equity Fund, effective as of the effective date of a Fund’s first advisory agreement with the Adviser, if at any time, the Fund’s total annual operating expenses for that year are less than 1.50% for the Institutional Class and 1.75% for the Investor Class of the Long/Short Research Fund, or 2.00% for the Institutional Class and 2.25% for the Investor Class of the Global Long/Short Fund, or 0.95% for the Institutional and 1.20% for the Investor Class of the Global Equity Fund, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by such Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to such Fund within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made.

 

The Adviser may not recoup any of its waived investment advisory fees with respect to Long/Short Equity Fund and All-Cap Value Fund.

 

For the Small Cap Value Fund, effective May 28, 2014, Boston Partners has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the total annual Fund operating expenses exceeds 1.10% and 1.35%, of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Institutional Class shares and Investor Class shares, respectively.  This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors.  If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 in which the Small Cap Value Fund’s Advisory Agreement is in effect, the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) for that year are less than 1.10% for the Institutional Class and 1.35% for the Investor Class, Boston Partners is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees foregone and other payments remitted by Boston Partners to the Fund during such three-year period.

 

48



 

For its services to the WPG Fund, effective May 28, 2014, the Adviser is entitled to receive advisory fees, accrued daily and paid monthly, as follows:

 

·                   0.80% of average daily net assets up to $500 million

 

·                   0.75% of average daily net assets in excess of $500 million

 

Effective May 28, 2014, the Adviser contractually agreed to limit the WPG Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses (excluding certain items below) to 1.10% of the WPG Fund’s average daily net assets.  The contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.  If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 in which the WPG Fund’s Advisory Agreement is in effect, the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10%, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three year period.

 

In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause a Fund’s net annualized expense ratio to exceed the applicable expense limitation: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes and other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time.

 

The Global Long/Short Fund did not pay Robeco any advisory fees for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 because the Fund had not yet commenced operations. For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, the Boston Partners Funds paid Robeco advisory fees and Robeco waived advisory fees as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Advisory Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

2,378,643

 

$

362,104

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

16,931,601

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

5,478,088

 

$

2,542,627

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

77,605,207

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

662,844

 

$

316,245

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

2,882,949

 

$

0

 

$

(87,459

)

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Advisory Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

1,924,149

 

$

41,219

 

$

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

18,970,872

 

$

 

$

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

4,342,167

 

$

1,880,600

 

$

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

46,092,928

 

$

 

$

 

Global Equity

 

$

245,536

 

$

217,404

 

$

 

Global Long/Short*

 

$

86,187

 

$

87,459

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

1,448,490

 

$

 

$

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

17,532,119

 

$

 

$

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

2,179,642

 

$

1,110,198

 

$

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

10,047,138

 

$

 

$

(313,040

)

Global Equity

 

$

0

 

$

104,236

 

$

98,007

 

 

49



 


*    The Institutional Class and Investor Class of the Global Long/Short Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2013 and April 11, 2014, respectively.

 

For services provided by the Adviser to the WPG Fund for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, the following advisory fees were paid:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Advisory Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPG Fund

 

$

202,815

 

$

125,396

 

$

 

August 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPG Fund

 

$

367,147

 

$

27,146

 

$

 

August 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPG Fund

 

$

367,417

 

$

 

$

 

 

Each class of the Funds bears its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser. General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by a portfolio include, but are not limited to the expenses listed in the Prospectuses and the following (or a portfolio’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by a portfolio and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of a portfolio by the Adviser; (c) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or a portfolio for violation of any law; (d) any extraordinary expenses; (e) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (f) the cost of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers; (g) organizational costs; (h) fees to the investment advisers and BNY Mellon; (i) fees and expenses of officers and Directors who are not affiliated with a portfolio’s investment adviser or Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (“Foreside Distributors”); (j) taxes; (k) interest; (l) legal fees; (m) custodian fees; (n) auditing fees; (o) brokerage fees and commissions; (p) certain of the fees and expenses of registering and qualifying the portfolios and their shares for distribution under federal and state securities laws; (q) expenses of preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information and distributing annually to existing shareholders that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (r) the expense of reports to shareholders, shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (s) fidelity bond and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums; (t) the expense of using independent pricing services; and (u) other expenses which are not expressly assumed by a portfolio’s investment adviser under its advisory agreement with the portfolio. Each class of the Funds pays its own distribution fees, if applicable, and may pay a different share than other classes of other expenses (excluding advisory and custodial fees) if those expenses are actually incurred in a different amount by such class or if it receives different services.

 

50



 

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Funds or the Company in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of their respective duties or from reckless disregard of their duties and obligations there under.

 

At a regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company held on May 13-14, 2015 (with regard to all Funds), the Board of Directors of the Company, including a majority of those Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such parties, approved the Advisory Agreement.

 

The Advisory Agreement is terminable with respect to each Fund by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund, at any time without penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser. The Advisory Agreement may also be terminated by the Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Company. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically in the event of assignment thereof.  Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the Funds’ Advisory Agreement may be reviewed in the Funds’ annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015, which may be obtained by calling (888) 261-4073 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Description of Compensation . As of the date of this SAI, the portfolio managers’ compensation is comprised of a base salary and a discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus is based upon the unique structure of each team and consideration may be given to one or more of the following criteria, depending on the team.

 

·                   Individual Contribution: a subjective evaluation of the professional’s individual contribution based on the individual’s goals and objectives established at the beginning of each year;

 

·                   Product Investment Performance: the performance of the investment product(s) with which the individual is involved versus the pre-designed index based on the excess return and the level of risk, or tracking error, of the product;

 

·                   Investment Team Performance: the financial results of the Portfolio Manager’s investment group; and

 

·                   Firm-Wide Performance: the overall financial performance of the firm.

 

Compensation for portfolio managers who are also members of the Adviser’s senior management team is typically derived from a base salary and a discretionary bonus. The bonus is largely tied to firm financial performance against established goals and aligned with the primary focus on investment performance results versus benchmarks.

 

The Adviser offers a profit participation plan that is centered on investment professionals and enables them to participate in the firm’s performance. The incentive plan provides for the issuance of restricted shares and options that represent 20% of the Adviser’s equity. The restricted shares and options vest over three to five years and are perpetual; when shares are redeemed, new shares may be issued. This feature ties investment professionals’ incentive to multi-period time frames.

 

Other Accounts . The table below discloses accounts, other than the Funds, for which each Portfolio Manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of August 31, 2015.

 

Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

David M. Dabora*

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

4

 

$

359

 

1

 

$

105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Gumpert*

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

4

 

$

359

 

1

 

$

105

 

 

51



 

Boston Partners All Cap Value Fund

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

Duilio Ramallo

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

1

 

$

5,758

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

46

 

$

3,974

 

2

 

$

309

 

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

Joseph F. Feeney. Jr.*

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

2

 

$

60

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Connerly*

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

2

 

$

60

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

Robert T. Jones

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

1

 

$

115

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

52



 

Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr.

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

2

 

$

1,579

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

1

 

$

121

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher K. Hart

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

2

 

$

1,579

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

1

 

$

121

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua Jones

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

2

 

$

1,579

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

1

 

$

121

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

Richard A. Shuster*

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

5

 

$

588

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

2

 

$

159

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

7

 

$

423

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory N. Weiss*

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

5

 

$

588

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

2

 

$

159

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

7

 

$

423

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

53



 

Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

 

Name of Portfolio
Manager or Team
Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total # of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total
Assets
($mm)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance
($mm)

 

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr.

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

1

 

$

516

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher K. Hart

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

1

 

$

516

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua Jones

 

Other Registered Investment Company

 

1

 

$

516

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 


*          The portfolio managers utilize a team based approach to other accounts managed. The portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of a portion of the total assets and number of accounts shown.

 

Conflict of Interest . Investment decisions for the Fund’s portfolios are made in conjunction with decisions for other accounts and/or funds for the same strategy. The Adviser recognizes that potential conflicts may arise with respect to the side-by-side management of registered investment companies and “investment accounts,” which include privately offered funds, separately managed accounts of high net worth individuals and institutional investors, and the other funds. These risks include, but may not be limited to: differing fee structures (including performance based fees), differing investments selected for various vehicles, and inequitable allocation and aggregation trading practices. Private investment partnerships, registered funds and separately managed accounts are generally invested pari passu thus mitigating many of the perceived risk associated with simultaneous management if possible. Additionally, the Compliance Department has developed comprehensive monitoring policies and procedures designed to mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts.

 

Securities Ownership . The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each portfolio manager in the Fund or Funds managed by such Portfolio Manager as of August 31, 2015.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

Small Cap Value Fund II

 

 

 

David Dabora

 

Over $1,000,000

 

George Gumpert

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

All-Cap Value Fund

 

 

 

Duilio Ramallo

 

Over $1,000,000

 

Long/Short Equity Fund

 

 

 

Robert Jones

 

Over $1,000,000

 

Long/Short Research Fund

 

 

 

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr.

 

Over $1,000,000

 

Eric Connerly

 

$500,001-$1,000,000

 

Global Equity Fund

 

 

 

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr.

 

Over $1,000,000

 

Christopher K. Hart

 

$500,001-$1,000,000

 

 

54



 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

Joshua Jones

 

$0

 

WPG Partners Small /Micro Cap Value Fund

 

 

 

Richard A. Shuster

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Gregory N. Weiss

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Global Long/Short Fund

 

 

 

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr.

 

Over $1,000,000

 

Christopher K. Hart

 

Over $1,000.000

 

Joshua Jones

 

$500,001-$1,000,000

 

 

Custodian Agreement

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, 225 Liberty St., New York, New York 10286 (the “Custodian”), is custodian of the Funds’ assets pursuant to a custodian agreement dated July 18, 2011 (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian: (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of each Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of each Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of each Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of each Fund’s portfolio securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Funds’ operations. The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Funds, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Funds harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian. The Funds have made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Funds under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee based on each Fund’s average daily gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, or a minimum monthly fee for each Fund, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement

 

BNY Mellon, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon: (a) issues and redeems shares of each Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Funds to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Funds. BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any other affiliate of BNY Mellon. For its services to the Funds under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Funds, subject to a minimum fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. The Company pays an annual fee, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company. In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Funds’ Customer Identification Program, including verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification. The Funds will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

Administration and Accounting Agreement

 

BNY Mellon serves as administrator to the Funds pursuant to administration and accounting services agreements (the “Administration Agreements”). BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Funds statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Funds. In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepare materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Funds. The Administration Agreements provide that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the

 

55



 

performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to the Boston Partners Funds and the WPG Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of:

 

·                   0.08% of each Fund’s first $250 million of average daily net assets;

 

·                   0.065% of each Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets;

 

·                   0.055% of each Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets;

 

·                   0.040% of each Fund’s next $750 million of average daily net assets; and

 

·                   0.03% of each Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $1.5 billion.

 

The minimum monthly fee will be $5,417 for each of the Funds, exclusive of Rule 38a-1 base compliance support services fees, costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Administration Agreements provide that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or a Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon. Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company. These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Funds’ registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration. BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, the Boston Partners Funds paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out-of-pocket expenses as follows:

 

Fund

 

Administration,
Accounting and
Regulatory
Administration
Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

242,797

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

586,915

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

2,656,345

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All Cap Value

 

$

675,287

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

128,697

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

201,450

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

185,362

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

636,603

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

1,714,055

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All Cap Value

 

$

565,371

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

91,302

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

36,661

 

$

15,901

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

141,293

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

607,010

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

575,781

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All Cap Value

 

$

352,048

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

81,214

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

56



 


*The Global Long/Short Fund had not yet commenced operations as of August 31, 2013.

 

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, BNY Mellon provided administrative services to the WPG Fund. The WPG Fund paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out-of-pocket expenses as follows:

 

Fund Name

 

Administration,
Accounting and
Regulatory
Administration
Fees(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2015

 

$

75,660

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

$

79,304

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2013

 

$

77,774

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Distribution Agreement and Plans of Distribution

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Funds pursuant to a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Funds.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Company, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Funds.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Funds on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Funds.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Funds and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Funds.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Funds through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Funds for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

57



 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Funds on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

Institutional Class.  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Foreside Distributors will use best efforts to distribute each Fund’s shares. Foreside Distributors does not receive compensation from the Company for the distribution of the Funds’ Institutional Class shares; however, the Adviser pays an annual fee to Foreside Distributors as compensation for underwriting services rendered to the Funds pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

 

Investor Class. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and the related Plans of Distribution, as amended, for the Investor Class (together, the “Investor Class Plans”), which were adopted by the Company in the manner prescribed by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Foreside Distributors will use best efforts to distribute each Fund’s shares. Payments to Foreside Distributors under the Investor Class Plans are to compensate it for distribution assistance and expenses assumed and activities intended to result in the sale of shares of the Investor Class including advertising, printing and mailing of prospectuses to others than current shareholders, compensation to underwriters, compensation to broker-dealers, compensation to sales personnel, and interest, carrying or other financing changes. As compensation for its distribution services, Foreside Distributors receives, pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, a distribution fee under the Investor Class Plans, to be calculated daily and paid monthly by the Investor Class of each of the Funds at the annual rate set forth in the Investor Class Prospectus.

 

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 the Investor Class of each of the Funds paid Foreside Distributors fees as follows:

 

FUND

 

Distribution Fees
Paid (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

314,744.20

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

400,250.36

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

566,845.86

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

700,113.65

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

62,174.97

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

268,530

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

537,242

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

397,495

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

519,845

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

1,294

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

196,938

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

508,812

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

100,302

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Equity

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

204,881

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Global Long/Short*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

58



 


*The Global Long/Short Fund had not yet commenced operations as of August 31, 2013.

 

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 the Funds paid fees to broker-dealers and Foreside Distributors received fees as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Fees Paid to Broker
Dealers

 

Fees Received by the
Distributor

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

1,959,123

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

1,624,152

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

663,268

 

$

0

 

 

Among other things, the Plans provide that: (1) Foreside Distributors shall be required to submit quarterly reports to the Directors of the Company regarding all amounts expended under the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made, including commissions, advertising, printing, interest, carrying charges and any allocated overhead expenses; (2) the Plans will continue in effect only so long as they are approved at least annually, and any material amendment thereto is approved, by the Company’s Directors, including a majority of those Directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any agreements related to the Plans, acting in person at a meeting called for said purpose; (3) the aggregate amount to be spent by each Fund on the distribution of the Fund’s shares of a Class under the Plans shall not be materially increased without shareholder approval; and (4) while the Plans remain in effect, the selection and nomination of the Company’s Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) shall be committed to the discretion of such Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company.

 

Mr. Sablowsky, a Director of the Company, had an indirect interest in the operation of the Plans by virtue of his position with Oppenheimer Co., Inc., formerly Fahnestock Co., Inc., a broker-dealer.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31,2015, the Funds’ Plan expenses were spent for the following purposes:

 

Investor Class

 

Small Cap
Value

 

Long/
Short
Equity

 

All-Cap
Value

 

Long/Short
Research

 

Global
Equity*

 

Global
Long/Short

 

Compensation to broker/dealers

 

$

268,345

 

$

423,889

 

$

532,254

 

$

697689

 

$

0

 

$

36,946

 

Compensation to sales personnel

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Advertising

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current shareholders

 

$

8,336

 

$

17,340

 

$

15,605

 

$

17,573

 

$

0

 

$

1,648

 

Compensation to underwriters

 

$

44,281

 

$

86,649

 

$

82,502

 

$

108,108

 

$

0

 

$

1,648

 

Interest, financing charges

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

*

$

0

 

 

59



 

Investor Class

 

Small Cap
Value

 

Long/
Short
Equity

 

All-Cap
Value

 

Long/Short
Research

 

Global
Equity*

 

Global
Long/Short

 

Other

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

*

$

0

 

 


*      The Global Equity Fund is currently offered as Institutional Class Shares only, excluding it from 12b-1 fees.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Funds. In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Funds, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

No Fund has any obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions. The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Funds and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Funds and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to a Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by a Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to a Fund over the long-term.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31,2015, the Funds paid the following commissions to brokers on account of research services:

 

Fund

 

2015

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

64,687

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

1,309,626

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

4,987,023

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

198,254

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value

 

$

111,191

 

Global Equity

 

$

113,519

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

331,976

 

 

The following chart shows the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by each Boston Partners Fund for the past three fiscal years ended August 31:

 

Fund

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

Small Cap Value

 

$

118,986

 

$

58,201

 

$

60,980

 

Long/Short Equity

 

$

2,501,225

 

$

2,543,943

 

$

2,510,185

 

Long/Short Research

 

$

9,293,892

 

$

5,920,754

 

$

2,101,286

 

All-Cap Value

 

$

338,827

 

$

243,586

 

$

196,367

 

Global Equity

 

$

252,258

 

$

101,062

 

$

17,948

 

Global Long/Short

 

$

717,930

 

$

43,175

 

$

0

 

 

The following chart shows the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by the WPG Fund for the past three fiscal years ended August 31:

 

60



 

Fund

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 

$

193,328

 

$

176,038

 

$

187,132

 

 

The Funds are required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Funds as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, the following Funds held the following securities of their regular broker-dealers or their parents:

 

Fund

 

Broker Dealer

 

Market Value

 

Long/Short Equity Fund

 

CITIGROUP INC

 

$

7,155,196

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE & CO

 

$

7,700,013

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA CORP

 

$

7,226,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-Cap Value Fund

 

JPMORGAN CHASE & CO

 

$

34,404,970

 

 

 

CITIGROUP INC

 

$

22,269,714

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO & CO

 

$

5,148,905

 

 

 

STATE STREET CORP

 

$

9,093,277

 

 

 

BB&T CORP

 

$

12,441,154

 

 

 

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL INC

 

$

7,569,410

 

 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC

 

$

10,538,214

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long/Short Research Fund

 

CITIGROUP INC

 

$

73,524,571

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA CORP

 

$

26,547,484

 

 

 

BARCLAYS PLC

 

-$

8,207,634

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE & CO

 

$

71,274,841

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO & CO

 

$

71,118,541

 

 

 

STATE STREET CORP

 

$

38,886,281

 

 

 

BB&T CORP

 

$

58,456,654

 

 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC

 

$

45,259,851

 

 

 

SUNTRUST BANKS INC

 

$

28,980,775

 

 

 

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL I

 

$

24,038,278

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY

 

$

27,071,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 

FBR & CO

 

$

401,392

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Equity Fund

 

WELLS FARGO & CO

 

$

5,222,927

 

 

 

BB&T CORP

 

$

2,125,484

 

 

 

HSBC HOLDINGS PLC

 

$

2,784,392

 

 

 

STATE STREET CORP

 

$

2,052,813

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Long/Short Equity Fund

 

WELLS FARGO & CO

 

$

6,840,319

 

 

 

HSBC HOLDINGS PLC

 

$

3,867,416

 

 

 

UNICREDIT SPA

 

-$

1,141,113

 

 

 

STATE STREET CORP

 

$

2,688,442

 

 

 

BB&T CORP

 

$

3,743,577

 

 

61



 

Investment decisions for each Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser are made independently of each other in the light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as a Fund is concerned, in other cases it is believed to be beneficial to a Fund.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire. The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of a Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing that Fund’s NAV. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash. A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that each Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse a Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectuses from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

Each Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the particular Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

Automatic Investment Plan

 

The Automatic Investment Plan enables investors to make regular (monthly or quarterly) investments (Boston Partners Funds: $5,000 minimum for Institutional Class and $100 minimum for Investor Class: WPG Fund $50 minimum), in Institutional Class shares of any Fund through an automatic withdrawal from your designated bank account by simply completing the Automatic Investment Plan application. Please call the Transfer Agent at (888) 261-4073 to enroll. By completing the enrollment form, you authorize the Funds’ Custodians to periodically draw money from your designated account, and to invest such amounts in account(s) with the fund(s) specified. The transaction will be automatically processed to your mutual fund account on or about the first business day of the month or quarter you designate.

 

If you elect the Automatic Investment Plan, please be aware that: (1) the privilege may be revoked without prior notice if any check is not paid upon presentation; (2) the Funds’ Custodian is under no obligation to notify you as to the non-payment of any check, and (3) this service may be modified or discontinued by the Funds’ Custodian upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to you prior to any payment date, or may be discontinued by you by written notice to the Transfer Agent at least ten (10) days before the next payment date.

 

62



 

OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE,

PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

 

The following information supplements the information in the Prospectuses under the caption “Shareholder Information.” Please see the Prospectuses for more complete information.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

If shares of a Fund are held in a “street name” account with an Authorized Dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner’s account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Funds will have no record of the beneficial owner’s transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the Authorized Dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the Authorized Dealer.

 

Systematic Withdrawal Plan

 

A systematic withdrawal plan (the “Systematic Withdrawal Plan”) is available to shareholders of the WPG Fund and Investor Class Shares of the Boston Partners Funds whose shares are worth at least $10,000. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly payments to the participating shareholder of any amount not less than $100 ($50 with respect to the Long/Short Research and the WPG Funds).

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions on shares held under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan are reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of the applicable Fund at net asset value. The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in redeeming sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount of the systematic withdrawal payment. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time. Withdrawal payments should not be considered to be dividends, yield or income. If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed new purchases and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, the shareholder’s original investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted. See “Shareholder Information” in the Prospectuses. In addition, each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares, and any gain or loss realized must be reported for federal and state income tax purposes. A shareholder should consult his or her own tax adviser with regard to the tax consequences of participating in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. For further information or to request a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please write or call the Transfer Agent.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than the Distributor), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

63



 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of each Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than a Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, a Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Funds are valued under the direction of the Funds’ administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Funds may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on a Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Funds may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Funds do not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders that are not described in the Prospectuses. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectuses are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectuses and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

Each Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, each Fund generally is exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, each Fund must meet three important tests each year.

 

64



 

First, each Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of each Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of such issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer), and no more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, each Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

Each Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If a Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year a Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, taxable shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). Each Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

Loss Carryforwards

 

For federal income tax purposes, each Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any year to offset its own capital gains, if any, during the eight years following the year of the loss.  For capital losses realized in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010, the eight-year limitation has been eliminated, so that any capital losses realized by a Fund in the taxable year beginning September 1, 2011 and in subsequent taxable years will be permitted to be carried forward indefinitely.

 

As of August 31, 2015, the Long/Short Equity Fund had a capital loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of $421,617 which expires August 31, 2016. This amount is available to offset capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although each Fund expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, a Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by a Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause a Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to

 

65



 

make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which a Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has approximately 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in a Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund. Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of Common Stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each Fund will vote in the aggregate on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio. Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

66



 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, Suite 700, 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, and in that capacity audits the Funds’ financial statements.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements, financial highlights, and notes thereto in the Funds’ Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

67



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

A- 1



 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

A- 2



 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

A- 3



 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A- 4



 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.   The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 5



 

“BB” — Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. I n danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” — A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

A- 6



 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

A- 7



 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

 

ROBECO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

 

BOSTON PARTNERS

 

WPG PARTNERS

 

REDWOOD PARTNERS

 

Proxy Voting Policies

 

March 2015

 

 

Robeco Investment Management

 

909 Third Avenue

 

New York, NY 10022 — Telephone 212-908-9500 — www.robecoinvest.com

 

B- 1



 

I.

The Board of Directors

B-8

 

 

 

A.

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

B-8

 

 

 

B.

Majority Voting for Director Elections (U.S. and Canada)

B-12

 

 

 

C.

Chairman and CEO are the Same Person

B-12

 

 

 

D.

Majority of Independent Directors

B-12

 

 

 

E.

Stock Ownership Requirements

B-13

 

 

 

F.

Options Backdating

B-13

 

 

 

G.

Lack of nominating committee

B-13

 

 

 

H.

Term of Office

B-13

 

 

 

I.

Requiring two or more nominees

B-13

 

 

 

J.

Age Limits

B-14

 

 

 

K.

Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

B-14

 

 

 

L.

Succession Planning

B-14

 

 

 

M.

Limits for directors receiving 25% Withhold Votes

B-14

 

 

 

N.

Establish/Amend Nominee Qualifications

B-14

 

 

 

O.

Director Elections — Non-U.S. Companies

B-15

 

 

 

II.

Proxy Contests

B-31

 

 

 

A.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

B-31

 

 

 

B.

Reimburse Proxy Solicitation Expenses

B-31

 

 

 

III.

Auditors

B-31

 

 

 

A.

Ratifying Auditors

B-31

 

 

 

B.

Italy - Director and Auditor Indemnification

B-32

 

 

 

C.

Austria, Greece, Portugal and Spain:

B-32

 

 

 

D.

MSCI EAFE Companies — Auditor Fee Disclosure

B-33

 

 

 

IV.

Proxy Contest Defenses

B-33

 

 

 

A.

Board Structure: Staggered vs. Annual Elections

B-33

 

 

 

B.

Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors

B-33

 

 

 

C.

Cumulative Voting

B-33

 

 

 

D.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

B-34

 

B- 2



 

E.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

B-34

 

 

 

F.

Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board

B-34

 

 

 

V.

Tender Offer Defenses

B-35

 

 

 

A.

Poison Pills

B-35

 

 

 

B.

Poison Pills (Japan)

B-35

 

B- 3



 

C.

Anti-Takeover Proposals (France)

B-36

 

 

 

D.

Fair Price Provisions

B-36

 

 

 

E.

Greenmail

B-36

 

 

 

F.

Pale Greenmail

B-36

 

 

 

G.

Unequal Voting Rights

B-36

 

 

 

H.

Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Amend the Charter or Bylaws

B-36

 

 

 

I.

Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Approve Mergers

B-37

 

 

 

J.

White Squire Placements

B-37

 

 

 

K.

Protective Preference Shares

B-37

 

 

 

VI.

Miscellaneous Governance Provisions

B-37

 

 

 

A.

Confidential Voting

B-37

 

 

 

B.

Equal Access

B-38

 

 

 

C.

Bundled Proposals

B-39

 

 

 

D.

Shareholder Advisory Committees

B-39

 

 

 

E.

Charitable Contributions

B-39

 

 

 

F.

Adjourn Meeting Requests to Solicit Additional Proxies to Approve Merger Agreement

B-39

 

 

 

G.

Related-Party Transactions (France)

B-39

 

 

 

H.

Related Party Transaction Auditor Reports (France)

B-39

 

 

 

I.

Authority to Reduce Minimum Notice Period for Calling a Meeting (non-US Companies)

B-40

 

 

 

VII.

Capital Structure

B-41

 

 

 

A.

Common Stock Authorization

B-41

 

 

 

B.

Capital Issuance Requests

B-41

 

 

 

C.

Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends

B-43

 

 

 

D.

Reverse Stock Splits

B-43

 

 

 

E.

Preferred Stock

B-43

 

 

 

F.

Adjustments to Par Value of Common Stock

B-43

 

 

 

G.

Preemptive Rights

B-43

 

 

 

H.

Debt Restructurings

B-43

 

 

 

I.

Share Repurchase Programs

B-44

 

 

 

J.

Share Repurchase Programs to Fund Stock Option Plans

B-44

 

B- 4



 

K.

Additional Share Repurchase Programs

B-44

 

 

 

L.

Netherlands - Remuneration Report

B-45

 

 

 

M.

Tracking Stock

B-45

 

 

 

N.

“Going Dark” Transactions

B-46

 

 

 

VIII.

Executive and Director Compensation

B-46

 

B- 5



 

A.

General

B-46

 

 

 

B.

Management Proposals Seeking Approval to Reprice Options

B-47

 

 

 

C.

Director Compensation

B-48

 

 

 

D.

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

B-48

 

 

 

E.

OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals:

B-49

 

 

 

F.

Shareholder Proposals to Limit Executive and Director Pay

B-49

 

 

 

G.

Golden and Tin Parachutes

B-49

 

 

 

H.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

B-50

 

 

 

I.

401(k) Employee Benefit Plans

B-50

 

 

 

J.

Pension Plan Income and Performance-Based Compensation

B-50

 

 

 

K.

Indexed Options and Performance Vested Restricted Stock

B-50

 

 

 

L.

Burn Rate

B-50

 

 

 

M.

Transferable Stock Options

B-50

 

 

 

N.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERPs)

B-51

 

 

 

O.

Pay-for-Superior-Performance

B-51

 

 

 

P.

Executive Compensation Advisory Proposal (Say on Pay)

B-51

 

 

 

Q.

Pre-Arranged Trading Plans (10b5-1 Plans)

B-52

 

 

 

R.

Share Buyback Holding Periods

B-53

 

 

 

S.

Tax Gross-Up Proposals

B-54

 

 

 

T.

Reimbursement of Expenses Incurred from Candidate Nomination Proposal

B-54

 

 

 

U.

Equity Based Compensation Plans are evaluated on a case-by-case basis

B-54

 

 

 

V.

Golden Coffin (Death Benefit)

B-54

 

 

 

W.

Hold Till (post) Retirement

B-54

 

 

 

X.

Termination of Employment Prior to Severance Payment and Eliminating Accelerated Vesting of Unvested Equity:

B-55

 

 

 

Y.

Compensation Issue in Non-US Companies

B-55

 

 

 

Z.

Canadian Equity Compensation Plans, TSX Issuers

B-59

 

 

 

IX.

State of Incorporation

B-60

 

 

 

A.

Voting on State Takeover Statutes

B-60

 

 

 

B.

Voting on Reincorporation Proposals

B-60

 

 

 

X.

Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

B-61

 

 

 

A.

Mergers and Acquisitions

B-61

 

 

 

B.

Corporate Restructuring

B-62

 

 

 

C.

Spin-offs

B-62

 

 

 

D.

Asset Sales

B-62

 

B- 6



 

E.

Liquidations

B-62

 

 

 

F.

Appraisal Rights

B-62

 

 

 

G.

Changing Corporate Name

B-62

 

 

 

H.

Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations (SPACs)

B-62

 

 

 

XI.

Mutual Funds

B-63

 

 

 

XII.

Corporate Governance and Conduct

B-63

 

B- 7



 

Robeco Investment Management

Proxy Voting Policies

As of March 2015

 

I.                                         The Board of Directors

 

A.                                                        Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

 

1.                                                          Votes on director nominees are made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, examining the following factors:

 

a.                                  Long-term corporate performance record relative to a market index;

 

b.                                  Composition of board and key board committees;

 

c.                                   Corporate governance provisions and takeover activity;

 

d.                                  Nominee’s attendance at meetings;

 

e.                                   Nominee’s investment in the company;

 

f.                                    Whether a retired CEO sits on the board;

 

g.                                   Whether the chairman is also serving as CEO;

 

h.                                  Whether the nominee is an inside director and the full board serves as the audit, compensation, or nominating committee or the company does not have one of these committees; AND

 

i.                                      Whether the company has failed to meet a predetermined performance test for issuers within the Russell 3000 index;

 

j.                                     For issuers within the Russell 3000 index, after evaluating the company’s overall performance relative to its peers, taking into account situational circumstances including (but not limited to) changes in the board or management, and year-to-date total shareholder returns;

 

k.                                  On members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if poor accounting practices are identified which rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures taking into consideration the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions in determining whether negative vote recommendations are warranted.

 

l.                                      If the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval taking into account the following factors:

 

·                                      The date of the pill’s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders — i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

 

·                                      The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

 

·                                      The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

 

2.                                                          In the following situations, votes on director nominees will be WITHHELD:

 

B- 8



 

a.                                  Nominee attends less than 75% of the board and committee meetings without a valid excuse;

 

b.                                  Nominee implements or renews a dead-hand or modified dead-hand poison pill;

 

c.                                   Nominee ignores a shareholder proposal that is approved by a majority of shares outstanding;

 

d.                                  Nominee has failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders have tendered their shares;

 

e.                                   Nominee is an inside director or affiliated outsider and sits on the audit, compensation, or nominating committees;

 

f.                                    Nominee is an inside director or affiliated outsider and the majority of the board is not independent;

 

g.                                   Nominee is an audit committee member when a company’s non-audit fees are greater than 50% of all fees paid;

 

h.                                  Nominee has failed to replace management as appropriate;

 

i.                                      Nominee is CEO of a publicly traded company who serves on more than three public boards including his/her own board;

 

j.                                     From the entire board (except new nominees) where the director(s) receive more than 50% WITHHOLD votes of those cast and the issue underlying the WITHHOLD vote has not been addressed;

 

k.                                  From compensation committee members if there is a poor linkage between performance (1/3 yrs TSR) and compensation practices based on peer group comparisons;

 

l.                                      From compensation committee members if they fail to submit one-time transferable stock options to shareholders for approval;

 

m.                              From compensation committee members if the company has poor compensation practices.  Poor disclosure will also be considered. Poor compensation practices include, but are not limited to:

 

·                                      Egregious employment contracts including excessive severance provisions

 

·                                      Excessive perks that dominate compensation (base salary will be used as a relative measure to determine excessiveness)

 

·                                      Huge bonus payouts without justifiable performance

 

·                                      Performance metrics that are changed during the performance period

 

·                                      Egregious SERP payouts

 

·                                      New CEO with overly generous new hire package

 

·                                      Internal pay disparity

 

·                                      Poor practices (unless contractually bound) have not been remedied despite the previous application of cautionary language

 

·                                      Multi-year base salary increases guaranteed as part of an employment contract

 

·                                      Perks for former executives including car allowances and personal use of corporate aircraft

 

·                                      Excessive severance/change in control arrangements now include any new or materially amended arrangements that include provisions for the payment of excise tax gross-ups

 

B- 9



 

(including modified gross-ups) and/or modified single-triggers (which allow an executive to receive change-in-control severance upon voluntary resignation during a window period following the change in control);

 

·                                      Liberal change in control definition in individual contracts or equity plans which could result in payments to executives without an actual change in control occurring;

 

·                                      Tax reimbursements of any executive perquisites or other payments will be considered a poor pay practice;

 

·                                      Payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on unearned performance awards will be considered a poor practice;

 

n.                                  From any nominee, with the exception of new nominees, if the company has a classified board and a continuing director is responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level;

 

3.                                                          In the following situations, votes on director nominees will be WITHHELD or voted AGAINST:

 

a.                                  Incumbent director nominees at Russell 3000 companies, if there is a lack of accountability and oversight, along with sustained poor performance relative to their peers; and

 

b.                                  Audit committee members when the company receives an Adverse Opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditors;

 

c.                                   The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term pill” (12 months or fewer), without shareholder approval.  A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation.  Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy will apply to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov. 19, 2009.)

 

d.                                  The board makes a material, adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

 

e.                                   The entire board of directors (except new nominees, who will be considered on a CASE-BY- CASE basis), if:

 

·                                           For 2014, the board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares cast in the previous year. Factors considered are:

 

·                   Disclosed outreach efforts by the board to shareholders in the wake of the vote;

·                   Rationale provided in the proxy statement for the level of implementation;

·                   The subject matter of the proposal;

·                   The level of support for and opposition to the resolution in past meetings;

·                   Actions taken by the board in response to the majority vote and its engagement with shareholders;

·                   The continuation of the underlying issue as a voting item on the ballot (as either shareholder or management proposals); and

·                   Other factors as appropriate.;

 

B- 10



 

4.                                                         Under extraordinary circumstances, RIM will vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors, members of a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

a.                                 Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company (including but not limited to: bribery; large or serial fines or sanctions from regulatory bodies; significant adverse legal judgments or settlements; hedging company stock or significant pledging of company stock

 

b.                                 Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

c.                                  Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interest of shareholders at any company.

 

5.                                       Directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if the board amends the company’s bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders’ rights or that could adversely impact shareholders, considering the following factors, as applicable:

 

a.               The board’s rationale for adopting the bylaw/charter amendment without shareholder ratification;

b.               Disclosure by the company of any significant engagement with shareholders regarding the amendment;

c.                The level of impairment of shareholders’ rights caused by the board’s unilateral amendment to the bylaws/charter;

d.               The board’s track record with regard to unilateral board action on bylaw/charter amendments or other entrenchment provisions;

e.                The company’s ownership structure;

f.                 The company’s existing governance provisions;

g.                Whether the amendment was made prior to or in connection with the company’s initial public offering;

h.               The timing of the board’s amendment to the bylaws/charter in connection with a significant business development;

i.                                           Other factors, as deemed appropriate, that may be relevant to determine the impact of the amendment on shareholders.

 

6.                                                         RIM will vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE) if

 

a.                                  The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the majority of votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency.

 

7.                                                         RIM will vote CASE-BY-CASE on the entire board if:

 

a.                                  The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received a plurality, but not a majority, of the votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-play frequency, taking into account:

 

·                                     The board’s rationale for selecting a different frequency;

 

·                                     The company’s ownership structure and vote results;

 

B- 11



 

·                                     Analysis of whether there are compensation concerns or a history of problematic compensation practices; and

 

·                                     The previous year’s support level on the company’s say-on-pay proposal.

 

8.                                                         RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on Compensation Committee members (or, in exceptional cases, the full board) and the Management Say-on-Pay proposal if the company’s previous say-on-pay proposal received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account:

 

a.                                 The company’s response, including:

 

·                                     Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support;

 

·                                     Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support;

 

·                                     Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;

 

b.                                 Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;

 

c.                                  The company’s ownership structure; and

 

d.                                 Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.

 

B.                                                       Majority Voting for Director Elections (U.S. and Canada)

 

Shareholder proposals calling for majority voting thresholds for director elections

 

We generally vote FOR these proposals unless the company has adopted formal corporate governance principles that present a meaningful alternative to the majority voting standard and/or provide an adequate response to both new nominees as well as incumbent nominees who fail to receive a majority of votes cast.

 

C.                                                       Chairman and CEO are the Same Person

 

We vote FOR shareholder proposals that would require the positions of chairman and CEO to be held by different persons.

 

D.                                                       Independent Chair

 

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, taking into consideration the following:

 

a.    The scope of the proposal;

b.    The company’s current board leadership structure;

c.    The company’s governance structure and practices;

d.    Company performance; and

e.    Any other relevant factors that may be applicable.

 

B- 12



 

E.                                                         Majority of Independent Directors

 

1.                                                          We vote FOR shareholder proposals that request that the board be composed of a two-thirds majority of independent directors.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR shareholder proposals that request that the board audit, compensation and/or nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors.

 

F.                                                          Stock Ownership Requirements

 

1.                                                          We vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR management and shareholder proposals requiring directors be partially or fully paid in stock.

 

G.                                                        Options Backdating

 

1.                                                          We may recommend WITHHOLDING votes from the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board.

 

2.                                                          We will adopt a CASE-BY-CASE policy to the options backdating issue.  In recommending withhold votes from the compensation committee members who oversaw the questionable options grant practices or from current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, we will consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

a.                                  Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

 

b.                                  Length of time of options backdating;

 

c.                                   Size of restatement due to options backdating;

 

d.                                  Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or repricing backdated options, or recoupment of option gains on backdated grants;

 

e.                                   Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creation of a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants going forward.

 

H.                                                       Lack of nominating committee

 

We will WITHHOLD votes from insiders and affiliated outsiders for failure to establish a formal nominating committee. Furthermore, WITHHOLD votes from insiders and affiliated outsiders on any company where the board attests that the ‘independent’ directors serve the functions of a nominating committee.

 

I.                                                            Term of Office

 

We vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of outside directors. Term limits pose artificial and arbitrary impositions on the board and could harm shareholder interests by forcing experienced and knowledgeable directors off the board.

 

J.                                                            Requiring two or more nominees

 

We vote AGAINST proposals to require two or more candidates for each board seat.

 

B- 13



 

K.                                                        Age Limits

 

We vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to impose a mandatory retirement age for outside directors.

 

L.                                                         Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

 

1.                                                          Proposals concerning director and officer indemnification and liability protection are evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

2.                                                          We vote AGAINST proposals to limit or eliminate director and officer liability for monetary damages for violating the duty of care.

 

3.                                                          We vote AGAINST indemnification proposals that would expand coverage beyond just legal expenses to acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of fiduciary obligations than mere carelessness.

 

4.                                                          We vote FOR only those proposals that provide such expanded coverage in cases when a director’s or officer’s legal defense was unsuccessful if: (a) the director was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company, and (b) only if the director’s legal expenses would be covered.

 

M.                                                     Succession Planning

 

Shareholder proposal seeking the adoption of a documented CEO succession planning policy.

 

We will evaluate such proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis considering the company’s current practices and the scope of the proposal.

 

N.                                                        Limits for directors receiving 25% Withhold Votes

 

Shareholder proposal seeking a policy that forbids any director who receives more than 25% withhold votes cast from serving on any key board committee for two years, and asks the board to find replacement directors for the committees if need be.

 

We will evaluate such proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis considering the company’s current practices and the scope of the proposal.

 

O.                                                        Establish/Amend Nominee Qualifications

 

We will vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder resolutions seeking a director nominee candidate who possesses a particular subject matter expertise, considering:

 

1.                                                          The company’s board committee structure, existing subject matter expertise, and board nomination provisions relative to that of its peers;

 

2.                                                          The company’s existing board and management oversight mechanisms regarding the issue for which board oversight is sought;

 

3.                                                          The company disclosure and performance relating to the issue for which board oversight is sought and any significant related controversies; and

 

4.                                                          The scope and structure of the proposal

 

B- 14



 

P.                                                          Director Elections — Non-U.S. Companies

 

1.                                                          Canada

 

In the following situations, votes will be WITHHELD:

 

a.                                  From any director on the audit or compensation committee who served as the company’s CEO or who, within the past five years, served as the company’s CFO (This policy only applies to Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) companies).;

 

b.                                  From audit committee members if audit fees are not disclosed in publicly filed documents or obtainable within a reasonable period of time prior to the shareholder’s meeting;

 

c.                                   From audit committee members where “other” or non-audit related fees paid to the external auditor in the most recently completed fiscal year exceeded fees paid to that firm for all audit related services. In the case of slate ballots, a vote of WITHHOLD will be applied to the entire slate. (One-time fees disclosed as “other” that are paid for corporate reorganization services will be excluded from the calculation for determining whether non-audit fees exceed audit and audit- related fees paid to the external firm);

 

d.                                  The individual director has attended fewer than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings held within the past year without a valid reason for his or her absence and the company has a plurality vote standard;

 

e.                                   The individual director has attended fewer than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings held within the past year without a valid reason for his or her absence and a pattern of low attendance exists based on prior years’ meeting attendance, and the company has adopted a majority vote standard.

 

f.                                    Generally WITHHOLD votes from all directors nominated by slate ballot at the annual/general or annual/special shareholders’ meetings. This policy will not apply to contested director elections.

 

g.                Generally WITHHOLD from individual directors, committee members, or the entire board as appropriate in situations where an advance notice policy has been adopted by the board but has not been included on the voting agenda at the next shareholders’ meeting.

 

h.               Continued lack of shareholder approval of the advanced notice policy in subsequent years may result in further withhold recommendations.

 

Votes from individual directors (and the whole slate if the slate includes such individual directors) who:

 

·                                                              Are insiders on the compensation or nominating committee and the committee is not majority independent.

 

i.                                                              Votes from individual directors (and the whole slate if the slate includes such individual directors) who:

 

·                                                              Are insiders and the entire board fulfills the role of a compensation or nominating committee and the board is not majority independent

 

RIM policies support a one-share, one-vote principle. In recognition of the substantial equity stake held by certain shareholders, on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, director nominees who are or who represent a

 

B- 15



 

controlling shareholder of a majority owned company, who will be designated as controlling insiders, may generally be supported under RIM’ board and committee independence policies, if the company meets all of the following independence and governance criteria:

 

a.               Individually elected directors;

b.               The number of related directors should not exceed the proportion of the common shares controlled by the controlling shareholder, to a maximum of two-thirds, however if the CEO is related to the controlling shareholder, then at least two-thirds of the directors should be independent of management;

c.                If the CEO and chair roles are combined or the CEO is or is related to the controlling shareholder, then there should be an independent lead director and the board should have an effective and transparent process to deal with any conflicts of interest between the company, minority shareholders, and the controlling shareholder; and

d.               A majority of the audit and nominating committees should be either independent directors or related directors who are independent of management. All members of the compensation committee should be independent of management, and, if the CEO is related to the controlling shareholder, no more than one member of the compensation committee should be a related director;

e.                Prompt disclosure of detailed vote results following each shareholder meeting; and

f.                 Adoption of a majority vote standard with a director resignation policy for uncontested elections OR a public commitment to adopt a majority voting standard with a director resignation policy for uncontested elections if the controlling shareholder ceases to control 50 percent or more of the common shares.

 

RIM will also consider the following:

 

a.               Nominating committee has process to receive and discuss suggestions from shareholders for potential director nominees; and

b.               If the CEO is related to the controlling shareholder, the board’s process to evaluate the performance, leadership, compensation, and succession of management should be led by independent directors.

 

RIM will also take into consideration any other concerns related the conduct of the subject director and any controversy or questionable actions on the part of the subject director that are deemed not to be in the best interests of all shareholders.

 

In the following situations, we will vote AGAINST:

 

a.                                                          We will vote AGAINST compensation committee members if the company has poor pay practices as defined above.

 

b.                                                          We will generally vote AGAINST the entire slate if individual director elections are not permitted and the company demonstrates poor pay practices as defined above.

 

c.                                                           We will generally vote AGAINST equity plans if plan is used as a vehicle for poor pay practices as defined above.

 

2.                                                                                  Europe

 

a.                                                          Directors’ term of office

 

For the markets of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland, we vote AGAINST the election or reelection of any director when their term is not disclosed or when it exceeds four years and adequate explanation for non- compliance has not been provided.

 

B- 16



 

b.                                                          Executives on audit and remuneration committees

 

For the markets of Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden, we vote AGAINST the election or reelection of any executive (as defined by RMG’S director categorization guidelines), including the CEO, who serve on the audit and/or remuneration committees. We vote AGAINST if the disclosure is too poor to determine whether an executive serves or will serve on a committee.

 

c.                                                           Bundling of proposal to elect directors

 

For the markets of France and Germany, we vote AGAINST the election or reelection of any director if the company proposes a single slate of directors.

 

d.                                                          Majority-independent board (i.e., greater than 50%)

 

For the markets of Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, we vote AGAINST the election or reelection of any non-independent director (excluding the CEO) if the proposed board is not at least 50 % independent (as defined by RMG’S director categorization guidelines). For the markets of Finland, Sweden, Ireland, and Luxembourg, we vote AGAINST non-independent directors if there is not majority independence, but only for those companies that are part of the MSCI EAFE index.

 

Carve Outs: For the larger German companies where 50 % of the board must consist of labor representatives by law, we require one-third of the total board be independent.

 

France: We will vote FOR a non-independent, non-executive director, provided that two conditions are satisfied: future composition of the board of at least 33 percent of independents, AND improvements in board composition (e.g. independence increase from 25 to 40 percent).

 

e.                                                           Disclosure of names of nominees

 

For all European companies that are part of the MSCI EAFE index (Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Greece, and Sweden), we vote AGAINST the election or reelection of any directors when the names of the nominees are not disclosed in a timely manner prior to the meeting.. This policy will be applied to all companies in these markets, for bundled as well as unbundled items. In the case of Italy, once the list of nominees has been disclosed, we will evaluate each nominee on a CASE-BY- CASE basis.  In the case of Poland and Turkey, RIM will vote FOR the election of directors in 2013 even if nominee names are not disclosed in a timely manner. Beginning in 2014, this grace period will cease.

 

f.                                                            France

 

RIM will vote on a case-by-case basis regarding the granting of double-voting rights on shares in compliance with the Florange Act.

 

g.                                                           All European Markets

 

RIM will vote AGAINST (re)election of a combined chair/CEO at core companies.  However, with the company provides assurance that the chair/CEO would only serve in the combined role on an interim basis (no more than two years), with the intent of separating the roles within a given time frame, considerations should be given to these exceptional circumstances.  In this respect, the vote will be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.  In order for RIM to consider a favorable vote for an interim combined chair/CEO the company will need to provide adequate control mechanisms on the board (such as a lead independent director, a high overall level of board independence, and a high level of independence on the board’s key committees.

 

h.                                                          For companies with a majority shareholder, generally vote against the election or reelection of any non-independent directors (excluding the CEO) if the level of independence on the board will be lower than the minority shareholders’ percentage of equity ownership, or if the board will be less than one-third independent (whichever is higher.)

 

B- 17



 

(In markets where the local corporate governance code addresses board independence at controlled companies, RIM will generally vote against the election or reelection of any non- independent directors (excluding the CEO) if the level of independence on the board is lower than the local code recommendation, but in any case , below 1/3.)

 

h.                                  Independence will be determined according to RIM’s European Classification of Directors. If a nominee cannot be categorized, RIM will consider that person non-independent and include that nominee in the calculation.

 

The following policies would be applied to all widely held companies( 1), unless there is a majority shareholder:

 

i.        For all markets (except Greece or Portugal), vote against the election or reelection of any non- independent directors (excluding the CEO) if:

 

ii.        Fewer than 50 percent of the board members elected by shareholders would be independent, or

 

iii.          Fewer than one-third of board members, including those who, in accordance with local law(s) requiring their mandatory board membership, are not elected by shareholders, would be independent.

 

iv.            In Italy, at least half of the board should be independent (50 percent). Issuers with a controlling shareholder will be required to have a board consisting of at least one-third independent members (33 percent). This applies to individual director appointments (co-options). In the case of complete board renewals that are regulated by the Italian slate system (“voto di lista”), board independence will be one of the factors for determining which list of nominees RIM considers best suited to add value for shareholders based, as applicable, on RIM European policies.

 

v.            For companies incorporated in Portugal or Greece, at least one-third of the board will be required to be independent. RIM will recommend a vote against the entire slate of candidates (in the case of bundled elections), or a vote against the election of any non-independent directors (in the case of unbundled elections) if board independence level does not meet the minimum recommended one-third threshold.

 

For companies with a majority shareholder (excluding Italy and Portugal):

 

i.                         Generally vote against the election or reelection of any non-independent directors (excluding the CEO) if the level of independence on the board will be lower than minority shareholders’ percentage of equity ownership, or, in any case, if the board will be less than one-third independent (whichever is higher).

 

ii.                         Minority shareholders’ ownership percentage is calculated by subtracting the majority shareholder’s equity ownership percentage from 100 percent. Majority control is defined in terms of economic interest and not voting rights, and is considered to be any shareholder or group of shareholders acting collectively that control at least 50 percent + 1 share of the company’s equity capital. This independence threshold is applied to controlled widely held companies or main index-listed/MSCI- EAFE member companies which would otherwise fall under a 50-percent independence guideline as described in the Board Independence Policy.

 

a.               However, in markets where the local corporate governance code addresses board independence at controlled companies, RIM will generally recommend against the election or reelection of any non-independent directors (excluding the CEO) if the level of

 


(1) Widely held companies are interpreted as:

› Generally, based on their membership in a major index and/or the number of ISS clients holding the securities;

› For Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Luxembourg: based on local blue chip market index and/or MSCI EAFE companies;

For Portugal, based on their membership in the PSI-20 and/or MSCI-EAFE index.

 

B- 18



 

independence on the board is lower than the local code recommendation, but in any case, if the level of board independence will be less than one-third.

 

3.                                                          Ireland

 

We vote AGAINST on-independent directors if the majority board is not independent, but only for companies that are constituents of ISE 20.

 

4.                                                          Netherlands

 

We vote AGAINST nominees when their term is not disclosed or exceeds four years and an adequate explanation for noncompliance has not been provided.

 

5.                                                          Canada

 

Vote case-by-case on proposals to adopt or amend an Advance Notice Board Policy or to adopt or amend bylaws containing or adding an advance notice requirement. These provisions will be evaluated to ensure that all of the provisions included within the requirement solely support the stated purpose of the requirement. The purpose of advance notice requirements, as generally stated in the market, is to prevent stealth proxy contests; to provide a reasonable framework for shareholders to nominate directors by allowing shareholders to submit director nominations within a reasonable timeframe; and to provide all shareholders with sufficient information about potential nominees in order for them to make informed voting decisions on such nominees taking into account the following:

 

a.                    For annual notice of meeting given not less than 50 days prior to the meeting date, the notification timeframe within the advance notice requirement should allow shareholders the ability to provide notice of director nominations at any time not less than 30 days prior to the shareholders’ meeting. The notification timeframe should not be subject to any maximum notice period. If notice of annual meeting is given less than 50 days prior to the meeting date, a provision to require shareholder notice by close of business on the 10th day following first public announcement of the annual meeting is supportable. In the case of a special meeting, a requirement that a nominating shareholder must provide notice by close of business on the 15th day following first public announcement of the special shareholders’ meeting is also acceptable;

b.                    The board’s inability to waive all sections of the advance notice provision under the policy or bylaw, in its sole discretion;

c.                     A requirement that any proposed nominee deliver a written agreement wherein the proposed nominee acknowledges and agrees, in advance, to comply with all policies and guidelines of the company that are applicable to directors;

d.                    Any provision that restricts the notification period to that established for the originally scheduled meeting in the event that the meeting has been adjourned or postponed;

e.                     Any additional disclosure requests within the advance notice requirement or the company’s ability to require additional disclosure that exceeds that required within a dissident proxy circular or that goes beyond that necessary to determine director nominee qualifications, relevant experience, shareholding or voting interest in the company, or independence in the same manner as would be required and disclosed for management nominees; and in any event where there is no indication from the company that such additional disclosure, if requested and received, will be made publicly available to shareholders;

 

B- 19



 

f.                      Stipulations within the provision that the corporation will not be obligated to include any information provided by dissident director nominees or nominating shareholders in any shareholder communications, including the proxy statement;

g.                     Any other feature or provision determined to have a negative impact on shareholders’ interests and deemed outside the purview of the stated purpose of the advance notice requirement.

 

6.                                                          Australia

 

We vote AGAINST affiliated outsiders and insiders on remuneration and/or audit committees that are not majority independent.

 

7.                                                          Singapore

 

We vote AGAINST:

 

a.                                  Election of one executive director and one substantial-shareholder nominee where independent directors represent less than one-third of the board;

 

b.                                  Audit committee members who are former partners of the company’s auditor;

 

c.                                   Directors who have attended less than 75 percent of meetings, without a reasonable explanation for those absences. (Acceptable explanations include Medical issues; family emergencies, the director has served for less than one year; missing one meeting of a total of three or fewer.)

 

d.                                  Election or reelection of non-independent nominees (including nominees who have been a partner of the company’s auditor within the last three years or is on the audit committee of the company) if at least one-third of the board is not independent

 

e.                                   Classify a director as non-independent where the director has served on the board for more than nine years and where the board either fails to provide any reason for considering the director to still be independent, or where the stated reasons raise concerns among investors as to the director’s true level of independence..

 

We will NOT vote against the election of a CEO or a company founder who is integral to the company.

 

8.                                                          Hong Kong

 

RIM will generally vote FOR director nominees to the board, however, we will vote AGAINST any nominee who:

 

a.                                  Is classified by the company as independent, but fails to meet the RIM criteria for independence

 

b.                                  Has been a partner of the company’s auditor within the last three years, and serves on the audit committee;

 

c.                                   Had attended less than 75 percent of board meeting over the most recent two years, without a satisfactory explanation (Acceptable explanations include Medical issues; family emergencies, the director has served for less than one year; missing one meeting of a total of three or fewer.);

 

d.                                  Is an executive director serving on the remuneration committee or nomination committee, and the committee is not majority independent; or

 

e.                                   Is an executive director serving on the audit committee.

 

B- 20



 

f.                                    Classified by the company as independent but fails to meet the RIM criteria for independence.

 

Classify a director as non-independent where the director has served on the board for more than nine years, and where the board either fails to provide any reason for considering the director to still be independent, or where the stated reasons raise concerns among investors as to the director’s true level of independence.

 

Generally vote for the re/election of directors, unless:

 

a.               The nominee has been a partner of the company’s auditor within the last three years, and serves on the audit committee;

b.               The nominee has attended less than 75 percent of board and key committee meetings over the most recent fiscal year, without a satisfactory explanation. The calculation of director attendance will not include meetings attended by alternate directors. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following:

c.                Medical issues/illness;

d.               Family emergencies;

e.                The director has served on the board for less than a year; and

f.                 Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer);

g.                The nominee is an executive director serving on the remuneration committee or nomination committee, and the committee is not majority independent;

h.               The nominee is an executive director serving on the audit committee;

i.                   The nominee sits on a total of more than six public company boards (RIM will accept a commitment by an overboarded director to step down from one or more boards at the next annual meeting of the company or companies in question, if that will bring the total number of boards to no more than six); or

j.                  Any non-independent director nominees where the board is less than one-third independent under RIM classification of directors.

 

RIM generally will not vote against the election of a CEO, managing director, executive chairman, or founder whose removal from the board would be expected to have a material negative impact on shareholder value.

 

9.                                                          Hong Kong and Singapore: Generally vote AGAINST all members of the audit committee up for reelection if:

 

a.               The non-audit fees paid to the auditor exceed audit fees without satisfactory explanation; or

 

b.               The company did not disclose the audit fees and /or non-audit fees in the latest fiscal year.

 

c.                Vote AGAINST director nominees who sit on a total of more than six public company boards.

 

10.                                                   Japan : Generally vote FOR an article amendment to adopt a board with audit committee structure. However, if the adoption of the new governance structure would eliminate shareholders’ ability to submit shareholder proposals on income allocation, vote against the article amendments. Vote case-by-case if the board currently has a three-committee structure

 

11.                                                   Malaysia, Thailand

 

Typically vote for the reelection of directors unless:

 

a.                                  The nominee is an executive director and serves on the audit, remuneration, or nomination committee; or

 

b.                                  The nominee has attended fewer than 75% of the board and committee meetings over the most recent year without a satisfactory explanation (Acceptable explanations include Medical issues;

 

B- 21



 

family emergencies, the director has served for less than one year; missing one meeting of a total of three or fewer.); or

 

c.                                   The nominee is a non-independent director and the board is less than 1/3 independent.

 

d.

 

12.                                                   Korea

 

We vote AGAINST the election of an outside director to the board or to the audit committee where that director sits on a total of more than two public company boards.

 

13.                                                   South Korea

 

We vote AGAINST any nominee who is a non-independent director serving on the audit committee.

 

14.                                                   Korea, South Korea and South Africa

 

We vote AGAINST the reelection of any outside directors who have attended less than 75 % of board meetings.

 

15.                                                   South Korea, Philippines

 

a.                                  We vote FOR the election of directors unless there are specific concerns about the company, the board or the nominees.

 

b.                                  We vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis that shareholders cumulate their votes for the independent directors .

 

c.                                   We vote AGAINST all director elections where insufficient information on nominees has been disclosed.

 

d.                                  Where independent directors represent less than a majority of the board, we will vote

 

AGAINST the following directors:

 

·                                      Executive directors who are neither the CEO nor a member of the founding family and/or the most recently appointed non-independent non-executive director who represents a substantial shareholder, where the percentage of board seats held by representatives of the substantial shareholder are disproportionate to their holdings in the company.

 

16.                                                   Philippines

 

a.                                  Where independent directors represent less than the highest of three independent directors or 30 percent of the board, RIM will vote AGAINST the following directors:

 

·                                      An executive director with exception of the CEO; or

 

·                                      One non-executive non-independent director who represents a substantial shareholder where the number of seats held by the representatives is disproportionate to its holdings in the company.

 

17.                                                   Brazil

 

a.                                  RIM will vote AGAINST proposals to elect directors if the post-election board is not at least 30 percent independent. This policy applies to Novo Mercado companies.

 

b.                                  RIM will vote AGAINST proposals to elect directors if the post-election board is not at least 20 percent independent. This policy applies to Nivel 2 companies.

 

B- 22



 

18.                                                   Austria

 

We vote AGAINST supervisory board elections if names of nominees are not disclosed, for companies that are part of the MSCI EAFE index and/or the Austrian ATX index.

 

19.                                                   France (MSCI EAFE Index) - Combined Chairman/CEO

 

On proposals to change the board structure from a two-tier structure to a one-tier structure with a combination of the functions of Chairman and CEO, and/or the election or the reelection of a combined Chairman and CEO:

 

We vote on a CASE-BY-CASE policy, accepting a combination generally only in the following cases:

 

a.                                  If it is a temporary solution;

 

b.                                  If his/her removal from the board would adversely impact the company’s continuing operations;

 

c.                                   If the company provides compelling argumentation for combining the two functions; or

 

d.                                  If the company has put a sufficiently counterbalancing governance structure in place.

 

A counterbalancing structure may include the following:

 

·                                      At least 50 percent of the board members are independent (one-third for companies with a majority shareholder) according to the RMG criteria;

 

·                                      No executive serves on the audit committee and no executive serves on the remuneration committee (in the financial year under review if more up-to-date information is not available);

 

·                                      The chairmen of audit, remuneration and nomination committees are independent directors; and

 

·                                      All key governance committees have a majority of independent members.

 

If disclosure is not sufficient to determine the above, this will lead to a negative evaluation of the concerned criterion. We will apply this policy for all core companies in France. This policy will also apply for resolutions for the election or the reelection of a combined Chairman and CEO for companies of the MSCI EAFE index, which represents the world’s largest companies that are expected to be held to higher standards.

 

Censor (non-voting board member)  Elections:  For widely held companies, RIM will generally vote AGAINST proposals seeking shareholder approval to elect a censor, to amend bylaws to authorize the appointment of censors, or to extend the maximum number of censors to the board.

 

However, RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis when the company provides assurance that the censor would serve on a short-term basis (maximum one year) with the intent to retain the nominee before his/her election as director. In this case, consideration shall also be given to the nominee’s situation (notably overboarding or other factors of concern.)

 

In consideration of the principle that censors should be appointed on a short-term basis, RIM will vote AGAINST any proposal to renew the term of a censor or to extend the statutory term of censors.

 

B- 23



 

For directors standing for (re)election at French companies, will take into account board appointments as censors .

 

20.                                                   Denmark - Discharge of Management and Board

 

We vote AGAINST proposals to abolish the authority of the general meeting to vote on discharge of the board and management since proposals to withhold discharge are regarded by international investors as an important means by which they may express serious concern of management and board action

 

21.                                                   Sweden - Director Elections/Labor Representatives

 

a.                                  For all Swedish MSCI EAFE companies, we vote AGAINST the election of nonindependent executive directors if less than 50 percent of the shareholder-elected members are independent non-executive directors.

 

b.                                  In addition, for Swedish MSCI EAFE companies with labor representatives on the board of directors, we will apply Criterion (1) above, PLUS require that at least one-third of the total board (shareholder-elected members and labor representatives) be independent non-executive directors.

 

22.                                                   Israel

 

For Israeli companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange, we vote AGAINST the election/reelection of non-independent directors if a given board is not majority-independent and does not have at least three external directors.

 

Director and Auditor Indemnification We evaluate proposals on director and officer indemnification and liability protection on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

a.                                  We vote AGAINST proposals that would:

 

·                                      Eliminate entirely directors’ and officers’ liability for monetary damages for violating the duty of care;

 

·                                      Expand coverage beyond just legal expenses to liability for acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of fiduciary obligation than mere carelessness;

 

·                                      Expand the scope of indemnification to provide for mandatory indemnification of company officials in connection with acts that previously the company was permitted to provide indemnification for at the discretion of the company’s board (i.e. “permissive indemnification”) but that previously the company was not required to indemnify.

 

·                                      For Israeli companies that are listed on a U.S. stock exchange and file a Form 20-F,we will vote AGAINST if the election of non-independent directors who sit on a company’s compensation committee.

 

·                                      If the board does not have compensation committee, we will vote AGAINST the non- independent directors serving on the board.

 

b.                                  We vote FOR only those proposals providing such expanded coverage in cases when a director’s or officer’s legal defense was unsuccessful: 1) if the director was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company, and 2) if only the director’s legal expenses would be covered.

 

c.                                   For the issue of Indemnification and Liability Agreements with D/O, which is more common than proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions are frequently proposed to permit the companies to enter into new indemnification agreements with certain officers. We SUPPORT such requests if a company’s bylaws allow indemnification to such levels as allowed for under the Companies Law

 

B- 24



 

23.                                                   Japan

 

a.                                  We vote AGAINST the reelection of directors who fail to attend at least 75 percent of board meetings, unless the company discloses a legitimate reason for poor attendance. The same policy will be applied to statutory auditors.

 

b.                                  For listed subsidiary companies that have publicly-traded parent cos, we vote AGAINST reelection of the top executive(s) if the board, after the shareholder meeting does not include at least two independent directors.

 

c.                                   For listed subsidiaries with the three-committee structure, we vote AGAINST the reappointment of nomination committee members who are insiders or affiliated outsiders, unless the board after the shareholder meeting includes at least two independent directors.

 

d.                                  The firm will not vote AGAINST the reelection of executives as long as the board includes at least one independent director.

 

e.                                   We vote AGAINST the top executive at listed companies that have controlling shareholders, where the board after the shareholder meeting does not include at least two independent directors based on RIM independence criteria for Japan.

 

f.                                    For companies with a three-committee structure, RIM will vote AGAINST outside director nominees who are regarded as non-independent. However, if a majority of the directors on the board after the shareholder meeting are independent outsiders, vote FOR the appointment of affiliated outsiders

 

g.                                   Vote AGAINST the top executive of a Japanese company if the board does not include at least one outside director.

 

1.               At companies with a statutory auditory structure: vote for the election of directors, except:

 

a.               Top executive(s)(2) at a company that has underperformed in terms of capital efficiency (i.e., when the company has posted average return on equity (ROE) of less than five percent over the last five fiscal years)(3), unless an improvement(4) is observed;

b.               Top executive(s) if the board, after the shareholder meeting, does not include at least one outsider, regardless of independence;

c.                Top executive(s) at a company that has a controlling shareholder, where the board, after the shareholder meeting, does not include at least two independent directors based on RIM independence criteria for Japan;

d.               An outside director nominee who attended less than 75 percent of board meetings during the year under review(5); or

e.                Top executive(s) who are responsible for not implementing a shareholder proposal which has received a majority(6) of votes cast, or not putting a similar proposal on the ballot as a management proposal the following year (with a management recommendation of for), when that proposal is deemed to be in the interest of independent shareholders.

 


( 2) In most cases, the top executive will be the “shacho” (president). However, there are companies where the decision-making authority also rests with the “kaicho” (executive chairman) or “daihyo torishimariyaku” (representative director).

(3) Exceptions may be considered for cases such as where the top executive has newly joined the company in connection with a bailout or restructuring. This policy will not be applied to companies which have been public for less than five years.

(4) Improvement is defined as ROE of five percent or greater for the most recent fiscal year.

(5) The attendance of inside directors is not disclosed in Japan.

(6) Many Japanese shareholder proposals are submitted as article amendments, which require supermajority support in order to pass.

 

B- 25



 

2.               At companies with a U.S.-type three committee structure: (In addition to the guidelines for companies with a statutory auditor structure) vote for the election of directors, except where:

 

a.               An outside director nominee is regarded as non-independent based on RIM independence criteria for Japan, and the board, after the shareholder meeting, is not majority independent; or

b.               Where the company has a controlling shareholder, a director nominee sits on the nomination committee and is an insider, or non-independent outsider, when the board, after the shareholder meeting, does not include at least two independent directors based on RIM independence criteria for Japan.

 

3.               At companies with a board with audit committee structure: (In addition to the guidelines for companies with a statutory auditor structure) vote for the election of directors, except where:

 

a.               An outside director nominee who is also nominated as an audit committee member(7) is regarded as non- independent based on RIM independence criteria for Japan.

 

Regardless of governance structure, under extraordinary circumstances, vote against individual directors, members of a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

a.               Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

b.               Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company

 

24.                                                   Germany

 

a.                                  For core companies with employee representatives on supervisory board: We vote AGAINST any non-independent director if less than one-third of the supervisory board is independent.

 

b.                                  For core companies without employee representatives: We vote AGAINST any non- independent director if less than one-half of the supervisory board is independent.

 

c.                                   We vote AGAINST supervisory board nominees in they hold more than a total of five supervisory board or foreign board of director seats and serve in an executive role at another company.

 

25.                                                   Spain

 

a.                                  We vote AGAINST non-independent directors (excluding the CEO) for all core companies where the board is not at least one-third independent.

 

b.                                  We vote AGAINST the routine election and reelection of directors when his/her term is not disclosed or when it exceeds four years and adequate explanation for non-compliance has not been provided. This policy applies for bundled as well as unbundled items.

 

26.                                                   United Kingdom

 

We consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis the re-election of the Chairman of the board. In situations where he or she has direct responsibility for failure to comply with (or to explain satisfactorily) the Code, we vote ABSTAIN, or, if such an option is unavailable, we vote CONTENTIOUS FOR, or AGAINST.

 


( 7) Outside director nominees who are not nominated as audit committee members are not subject to this policy.

 

B- 26



 

27.                                                   Germany, U.K., The Netherlands

 

We will generally vote AGAINST the election or reelection of a former CEO as chairman to the supervisory board or the board of directors, unless:

 

a.                                  There are compelling reasons that justify the election or re-election of a former CEO as chairman;

 

b.                                  The former CEO is proposed to become the board’s chairman only on an interim or temporary basis;

 

c.                                   The former CEO is proposed to be elected as the board’s chairman for the first time after a reasonable cooling-off period; or

 

d.                                  The board chairman will not receive a level of compensation comparable to the company’s executives nor assume executive functions in markets where this is applicable.

 

28.                                                   Latin America, Turkey, Indonesia

 

WE will vote AGAINST election of directors if the name of the nominee is not disclosed in a timely manner prior to the meeting. This is only for each respective market’s main blue chip (large cap) index.

 

29.                                                   Russia

 

WE will vote AGAINST proposals to elect directors, if names of nominees are not disclosed.

 

30.                                                   Taiwan

 

WE will vote AGAINST the election of directors if the names or shareholder ID numbers are not disclosed.

 

31.                                                   India

 

a.                                  RIM votes AGAINST all non-independent director nominees (other than a CEO/managing director, executive chairman, or company founder who is deemed integral to the company) where independent directors represent less than one-third of the board (if the chairman is a non- executive) or one-half of the board (if the chairman is an executive director or a promoter director.) Austria:

 

b.                                  We will vote AGAINST the election or reelection of any non-independent directors (excluding the CEO) if the proposed board is not at least 50-percent independent (as defined by ISS’ director categorization guidelines). If a nominee cannot be categorized, RIM will assume that person is non-independent and include that nominee in the calculation. The policy will apply only to core companies.  For core companies where the board must include labor representatives by law, RIM will require that one-third of the total board be independent

 

c.                                   Vote against the re/election of a director if the nominee has attended less than 75 percent of board and key committee (audit, compensation, and nominating) meetings over the most recent fiscal year, without a satisfactory explanation. (Acceptable explanations include Medical issues; family emergencies, the director has served for less than one year; missing one meeting of a total of three or fewer.)

 

32.                                                   Finland:

 

a.                                  As it is market practice in Finland to have non-board members that are representatives of major shareholders serving on the nominating committee, we will FOR proposals to elect a nominating committee consisting of mainly non-board members, but advocate disclosure of the names of the proposed candidates to the committee in the meeting notice.

 

B- 27



 

b.                                  We will also vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for disclosure of the names of the proposed candidates at the meeting, as well as the inclusion of a representative of minority shareholders in the committee.

 

27.                                                   South Africa:

 

We will vote FOR the reelection of directors unless:

 

a.                                  Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

b.                                  There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

c.                                   There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

d.                                  There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests;

 

e.                                   The board fails to meet minimum governance standards;

 

f.                                    There are specific concerns about the individual nominee, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities;

 

g.                                   Repeated absences (less than 75 percent attendance) at board meetings have not been explained; or

 

h.                                  Elections are bundled.

 

Additional factors resulting from recent changes in local code of best practice include:

 

a.                                  The director is an executive who serves on one of the key board committees (audit, compensation, nominations);

 

b.                                  The director combines the roles of chair and CEO and the company has not provided an adequate explanation;

 

c.                                   The director is the former CEO who has been appointed as chair;

 

d.                                  The director is a non-independent NED who serves on the audit committee;

 

e.                                   The director is a non-independent NED who serves on the compensation or nomination committee and there is not a majority of independent NEDs on the committee. However, such a

 

B- 28



 

consideration should take into account the potential implications for the board’s black economic empowerment (BEE) credentials;

 

f.                                    The director is a non-independent NED and the majority of NEDs on the board are not independent. However, such a consideration should take into account the potential implications for the board’s black economic empowerment (BEE) credentials;

 

We will vote FOR the reelection of the audit committee and/or audit committee members unless:

 

c.                                   The committee includes one or more non-independent NEDs;

 

d.                                  The audit committee member is a non-independent NED;

 

e.                                   Members of the committee do not meet the further minimum requirements for audit committee membership to be outlined by the South African government;

 

There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, the audit procedures used, or some other feature for which the audit committee has responsibility

 

28.                                                   Greece:

 

Vote against the election or reelection of any non-independent directors if the proposed board is not at least one-third independent (as defined by ISS’ director classification guidelines). If elections are bundled and the proposed board is not at least one-third independent, vote against the entire slate. If a nominee cannot be categorized, ISS will assume that person is non- independent and include that nominee in the calculation. This policy will be applied to widely held* companies incorporated in Greece.

 

29.                                                   Hungary:

 

Generally vote against the election or reelection of any non-independent directors (excluding the CEO) if the board is not at least 50 percent independent. If a nominee cannot be categorized, ISS will consider that person non-independent and include that nominee in the calculation for determining the board independence percentage. The policy will apply to widely held companies.

 

30.                                                   China

 

Generally vote FOR the re/election of directors, except where:

 

a.               The nominee has been a partner of the company’s auditor within the last three years, and serves on the audit committee;

b.               The independent director nominee has attended less than 75 percent of board meetings over the most recent fiscal year(8), without a satisfactory explanation. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following:

c.                Medical issues/illness;

d.               Family emergencies;

e.                The director has served on the board for less than a year; and

f.                 Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer);

g.                Any non-independent director nominees where the board is less than one-third independent under ISS classification of directors.

 


(8) Companies are required to disclose the attendance record of independent directors only, and committee memberships and attendance are generally not disclosed.

 

B- 29



 

Generally vote FOR the election of a CEO, managing director, executive chairman, or founder whose removal from the board would be expected to have a material negative impact on shareholder value.

 

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote against individual directors, members of a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

a.               Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

b.               Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

c.                Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

31.                                                   South Korea

 

Generally vote FOR the re/election of directors, unless:

 

a.               Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

b.               An outside director sits on more than two public company boards, in violation of the Commercial Act and accompanying presidential decree;

c.                An outside director has attended less than 75 percent of board meetings(9) over the most recent fiscal year, without a satisfactory explanation. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following:

d.               Medical issues/illness;

e.                Family emergencies;

f.                 The director has served on the board for less than a year; and

g.                Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer);

h.               For large companies, any non-independent director nominees (under ISS classification) where the board is less than majority-independent.

 

Where adequate disclosure has been provided, generally vote for the election of a CEO, managing director, executive chairman, or founder whose removal from the board would be expected to have a material negative impact on shareholder value.

 

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST individual directors, members of committees, or the entire board, due to:

 

a.               Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

b.               Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

c.                Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his/her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

Generally vote AGAINST directors for failure to remove a director convicted of wrongdoing from the board.

 

For cases where the election of multiple directors is presented as a bundled item, vote AGAINST the entire slate of directors if one of the nominees presents any of the governance concerns highlighted above.

 

32.                                                   Tax Havens

 

f.                                    For US companies we apply the US guidelines.

 

g.                                   For foreign private issuers, we vote AGAINST affiliated outsiders on the audit committee.

 


( 9) Korean law requires companies to disclose the attendance of only outside directors.

 

B- 30



 

h.                                  Truly foreign companies that do not have a U.S. listing will be evaluated under the corporate governance standards of their home market.

 

i.                                      For uniquely structured shipping companies we vote AGAINST executive nominees when the company has not established a compensation committee when i) the company does not pay any compensation to its executive officers; ii) any compensation is paid by a third party under a contract with the company.

 

j.                                     We vote AGAINST affiliated outsider directors on the audit, compensation, and nominating committees.

 

k.                                  We vote AGAINST inside directors and affiliated outside directors for foreign private issuers that trade exclusively in the United States but fail to establish a majority independent board.

 

II.                                    Proxy Contests

 

A.                                                        Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

 

Votes in a contested election of directors are evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the following factors:

 

33.                                                   Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

 

34.                                                   Management’s track record;

 

35.                                                   Background to the proxy contest;

 

36.                                                   Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

 

37.                                                   Evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders as well as the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met; and

 

38.                                                   Stock ownership positions.

 

Q.                                                        Reimburse Proxy Solicitation Expenses

 

We vote AGAINST proposals to provide full reimbursement for dissidents waging a proxy contest.

 

h.   Auditors

 

A.                                                        Ratifying Auditors

 

1.                                                          Proposals to ratify auditors are made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

2.                                                          We vote AGAINST the ratification of auditors and audit committee members when the company’s non-audit fees (“other”) are excessive. In circumstances where “other” fees are related to initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergence, and spin-offs, and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees which are determined to be an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit/audit-related fees/tax compliance and preparation for purposes of determining whether non-audit fees are excessive.

 

Audit Fees = statutory audit fees + audit related fees + permissible tax services (this excludes tax

 

B- 31



 

strategy)

 

Non-Audit Fees = other fees (ex. consulting)

 

The formula used to determine if the non-audit fees are excessive is as follows:

 

Non-audit (“other”) fees > (audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees)

 

3.                                                          We vote AGAINST the ratification of auditors if there is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position.

 

4.                                                          (Europe) We vote AGAINST if external auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or are considered affiliated; if the name of the auditor is unpublished; if there is an unexplained change of auditor; for companies on the MSCI EAFE, fees for non-audit service exceed 100% of standard fees or any stricter limit set by law

 

5.                                                          We WITHHOLD votes from audit committee members when the company’s non-audit fees (ex. consulting) are greater than 50% of total fees paid to the auditor. We may take action against members of an audit committee in situations where there is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

 

6.                                                          We WITHHOLD votes from audit committee members when auditor ratification is not included on the proxy ballot.

 

B.                                                        Italy - Director and Auditor Indemnification

 

Proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and auditors

 

1.                                                          Votes are made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis to indemnify directors and officers, and we vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR the indemnification of internal auditors, unless the costs associated with the approval are not disclosed.

 

C.                                                        Austria, Greece, Portugal and Spain:

 

We vote FOR the reelection of auditors and /or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

1.                                                          There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

 

2.                                                          There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion, which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

 

3.                                                          External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

 

4.                                                          Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

 

5.                                                          The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

 

B- 32



 

6.                                                          Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees.

 

D.                                                        Hong Kong, Singapore

 

1.                                                          Vote FOR proposals to (re)appoint auditors and authorize the board to fix their remuneration, unless:

 

a.                                  There are serious concerns about the accounts presented or the audit procedures used;

 

b.                                  The auditor is being changed without explanation; or

 

c.                                   The non-audit fees exceed the audit fees paid to the external auditor in the latest fiscal year without satisfactory explanation.

 

E.                                                         MSCI EAFE Companies - Auditor Fee Disclosure

 

1.                                                          We vote FOR auditor ratification and/or approval of auditors’ fees, unless:  Auditors’ fees for the previous fiscal year are not disclosed and broken down into at least audit and non-audit fees.

 

2.                                                          The fees must be disclosed in a publicly available source, such as the annual report or company Web site. If approval of auditors’ fees and auditor ratification are two separate voting items, a vote recommendation of AGAINST would apply only to the fees, not to the auditor ratification.

 

i.    Proxy Contest Defenses

 

A.                                                        Board Structure:  Staggered vs. Annual Elections

 

1.                                                          We vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.

 

B.                                                        Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors

 

1.                                                          We vote AGAINST proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for cause.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or without cause.

 

3.                                                          We vote AGAINST proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect replacements to fill board vacancies.

 

4.                                                          We vote FOR proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies.

 

C.                                                        Cumulative Voting

 

1.                                                          We vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.

 

2.                                                          We generally vote FOR proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting unless there are compelling reasons to recommend AGAINST the proposal, such as:

 

a.                                  the presence of a majority threshold voting standard with a carve-out for plurality in situations where there are more nominees than seats, and a director resignation policy to address failed elections;

 

B- 33



 

b.                                 a proxy access provision in the company’s bylaws, or a similar structure that allows shareholders to nominate directors to the company’s ballot

 

3.                                                         We vote FOR proposals for cumulative voting at controlled companies (insider voting power > 50%).

 

D.                                                       Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

 

1.                                                         We vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special meetings.

 

2.                                                         We vote FOR proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management.

 

E.                                                        Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

 

1.                                                         We will generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

 

2.                                                         Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

a.                                 Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

 

b.                                 The consent threshold;

 

c.                                  The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

d.                                 Investor ownership structure; and

 

e.                                  Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

 

3.                                                         RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

 

a.                                 An unfettered(10) right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

 

b.                                 A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

 

c.                                  No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

 

d.                                 An annually elected board.

 

F.                                                         Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board

 

1.                                                         We vote FOR proposals that seek to fix the size of the board.

 

2.                                                         We vote AGAINST proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board without shareholder approval.

 


(10) “Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

B- 34



 

3.                                                          We vote AGAINST proposals seeking to amend the company’s board size to fewer than five seats or more than fifteen seats.

 

j.    Tender Offer Defenses

 

A.                                                        Poison Pills

 

1.                                                          We generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification unless:

 

a.                                  A shareholder-approved poison pill is in place.

 

b.                                  The company has adopted a policy specifying that the board will only adopt a shareholder rights plan if either:

 

i.                                  Shareholders have approved the adoption of the plan, or

 

ii.                                   The board determines that it is in the best interest of shareholders to adopt a pill without the delay of seeking shareholder approval, in which the pill will be put to a vote within 12 months of adoption or it will expire.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR shareholder proposals to redeem a company’s poison pill.

 

3.                                                          We vote AGAINST management proposals to ratify a poison pill.

 

4.                                                          We will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to adopt a poison pill or protective amendment to preserve a company’s net operating losses based on the following criteria:

 

a.                                  The trigger (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

 

b.                                  The value of the NOLs;

 

c.                                   The term;

 

d.                                  Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, causing expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs); and Dother factors that may be applicable.

 

e.                                   The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

 

f.                                    Any other factors that may be applicable.

 

B.                                                        Poison Pills (Japan)

 

We vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and will only SUPPORT resolutions if:

 

1.                                                          The decision to trigger the pill is made after an evaluation of the takeover offer by a committee whose members are all independent of management.

 

2.                                                          The pill will not be triggered unless the potential acquirer has purchased a stake of at least 20% of issued share capital.

 

3.                                                          The effective duration of the poison pill is for a maximum of three years.

 

4.                                                          The board includes at least 20% (but no fewer than two) independent directors, and the directors are subject to annual election by shareholders.

 

B- 35



 

5.                                                         The company has disclosed under what circumstances it expects to make use of the authorization to issue warrants and has disclosed what steps it is taking to address the vulnerability to a takeover by enhancing shareholder value.

 

6.                                                         There are no other protective or entrenchment tools.

 

7.                                                         The company releases its proxy circular, with details of the poison pill proposal, at least three weeks prior to the meeting.

 

C.                                                       Anti-Takeover Proposals (France)

 

We vote AGAINST all anti-takeover proposals unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

 

D.                                                       Fair Price Provisions

 

1.                                                         We vote proposals to adopt fair price provisions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, evaluating factors such as the vote required to approve the proposed acquisition, the vote required to repeal the fair price provision, and the mechanism for determining the fair price.

 

2.                                                         We vote FOR shareholder proposals to lower the shareholder vote requirement in existing fair price provisions.

 

E.                                                        Greenmail

 

1.                                                         We vote FOR proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter or bylaw amendments or otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.

 

2.                                                         We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis anti-greenmail proposal when they are bundled with other charter or bylaw amendments.

 

F.                                                         Pale Greenmail

 

We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis restructuring plans that involve the payment of pale greenmail.

 

G.                                                       Unequal Voting Rights

 

1.                                                         We vote AGAINST dual class exchange offers.

 

2.                                                         We vote AGAINST dual class recapitalizations.

 

H.                                                      Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Amend the Charter or Bylaws

 

1.                                                         We vote AGAINST management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve charter and bylaw amendments.

 

2.                                                         We vote FOR shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for charter and bylaw amendments. However for companies with shareholder(s) who have significant ownership levels, we vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into account the following criteria:

 

a.                                  Ownership structure;

 

b.                                  Quorum requirements; and

 

B- 36



 

c.                                   Supermajority vote requirements.

 

I.                                                           Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Approve Mergers

 

1.                                                         We vote AGAINST management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve mergers and other significant business combinations.

 

2.                                                          We vote FOR shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for mergers and other significant business combinations.

 

J.                                                            White Squire Placements

 

We vote FOR shareholder proposals to require approval of blank check preferred stock issues for other than general corporate purposes.

 

K.                                                        Protective Preference Shares

 

We evaluate these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and will only support resolutions if:

 

1.                                                          The supervisory board needs to approve an issuance of shares while the supervisory board is independent within the meaning of RMG’S categorization rules and the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

 

2.                                                          No call/put option agreement exists between the company and the foundation.

 

3.                                                          There is a qualifying offer clause or there are annual management and supervisory board elections.

 

4.                                                          The issuance authority is for a maximum of 18 months.

 

5.                                                          The board of the company-friendly foundation is independent.

 

6.                                                          The company has disclosed under what circumstances it expects to make use of the possibility to issue preference shares.

 

7.                                                          There are no priority shares or other egregious protective or entrenchment tools.

 

8.                                                          The company releases its proxy circular, with details of the poison pill proposal, at least three weeks prior to the meeting.

 

9.                                                          Art 2:359c Civil Code of the legislative proposal has been implemented.

 

k.    Miscellaneous Governance Provisions

 

A.                                                        Confidential Voting

 

1.                                                          We vote FOR shareholder proposals that request corporations to adopt confidential voting, to use independent tabulators, and to use independent inspectors of election as long as the proposals include clauses for proxy contests as follows:  In the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy.  If the dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents do not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.

 

B- 37



 

2.                                                          We vote FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.

 

3.                                                          WE vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals regarding proxy voting mechanics, taking into consideration whether implementation of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder rights.  Issues include confidential voting of individual proxies and ballots, confidentiality of running vote tallies, treatment of abstentions and/or broker non-votes in counting methodology. Factors considered are transparency, consistency, fairness.  Other factors include:

 

a.               The scope and structure of the proposal

 

b.               the company’s stated confidential voting policy and whether it ensures a ‘level playing field’ by providing shareholder proponents with equal access to vote information prior to the annual meeting;

 

c.                The company’s vote standard for management and shareholder proposals and whether it ensures consistency and fairness in the process and maintains the integrity of vote results;

 

d.               Whether the company’s disclosure regarding its vote counting method and other relevant voting policies with respect to management and shareholder proposals are consistent and clear;

 

e.                Any recent controversies or concerns related to the company’s proxy voting mechanic;

 

f.                 Any unintended consequences resulting from implementation of the proposal; and

 

g.                any other relevant factors.

 

B.                                                        Litigation Rights(including exclusive venue and fee-shifting bylaw provisions)

 

RIM votes on a case-by-case basis on bylaws which impact shareholders’ litigation rights taking into account factors such as:

 

a.                    The company’s stated rationale for adopting the provision

 

b.                    Disclosure of past harm from shareholder lawsuits

 

c.                     The breadth of application of the bylaw such as key terms and types of lawsuits

 

d.                    Governance features such as shareholders’ ability to repeal the provision and ability to hold directors accountable.

 

RIM generally votes AGAINST bylaws that mandate fee-shifting whenever plaintiffs are not completely successful on the merits.

 

A.                                     Equal Access

 

RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to enact proxy access, taking into account, among other factors:

 

1.                                                          Company-specific factors; and

 

2.                                                          Proposal-specific factors, including:

 

a.                                  The ownership thresholds proposed in the resolution (i.e. percentage and duration);

 

B- 38



 

b.                                  The maximum proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year; and

 

c.                                   The method of determining which nominations should appear on the ballot if multiple shareholders submit nominations.  .

 

B.                                     Bundled Proposals

 

We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis bundled or “conditioned” proxy proposals. In the case of items that are conditioned upon each other, we examine the benefits and costs of the packaged items.  In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholders’ best interests, we vote AGAINST the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, we SUPPORT such proposals.

 

C.                                     Shareholder Advisory Committees

 

We vote AGAINST proposals to establish a shareholder advisory committee.

 

D.                                     Charitable Contributions

 

We vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to eliminate, direct or otherwise restrict charitable contributions.

 

E.                                      Adjourn Meeting Requests to Solicit Additional Proxies to Approve Merger Agreement

 

We will vote FOR this when:

 

1.                                       We support the underlying merger proposal

 

2.                                       The company provides a compelling reason and

 

3.                                       The authority is limited to adjournment proposals requesting the authority to adjourn solely to solicit proxies to approve a transaction that we support.

 

F.                                       Related-Party Transactions (France)

 

Management proposals to approve the special auditor’s report regarding regulated agreements

 

1.                                       We evaluate these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis taking into consideration the individuals concerned in the agreement, detailed content of the agreement, and convened remuneration.

 

2.                                       We vote AGAINST if the report is not available 21 days prior to the meeting date, or if the report contains an agreement between a non-executive director and the company for the provision of consulting services.

 

3.                                       We vote FOR if the report is not available 21 days prior to the meeting date, but the resolution states that there are none.

 

G.                                     Related Party Transaction Auditor Reports (France)

 

We will evaluate on a CASE-BY-CASE basis considering 1) adequate disclosure, 2) sufficient justification on apparently unrelated transactions, 3) fairness option (if applicable), and 4) any other relevant information.

 

H.                                    Related Party Transactions (Malaysia)

 

RIM will vote AGAINST a related-party transaction if:

 

B- 39



 

·                   A director who is classified by the company as independent has a vested interest in the business transaction AND

 

·                   The value of the transaction exceeds MYR 250,000. In addition, directors involved in related party transaction in excess of MYR 250,000 will be classified as non-independent.

 

I.                                         Financial Assistance Authorities (South Africa)

 

Generally vote FOR a general authority to provide financial assistance, unless:

 

·                   As part of the authority, the company requests a general authority to provide financial assistance to directors, and this is not limited to participation in share incentive schemes; and/or

 

·                   As part of the authority, the company seeks approval to provide financial assistance “to any person.”

 

J.                                         Authority to Reduce Minimum Notice Period for Calling a Meeting (non-US Companies) Central and Eastern Europe

 

We will vote proposals to reduce minimum notice period for calling a meeting on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

Generally, approve “enabling” authority proposal on the basis that RIM would typically expect companies to call EGMs/GMs using a notice period of less than 21 days only in limited circumstances where a shorter notice period will be to the advantage of shareholders as a whole. By definition, EGMs being regular meetings of the company, should not merit a notice period of less than 21 days.

 

In a market where local legislation permits EGM/GM to be called at no less than 14-day’s notice, RMG will generally support the proposal if the company discloses that eh shorter notice period of between 20 and 14 days would not be used as a routine matter for such meetings buy only when the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting.  Where the proposal at a give EGM/GM is not time-sensitive, RIM would not typically expect a company to invoke the shorter notice notwithstanding any prior approval of the enabling authority proposal by shareholders.

 

With the exception of the first AGM at which approval of the enabling authority is sought, when evaluating an enabling authority proposal, RIM will consider the company’s use of shorter notice periods in the preceding year to ensure that such periods were invoked solely in connection with genuinely time- sensitive matters.  Where the company has not done so, and fails to provide a clear explanation, we will consider voting AGAINST the enabling authority for the coming year.

 

J.                                    Independent Proxy (Switzerland)

 

RIM will generally vote FOR proposals to elect an independent proxy for shareholder representation at annual general meetings for a term lasting until the following year’s ordinary general meeting. Absent any concerns about the independence of the proposed proxy, there are routine resolutions as the elected proxy must be independent as defined by Art. 728 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, the same definition of independence applied to external auditors.

 

K.                                Exclusive Venue Proposals (Mgmt proposals seeking exclusive jurisdiction for resolution of disputes)

 

RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on exclusive venue proposals taking into account:

 

1.                                  Whether the company has been materially harmed by shareholder litigation outside its jurisdiction of incorporation, based on disclosure in the company’s proxy statement; and

 

B- 40



 

2.                                  whether the company has the following good governance features:

 

a.                                  an annually elected board;

 

b.                                  a majority vote standard in uncontested director elections; and

 

c.                                   the absence of a poison pill, unless the pill was approved by shareholders.

 

e.    Capital Structure

 

A.                                     Common Stock Authorization

 

1.                                       We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issue.

 

2.                                       We vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior voting rights in companies that have dual-class capitalization structures.

 

3.                                       We vote AGAINST proposals which request increases in the number of authorized shares over a level 50 % above currently authorized shares, after taking into account any stock split or financing activity, without specific reasons.

 

B.                                     Capital Issuance Requests

 

1.                                       General issuance requests under both authorized and conditional capital systems allow companies to issue shares to raise funds for general financing purposes. Issuances can be carried out with or without preemptive rights. Corporate law in many countries recognizes preemptive rights and requires shareholder approval for the disapplication of such rights.

 

a.               We vote FOR general issuance requests with preemptive rights for up to 50% of a company’s outstanding capital.

 

b.               We vote FOR general issuance requests without preemptive rights for up to 10% of a company’s outstanding capital.

 

c.                We vote AGAINST global company issuances without preemptive rights over 10% of a company’s outstanding capital.

 

2.                                       Specific issuance requests will be judged on their individual merits.

 

3.                                       Protective Preference Shares (Netherlands)

 

Management proposals to approve protective preference shares to company-friendly foundations:

 

We will evaluate these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and will only support resolutions if:

 

a.               The supervisory board needs to approve an issuance of shares while the supervisory board is independent within the meaning of RMG’S categorization rules and the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

 

b.               No call/put option agreement exists between the company and the foundation.

 

c.                There is a qualifying offer clause or there are annual management and supervisory board elections.

 

d.               The issuance authority is for a maximum of 18 months.

 

e.                The board of the company-friendly foundation is independent.

 

B- 41



 

f.                 The company has disclosed under what circumstances it expects to make use of the possibility to issue preference shares.

 

g.                There are no priority shares or other egregious protective or entrenchment tools.

 

h.               The company releases its proxy circular, with details of the poison pill proposal, at least three weeks prior to the meeting.

 

i.                   Art 2:359c Civil Code of the legislative proposal has been implemented.

 

4.                                       U.K and Netherlands

 

We will vote FOR issuance requests only if share issuance periods are limited to 18 months.

 

5.                                       South Africa

 

a.               We will vote FOR a general Authority to place authorized but unissued shares under the control of the directors unless:

 

i.                           The authority is over a number of shares equivalent to more than 10% of the current issued share capital.

 

ii.                            The authority would allow shares to be used for share incentive scheme purposes and the underlying scheme(s) raises concerns.

 

iii.                             The company used the authority during the previous year in a manner deemed not to be in shareholders’ best interests.

 

b.                                  We will vote FOR a general authority to issue shares for cash unless:

 

i.                                              The authority is over a number of shares equivalent to more than 10% of the current issued share capital.

 

ii.                                               The company used the authority during the previous year in a manner deemed not to be in shareholder’s interest.

 

6.                                       Singapore

 

Generally vote FOR the general issuance mandate for companies that:

 

a.               Limit the aggregate issuance request — that is, for the general issuance mandate and the share reissuance mandate combined — to 10 percent or less of the relevant class of issued share capital;

b.               Limit the discount to 10 percent of the market price of shares; and

c.                Have no history of renewing the General Issuance Mandate several times within a period of one year

 

7.                                       Taiwan

 

Generally vote FOR general mandate for public share issuance if the issue size is no more than 20% of the existing share capital or if the mandate includes a private placement as one of the financing channels if the resulting dilution rate is no more than 10%.

 

We vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on requests to issue shares for a specific purpose such as the financing of a particular project, an acquisition or a merger.

 

8.                                       France

 

Vote for general issuance requests with preemptive rights, or without preemptive rights but with a binding “priority right,” for a maximum of 50 percent over currently issued capital. Generally vote for general authorities to issue shares without preemptive rights up to a maximum of 10 percent of share capital.

 

B- 42



 

C.                                     Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends

 

We vote FOR management proposals to increase common share authorization for a stock split, provided that the increase in authorized shares would not result in an excessive number of shares available for issuance given a company’s industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.

 

D.                                     Reverse Stock Splits

 

1.                                       We vote FOR management proposals to implement a reverse stock split when the number of shares will be proportionately reduced to avoid delisting.

 

2.                                       We vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement a reverse stock split that do not proportionately reduce the number of shares authorized for issue.

 

E.                                      Preferred Stock

 

1.                                       We vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights (“blank check” preferred stock).

 

2.                                       We vote FOR proposals to create blank check preferred stock in cases when the company expressly states that the stock will not be used as a takeover defense.

 

3.                                       We vote FOR proposals to authorize preferred stock in cases where the company specifies that the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.

 

4.                                       We review on a CASE-BY-CASE BASIS proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given a company’s industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.

 

F.                                       Adjustments to Par Value of Common Stock

 

We vote FOR management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.

 

G.                                     Preemptive Rights

 

1.                                       We vote FOR proposals to create preemptive rights.

 

2.                                       We vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate preemptive rights.

 

H.                                    Debt Restructurings

 

We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan. We consider the following issues:

 

1.                                       Dilution: How much will ownership interest of existing shareholders be reduced, and how extreme will dilution to any future earnings be?

 

2.                                       Change in Control: Will the transaction result in a change in control of the company?

 

3.                                       Bankruptcy: Generally, we approve proposals that facilitate debt restructurings unless there are clear signs of self-dealing or other abuses.

 

B- 43



 

I.                                         Share Repurchase Programs

 

1.                                       We will generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities/share repurchase programs provided that the proposal meets the following parameters:

 

a.               Maximum volume: 10 percent for market repurchase within any single authority (Carve out: 15 percent in the U.K.) and 10 percent of outstanding shares to be kept in treasury (“on the shelf”);

 

b.               Duration does not exceed 18 months. For company’s who operate in markets that do not specify a maximum duration or durations last beyond 18 months. We will assess their historic practices.

 

2.                                       Vote AGAINST proposals where:

 

a.               The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

b.               There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

c.                There is no safeguard against selective buybacks;

 

d.               Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

 

3.                                       Consider Case-by-Case if these conditions are met:

 

a.               The overall balance of the proposed plan seems to be clearly in shareholders’ interests;

 

b.               The plan still respects the 10 percent maximum of shares to be kept in treasury.

 

J.                                         Share Repurchase Programs to Fund Stock Option Plans

 

1.                                       Spain

 

We vote AGAINST proposals to repurchase shares in connection with stock option plans when no information associated with the plan is available prior to the general meeting. However, we will maintain our stance on routine repurchases if it is disclosed that there is no connection.

 

2.                                       Portugal

 

We will consider this item on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and will take into consideration whether information associated with the plan is available prior to the general meeting, and if there is any improvement in disclosure around option plans.

 

K.                                     Additional Share Repurchase Programs

 

1.                                       Denmark

 

Repurchase of shares in lieu of dividends — We will consider this item on a CASE-BY-CASE basis considering tax benefits and cost savings.

 

2.                                       Germany and Italy

 

Repurchase shares using put and call options — We will vote FOR provided the company details:

 

a.               Authorization is limited to 18 months

 

b.               The number of shares that would be purchased with call options and/or sold with put options is limited to a max of 5% of TSO

 

c.                An experienced financial institution is responsible for the trading

 

B- 44



 

d.               The company has a clean track record regarding repurchases.

 

L.                                      Netherlands - Remuneration Report

 

Management is required to put its remuneration policy up for a binding shareholder vote. We will evaluate this item using principles of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

 

Netherlands - Protective Preference Shares: Proposals to approve protective preference shares

 

We vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. In general, we vote FOR protective preference shares (PPS) only if:

 

1.                                       The supervisory board needs to approve an issuance of shares whilst the supervisory board is independent within the meaning of RMG’s categorization rules and the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (i.e. a maximum of one member can be non-independent);

 

2.                                       No call / put option agreement exists between the company and a foundation for the issuance of PPS;

 

3.                                       The issuance authority is for a maximum of 18 months;

 

4.                                       The board of the company friendly foundation is fully independent;

 

5.                                       There are no priority shares or other egregious protective or entrenchment tools;

 

6.                                       The company states specifically that the issue of PPS is not meant to block a takeover, but will only be used to investigate alternative bids or to negotiate a better deal;

 

7.                                       The foundation buying the PPS does not have as a statutory goal to block a takeover;

 

8.                                       The PPS will be outstanding for a period of maximum 6 months (an EGM must be called to determine the continued use of such shares after this period)

 

M.                                  Tracking Stock

 

We vote on the creation of tracking stock on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, weighing the strategic value of the transaction AGAINST such factors as:

 

1.                                       Adverse governance charges

 

2.                                       Excessive increases in authorized capital stock

 

3.                                       Unfair method of distribution

 

4.                                       Diminution of voting rights

 

5.                                       Adverse conversion features

 

6.                                       Negative impact on stock option plans

 

7.                                       Other alternatives such as spinoff

 

B- 45



 

N.                                             “Going Dark” Transactions

 

We vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, determining whether the transaction enhances shareholder value by giving consideration to:

 

1.                                       Whether the company has attained benefits from being publicly traded.

 

2.                                       Cash-out value

 

3.                                       Balanced interests of continuing vs. cashed-out shareholders

 

4.                                       Market reaction to public announcement of transaction

 

f.                                         Executive and Director Compensation

 

A.                                             General

 

1.                                               Votes with respect to compensation plans are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

Robeco votes on a case by case basis on equity based compensation plans taking into account the following:

 

a.               Plan Cost — the total estimated cost of the plans relative to industry/market cap peers measured by the company’s estimated Shareholder Value Transfer and considering both the SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grans, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants and SVT based only on new shares plus shares remaining for future grans.

 

b.               Plan Features — Automatic single-triggered award vesting upon change of control; Discretionary vesting authority, liberal share recycling. Minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan.

 

c.                Grant Practices: The burn rate; vesting requirements; the estimated duration of the plan, the proportion of the CEO’s most recent equity grants, existence of a claw-back policy, post exercise/vesting requirements.

 

RIM generally votes against the plan if the combination of above factors indicates that the plan is not in the shareholders best interests of if any of the following apply:

 

a.               The plan creates dilution exceeding 3 ½% per year over the life of the plan.  

 

b.               Awards may vest in connection with a liberal change of control definition.

 

c.                The plan would permit reprising or cash buyout of underwater options without shareholder approval.

 

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practice or a pay for performance disconnect Canada Specific:

 

i.                           Generally vote against an equity compensation plan proposal where:

 

· The non-employee director aggregate share reserve under the plan exceeds the RIM established maximum limit of 1 percent of the outstanding common shares; or

 

· The equity plan document does not specify an annual individual non-employee director grant limit with a maximum value of (i) $100,000 worth of stock options in the case of a stock option

 

B- 46



 

or omnibus plan, or (ii) $150,000 worth of shares in the case of an equity plan that does not grant stock options.

 

Individual Non-employee Director Grants

 

ii.                        Generally vote against individual equity grants to non-employee directors in the following circumstances:

 

· In conjunction with an equity compensation plan that is on the agenda at the shareholder meeting if voting against the underlying equity compensation plan; and

 

· Outside of an equity compensation plan if the director’s annual grant would exceed the above individual director limit.

 

iii.                     Shares taken in lieu of cash fees and a one-time initial equity grant upon a director joining the board will not be included in the maximum award limit.

 

b.       Hong Kong and Singapore specific

 

i.                           Vote AGAINST a stock option scheme if directors eligible to receive options under the scheme if directors eligible to receive options under the scheme are involved in the administration of the scheme the scheme administrator has the discretion over awards; this generally excludes equity awards granted or taken in lieu of cash fees.

 

c.                Singapore specific:

 

i.                           Vote against a performance share plan or restricted share plan if:

 

·                   The maximum dilution level for the plan exceeds RIM guidelines of 5% of issued capital for a mature company and 10% if the plan includes other positive features such as challenging performance criteria and meaningful vesting periods as these features partially offsheet dilution concerns by reducing the likelihood that awards will become exercisable unless there is a clear improvement in shareholder value; or

 

·                   Directors eligible to receive options under the scheme are involved in the administration of the scheme and the administrator has the discretion over awards.

 

d.               France-specific: RIM will generally vote FOR equity-based compensation proposals taking into account the following factors:

 

i.                           The volume of awards transferred to participants must not be excessive; the potential volume of fully diluted issued share capital from equity-based compensation plans must not exceed the following guidelines:

 

·                   The shares reserved for all share plans may not exceed 5% of a company’s issued share capital, except in the case of a high-growth company or particularly well-designed plan, in which case dilution of between 5 and 10% is allowed.

 

ii.                            The plan must be sufficiently long-term in nature/structure; minimum vesting of 3 years or more; and

 

iii.                             The awards must be granted at market price.

 

B.                                             Management Proposals Seeking Approval to Reprice Options

 

We vote on management proposals seeking approval to reprice options on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

B- 47



 

C.                                     Director Compensation

 

We vote on stock-based plans for directors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

D.                                     Employee Stock Purchase Plans

 

1.                                       We vote on qualified employee stock purchase plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

2.                                       We vote on non-qualified employee stock purchase plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis but will

 

APPROVE plans considering the following criteria:

 

a.               Broad-based participation (all employees excluding individuals with 5% or more of beneficial ownership)

 

b.               Limits on employee contribution, either fixed dollar or percentage of salary

 

c.                Company matching contribution up to 25%  

 

d.               No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is a company matching contribution

 

3.                                       Canada

 

RIM will generally vote FOR broadly based (preferably all employees of the company with the exclusion of individuals with 5 percent or more beneficial ownership of the company) employee stock purchase plans where the following apply:

 

a.               Reasonable limit on employee contribution (may be expressed as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of base salary excluding bonus, commissions and special compensation);

 

b.               Employer contribution of up to 25% of employee contribution and no purchase price discount or employer contribution of more than 25% of employee contribution and SVT cost of the company’s equity plans is within the allowable cap for the company;

 

c.                Purchase price is at least 80% of fair market value with no employer contribution;

 

d.               Potential dilution together with all other equity-based plans is 10% of outstanding common shares for less; and

 

e.                Plan Amendment Provision requires shareholder approval for amendments to:

 

i.                   The number of shares reserved for the plan;

 

ii.                The allowable purchase price discount;

 

iii.             The employer matching contribution amount.

 

Treasury-funded ESPPs, as well as market purchase funded ESPPs requesting shareholder approval, will be considered to be incentive-based compensation if the employer match is greater than 25%. RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis taking into account the following factors:

 

a.               Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) cost of the plan;

 

b.               Eligibility;

 

c.                Administration;

 

d.               The company’s other equity-based compensation plans and benefit programs, in particular pensions.

 

B- 48



 

E.                                      OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals:

 

1.                                       Amendments that Place a Cap on Annual Grants or Amend Administrative Features

 

We vote FOR plans that simply amend shareholder-approved plans to include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.

 

2.                                       Amendments to Added Performance-Based Goals

 

a.               We vote FOR amendments to add performance goals to existing compensation plans to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.

 

b.               We vote FOR plans that support full disclosure and linking compensation to performance goals that impact the long-term performance of the firm (e.g. compliance with environmental/EPA regulations, labor supplier standards or EEOC laws).

 

3.                                       Amendments to Increase Shares and Retain Tax Deductions under OBRA

 

We evaluate votes on amendments to existing plans to increase shares reserved and to qualify the plan for favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

4.                                       Approval of Cash or Cash-and-Stock Bonus Plans

 

a.               We vote on cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans to exempt the compensation from taxes under the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

b.           We generally vote AGAINST plans with excessive awards ($2 million cap).

 

5.                                       Independent Outsiders

 

We will vote AGAINST proposals if the compensation committee does not fully consist of independent outsiders, as defined in our definition of director independence.

 

F.                                       Shareholder Proposals to Limit Executive and Director Pay

 

1.                                       We generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that seek additional disclosure of executive and director pay information.

 

2.                                       We vote AGAINST all other shareholder proposals that seek to limit executive and director pay.

 

G.                                     Golden and Tin Parachutes

 

1.                                       We vote FOR shareholder proposals to require golden and tin parachutes to be submitted for shareholder ratification.

 

2.                                       We vote AGAINST golden parachutes.

 

3.                                       Voting on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on Golden Parachute proposals, including consideration of existing change in control arrangements maintained with named executive officers rather than focusing primarily on new or extended arrangements.

 

a.               Features that may result in an AGAINST recommendation include one or more of the following, depending on the number, magnitude, and/or timing of issues(s):

 

B- 49



 

b.               Single or modified single trigger cash severance;

 

c.                Single trigger acceleration of unvested equity awards;

 

d.               Excessive cash severance (>3x base salary and bonus);

 

e.                Excise tax gross ups triggered and payable (as opposed to a provision to provide excise tax gross ups);

 

f.                 Excessive golden parachute payments (on an absolute basis or as percentage of transaction equity value); or

 

g.                Recent amendments that incorporate any problematic features (such as those above) or recent actions (such as extraordinary equity grants) that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders; or

 

h.               The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditions on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote.

 

H.                                    Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)

 

We vote FOR proposals that request shareholder approval in order to implement an ESOP or to increase authorized shares for existing ESOPs, except in cases when the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is “excessive” (i.e., generally greater than 5% of outstanding shares).

 

I.                                         401(k) Employee Benefit Plans

 

We vote FOR proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.

 

J.                                         Pension Plan Income and Performance-Based Compensation

 

Generally we vote FOR proposals to exclude earnings on assets of company sponsored pension plans in determining executive and director compensation. Our position generally does not view the following factors as relevant: 1) the amount of pension plan earnings, and 2) the percentage, if any, such pension plan earnings contribute to the company’s pre-tax earnings.

 

K.                                     Indexed Options and Performance Vested Restricted Stock

 

We generally vote FOR indexed options and performance vested restricted stock.

 

L.                                      Burn Rate

 

We vote AGAINST equity plans that have high average three-year burn rate defined as 1) the company’s most recent three-year burn rate that exceeds one standard deviation of its GICS segmented by Russell 3000 index and non-Russell 3000 Index, OR 2) the company’s most recent three-year burn rate that exceeds 2% of common shares outstanding. For companies that grant both full value awards and stock options to their employees, we shall apply a premium on full value awards for the past three fiscal years.

 

M.                                  Transferable Stock Options

 

1.                                       We will generally vote FOR TSO awards within a new equity plan if the total cost of the company’s equity plans is less than the company’s allowable cap, assuming all other conditions have been met to receive a FOR recommendation. The TSO structure must be disclosed and

 

B- 50



 

amendments to existing plans should make clear that only options granted post-amendment shall be transferable.

 

2.                                       One-time transfers will be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving consideration to the following:

 

a.               Executive officers and non-employee directors should be excluded from participating.

 

b.               Stock options must be purchased by third-party financial institutions at a discount to their fair value using an appropriate financial model.

 

There should be a two-year minimum holding period for sale proceeds (cash or stock) for all participants.

 

N.                                     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERPs)

 

We evaluate on a CASE-BY-CASE basis Shareholder proposal to limit ‘covered compensation’ under their SERP plan to no more than 100% of a senior executive’s salary, considering the company’s current SERP plan.

 

O.                                     Pay-for-Superior-Performance

 

We evaluate Shareholder proposals to establish a pay-for-superior-performance standard on a CASE-BY- CASE basis considering the company’s current pay-for-performance practices.

 

P.                                       Executive Compensation Advisory Proposal (Say on Pay)

 

1.                                       RIM will vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

 

2.                                       We evaluate shareholder proposals to ratify the compensation of the company’s named executive officers (NEOs) on an annual basis on a CASE-BY-CASE basis considering the following global principles:

 

a.               Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors: the linkage between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

 

b.               Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure.” This principle addresses the use and appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

 

c.                Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);

 

d.               Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;

 

e.                Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their

 

B- 51



 

independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

 

f.                 Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis. Consider the measures, goal, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short and long-term incentive awards; disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

 

g.                Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents or targeting; and

 

h.               Balance of performance based versus non-performance based pay. Consider the ratio of performance based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance based pay elements reported for the CEO latest reported fiscal year compensation especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

 

3.                                       RIM will vote AGAINST management say on pay proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, for rare cases, where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO,) and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if: :

 

a.               There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company;

 

b.               The company maintains problematic pay practices;

 

c.                The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders

 

·                   Poor disclosure practices, including: insufficient disclosure to explain the pay setting process for the CEO and how CEO pay is linked to company performance and shareholder return; lack of disclosure of performance metrics and their impact on incentive payouts; no disclosure of rationale related to the use of board discretion when compensation is increased or performance criteria or metrics are changed resulting in greater amounts paid than that supported by previously established goals.

 

·                  Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, including:

 

·                   Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics;

 

·                   Failure to respond to majority-opposed previous say-on-pay proposal; and

 

·                   Failure to respond to the company’s previous say-on-pay proposal that received support of less than 70 percent of votes cast taking into account the ownership structure of the company.

 

Failure to adequately respond to the aforementioned compensation issues may also result in votes against directors due to poor responsiveness to shareholders.

 

Q.                                     Pre-Arranged Trading Plans (10b5-1 Plans)

 

We generally vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for certain principles regarding the use of pre- arranged trading plans (10b5-1 plans) for executives. These principles include:

 

B- 52



 

1.                                       Adoption, amendment, or termination of a 10b5-1 Plan must be disclosed within two business days in a Form 8-K

 

2.                                       Amendment or early termination of a 10b5-1 Plan is allowed only under extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the board

 

3.                                       Ninety days must elapse between adoption or amendment of a 10b5-1 Plan and initial trading under the plan

 

4.                                       Reports on Form 4 must identify transactions made pursuant to a 10b5-1 Plan.  An executive may not trade in company stock outside the 10b5-1 Plan.

 

5.                                       Trades under a 10b5-1 Plan must be handled by a broker who does not handle other securities transactions for the executive

 

R.                                     Share Buyback Holding Periods

 

We will generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

1.                                       A repurchase limit of up to 10% of outstanding issued share capital (15% in UK/Ireland);

 

2.                                       A holding limit of up to 10% of issued share capital in treasury; and

 

3.                                       A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

 

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10% repurchase limit will be assessed on a CASE-BY- CASE basis. We will support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholder’s interest.  In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

4.                                       A holding limit of up to 10% of a company’s issued share capital in treasury; and

 

5.                                       A duration of no more than 18 months.

 

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, we will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice.  However, RIM expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may vote AGAINST companies that fail to do so In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

6.                                       A holding limit of up to 10% of a company’s issued share capital in treasure; and

 

7.                                       A duration of no more than 18 months.

 

In addition we vote AGAINST any proposal where:

 

8.                                       The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

9.                                       There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

10.                                There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

11.                                Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

 

B- 53



 

S.                                       Tax Gross-Up Proposals

 

We vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for companies to adopt a policy of not providing tax gross-up payments to executives, except in situations where gross-ups are provided pursuant to a plan, policy, or arrangement applicable to management employees of the company, such as a relocation or expatriate tax equalization policy.

 

T.                                      Reimbursement of Expenses Incurred from Candidate Nomination Proposal

 

We evaluate Shareholder proposals to amend the company’s bylaws to provide for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with nominating one or more candidates in a contested election of directors to the corporation’s board of directors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis considering the company’s current reimbursement practices.

 

U.                                     Equity Based Compensation Plans are evaluated on a case-by-case basis

 

We will vote AGAINST equity plan proposals if any of the following apply:

 

1.                                       The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

 

2.                                       The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

 

3.                                       The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year- over-year increase is attributed to equity awards;

 

4.                                       The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% and the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group;

 

5.                                       The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

 

6.                                       The plan is a vehicle for poor pay practices;

 

7.                                       The company has a liberal definition of change-in-control.

 

V.                                     Golden Coffin (Death Benefit)

 

We generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

 

W.                                  Hold Till (post) Retirement

 

We vote on a CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy.

 

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

B- 54



 

1.                                       Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

 

a.               Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

b.               A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or  

 

c.                A meaningful retention ratio,

 

2.                                       Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

 

3.                                       Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

 

X.                                     Termination of Employment Prior to Severance Payment and Eliminating Accelerated Vesting of Unvested Equity:

 

We will evaluate such proposals on a Case-by-Case basis.

 

Change-in-control payouts without loss of job or substantial diminution of job duties (single-triggered) are considered poor pay practices under policy, and may even result in withheld votes from compensation committee members. The second component of this proposal —- related to the elimination of accelerated vesting — requires more careful consideration. The following factors will be taken into regarding this policy:

 

1.                                       The company’s current treatment of equity in change-of-control situations (i.e. is it double triggered, does it allow for the assumption of equity by acquiring company, the treatment of performance shares.

 

2.                                       Current employment agreements, including potential poor pay practices such as gross-ups embedded in those agreements.

 

Y.                                     Compensation Issue in Non-US Companies

 

1.                                       Europe: Vote case-by-case on management proposals seeking ratification of a company’s executive compensation-related items, and generally vote against a company’s compensation-related proposal if such proposal fails to comply with one or a combination of several of the global principles and their corresponding rules:

 

a.  Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”:

 

b.  The board shall demonstrate good stewardship of investor’s interests regarding executive compensation practices. For instance,

 

·                   There shall be a clear link between the company’s performance and variable awards.

 

·                   There shall not be significant discrepancies between the company’s performance and real executive payouts.

 

·                   The level of pay for the CEO and members of executive management should not be excessive relative to peers, company performance, and market practices.

 

·                   Significant pay increases shall be explained by a detailed and compelling disclosure.

 

·                   Severance pay agreements must not be in excess of (i) 24 months’ pay or of (ii) any more restrictive provision pursuant to local legal requirements and/or market best practices.

 

·                   Arrangements with a company executive regarding pensions and post-mandate exercise of equity- based awards must not result in an adverse impact on shareholders’ interests or be misaligned with good market practices.

 

B- 55



 

2.                                       Europe — Generally vote for proposals to fix the ratio between the fixed and variable components of remuneration unless:

 

·                         Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner

 

·                         There are concerns about the company’s motivation for change

 

·                         There are specific concerns with the company.

 

UK — RIM votes on a case-by-case basis on management proposals seeking ratification of a company’s remuneration policy, and generally vote against if such proposal fails to comply with one or a combination of several of RIM remuneration principles and/or local institutional investor best practice without adequate explanation.  Whilst not an exhaustive list, below are several key criteria that are considered during analysis:

 

·                   Has adequate disclosure been provided to allow investors to make an informed voting decision;  

 

·                   The level of pay for the CEO and other executive directors should not be excessive relative to peers, company performance, and market practices;

 

·                   Significant pay increases should be explained by a detailed and compelling disclosure;

 

·                   Severance pay agreements should not be in excess of 12 months’ fixed remuneration and should be in line with best practice;

 

·                   There should be a clear link between the company’s performance and variable awards;

 

·                   The ability for discretionary exceptional awards to be made in excess of the standard policy will require a maximum award level to be disclosed. Open ended exceptional award levels will not be supported;

 

·                   Executives should own a significant personal shareholding in the company and this should be supported by established share ownership guidelines by the company;

 

·                   The remuneration committee should have the ability to clawback or withhold payment of incentive awards when justified.

 

·                   NEDs generally should not receive performance based remuneration

 

3.                                       Finland - Stock Options

 

a.               We vote AGAINST these proposals; however, an exception will be made if a company proposes to reduce the strike price by the amount of future special dividends only.

 

b.               We vote FOR proposals that provide proportionate adjustments to outstanding awards as a result of a special cash dividend or any other future distribution of assets other than a normal cash dividend.

 

4.                                       Germany - Remuneration Disclosure

 

We vote AGAINST management proposals authorizing the board not to disclose remuneration schemes for five years

 

5.                                       Sweden - Remuneration Report

 

We vote AGAINST management proposals to approve the remuneration report if:

 

a.               The potential dilution from equity-based compensation plans exceeds RMG guidelines.

 

B- 56



 

b.               Restricted stock plans and matching share plans do not include sufficiently challenging performance criteria and vesting periods.

 

c.                The remuneration report was not made available to shareholders in a timely manner.

 

d.               Other concerns exist with respect to the disclosure or structure of the bonus or other aspects of the remuneration policy.

 

6.                                       Sweden, Norway - Matching Share Plans

 

We will evaluate such plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

a.               For every matching share plan, RMG will require a holding period.

 

b.               For plans without performance criteria, the shares must be purchased at market price.

 

c.                For broad-based plans directed at all employees, RIM accepts a 1:1 arrangement - that no more than one free share will be awarded for every share purchased at market value. . ..

 

d.               For plans directed at executives, we require that sufficiently challenging performance criteria are attached to the plan. Higher discounts demand proportionally higher performance criteria.

 

e.                The dilution of the plan when combined with the dilution from any other proposed or outstanding employee stock matching plans must comply with RIM guidelines.

 

7.                                       Australia

 

We will vote AGAINST resolutions seeking approval of termination payments for executives in excess of statutory maximum except where there is clear evidence that the termination payment would provide a benefit to shareholders.

 

We vote FOR the provision of termination benefits under the plan in excess of 12 months’ base salary, if the approval is for three years or fewer and no vesting is permitted without satisfaction of sufficiently demanding performance hurdles.

 

8.                                       Japan

 

RIM will vote AGAINST retirement bonuses if the recipients include outsiders, or include those who can be held responsible for corporate scandal or poor financial performance which has led to shareholder value destruction. (However, in rare occasions, RIM may support payment to outsiders on a case-by-case basis, if the individual amount is disclosed and the amount is not excessive.) In addition, RIM opposes the payments if neither the individual payments nor the aggregate amount of the payments is disclosed.

 

RIM will vote AGAINST special payments in connection with abolition of retirement bonus system if the recipients include outsiders, or include those who can be held responsible for corporate scandal or poor financial performance which has led to shareholder value destruction. (However, in rare occasions, RIM may support payment to outsiders on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, if the individual amount is disclosed and the amount is not excessive.) In addition, RIM will vote AGAINST the payments if neither the individual payments nor the aggregate amount of the payments is disclosed.

 

Among other conditions, RIM will vote AGAINST deep discount options if disclosed performance conditions are not attached. In the absence of such conditions, a vesting period of at least three years will be required to support such options

 

B- 57



 

9.                                       Nordic Markets

 

We will vote AGAINST stock option plans in Nordic markets if evidence is found that they contain provisions that may result in a disconnect between shareholder value and employee/executive rewards. This includes one or more of the following:

 

a.               Adjusting the strike price for future ordinary dividends AND including expected dividend yield above zero percent when determining the number of options awarded under the plan;

 

b.               Having significantly higher expected dividends than actual historical dividends;

 

c.                Favorably adjusting the terms of existing options plans without valid reason;

 

d.               Any other provisions or performance measures that result in undue award.

 

We will generally vote AGAINST if the increase in share capital is more than 5 percent for mature companies and 10 percent for growth companies.

 

10.                                Italy

 

We will vote FOR any equity-based compensation plan provided they meet the following:

 

a.               The shares reserved for all share plans may not exceed 5 percent of a company’s issued share capital, except in the case of high-growth companies or particularly well-designed plans, in which case we allow dilution of between 5 and 10 percent: in this case, we will need to have performance conditions attached to the plans which should be acceptable regarding the RMG criteria (“challenging criteria”);

 

b.               The options for management are granted without a discount;

 

c.                An executive director is part of the remuneration committee; or

 

d.               The company has no remuneration committee and has executive members within the board.

 

* RIM may apply a carve-out in the case of well designed plans.*

 

11.                                Taiwan

 

We vote on a case-by-case basis taking into account the following features:

 

a. existing substantial shareholders are restricted in participation;

 

b. presence of challenging performance hurdles if restricted shares are issued for free or at a deep discount; and

 

c.  reasonable vesting period (at least two years) is set.

 

12.                                China

 

We vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve a restricted stock scheme.  A restricted stock plan will not be supported if:

 

a.               The grant price of the restricted shares is less than 50% of the average price of the company’s shares during the 20 trading days prior to the pricing reference date;

 

b.               The maximum dilution level for the scheme exceeds RIM guidelines of 5% of issued capital for a mature company and 10% for a growth company.  RIM will support plans at mature companies with dilution levels up to 10% if the plan includes other positive features such as challenging performance criteria and meaningful vesting periods.

 

c.                Directors eligible to receive restricted shares under the scheme are involved in the administration of the scheme; or

 

B- 58



 

d.               The company fails to set challenging performance hurdles for unlocking the restricted shares compared with its historical financial performance or the industry benchmarks.

 

We vote AGAINST a restricted stock scheme if the scheme is proposed in the second half of the year and the measurement of the company’s financial performance starts from the same year, as the company’s financial performance has been largely determined for that particular year.

 

We vote on a case-by-case bases on proposals to invest in financial products using idle funds. Key factors include:  any known concerns with previous investments, the amount of the proposed investment relative to the company’s assets; disclosure of the nature of the products in which the company proposes to invest and disclosure of associated risks of the proposed investments and related risk management efforts by the company.

 

13.                                South Korea

 

Generally vote for approval of the remuneration cap for directors, unless:

 

a.               The proposed cap on directors’ remuneration is excessive relative to peer companies’ remuneration without reasonable justification; or

 

b.               The company is asking for an increase in the remuneration cap where the company has not provided a reasonable justification for the proposed increase.

 

Vote against if there are material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company and the company has not provided a reasonable justification for the proposed remuneration

 

14.                                Japan - Director Stock Options

 

We vote FOR “evergreen” director option plans as long as the contemplated level of annual dilution is less than 0.5%; so that it would take more than 10 years of grants for dilution to exceed our guidelines. (Where the company has outstanding options from other plans, or proposes to grant additional options to employees below board level, these must be factored into the calculation.)

 

Z.                                      Canadian Equity Compensation Plans, TSX Issuers

 

1.                                       Change-in-Control Provisions

 

Where approval of a CIC provision is sought as part of a bundled proposal, RMG Canada may recommend a vote AGAINST the entire bundled proposal due to an unacceptable CIC provision.

 

2.                                       Generally vote AGAINST proposals to reprice outstanding options including adjustments that can be reasonably considered repricing such as: reduction in exercise price or purchase price, extension of term for outstanding options, cancellation and reissuance of options, substitution of options with other awards.

 

3.                                       Amendment Procedures

 

We generally vote AGAINST the approval of proposed Amendment Procedures that do not require shareholder approval for the following types of amendments under any security based compensation arrangement, whether or not such approval is required under current regulatory rules:

 

a.               Any increase in the number (or percentage in the case of rolling plans) of shares reserved;

 

b.               Any amendment that extends the term of an award beyond the original expiry;

 

c.                Amendments to eligible participants that may permit the introduction or reintroduction of non- employee directors on a discretionary basis;

 

B- 59



 

d.               Any amendment which would permit equity based awards granted under the Plan may be transferable or assignable other than for normal estate settlement purposes

 

4.                                       Employee Share Purchase Plans, Amendment procedures

 

We generally vote AGAINST proposals to approve Share Purchase Plan Amendment Procedures if discretion is given to amend any of the following acceptable criteria:

 

a.               Limit on employee contribution (expressed as a percentage of base salary excluding bonus, commissions and special compensation);

 

b.               Purchase price is at least 80 percent of fair market value with no employer contribution; OR

 

c.                No discount purchase price with maximum employer contribution of up to 20% of employee contribution

 

d.               Offering period is 27 months or less; and

 

e.                Potential dilution together with all other equity-based plans is ten percent of outstanding common shares or less.

 

If shareholder approval is sought for a new Share Purchase Plan, the above criteria must apply and not be subject to future amendment under Plan amendment provisions without further shareholder approval or we will generally vote AGAINST approval of the Plan.

 

g.                State of Incorporation

 

A.                                     Voting on State Takeover Statutes

 

We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freezeout provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti- greenmail provisions, and disgorgement provisions).

 

B.                                     Voting on Reincorporation Proposals

 

Proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation are examined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

1.                                       Canada

 

a.               RIM will generally vote FOR proposals to amend or replace articles of incorporation or bylaws if:

 

·                           The purpose of the amendment is to clarify ambiguity, reflect changes in corporate law, streamline years of amendments, or other “housekeeping” amendments; and

 

·                           The bylaws as amended will not result in any of the unacceptable governance provisions set out in the following paragraph.

 

B- 60



 

b.               RIM will generally vote AGAINST new by-laws or amended by-laws that would establish two different quorum levels which would result in implementing a higher quorum solely for those shareholder meetings where common share investors seek to replace the majority of current board members. (“Enhanced Quorum”).

 

c.                RIM will generally vote FOR proposals to adopt or amend articles/bylaws unless the resulting document contains any of the following:

 

·                           The quorum for a meeting of shareholders is set below two persons holding 25 percent of the eligible vote (this may be reduced in the case of a small company where it clearly has difficulty achieving quorum at a higher level, but we oppose any quorum below 10 percent);

 

·                           The quorum for a meeting of directors is less than 50 percent of the number of directors;

 

·                           The chair of the board has a casting vote in the event of a deadlock at a meeting of directors;

 

·                           An alternate director provision that permits a director to appoint another person to serve as an alternate director to attend board or committee meetings in place of the duly elected director; and

 

·                           The proposed articles/bylaws raise other corporate governance concerns, such as granting blanket authority to the board with regard to capital authorizations or alteration of capital structure without shareholder approval

 

h.               Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

 

A.                                     Mergers and Acquisitions

 

Votes on mergers and acquisitions are considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, taking into account at least the following:

 

1.                                       Anticipated financial and operating benefits;

 

2.                                       Offer price (cost vs. premium);

 

3.                                       Prospects of the combined companies;

 

4.                                       How the deal was negotiated;

 

5.                                       Changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder rights;

 

6.                                       Change-in-control payments to executive officers and possible conflicts of interest; and

 

7.                                       Potential legal or environmental liability risks associated with the target firm

 

B.                                     Corporate Restructuring

 

Votes on corporate restructuring proposals, including minority squeezeouts, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, liquidations, and asset sales are considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

B- 61



 

C.                                             Spin-offs

 

Votes on spin-offs are considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis depending on the tax and regulatory advantages, planned use of sale proceeds, market focus, and managerial incentives.

 

D.                                             Asset Sales

 

Votes on asset sales are made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis after considering the impact on the balance sheet/working capital, value received for the asset, and potential elimination of diseconomies.

 

E.                                              Liquidations

 

Votes on liquidations are made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis after reviewing management’s efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets, and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.

 

F.                                               Appraisal Rights

 

We vote FOR proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of appraisal.

 

G.                                             Changing Corporate Name

 

We vote FOR changing the corporate name.

 

H.                                            Special Purpose Acquisition Corporations (SPACs)

 

We will consider on a Case-by-Case the following measures for SPACs:

 

1.                                       Valuation, Market reaction,

 

2.                                       Deal timing,

 

3.                                       Negotiations and process,

 

4.                                       Conflicts of interest,

 

5.                                       Voting agreements, and

 

6.                                       Governance.

 

I.                                         Loan Guarantee Requests (Non US companies)

 

Companies often provide loan guarantees for subsidiaries, affiliates and related parties.   Such requests will be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.  Generally, RIM will vote AGAINST the provision when:

 

·                   The identity receiving the guarantee is not disclosed;

 

·                   The guarantee is being provided to a director, executive, parent company or affiliated entities where the company has no direct or indirect equity ownership; or

 

·                   the guarantee is provided to an entity in which the company’s ownership stake is less than 75%; and such guarantee is not proportionate to the company’s equity stake or other parties have not provided a counter guarantee.

 

RIM will generally vote FOR such request provided that there are no significant concerns regarding the entity receiving the guarantee, the relationship between the listed company and the entity receiving the guarantee, the purpose of the guarantee, or the terms of the guarantee agreement.

 

B- 62



 

i.                                           Mutual Funds

 

A.                                     Business Development Companies

 

RIM will vote FOR proposals authorizing the board to issue shares below Net Asset Value (NAV) if:

 

1.               The proposal to allow share issuances below NAV has an expiration date that is less than one year from the date shareholders approve the underlying proposal as required under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

2.               a majority of the independent directors who have no financial interest in the sale have made a determination as to whether such sale would be in the best interest of the company and its shareholders prior to selling shares below NAV; and

 

3.               the company has demonstrated responsible past use of share issuances by either:

 

a.               Outperforming peers in its 8-digit GICS group as measured by one and three year median TSRs; or

 

b.               Providing disclosure that its past share issuances were priced at levels that resulted in only small or moderate discounts to NAV and economic dilution to existing non- participating shareholders.

 

B.                                     Multimanaged Funds/Subadvisers:

 

RIM will vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the board to hire or terminate subadvisers without shareholder approval if the investment adviser currently employs only one subadviser.

 

j.                  Corporate Governance and Conduct

 

In general, we support shareholder proposals that promote good corporate citizenship while enhancing long-term shareholder value. Proposals that present an egregious economic impact will not be supported.

 

1.                                       We SUPPORT the adoption of labor standards and codes of conduct for foreign and domestic suppliers as ways to protect brands and manage risk.

 

2.                                       We SUPPORT reporting on countries with human rights abuses as ways to protect and manage risk.

 

3.                                       We SUPPORT CERES Principles, environmental reporting and MacBride Principles.

 

4.                                       We SUPPORT high-performance workplace standards.

 

5.                                       We SUPPORT fair lending guidelines and disclosure at financial companies.

 

6.                                       We SUPPORT reporting on equal opportunity and diversity.

 

7.                                       We OPPOSE resolutions that would fundamentally affect company performance and competitive increase of shareholder value.

 

8.                                       We OPPOSE shareholder proposals requesting the adoption of specific charter language regarding board diversity unless the company fails to publicly disclose existing equal opportunity or nondiscrimination policies.

 

9.                                       We OPPOSE shareholder proposals for reports outlining potential environmental damage from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) unless: a) new legislation is adopted

 

B- 63



 

allowing development and drilling in the ANWR; b) the company intends to pursue operations in the ANWR, c) the company does not currently disclose an environmental risk report for their operations in the ANWR.

 

10.                                We OPPOSE shareholder proposals requesting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions unless the company significantly lags behind industry standards or has been the subject of recent, substantial controversy on this issue.

 

11.                                We OPPOSE shareholder proposals on investing in renewable energy sources.

 

12.                                We review proposals requesting information on a company’s lobbying activities, including direct lobbying as well as grassroots lobbying activities on a CASE-BY-CASE basis taking into account; a) the company’s current disclosure of relevant lobbying policies, and management and board oversight; b) the company’s disclosure regarding trade associations or other groups that it supports, or is a member of, that engage in lobbying activities; and c) recent significant controversies, fines, or litigation regarding the company’s lobbying-related activities..

 

13.                                We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals requesting a company report on its energy efficiency policies, considering: a) the current level of disclosure related to energy efficiency policies, initiatives, and performance measures; b) level of participation in voluntary efficiency programs; c) compliance with applicable legislation and regulations; d) the company’s policies and initiatives relative to industry peers; and e) the cost associated with the proposed initiative.

 

14.                                We review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals requesting disclosure and implementation of internet privacy and censorship policies and procedures, considering: a) the level of disclosure of policies relating to privacy, freedom of speech, internet censorship and government monitoring; b) dialogue with governments and/or relevant groups; c) scope of involvement and investment in markets that maintain government censorship or internet monitoring; d) market-specific laws or regulations applicable to this issue that may be imposed on the company; e) level of controversy or litigation related to the company’s international human rights policies; and f) the cost associated with the proposed initiative.

 

15.                                We generally vote FOR proposals requesting greater disclosure of a company’s (natural gas) hydraulic fracturing operations, including measures the company has taken to manage and mitigate the potential community and environmental impacts of those operations, considering: a) the company’s current level of disclosure of relevant policies and oversight mechanisms; b) the company’s current level of such disclosure relative to its industry peers; c) potential relevant local, state, or national regulatory developments; and d) controversies, fines, or litigation related to the company’s hydraulic fracturing operations.

 

16.                                We will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals requesting company reports on, or to adopt a new policy on, water-related risks and concerns, taking into account: a) the company’s current disclosure of relevant policies, initiatives, oversight mechanisms, and water usage metrics; b) whether or not the company’s existing water-related policies and practices are consistent with relevant internationally recognized standards and national/local regulations; c) the potential financial impact or risk to the company associated with water-related concerns or issues; and d) recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding water use by the company and its suppliers.

 

B- 64



 

17.                                We review on a CASE-BY-CASE requests for the company to review and report on the financial and reputation risks associated with operations in “high risk” markets, such as a terrorism- sponsoring state or otherwise, taking into account: a) the nature, purpose, and scope of the operations and business involved that could be affected by social or political disruption; b) current disclosure of applicable risk assessment(s) and risk management procedures; c) compliance with US sanctions and laws; d) consideration of other international policies, standards, and laws; e) recent involvement in significant controversies or violations in “high risk” markets; and f) the cost associated with the initiative.

 

18.                                We SUPPORT proposals requesting company reporting on its policies, initiatives/procedures and oversight mechanisms related to toxic materials, including certain product line toxicities, and/or product safety in its supply chain, UNLESS: a) the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies such as a Supplier Code of Conduct and/or a sustainability report; or b) the company is in compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines; or c) there is no existence of significant violations and/or fines related to toxic materials.

 

19.                                We review on a CASE-BY-CASE requests for workplace safety reports, including reports on accident risks reduction efforts taking into account; a) a) the nature of the company’s business specifically regarding company and employee exposure to health and safety risks; b) level of existing disclosure of its workplace health and safety performance data, health and safety management policies, initiatives, and oversight mechanisms;  c) existence of recent, significant violations, fines, or controversy related to workplace health and safety ; and d) the company’s workplace health and safety performance relative to industry peers.

 

20.                                Establishment of Board Committees on Social Issues: Shareholder proposals requesting companies establish new standing board committees on social issues.

 

We will generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting a company establish new standing board committees on social issues considering:

 

a.               Existing oversight mechanisms (including current committee structure) regarding the issue for which board oversight is sought;

 

b.               Level of disclosure regarding the issue for which board oversight is sought;

 

c.                Company performance related to the issue for which board oversight is sought;

 

d.               Board committee structure compared to that of other companies in its industry sector; and/or  

 

e.                The scope and structure of the proposal.

 

21.                                Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMO):

 

a.               Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking suppliers, genetic research companies, restaurants and food retail companies to voluntarily label genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in their products and/or eliminate GE ingredients. The cost of labeling and/or phasing out the use of GE ingredients may not be commensurate with the benefits to shareholders and is an issue better left to regulators.

 

b.               Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals asking for a report on the feasibility of labeling products containing GE ingredients taking into account:

 

i.                   The company’s business and the proportion of it affected by the resolution;

 

ii.                The quality of the company’s disclosure on GE product labeling, related voluntary initiatives, and how this disclosure compares with industry peer disclosure; and

 

B- 65



 

iii.             Company’s current disclosure on the feasibility of GE product labeling, including information on the related costs.

 

c.                Generally vote AGAINST proposals seeking a report on the social, health, and environmental effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Studies of this sort are better undertaken by regulators and the scientific community.

 

d.               Generally vote AGAINST proposals to completely phase out GE ingredients from the company’s products or proposals asking for reports outlining the steps necessary to eliminate GE ingredients from the company’s products. Such resolutions presuppose that there are proven health risks to GE ingredients

 

22.                                Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Domestic Partner Benefits

 

a.               We will generally vote FOR proposals seeking to amend a company’s EEO statement or diversity policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, unless the change would result in excessive costs for the company.

 

b.               We will generally vote AGAINST proposals to extend company benefits to or eliminating benefits from domestic partners.

 

23.                                Equality of Opportunity:  shareholder proposal requesting companies disclose their EEO-1 data

 

We will generally vote FOR proposals requesting the company disclose its diversity policies, initiatives, comprehensive diversity data, and EEO-1 data unless:

 

a.               The company publicly discloses its comprehensive equal opportunity policies and initiatives;

 

b.               The company already publicly discloses comprehensive workforce diversity data; and  

 

c.                The company has no recent significant EEO-related violations or litigation.

 

24.                                Political contributions and Trade Associations: Shareholder proposals calling for company to confirm political nonpartisanship, increase disclosure on political contributions and trade association spending and bar political contributions.

 

a.               RIM will generally vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:

 

i.                           There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company’s political contributions or trade association spending; and

 

ii.                        The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company- sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.

 

b.               RIM will vote AGAINST proposals to publish in newspapers and public media the company’s political contributions.  Such publications could present significant cost to the company without providing commensurate value to shareholders.

 

c.                RIM will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to improve the disclosure of a company’s political contributions and trade association spending considering:

 

i.                           Recent significant controversy or litigation related to the company’s political contributions or governmental affairs; and

 

ii.                        The public availability of a company policy on political contributions and trade association spending including information on the types of organizations supported, the business

 

B- 66



 

rationale for supporting these organization, and the oversight and compliance procedure related to such expenditures of corporate assets.

 

d.               RIM will vote AGAINST proposals barring the company from making political contributions.  

 

e.                RIM will vote AGAINST proposals asking for a list of company executives, directors, consultants, legal counsels, lobbyists, or investment bankers that have prior government service and whether such service had a bearing on the business of the company.

 

26.                                Recycling: We will vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to report on an existing recycling program, or adopt a new recycling program, taking into account: a) the nature of the company’s business; b) the current level of disclosure of the company’s existing related programs; c) the timetable prescribed by the proposal and the costs and methods of program implementation; d) the ability of the company to address the issues raised in the proposal; and e) the company’s recycling programs compared with the similar programs of its industry peers.

 

27.                                RIM will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals requesting that a company conduct an assessment of the human rights risks in its operations or in its supply chain, or report on its human rights risk assessment process considering: a) the degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed, including information on the implementation of these policies and any related oversight mechanisms; b) the company’s industry and whether the company or its suppliers operation in countries or areas where there is a history of human rights concerns; c) recent, significant controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights involving the company or its suppliers, and whether the company has taken remedial steps; and d) whether the proposal is unduly burdensome or overly prescriptive.

 

END

 

B- 67



 

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

 

TICKER:  SCMVX

 

(an Investment Portfolio of the RBB Fund, Inc.)

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

December 31, 2015

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to shares (the “Shares”) representing interests in the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This SAI is not a prospectus, and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus, dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”). A copy of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free (888) 520-3277. The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION

1

 

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

1

 

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

1

 

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

3

 

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

8

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

9

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

10

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

17

 

 

PROXY VOTING

17

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

17

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

18

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

22

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

23

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

23

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

24

 

 

TAXES

24

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

25

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

26

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

26

 

 

APPENDIX A

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

i



 

FUND HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate portfolios. The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988. This SAI pertains to one class of shares representing interests in one diversified portfolio of the Company, which is offered by the Prospectus.

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of companies which have capitalizations that are less than the largest company in the Russell 2000 ®  Index (“small cap companies”) and which Schneider Capital Management Company (the “Adviser”) believes are undervalued. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in small cap companies. The Board of Directors may change the Fund’s investment objective and the policies described above without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders. However, as a matter of policy, the Fund would not materially change its investment objective or primary investment strategy without informing shareholders at least 60 days in advance of any such change.

 

The Adviser may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

Bank and Corporate Obligations. The Fund may purchase obligations of issuers in the banking industry, such as short-term obligations of bank holding companies, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits issued by U.S. or foreign banks or savings institutions having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion. Investment in obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches of U.S. banks may entail risks that are different from those of investments in obligations of U.S. banks due to differences in political, regulatory and economic systems and conditions. Such obligations are not FDIC insured and the Fund bears the risk of their failure. The activities of banks are subject to extensive regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans that may be made and the interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and costs of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties play an important part in the operation of this industry. The Fund may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 5% of its total assets.

 

The Fund may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations that are rated at the time of purchase within the three highest ratings categories of Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (or which, if unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality). Unrated securities will be determined to be of comparable quality to rated debt obligations if, among other things, other outstanding obligations of the issuers of such securities are rated A or better. See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. In the event that a security held by the Fund is placed on a credit watch or is downgraded by a rating agency, the value of such security may decline and the Fund may consequently experience losses in respect of such security.

 

1



 

Equity Securities .  Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stock, preferred stock, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·                   Common Stock .  Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

·                   Preferred Stock .  Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

·                   Warrants .  Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

·                   Convertible Securities .  Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue.  If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion.  The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.  However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder.  When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase.  At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.  Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

·                   Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers .  Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies.  This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.  The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange.  Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

2



 

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, either directly or indirectly through American Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts. Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations. Transactions in foreign securities may involve greater time from the trade date until the settlement date than domestic securities transactions, and may involve the risk of possible losses through the holding of securities in custodians and securities depositories in foreign countries. These factors could interfere with the Adviser’s ability to sell the securities.

 

Although the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s securities in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s securities in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s holdings.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions.   In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

Commercial Paper. The Fund may purchase commercial paper rated (at the time of purchase) “A-1” by S&P or “Prime-1” by Moody’s or, when deemed advisable by the Adviser, issues rated “A-2” or “Prime-2” by S&P or Moody’s, respectively. These rating categories are described in Appendix “A” to this SAI. The Fund may also purchase unrated commercial paper provided that such paper is determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s Adviser pursuant to guidelines approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. Commercial paper issues in which the Fund may invest include securities issued by corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) in reliance on the exemption from such registration afforded by Section 3(a) (3) thereof, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration, which is afforded by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act (“Section 4(2) paper”). Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who make a market in Section 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity.

 

3



 

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Futures Contracts. The Fund may invest in financial futures contracts with respect to those securities listed on the S&P 500 ®  Index. Financial futures contracts obligate the seller to deliver a specific type of security called for in the contract, at a specified future time, and for a specified price. Financial futures contracts may be satisfied by actual delivery of the securities or, more typically, by entering into a transaction that offsets the financial futures contract. The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to coverage of options and futures strategies by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require will set aside cash and high grade liquid debt securities in a segregated account with its custodian bank in the amount prescribed. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures or option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar securities. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. Depending on the asset levels that are required to be segregated, the Fund may be required to sell off assets it would not otherwise liquidate. There are risks that are associated with the use of futures contracts for hedging purposes. In certain market conditions, as in a rising interest rate environment, sales of futures contracts may not completely offset a decline in value of the portfolio securities against which the futures contracts are being sold. In the futures market, it may not always be possible to execute a buy or sell order at the desired price, or to close out an open position due to market conditions, limits on open positions, and/or daily price fluctuations. Risks in the use of futures contracts also result from the possibility that changes in the market interest rates may differ substantially from the changes anticipated by the Adviser when hedge positions were established. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of the value of its net assets in futures contracts.

 

All futures contracts entered into by the Fund are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or on foreign exchanges.  The Fund will limit investments in futures to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  For this reason, with respect to the Fund, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO with respect to the Fund, the disclosure and operations of the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

Hedging Investments. At such times as the Adviser deems it appropriate and consistent with the investment objective of the Fund, the Fund may invest in financial futures contracts and options on financial futures contracts. The purpose of such

 

4



 

transactions is to hedge against changes in the market value of securities in the Fund caused by fluctuating interest rates and to close out or offset its existing positions in such futures contracts or options as described below. Such instruments will not be used for speculation. Futures contracts and options on futures are discussed below.

 

Indexed Securities. The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices. Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of its net assets in indexed securities.

 

Investment Company Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investments in such securities currently are limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other investment companies will involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act permits the Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund so long as, among other things, said investment is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

 

The Fund may invest in investment companies that are not registered with the SEC or privately placed securities of investment companies (which may or may not be registered), such as hedge funds and offshore funds. Unregistered funds are largely exempt from the regulatory requirements that apply to registered investment companies. As a result, unregistered funds may have a greater ability to make investments, or use investment techniques, that offer a higher potential investment return (for example, leveraging), but which may carry high risk. Unregistered funds are not regulated by the SEC like registered funds. Investments in unregistered funds may be difficult to sell, which could cause the Fund selling an interest in an unregistered fund to lose money. For example, many hedge funds require their investors to hold their investments for at least one year.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Lending of Fund Securities. The Fund may lend securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes. Because the government securities or other assets that are pledged as collateral to the Fund in connection with these loans generate income, securities lending enables the Fund to earn income that may partially offset expenses. These loans may not exceed 33  1 /3% of the Fund’s total assets. The documentation for these loans will provide that the Fund will receive collateral equal to at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities, as marked to market each day that the NAV of the Fund is determined, consisting of government securities or other assets permitted by applicable regulations and interpretations. The Fund will pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with the loan of securities. The Fund will invest collateral in short-term investments, and will bear the risk of loss of the invested collateral. In addition, the Fund will be exposed to the risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities. The Fund’s share of income from the loan collateral will be included in its gross investment income.

 

Securities lending would involve risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or risk of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed by the Adviser to be of good standing and only when, in the Adviser’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. Any loans of the Fund’s securities will be marked to market daily. The Fund does not have the right to vote loaned securities. The Fund may attempt to call loaned securities back to permit the exercise of voting rights, if time and jurisdictional restrictions permit. There is no guarantee that all loans can be recalled.

 

5



 

Options on Futures. The Fund may purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts with respect to those securities listed on the S&P 500 ®  Index and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. 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. The Fund may use options on futures contracts in connection with hedging strategies. The purchase of put options on futures contracts is a means of hedging against the risk of rising interest rates. The purchase of call options on futures contracts is a means of hedging against a market advance when the Fund is not fully invested.

 

The Fund may seek to terminate its position in a put option it writes before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its current price. If the secondary market is not liquid for an option the Fund has written, however, the Fund must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is outstanding, regardless of price changes, and must continue to set aside assets to cover its position. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, as described above, except that writing covered call options generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option premium, the Fund would seek to mitigate the effects of a price decline. At the same time, because the Fund would have to be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater, the Fund would give up some ability to participate in security price increases when writing call options.

 

Because there are a limited number of types of futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized futures contracts available to the Fund will not match the Fund’s current or anticipated investments. Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund’s investments well. Futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation between the Fund’s investments and its futures positions may also result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. The Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund’s futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, its futures positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by the gains in the Fund’s other investments.

 

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out its financial futures positions at any time, in which case it would be required to maintain the margin deposits on the contract. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of its net assets in options on futures.

 

Private Investments in Public Equity The Fund may invest up to 5% in equity securities in a private placement that are issued by issuers who have outstanding, publicly-traded equity securities of the same class (“private investments in public equity” or “PIPEs”).  Shares in PIPEs generally are not registered with the SEC until after a certain time period from the date the private sale is completed.  This restricted period can last many months.  Until the public registration process is completed, PIPEs are restricted as to resale and the Fund cannot freely trade the securities.  Generally, such restrictions cause the PIPEs to be illiquid during this time.  PIPEs may contain provisions that the issuer will pay specified financial penalties to the holder if the issuer does not publicly register the restricted equity securities within a specified period of time, but there is no assurance that the restricted equity securities will be publicly registered, or that the registration will remain in effect.

 

Portfolio Turnover. Investment strategies that require periodic changes to portfolio holdings with the expectation of outperforming equity indices are typically referred to as “active” strategies. These strategies contrast with “passive” (“index”) strategies that buy and hold only the stocks in the equity indices. Passive strategies tend to trade infrequently, only as the stocks in the indices change (largely due to changes in the sizes of the companies in the indices, takeovers or bankruptcies). Most equity mutual funds pursue active strategies, which have higher turnover than passive strategies.

 

The generally higher portfolio turnover of active investment strategies can adversely affect taxable investors, especially those in higher marginal tax brackets, in two particularly significant ways. First, short-term capital gains, which often accompany higher turnover investment strategies, are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. Ordinary income tax rates are generally higher than long-term capital gain tax rates. Thus, the tax liability is often higher for investors in active strategies. Second, the more frequent realization of gains caused by higher turnover investment strategies means that taxes will be paid sooner. Such acceleration of the tax liability is financially more costly to investors. Less frequent realization of capital gains allows the payment of taxes to be deferred until later years, allowing more of the gains to compound before taxes are paid. Consequently, after-tax compound rates of return will generally be higher for taxable investors using investment strategies

 

6



 

with very low turnover, compared with high turnover strategies. The difference is particularly large when the general market rates of return are higher than average.

 

The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases or sales of securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during the year. Under normal market conditions it is expected that the Fund’s portfolio turnover will range between 60% and 85%. The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 was 88.80% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price (“repurchase agreements”). The securities held subject to a repurchase agreement may have stated maturities exceeding 13 months, provided the repurchase agreement itself matures in less than 13 months. The financial institutions with whom the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements will be banks which the Adviser considers creditworthy pursuant to criteria approved by the Board of Directors and non-bank dealers of U.S. government securities that are listed on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s list of reporting dealers. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of a seller in determining whether to cause the Fund to enter into a repurchase agreement. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of collateral at not less than the repurchase price plus accrued interest. The Adviser will monitor daily the value of the collateral, and will, if necessary, require the seller to increase the collateral so that its value is not less than the repurchase price. Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose the Fund to the risk of loss because of possible market declines in the value of the collateral or delays in connection with its disposition.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Rolls. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities for temporary purposes (such as to obtain cash to meet redemption requests) when the liquidation of portfolio securities is deemed disadvantageous or inconvenient by the Adviser. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest. Such agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act, and may be entered into only for temporary or emergency purposes. While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian or a qualified sub-custodian, cash or liquid securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities, plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase and the return on the cash exchanged for the securities. The Fund may also enter into “dollar rolls,” in which it sells fixed income securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities. The Fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The return on dollar rolls may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in interest rates. The Fund does not presently intend to engage in reverse repurchase or dollar roll transactions involving more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

Rule 144A Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in securities that are illiquid and may be difficult to value. The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the 1933 Act, but which can be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. Any such security will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Adviser, acting under guidelines approved and monitored by the Board of Directors, that an adequate trading market exists for that security. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.

 

Temporary Investments. The short-term and medium-term debt securities in which the Fund may invest for temporary defensive purposes consist of: (a) obligations of the United States or foreign governments, their respective agencies or instrumentalities; (b) bank deposits and bank obligations (including certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. or foreign banks denominated in any currency; (c) floating rate securities and other instruments denominated in any currency issued by international development agencies; (d) finance company and corporate commercial paper and other short-term corporate debt obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations; and (e) repurchase agreements with banks and broker-dealers with respect to such securities.

 

7



 

U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may purchase U.S. government agency and instrumentality obligations that are debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and federal agencies. Some obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or by U.S. Treasury guarantees, such as securities of the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the Federal Housing Authority; others, by the ability of the issuer to borrow, provided approval is granted, from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and others, only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation, such as securities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Such guarantees of U.S. government securities held by the Fund do not, however, guarantee the market value of the shares of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government will continue to provide support to its agencies or instrumentalities in the future. U.S. government obligations that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All U.S. government obligations are subject to interest rate risk.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

The Fund’s net assets may be invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or the agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including, if applicable, options and futures on such obligations. The maturities of U.S. government securities usually range from three months to thirty years. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations include U.S. Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds and the obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Fannie Mae, GNMA, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Maritime Administration, the Asian-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. U.S. government securities may include inflation-indexed fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). The interest rate of TIPS, which is set at auction, remains fixed throughout the term of the security and the principal amount of the security is adjusted for inflation. The inflation-adjusted principal is not paid until maturity.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Company has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations, which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Shares (as defined in Section 2(a) (42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of: (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund may not:

 

1.                        Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of its total assets at the time of such borrowing; or mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. The Fund will not purchase securities while its aggregate borrowings (including reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings from banks) are in excess of 5% of its total assets. Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation;

 

8



 

2.                        Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

3.                        Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

4.                        Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures;

 

5.                        Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

6.                        Invest 25% or more of its assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities); or

 

7.                        Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

(For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 1, any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2, neither the foregoing arrangements nor the purchase or sale of futures or related options are deemed to be the issuance of senior securities.)

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank.  In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

Except as required by the 1940 Act with respect to the borrowing of money and the limitation on illiquid holdings, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in market values of portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered a violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.

 

Securities held by the Fund generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund shareholders and its service providers. The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund. It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940

 

9



 

Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in its applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund. Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship ( e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information, and (ii) financial consultants to assist them in determining the suitability of the Fund as an investment for their clients, in each case in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Company’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

10



 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

11



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present
2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

12



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

Robert Amweg
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center,
Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square
Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)               Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)               Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.  

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition

 

13



 

to senior executive-level management experience.  Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and also serves on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky. The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer. The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products.  The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers

 

14



 

and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014.

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by
Director within the Family of
Investment Companies

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Robert Sablowsky

 

$1-$10,000

 

Over $100,000

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

15



 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director, a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company. Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Fund and the Company in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,109.95

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,093.96

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,329.76

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,178.74

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,554.78

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,085.67

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

 

16



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,265.60

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA
Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,409.13

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund. The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities. The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund. A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is included with this SAI. Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-520-3277 and by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015 to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the classes of the Fund indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

17



 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund

 

Vanguard Brokerage Services
PO Box 1170
Valley Forge, PA 19482-1170

 

422,372.353

 

17.25

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund

 

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.
Special Cust A/C for Benefit of Customer
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

 

377,664.036

 

15.42

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund

 

BNYM IS Trust CO
Cust SEP IRA FBO
Arnold C. Schneider III
760 Moore Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406

 

250,654.583

 

10.23

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund

 

Arnold C Schneider III
Turnbridge Management Partners Inc.
A Partnership
460 E Swedesford Rd, # 2000
Wayne, PA 19087

 

191,007.991

 

7.80

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund

 

John Fredric Lyness
Summit, NJ 07901-2012

 

159,870.301

 

6.53

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio and class within the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Advisory Agreement. The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement dated September 1, 1998 (the “Advisory Agreement”).

 

The Adviser is a Pennsylvania corporation controlled by its majority shareholder, Arnold C. Schneider, III. The Adviser has been managing assets for institutional accounts since 1996. The Adviser currently acts as investment adviser for the Schneider Value Fund, also an investment portfolio of the Company.  As of November 30, 2015, the Adviser managed approximately $566 million in assets. The Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

The Adviser is an active, equity value manager that believes a disciplined fundamental approach can consistently add value in a market that has shown to be extremely efficient with current data, but less so with future events. The Adviser is research intensive and focuses on new ideas, believing that the market is slow to react to change, particularly where out-of-favor stocks are concerned. The Adviser strives to act on them as soon as possible to generate above-average returns.  The Adviser has investment discretion for the Fund and will make all decisions affecting assets in the Fund under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors and in accordance with the Fund’s stated policies. The Adviser will select investments for the Fund. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement computed at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees to the extent necessary to maintain an annualized expense ratio (excluding certain items discussed below) for the Fund of 1.15%. In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net total annual fund operating expenses to exceed 1.15%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes.  The Adviser may not recoup waived advisory fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waiver after December 31, 2016.

 

The Fund bears its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser. General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction

 

18



 

of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by a Fund include, but are not limited to the expenses listed in the prospectus and the following (or a portfolio’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by a portfolio and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of a portfolio by the Adviser; (c) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or a portfolio for violation of any law; (d) any extraordinary expenses; (e) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (f) the cost of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers; (g) organizational costs; (h) fees to the Adviser and BNY Mellon; (i) fees and expenses of officers and directors who are not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor; (j) taxes; (k) interest; (l) legal fees; (m) custodian fees; (n) auditing fees; (o) brokerage fees and commissions; (p) certain of the fees and expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund and its shares for distribution under federal and state securities laws; (q) expenses of preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information and distributing annually to existing shareholders that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (r) the expense of reports to shareholders, shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (s) fidelity bond and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums; (t) the expense of using independent pricing services; and (u) other expenses which are not expressly assumed by the Adviser under its advisory agreement with the portfolio.

 

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the Company in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the continuation of each Fund’s investment advisory agreement may be reviewed in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015, which may be obtained by calling (888) 520-3277 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Advisory Fees
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

137,522

 

$

283,563

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

424,255

 

$

250,637

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

462,002

 

$

244,874

 

$

0

 

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Description of Compensation.

 

Mr. Schneider’s compensation consists of a salary and a bonus. A portion of his bonus may be deferred. Generally, his salary is fixed at the beginning of each year; his bonus and any deferred compensation are discretionary and based on the overall profitability of the firm.

 

Other Accounts . The table below discloses accounts, other than the Fund, for which the portfolio manager is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of August 31, 2015:

 

Name of Portfolio Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee Based on
Performance

 

Arnold C. Schneider III

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2

 

$

229 M

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

4

 

$

23 M

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

3

 

$

462 M

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

19



 

Material Conflicts of Interest. The Adviser provides investment management services to multiple clients with investment objectives and strategies that are similar as well as different than those of the Fund. Although each client’s account is individually managed, the Adviser may purchase and/or sell the same securities for numerous accounts. The Adviser aggregates client orders based on circumstances existing at the time the orders are received and consistent with its policy of seeking best price and execution. Aggregated orders may include orders for investment vehicles in which the Adviser or its affiliates have an interest. The inclusion of an account in an aggregate order is based on factors such as consistency with investment objective and guidelines, suitability, investment strategy, timing of order placement, order price, and client cash flow. Certain investment opportunities may be suitable for or consistent with the strategy or investment objective of only one or a limited number of client accounts. In those cases, it is possible that a particular securities acquisition or disposition will be considered for one or a limited number of accounts.

 

The Adviser is under common control with Turnbridge Management Partners (“Turnbridge”), the General Partner to a private investment fund. The Adviser manages the portfolio of the private investment fund. Turnbridge, in accordance with the provisions of the private investment fund, is entitled to receive an incentive allocation each year, based on the performance of the private investment fund.

 

Securities Ownership . The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio manager in the Fund as of August 31, 2015:

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

Arnold C. Schneider III

 

Over $1 Million

 

Custodian Agreement. The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), with offices at 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10286, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between the Custodian and the Company dated July 18, 2011, as amended and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”). Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund, (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of the Fund, (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund, (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio securities, and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations. The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Company harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian. The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee based on each Fund’s average daily gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement. BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (collectively, the “Transfer Agency Agreement”). BNY Mellon (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund, (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the Shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders, (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts, and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund. BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any other affiliate of BNY Mellon. For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 - $50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company. In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification. The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

20



 

Distribution Agreement. Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement dated October 28, 2014 (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Funds and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreements. BNY Mellon serves as administrator to the Fund pursuant to an Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated September 1, 1998 (the “Administration Agreement”). BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund. In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to, among other things, prepare and file (or assist in the preparation of) certain reports with the SEC and other regulatory agencies. The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of BNY Mellon’s gross negligence. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.125% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, with a minimum monthly fee of $5,833. Prior to October 1, 2015, the minimum monthly fee was $8,333.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

21



 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a Regulatory Administration Services Agreement with BNY Mellon. Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company. These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Company’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration. BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

The administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees, including waivers and reimbursements, for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Administration, Accounting and
Regulatory Administration Fees
Paid (after waivers)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

121,389

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

125,977

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

124,885

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund. In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

The Fund has no obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions. The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Fund and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Fund and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts. The research may be used by the Adviser for all of its accounts. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser, as applicable, determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser, as applicable, to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long-term. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid $ 62,705 in aggregate commissions to brokers on account of research services.

 

The Adviser typically aggregates orders for the purchase and sale of securities for client portfolios including portfolios of the investment partnerships and registered investment companies it advises. In this process, orders for investment partnerships or registered investment companies in which the Adviser or persons associated with the Adviser have an interest may be aggregated with orders for other client portfolios. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders are allocated to the account of each client or fund that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds will be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios in proportion to their planned participation in the aggregated orders. Transaction costs for any transaction will be shared pro rata based on each portfolio’s participation in the transaction. The Fund will not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting or selling group relating to such security of which the Adviser or any affiliated person (as defined in the 1940 Act) thereof is a member except pursuant to procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.

 

The brokerage commissions for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

22



 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Brokerage
Commissions Paid

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

206,153

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

237,951

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

223,675

 

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Funds as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, the Fund did not hold any securities of its regular broker-dealers or their parents.

 

The Fund expects that its annual portfolio turnover rate will range between 60% and 85% under normal market conditions. A high rate (100% or more) of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses and other transaction costs that must be borne directly by the Fund. The Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will vary from year to year.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire. The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash. A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or the Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days (defined below) of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Fund elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than Foreside Distributors), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals,

 

23



 

additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

24



 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

A 4% nondeductible excise tax is imposed on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute with respect to each calendar year at least 98% of their ordinary taxable income for the calendar year and 98.2% of their capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses) for the one year period ending October 31 of such calendar year and 100% of any such amounts that were not distributed in the prior year. The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and any capital gain net income prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located, or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in the Fund, even if a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in the Fund. Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of the Fund will vote in the aggregate on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of the 1940 Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares, as defined in the 1940 Act, of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2, the approval of an investment

 

25



 

advisory agreement, distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of such portfolio. However, Rule 18f-2 also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to portfolio. Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law, or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel. The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

26



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

A- 1



 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

A- 2



 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

A- 3



 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

A- 4



 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.

 

A- 5



 

Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

A- 6



 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

A- 7



 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

APPENDIX B

 

PROXY POLICY STATEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

 

STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

Schneider Capital Management Corporation (SCM) views the fiduciary act of managing plan assets to include the voting of proxies appurtenant to shares held in the plan. As a rule, SCM strives to ensure that all proxies are received from the custodian in a timely manner and then exercises its right to vote all proxies. In keeping with the ERISA definition of fiduciary responsibility and the Department of Labor directives, all proxy voting decisions are made “solely in the best interest of the client’s plan participants and beneficiaries.”

 

This document represents what the firm believes to be important elements of sound corporate governance and social responsibility. In our opinion, good corporate governance should maintain an appropriate balance between the rights of shareholders (the owners of the corporation) and the needs of management to direct the corporation’s affairs devoid of distracting short-term pressures. As a responsible long term investment manager, SCM acknowledges its responsibility to strive for improved corporate governance and performance discipline. SCM offers this policy as a basis for dialogue with the objective of improving corporate governance and social practices. This statement identifies SCM’s voting guidelines on numerous proxy issues. These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of every issue that may arise. Proxy issues that are not described herein will be considered in light of the relevant facts and circumstances.

 

CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

 

Each proxy issue is reviewed on its own merits, on a case-by-case basis. Every proxy voting decision, whether on Corporate Governance or Social Issues, is made with the exclusive purpose of maximizing the economic value of the client’s investment. SCM gives special consideration to “out of the ordinary” matters and may vote against management on specific issues which are deemed to impair shareholder rights or value. Furthermore, SCM would oppose any proposal which would entrench or protect management interest contrary to the financial interests of the stockholder.

 

PROXY ADMINISTRATION

 

The portfolio manager and compliance officer are primarily responsible for monitoring corporate actions, making voting decisions and ensuring that proxies are submitted timely, consistent with this policy. SCM may form special committees, from time to time, to address unusual proxy voting issues or conflicts.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

All conflicts of interest will be resolved in the interest of the clients. Occasionally, SCM may be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or personal relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of certain votes. In situations where SCM perceives a material conflict of interest, SCM may disclose the conflict to the relevant clients; defer to the voting recommendation of the clients or of an independent third party provider of proxy services; send the proxy directly to the clients for a voting decision; abstain from voting; or take such other action in good faith, in consultation with counsel, to determine the appropriate method to resolve the conflict in the interest of clients, based upon the particular facts and circumstances. With respect to investment company clients, conflicts may arise as to votes involving the investment adviser, the underwriter, their affiliates or affiliates of the investment company. In such cases, SCM will follow the voting guidelines described herein, including the process for handling conflicts. Under normal circumstances, if a conflict is determined not to be material, SCM will vote the proxy in accordance with this policy. The method selected by SCM to vote proxies in the presence of a conflict may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law.

 

B- 1



 

I.                          CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:

 

A.                      BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

 

A company’s board of directors represents the focal point of corporate governance. The board is a group of elected individuals which oversees the operation and direction of the company on behalf of its owners. The principal responsibility of the board is to further the long term success of the corporation while remaining true to its fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders. SCM supports the primary authority of the board; however, at the same time, the firm believes that directors must remain accountable to the shareholders. Consequently, SCM’s guidelines are as follows:

 

1.                        Election of Directors: While SCM normally votes for the board’s nominees, the firm may decline to vote for unopposed candidates when their record indicates that their election to the board would not be in the interest of shareholders. Likewise, SCM may vote for alternative candidates when its analysis indicates that these candidates will better represent shareholder interests.

 

2.                        Independent Directors: In SCM’s opinion, the ideal board should be comprised primarily of independent (non-management) directors who are both willing and qualified to serve in such capacity. In this context, independence means no present or former employment by the company or its management which could interfere with the director’s loyalty to the shareholders.

 

3.                        Cumulative Voting: This voting procedure entitles each stockholder to as many votes as shall equal the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. Such votes may all be cast for a single candidate or for any two or more as the stockholder sees fit. SCM believes this method is an important democratic means of electing directors and allows shareholders to obtain representation on the board by significant vote. Consequently, SCM generally supports the practice of cumulative voting.

 

4.                        Classified Board: A classified board is a staggered board arrangement in which each director is elected for an established term of two, three, or four years, depending on the number of classes established. Only those directors in the class up for election can be approved or rejected by shareholders in any given year. In SCM’s opinion, a classified board serves to entrench management and limit shareholders’ ability to effect favorable change. Consequently, SCM generally opposes classified boards.

 

5.                        Director Liability and Indemnification: A proper director liability policy should balance the need to hold directors accountable for improper actions with the need to attract competent and diligent individuals for board positions. The Corporation should be free to indemnify directors for legal expenses and judgments in connection with their service as directors and eliminate the directors’ liability for ordinary negligence. However, directors should be held liable to the corporation for violations of their fiduciary duty involving gross negligence. Similarly, proposals that indemnify directors who have committed fraud or dereliction of duty would be opposed.

 

6.                        Director Compensation: Normally, the remuneration of Directors is considered a routine item of business. Therefore, it is not usually submitted for a shareholder vote. However, non-employee director compensation has become a shareholder issue recently. Generally, SCM would prefer to see more of the directors’ compensation based upon shareholder returns as measured by stock price appreciation or some other meaningful performance measure. Furthermore, SCM encourages corporations to phase out pension or retirement plans for their non-employee directors. Most non-employee directors have retirement benefits from their primary employer; however, SCM recognizes that a blanket vote to eliminate all such retirement plans could negatively impact a company’s access to potentially valuable directors. Consequently, SCM will not vote in favor of unilaterally eliminating retirement benefits.

 

B- 2



 

7.                        General: SCM recognizes the responsibilities of the board to organize its function and conduct its business in an efficient manner. Therefore, barring unusual circumstances, SCM would favor management proposals related to board size and oppose shareholder resolutions calling for the separation of the CEO and Chairman positions, establishing age limits for directors, special interest representation, the formation of shareholder advisory committees, or term limits for directors. SCM is also against restricting the date or location of the annual meeting.

 

B.                      CAPITALIZATION ISSUES: Capitalization related proposals pertain to the creation, repurchase, or reclassification of securities. SCM may support the authorization of additional stock if management provides a satisfactory explanation of its plans for the stock; however, SCM will oppose large unexplained increases in common stock. SCM will also oppose the issuance of “blank check” preferred or convertible stock which could potentially be used as a takeover deterrent or dilute/jeopardize the clients’ common stock ownership.

 

1.                      Increase Authorized Common Stock: SCM considers a proposal to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock on case-by-case basis. SCM takes into account the size of the requested increase, its stated purpose, and how much authorized but unissued common stock remains. The firm generally supports a stock split or a reasonable replenishment after a stock split. Likewise, SCM may approve an increase to support a shareholder value enhancing acquisition, to provide the necessary flexibility to maintain an optimal capital structure, or to fund stock option and stock purchase plans. Requests to significantly increase the number of authorized shares (those resulting in greater than 10% dilution) without a stated reason or demonstrated need would be opposed. Similarly, SCM would oppose an increase when additional shares are to be used for anti-takeover measures.

 

2.                      Authorize Blank Check Preferred Stock: This proposal would grant authority to the board to create and issue a new class of preferred stock with unspecified terms and conditions. “Blank check” preferred stock could be granted special voting rights and be used to entrench management or deter takeover attempts. SCM generally opposes proposals to vest the board with such power.

 

3.                      Authorize Convertible Stock: SCM would review the rationale on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s current capitalization structure, the stated purpose for the security and the potential dilution effect this security would have on existing common shareholders upon conversion. SCM would oppose any request which is “blank check” in nature, where the company’s rationale is unclear, and where the request appears to blunt possible takeover attempts.

 

C.                      SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AND PROXY VOTING: The proxy vote is the key mechanism by which shareholders render their opinion in corporate governance. In exercising its votes, SCM believes:

 

1.                      Confidential Voting should be adopted by all corporations on all matters brought before the shareholders. Such provisions would protect the importance of the proxy vote and eliminate the appearance of any impropriety.

 

2.                      Multiple Classes of Common Stock with disparate voting rights should not exist. Rather, the board should adhere to the principle of one share-one vote.

 

3.                      Super-majority rules or requirements which interfere with the shareholder’s right to elect directors and ratify corporate actions should be opposed.

 

4.                      Changes in Corporation’s Domicile should only be proposed for valid business reasons, not to obtain protection against unfriendly takeovers.

 

5.                      Change of Control occurs when a third party becomes, or obtains the right to become, the beneficial owner of Company securities having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the company. Change of Control also would occur when the directors prior to a given event cease to constitute a majority of the Board as a result of the event.

 

6.                   Fair Price Provisions and measures to limit the corporation’s ability to buy back shares from a particular shareholder at higher than market prices are generally supported.

 

B- 3



 

7.                   Pre-emptive Rights allow shareholders the option to buy part of any new issue prior to its public offering. This provision allows existing shareholders to maintain their original ownership percentage. However, pre-emptive rights often raise the cost of capital by increasing both the time and expense of issuing new shares. Therefore, pre-emptive rights should generally be eliminated, except where SCM’s analysis concludes such rights have value to the shareholders.

 

8.                   “Anti-Takeover” measures should be submitted for shareholder approval. SCM is generally against such measures.

 

9.                   Bundled Proposals: Occasionally management will attempt to tie a non-routine issue to one that is routine, attempting to pass both items in the form of a bundled proposal. Disparate issues should not be combined and presented for a single vote. Such proposals are generally not well received and must be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

10.            Special Meetings of the Board of Directors, on such issues as takeovers and changes in the make-up of the Board, by its shareholders is permitted at most companies. Schneider Capital Management is generally against limitations on the calling of Special Meetings.

 

D.                      EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: The board and its compensation committee should set executive compensation levels adequate to attract and retain qualified executives. These managers should be rewarded in direct relationship to the contribution they make in maximizing shareholder value. SCM readily admits it is not qualified to thoroughly evaluate the specific issues of executive compensation for each of its portfolio holdings; however the firm does evaluate the reasonableness of compensation policies, criteria and formulas. Likewise, SCM decides what constitutes adequate disclosure of executive compensation. SCM generally supports sound “pay for performance” plans which ensure equitable treatment of both corporate management and shareholders. Compensation should include both salary and performance components. The salary should have a defined relationship to salaries in an industry peer group. Similarly, performance measures should relate to key industry success measurements and be judged over adequate time periods.

 

1.                   Incentive Plans should be set forth annually in the proxy statement. The criteria used to evaluate the performance of senior executives should be clearly stated. Terms of the awards, such as type, coverage and option price should be specified. Excess discretion will not be approved. SCM generally supports management if the company defines their performance goals. However, SCM opposes incentive plans where no specific goals are defined. Without specific performance goals, there is no assurance that awards will be paid based upon realistic performance criteria. SCM also votes against plans where performance hurdles are, in its opinion, set too low. Total potential dilution from existing and proposed compensation plans should not exceed 10% over the duration of the plan(s). Finally, SCM generally opposes plans which grant reload options (favorable repricing of options) or where options become immediately exercisable following a change of control defined as anything less than 50%.

 

2.                        Stock/Stock Option Plans: SCM generally votes against a plan if the exercise price is unspecified or below 90% of the fair market value on the date of the grant.

 

3.                        Golden Parachutes should always be put to shareholder vote because they often exceed ordinary compensation practices. We are generally against Golden Parachutes.

 

B- 4



 

E.                       ROUTINE CORPORATE ISSUES: Proposals in this category, which have been seen repeatedly on an historical basis, are usually non-controversial. Generally, these issues revolve around items that are related to the normal operating procedures of the company. SCM, however, votes against a management proposal to “approve any other business that properly comes before the meeting.” As a fiduciary, SCM opposes any attempt by management to get a blanket approval without full disclosure. Conversely, each of the proposals listed below are generally supported, unless compelling reasons exist to question why it is not in the best interest of shareholders.

 

1.                        Appointment of Auditors

 

2.                        Corporate Name and/or Ticker Change

 

3.                        Approval of Articles of Incorporation

 

4.                        Changes to the Articles of Incorporation

 

5.                        Changes in the Date, Time and/or Location of Annual Meeting

 

6.                        Stock Splits

 

7.                        Acceptance of Director’s Report

 

8.                        Approval of Corporate Dividend

 

II.                     SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES: Schneider Capital Management acknowledges its duty both as a corporate citizen and as a manager of investment funds to address important social issues. The intention of our firm is not to impose its moral or social views upon clients. Nor should SCM restrict in any way the day-to-day operating procedures of a corporation unless, in so doing, the economic value of the client’s investment is enhanced.

 

DOCUMENTATION OF VOTING DECISIONS

 

Schneider Capital Management maintains accurate records of each corporate proxy received and voted along with documentation of the proxy voting decisions on each issue. The records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

 

REPORTING

 

In order to facilitate a client’s monitoring of proxy decisions made and actions taken by Schneider Capital Management, a report summarizing each corporate issue and corresponding proxy vote is available to clients upon request.

 

B- 5



 

SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

 

TICKER:  SCMLX

 

(an Investment Portfolio of the RBB Fund, Inc.)

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

December 31, 2015

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to shares (the “Shares”) representing interests in the Schneider Value Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This SAI is not a prospectus, and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus, dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”). A copy of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free (888) 520-3277. The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION

1

 

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

1

 

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

7

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

8

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

9

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

16

 

 

PROXY VOTING

17

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

17

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

18

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

21

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

22

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

23

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

23

 

 

TAXES

23

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

24

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

25

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

25

 

 

APPENDIX A

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

i



 

FUND HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate portfolios. The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”), and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988. This SAI pertains to one class of shares representing interests in one diversified portfolio of the Company, which is offered by the Prospectus.

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks of companies which have a market capitalization of $1 billion or greater and which Schneider Capital Management Company (the “Adviser”) believes are undervalued. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Under normal circumstances, at least 65% of the Fund’s net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested in companies with capitalizations as described above. The Adviser examines various factors in determining the value characteristics of such companies including price-to-book value ratios and price-to-earnings ratios.

 

The Adviser may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

Principal Investment Strategies and Risks

 

Bank and Corporate Obligations. The Fund may purchase obligations of issuers in the banking industry, such as short-term obligations of bank holding companies, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits issued by U.S. or foreign banks or savings institutions having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion. Investment in obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches of U.S. banks may entail risks that are different from those of investments in obligations of U.S. banks due to differences in political, regulatory and economic systems and conditions. Such obligations are not FDIC insured and the Fund bears the risk of their failure. The activities of banks are subject to extensive regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans that may be made and the interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and costs of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties play an important part in the operation of this industry.

 

The Fund may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 5% of its total assets.

 

The Fund may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations that are rated at the time of purchase within the three highest ratings categories of Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (or which, if unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality). Unrated securities will be determined to be of comparable quality to rated debt obligations if, among other things, other outstanding obligations of the issuers of such securities are rated A or better. See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value. In the event that a security held by the Fund is placed on a credit watch or is downgraded by a rating agency, the value of such security may decline and the Fund may consequently experience losses in respect of such security.

 

Equity Securities .  Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stock, preferred stock, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·                   Common Stock .  Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

1



 

·                   Preferred Stock .  Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

·                   Warrants .  Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

·                   Convertible Securities .  Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue.  If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion.  The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.  However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder.  When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase.  At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.  Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

·                   Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers .  Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies.  This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.  The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange.  Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, either directly or indirectly through American Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts. Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations. Transactions in foreign securities may involve greater time from the trade date until the settlement date than domestic securities transactions, and may involve the risk of possible losses through the holding of securities in custodians and securities depositories in foreign countries. These factors could interfere with the Adviser’s ability to sell the securities.

 

Although the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price

 

2



 

of the Fund’s securities in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s securities in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s holdings.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions.  In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

Non-Principal Investment Strategies and Risks

 

Commercial Paper. The Fund may purchase commercial paper rated (at the time of purchase) “A-1” by S&P or “Prime-1” by Moody’s or, when deemed advisable by the Adviser, issues rated “A-2” or “Prime-2” by S&P or Moody’s, respectively. These rating categories are described in Appendix “A” to this SAI. The Fund may also purchase unrated commercial paper provided that such paper is determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s Adviser pursuant to guidelines approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. Commercial paper issues in which the Fund may invest include securities issued by corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) in reliance on the exemption from such registration afforded by Section 3(a)(3) thereof, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration, which is afforded by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act (“Section 4(2) paper”). Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who make a market in Section 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Futures Contracts. The Fund may invest in financial futures contracts with respect to those securities listed on the S&P 500 ®  Index. Financial futures contracts obligate the seller to deliver a specific type of security called for in the contract, at a specified future time, and for a specified price. Financial futures contracts may be satisfied by actual delivery of the securities or, more typically, by entering into a transaction that offsets the financial futures contract. The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to coverage of options and futures strategies by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require will set aside cash and high grade liquid debt securities in a segregated account with its custodian bank in the amount prescribed. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures or option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar securities. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s

 

3



 

ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. Depending on the asset levels that are required to be segregated, the Fund may be required to sell off assets it would not otherwise liquidate. There are risks that are associated with the use of futures contracts for hedging purposes. In certain market conditions, as in a rising interest rate environment, sales of futures contracts may not completely offset a decline in value of the portfolio securities against which the futures contracts are being sold. In the futures market, it may not always be possible to execute a buy or sell order at the desired price, or to close out an open position due to market conditions, limits on open positions, and/or daily price fluctuations. Risks in the use of futures contracts also result from the possibility that changes in the market interest rates may differ substantially from the changes anticipated by the Adviser when hedge positions were established. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of the value of its net assets in futures contracts.

 

All futures contracts entered into by the Fund are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or on foreign exchanges.  The Fund will limit investments in futures to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  For this reason, with respect to the Fund, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO with respect to the Fund, the disclosure and operations of the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

Hedging Investments. At such times as the Adviser deems it appropriate and consistent with the investment objective of the Fund, the Fund may invest in financial futures contracts and options on financial futures contracts. The purpose of such transactions is to hedge against changes in the market value of securities in the Fund caused by fluctuating interest rates and to close out or offset its existing positions in such futures contracts or options as described below. Such instruments will not be used for speculation. Futures contracts and options on futures are discussed below.

 

Indexed Securities. The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices. Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of its net assets in indexed securities.

 

Investment Company Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investments in such securities currently are limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other investment companies will involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act permits the Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund so long as, among other things, said investment is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

 

The Fund may invest in investment companies that are not registered with the SEC or privately placed securities of investment companies (which may or may not be registered), such as hedge funds and offshore funds. Unregistered funds are largely exempt from the regulatory requirements that apply to registered investment companies. As a result, unregistered funds may have a greater ability to make investments, or use investment techniques, that offer a higher potential investment return (for example, leveraging), but which may carry high risk. Unregistered funds are not regulated by the SEC like registered funds. Investments in unregistered funds may be difficult to sell, which could cause the Fund selling an interest in an unregistered fund to lose money. For example, many hedge funds require their investors to hold their investments for at least one year.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at

 

4



 

times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Lending of Fund Securities. The Fund may lend securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions desiring to borrow securities to complete transactions and for other purposes. Because the government securities or other assets that are pledged as collateral to the Fund in connection with these loans generate income, securities lending enables the Fund to earn income that may partially offset expenses. These loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets. The documentation for these loans will provide that the Fund will receive collateral equal to at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities, as marked to market each day that the NAV of the Fund is determined, consisting of government securities or other assets permitted by applicable regulations and interpretations. The Fund will pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with the loan of securities. The Fund will invest collateral in short-term investments, and will bear the risk of loss of the invested collateral. In addition, the Fund will be exposed to the risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities. The Fund’s share of income from the loan collateral will be included in its gross investment income.

 

Securities lending would involve risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or risk of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed by the Adviser to be of good standing and only when, in the Adviser’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. Any loans of the Fund’s securities will be marked to market daily. The Fund does not have the right to vote loaned securities. The Fund may attempt to call loaned securities back to permit the exercise of voting rights, if time and jurisdictional restrictions permit. There is no guarantee that all loans can be recalled.

 

Options on Futures. The Fund may purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts with respect to those securities listed on the S&P 500 ®  Index and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. 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. The Fund may use options on futures contracts in connection with hedging strategies. The purchase of put options on futures contracts is a means of hedging against the risk of rising interest rates. The purchase of call options on futures contracts is a means of hedging against a market advance when the Fund is not fully invested.

 

The Fund may seek to terminate its position in a put option it writes before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its current price. If the secondary market is not liquid for an option the Fund has written, however, the Fund must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is outstanding, regardless of price changes, and must continue to set aside assets to cover its position. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, as described above, except that writing covered call options generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option premium, the Fund would seek to mitigate the effects of a price decline. At the same time, because the Fund would have to be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater, the Fund would give up some ability to participate in security price increases when writing call options.

 

Because there are a limited number of types of futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized futures contracts available to the Fund will not match the Fund’s current or anticipated investments. Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund’s investments well. Futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation between the Fund’s investments and its futures positions may also result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. The Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund’s futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, its futures positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by the gains in the Fund’s other investments.

 

There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out its financial futures positions at any time, in which case it would be required to maintain the margin deposits on the contract. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 5% of its net assets in options on futures.

 

5



 

Portfolio Turnover. Investment strategies that require periodic changes to portfolio holdings with the expectation of outperforming equity indices are typically referred to as “active” strategies. These strategies contrast with “passive” (“index”) strategies that buy and hold only the stocks in the equity indices. Passive strategies tend to trade infrequently—only as the stocks in the indices change (largely due to changes in the sizes of the companies in the indices, takeovers or bankruptcies). Most equity mutual funds pursue active strategies, which have higher turnover than passive strategies.

 

The generally higher portfolio turnover of active investment strategies can adversely affect taxable investors, especially those in higher marginal tax brackets, in two particularly significant ways. First, short-term capital gains, which often accompany higher turnover investment strategies, are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. Ordinary income tax rates are generally higher than long-term capital gain tax rates. Thus, the tax liability is often higher for investors in active strategies. Second, the more frequent realization of gains caused by higher turnover investment strategies means that taxes will be paid sooner. Such acceleration of the tax liability is financially more costly to investors. Less frequent realization of capital gains allows the payment of taxes to be deferred until later years, allowing more of the gains to compound before taxes are paid. Consequently, after-tax compound rates of return will generally be higher for taxable investors using investment strategies with very low turnover, compared with high turnover strategies. The difference is particularly large when the general market rates of return are higher than average.

 

The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases or sales of securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during the year. Under normal market conditions, it is expected that the Fund’s portfolio turnover will range between 50% to 85%. The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 was 62.01% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price (“repurchase agreements”). The securities held subject to a repurchase agreement may have stated maturities exceeding 13 months, provided the repurchase agreement itself matures in less than 13 months. The financial institutions with whom the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements will be banks which the Adviser considers creditworthy pursuant to criteria approved by the Board of Directors and non-bank dealers of U.S. government securities that are listed on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s list of reporting dealers. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of a seller in determining whether to cause the Fund to enter into a repurchase agreement. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of collateral at not less than the repurchase price plus accrued interest. The Adviser will monitor daily the value of the collateral, and will, if necessary, require the seller to increase the collateral so that its value is not less than the repurchase price. Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose the Fund to the risk of loss because of possible market declines in the value of the collateral or delays in connection with its disposition.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Rolls. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities for temporary purposes (such as to obtain cash to meet redemption requests) when the liquidation of portfolio securities is deemed disadvantageous or inconvenient by the Adviser. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest. Such agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act, and may be entered into only for temporary or emergency purposes. While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian or a qualified sub-custodian, cash or liquid securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities, plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase and the return on the cash exchanged for the securities. The Fund may also enter into “dollar rolls,” in which it sells fixed income securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities. The Fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The return on dollar rolls may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in interest rates. The Fund does not presently intend to engage in reverse repurchase or dollar roll transactions involving more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

Rule 144A Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in securities that are illiquid and may be difficult to value. The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the 1933 Act, but which can be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. Any such security will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Adviser, acting under guidelines approved and monitored by the Board of Directors, that an adequate trading market exists for that security. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.

 

6



 

Temporary Investments. The short-term and medium-term debt securities in which the Fund may invest for temporary defensive purposes consist of: (a) obligations of the United States or foreign governments, their respective agencies or instrumentalities; (b) bank deposits and bank obligations (including certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. or foreign banks denominated in any currency; (c) floating rate securities and other instruments denominated in any currency issued by international development agencies; (d) finance company and corporate commercial paper and other short-term corporate debt obligations of U.S. and foreign corporations; and (e) repurchase agreements with banks and broker-dealers with respect to such securities.

 

U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may purchase U.S. government agency and instrumentality obligations that are debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and federal agencies. Some obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government or by U.S. Treasury guarantees, such as securities of the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the Federal Housing Authority; others, by the ability of the issuer to borrow, provided approval is granted, from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and others, only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation, such as securities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Such guarantees of U.S. government securities held by the Fund do not, however, guarantee the market value of the shares of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government will continue to provide support to its agencies or instrumentalities in the future. U.S. government obligations that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. All U.S. government obligations are subject to interest rate risk.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

The Fund’s net assets may be invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or the agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including, if applicable, options and futures on such obligations. The maturities of U.S. government securities usually range from three months to thirty years. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations include U.S. Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds and the obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Fannie Mae, GNMA, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Maritime Administration, the Asian-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. U.S. government securities may include inflation-indexed fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). The interest rate of TIPS, which is set at auction, remains fixed throughout the term of the security and the principal amount of the security is adjusted for inflation. The inflation-adjusted principal is not paid until maturity.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Company has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations, which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Shares (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of: (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund may not:

 

1.                        Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of its total assets at the time of such borrowing; or mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. The Fund will not purchase securities while its aggregate borrowings (including reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings from banks) are in excess of 5% of its total assets.

 

7



 

Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation;

 

2.                        Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

3.                        Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

4.                        Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures;

 

5.                        Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

6.                        Invest 25% or more of its assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities); or

 

7.                        Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

(For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 1, any collateral arrangements with respect to, if applicable, the writing of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2, neither the foregoing arrangements nor the purchase or sale of futures or related options are deemed to be the issuance of senior securities.)

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for borrowings from a bank.  In the event that such asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowings to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

Except as required by the 1940 Act with respect to the borrowing of money and the limitation on illiquid holdings, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in market values of portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered a violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.

 

Securities held by the Fund generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund shareholders and its service providers. The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund. It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s

 

8



 

portfolio holdings in its applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund. Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship ( e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles ( e.g ., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information, and (ii) financial consultants to assist them in determining the suitability of the Fund as an investment for their clients, in each case in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Company’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders. The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

9



 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

10



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

11



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President
Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present
2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center

Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

12



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 55

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square
Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)       Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.  Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.  

 

(2)       Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.    Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and has served on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management

 

13



 

abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.  The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee.   The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.   The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

14



 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014.

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by
Director within the Family of
Investment Companies

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

J. Richard Carnall

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

$10,001-$50,000

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

$10,001-$50,000

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

Robert Sablowsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

15



 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically.  Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company. Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Fund and the Company in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,052.80

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,043.38

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,273.35

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,127.76

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,491.80

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,038.56

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,202.40

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA
Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,286.60

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

16



 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund. The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities. The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund. A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is included with this SAI. Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-520-3277 and by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Schneider Value Fund

 

Charles Schwab & CO IncInc.
Special Cust A/C for Benefit of Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

 

298,425.566

 

23.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Value Fund

 

BNYM IS Trust CO
Cust SEP IRA FBO
Arnold C. Schneider III
460 E Swedesford Rd # 2000

Wayne, PA 19087

 

174,209.302

 

13.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Value Fund

 

NFS LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of
Mark Shevitz
760 Moore Road,

King of Prussia, PA 19406

 

111,086.475

 

8.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Value Fund

 

TD Ameritrade IncInc. for the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients
PO Box 2226
Omaha, NE 68103-2226

 

98,328.715

 

7.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schneider Value Fund

 

Arnold C. Schneider
Turnbridge Management Partners Inc.
A Partnership
460 E Swedesford Rd # 2000

Wayne, PA 19087

 

95,107.043

 

7.43

 

 

17



 

As of December 1, 2015, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio and class within the Company.  

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Advisory Agreement. The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement dated August 1, 2002 (the “Advisory Agreement”).

 

The Adviser is a Pennsylvania corporation controlled by its majority shareholder, Arnold C. Schneider, III. The Adviser has been managing assets for institutional accounts since 1996. The Adviser currently acts as investment adviser for the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund, also an investment portfolio of the Company As of November 30, 2015, the Adviser managed approximately $566 million in assets. The Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

The Adviser is an active, equity value manager that believes a disciplined fundamental approach can consistently add value in a market that has shown to be extremely efficient with current data, but less so with future events. The Adviser is research intensive and focuses on new ideas, believing that the market is slow to react to change, particularly where out-of-favor stocks are concerned. The Adviser strives to act on them as soon as possible to generate above-average returns.

 

The Adviser has investment discretion for the Fund and will make all decisions affecting assets in the Fund under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors and in accordance with the Fund’s stated policies. The Adviser will select investments for the Fund. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement computed at an annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees to the extent necessary to maintain an annualized expense ratio (excluding certain items below) for the Fund of 0.90%.  In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net total annual fund operating expenses to exceed 0.90%: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. The Adviser may not recoup waived advisory fees or reimbursed expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will continue such waiver thereafter after December 31, 2016.

 

The Fund bears its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser. General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by a portfolio include, but are not limited to the expenses listed in the prospectus and the following (or a portfolio’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by a portfolio and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of a portfolio by the Adviser; (c) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or a portfolio for violation of any law; (d) any extraordinary expenses; (e) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (f) the cost of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers; (g) organizational costs; (h) fees to the Adviser and BNY Mellon; (i) fees and expenses of officers and directors who are not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor; (j) taxes; (k) interest; (l) legal fees; (m) custodian fees; (n) auditing fees; (o) brokerage fees and commissions; (p) certain of the fees and expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund and its shares for distribution under federal and state securities laws; (q) expenses of preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information and distributing annually to existing shareholders that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (r) the expense of reports to shareholders, shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (s) fidelity bond and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums; (t) the expense of using independent pricing services; and (u) other expenses which are not expressly assumed by the Adviser under its advisory agreement with the portfolio.

 

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the Company in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

18



 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement may be reviewed in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015, which may be obtained by calling (888)520-3277 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Advisory Fees
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

(40,742

)

$

202,041

 

$

40,742

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

36,135

 

$

215,644

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

17,709

 

$

222,594

 

$

0

 

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Description of Compensation .

 

Mr. Schneider’s compensation consists of a salary and a bonus. A portion of his bonus may be deferred. Generally, his salary is fixed at the beginning of each year; his bonus and any deferred compensation are discretionary and based on the overall profitability of the firm.

 

Other Accounts . The table below discloses accounts other than the Fund, for which the portfolio manager is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of August 31, 2015:

 

Name of Portfolio Manager or
Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of 
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Arnold C. Schneider III

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

2

 

$

235 M

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

4

 

$

23M

 

0

 

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

3

 

$

462M

 

0

 

0

 

 

Material Conflicts of Interest. The Adviser provides investment management services to multiple clients with investment objectives and strategies that are similar as well as different than those of the Fund. Although each client’s account is individually managed, the Adviser may purchase and/or sell the same securities for numerous accounts. The Adviser aggregates client orders based on circumstances existing at the time the orders are received and consistent with its policy of seeking best price and execution. Aggregated orders may include orders for investment vehicles in which the Adviser or its affiliates have an interest. The inclusion of an account in an aggregate order is based on factors such as consistency with investment objective and guidelines, suitability, investment strategy, timing of order placement, order price, and client cash flow. Certain investment opportunities may be suitable for or consistent with the strategy or investment objective of only one or a limited number of client accounts. In those cases, it is possible that a particular securities acquisition or disposition will be considered for one or a limited number of accounts.

 

The Adviser is under common control with Turnbridge Management Partners (“Turnbridge”), the General Partner to a private investment fund. The Adviser manages the portfolio of the private investment fund. Turnbridge, in accordance with the provisions of the private investment fund, is entitled to receive an incentive allocation each year, based on the performance of the private investment fund.

 

Securities Ownership . The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio manager in the Fund as of August 31, 2015:

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

Arnold C. Schneider III

 

Over $1 Million

 

19



 

Custodian Agreement. The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), with offices at 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10286, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between the Custodian and the Company dated July 18, 2011, as amended and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”). Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund, (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of the Fund, (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund, (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio securities, and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations. The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian. The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee based on each Fund’s average daily gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement. BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon: (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the Shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund. BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any other affiliate of BNY Mellon.  For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 - $50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company. In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

Distribution Agreement. Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, dated October 28, 2014 (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Administration (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under a Distribution Agreement with the Funds, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Funds and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

20



 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreements. BNY Mellon also serves as administrator and fund accounting agent to the Fund pursuant to an Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated August 1, 2002 (the “Administration Agreement”). BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund. In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to, prepare and file various reports with appropriate regulatory agencies. The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of BNY Mellon’s gross negligence. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.125% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, with a minimum monthly fee of $5,833. Prior to October 1, 2015, the minimum monthly fee was $8,333.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a Regulatory Administration Services Agreement with BNY Mellon. Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company. These services include the preparation and coordination of the Fund’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration. BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

The administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees, including waivers and reimbursements, for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Administration, Accounting and
Regulatory Administration
Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

116,585

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

116,384

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

113,744

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund. In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

The Fund has no obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions. The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Fund and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Fund and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts. The research may be used by the Adviser for all of its accounts. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser, as applicable, determines in good faith

 

21



 

that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser, as applicable, to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long-term. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid $20,712 in aggregate commissions to brokers on account of research services.

 

The Adviser typically aggregates orders for the purchase and sale of securities for client portfolios including the registered investment companies it advises. In this process, orders for registered investment companies in which the Adviser or persons associated with the Adviser have an interest may be aggregated with orders for other client portfolios. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders are allocated to the account of each client or fund that bought or sold such securities at the average execution price. If less than the total of the aggregated orders is executed, purchased securities or proceeds will be allocated pro rata among the participating portfolios in proportion to their planned participation in the aggregated orders. Transaction costs for any transaction will be shared pro rata based on each portfolio’s participation in the transaction. The Fund will not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting or selling group relating to such security of which the Adviser or any affiliated person (as defined in the 1940 Act) thereof is a member except pursuant to procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.

 

The brokerage commissions for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended

 

Brokerage Commissions

 

August 31, 2015

 

$

53,753

 

August 31, 2014

 

$

36,017

 

August 31, 2013

 

$

62,166

 

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Funds as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, the Fund held the following securities:

 

Broker Dealer

 

Value

 

JP Morgan Chase & Co., JPM

 

$

1,375,586

 

Citigroup, Inc., C

 

$

1,352,456

 

Barclays PLC ARR

 

$

430,267

 

 

The Fund expects that its annual portfolio turnover rate will range between 50% and 85% under normal market conditions. A high rate (100% or more) of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses and other transaction costs that must be borne directly by the Fund. The Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will vary from year to year.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire. The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash. A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which trading on the NYSE is restricted, or during which (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time: including, without limitation, to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as

 

22



 

provided in the Prospectus from time to time; if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any portfolio from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days (as defined in “Valuation of Shares”) of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Fund elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than Foreside Distributors), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies or net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

 

23



 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of such issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer), and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

A 4% nondeductible excise tax is imposed on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute with respect to each calendar year at least 98% of their ordinary taxable income for the calendar year and 98.2% of their capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses) for the one year period ending October 31 of such calendar year and 100% of any such amounts that were not distributed in the prior year. The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and any capital gain net income prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any year to offset its own capital gains, if any, during the eight years following the year of the loss.  For capital losses realized in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010, the eight-year limitation has been eliminated, so that any capital losses realized by the Fund in the taxable year beginning September 1, 2011 and in subsequent taxable years will be permitted to be carried forward indefinitely.

 

As of August 31, 2015, the Fund had the following capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes subject to the expiration dates set forth in the table below:

 

August 31, 2016

 

August 31, 2017

 

August 31, 2018

 

August 31, 2019

 

Total

 

$

462,569

 

$

75,945,572

 

$

42,948,995

 

$

2,159,421

 

$

121,516,557

 

 

These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations.

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located, or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that have begun investment

 

24



 

operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund. Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders collectively owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of the Fund will vote in the aggregate all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under the Rule, the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example, by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel. The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1800, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

25



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

A- 1



 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 2



 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

A- 3



 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

A- 4



 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

A- 5



 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

A- 6



 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

A- 7



 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

APPENDIX B

 

PROXY POLICY STATEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

 

STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

Schneider Capital Management Corporation (SCM) views the fiduciary act of managing plan assets to include the voting of proxies appurtenant to shares held in the plan. As a rule, SCM strives to ensure that all proxies are received from the custodian in a timely manner and then exercises its right to vote all proxies. In keeping with the ERISA definition of fiduciary responsibility and the Department of Labor directives, all proxy voting decisions are made “solely in the best interest of the client’s plan participants and beneficiaries.”

 

This document represents what the firm believes to be important elements of sound corporate governance and social responsibility. In our opinion, good corporate governance should maintain an appropriate balance between the rights of shareholders (the owners of the corporation) and the needs of management to direct the corporation’s affairs devoid of distracting short-term pressures. As a responsible long term investment manager, SCM acknowledges its responsibility to strive for improved corporate governance and performance discipline. SCM offers this policy as a basis for dialogue with the objective of improving corporate governance and social practices. This statement identifies SCM’s voting guidelines on numerous proxy issues. These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of every issue that may arise. Proxy issues that are not described herein will be considered in light of the relevant facts and circumstances.

 

CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

 

Each proxy issue is reviewed on its own merits, on a case-by-case basis. Every proxy voting decision, whether on Corporate Governance or Social Issues, is made with the exclusive purpose of maximizing the economic value of the client’s investment. SCM gives special consideration to “out of the ordinary” matters and may vote against management on specific issues which are deemed to impair shareholder rights or value. Furthermore, SCM would oppose any proposal which would entrench or protect management interest contrary to the financial interests of the stockholder.

 

PROXY ADMINISTRATION

 

The portfolio manager and compliance officer are primarily responsible for monitoring corporate actions, making voting decisions and ensuring that proxies are submitted timely, consistent with this policy. SCM may form special committees, from time to time, to address unusual proxy voting issues or conflicts.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

All conflicts of interest will be resolved in the interest of the clients. Occasionally, SCM may be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or personal relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of certain votes. In situations where SCM perceives a material conflict of interest, SCM may disclose the conflict to the relevant clients; defer to the voting recommendation of the clients or of an independent third party provider of proxy services; send the proxy directly to the clients for a voting decision; abstain from voting; or take such other action in good faith, in consultation with counsel, to determine the appropriate method to resolve the conflict in the interest of clients, based upon the particular facts and circumstances. With respect to investment company clients, conflicts may arise as to votes involving the investment adviser, the underwriter, their affiliates or affiliates of the investment company. In such cases, SCM will follow the voting guidelines described herein, including the process for handling conflicts. Under normal circumstances, if a conflict is determined not to be material, SCM will vote the proxy in accordance with this policy. The method selected by SCM to vote proxies in the presence of a conflict may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law.

 

B- 1



 

I.                          CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:

 

A.                      BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

 

A company’s board of directors represents the focal point of corporate governance. The board is a group of elected individuals which oversees the operation and direction of the company on behalf of its owners. The principal responsibility of the board is to further the long term success of the corporation while remaining true to its fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders. SCM supports the primary authority of the board; however, at the same time, the firm believes that directors must remain accountable to the shareholders. Consequently, SCM’s guidelines are as follows:

 

1.                        Election of Directors: While SCM normally votes for the board’s nominees, the firm may decline to vote for unopposed candidates when their record indicates that their election to the board would not be in the interest of shareholders. Likewise, SCM may vote for alternative candidates when its analysis indicates that these candidates will better represent shareholder interests.

 

2.                        Independent Directors: In SCM’s opinion, the ideal board should be comprised primarily of independent (non-management) directors who are both willing and qualified to serve in such capacity. In this context, independence means no present or former employment by the company or its management which could interfere with the director’s loyalty to the shareholders.

 

3.                        Cumulative Voting: This voting procedure entitles each stockholder to as many votes as shall equal the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. Such votes may all be cast for a single candidate or for any two or more as the stockholder sees fit. SCM believes this method is an important democratic means of electing directors and allows shareholders to obtain representation on the board by significant vote. Consequently, SCM generally supports the practice of cumulative voting.

 

4.                        Classified Board: A classified board is a staggered board arrangement in which each director is elected for an established term of two, three, or four years, depending on the number of classes established. Only those directors in the class up for election can be approved or rejected by shareholders in any given year. In SCM’s opinion, a classified board serves to entrench management and limit shareholders’ ability to effect favorable change. Consequently, SCM generally opposes classified boards.

 

5.                        Director Liability and Indemnification: A proper director liability policy should balance the need to hold directors accountable for improper actions with the need to attract competent and diligent individuals for board positions. The Corporation should be free to indemnify directors for legal expenses and judgments in connection with their service as directors and eliminate the directors’ liability for ordinary negligence. However, directors should be held liable to the corporation for violations of their fiduciary duty involving gross negligence. Similarly, proposals that indemnify directors who have committed fraud or dereliction of duty would be opposed.

 

6.                        Director Compensation: Normally, the remuneration of Directors is considered a routine item of business. Therefore, it is not usually submitted for a shareholder vote. However, non-employee director compensation has become a shareholder issue recently. Generally, SCM would prefer to see more of the directors’ compensation based upon shareholder returns as measured by stock price appreciation or some other meaningful performance measure. Furthermore, SCM encourages corporations to phase out pension or retirement plans for their non-employee directors. Most non-employee directors have retirement benefits from their primary employer; however, SCM recognizes that a blanket vote to eliminate all such retirement plans could negatively impact a company’s access to potentially valuable directors. Consequently, SCM will not vote in favor of unilaterally eliminating retirement benefits.

 

7.                        General: SCM recognizes the responsibilities of the board to organize its function and conduct its business in an efficient manner. Therefore, barring unusual circumstances, SCM would favor management proposals related to board size and oppose shareholder resolutions calling for the separation of the CEO and Chairman positions, establishing age limits for directors, special interest representation, the formation of shareholder advisory committees, or term limits for directors. SCM is also against restricting the date or location of the annual meeting.

 

B- 2



 

B.                      CAPITALIZATION ISSUES: Capitalization related proposals pertain to the creation, repurchase, or reclassification of securities. SCM may support the authorization of additional stock if management provides a satisfactory explanation of its plans for the stock; however, SCM will oppose large unexplained increases in common stock. SCM will also oppose the issuance of “blank check” preferred or convertible stock which could potentially be used as a takeover deterrent or dilute/jeopardize the clients’ common stock ownership.

 

1.                        Increase Authorized Common Stock: SCM considers a proposal to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock on case-by-case basis. SCM takes into account the size of the requested increase, its stated purpose, and how much authorized but unissued common stock remains. The firm generally supports a stock split or a reasonable replenishment after a stock split. Likewise, SCM may approve an increase to support a shareholder value enhancing acquisition, to provide the necessary flexibility to maintain an optimal capital structure, or to fund stock option and stock purchase plans. Requests to significantly increase the number of authorized shares (those resulting in greater than 10% dilution) without a stated reason or demonstrated need would be opposed. Similarly, SCM would oppose an increase when additional shares are to be used for anti-takeover measures.

 

2.                        Authorize Blank Check Preferred Stock: This proposal would grant authority to the board to create and issue a new class of preferred stock with unspecified terms and conditions. “Blank check” preferred stock could be granted special voting rights and be used to entrench management or deter takeover attempts. SCM generally opposes proposals to vest the board with such power.

 

3.                        Authorize Convertible Stock: SCM would review the rationale on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s current capitalization structure, the stated purpose for the security and the potential dilution effect this security would have on existing common shareholders upon conversion. SCM would oppose any request which is “blank check” in nature, where the company’s rationale is unclear, and where the request appears to blunt possible takeover attempts.

 

C.                      SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AND PROXY VOTING: The proxy vote is the key mechanism by which shareholders render their opinion in corporate governance. In exercising its votes, SCM believes:

 

1.                        Confidential Voting should be adopted by all corporations on all matters brought before the shareholders. Such provisions would protect the importance of the proxy vote and eliminate the appearance of any impropriety.

 

2.                        Multiple Classes of Common Stock with disparate voting rights should not exist. Rather, the board should adhere to the principle of one share-one vote.

 

3.                        Super-majority rules or requirements which interfere with the shareholder’s right to elect directors and ratify corporate actions should be opposed.

 

4.                        Changes in Corporation’s Domicile should only be proposed for valid business reasons, not to obtain protection against unfriendly takeovers.

 

5.                        Change of Control occurs when a third party becomes, or obtains the right to become, the beneficial owner of Company securities having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the company. Change of Control also would occur when the directors prior to a given event cease to constitute a majority of the Board as a result of the event.

 

6.                        Fair Price Provisions and measures to limit the corporation’s ability to buy back shares from a particular shareholder at higher than market prices are generally supported.

 

7.                        Pre-emptive Rights allow shareholders the option to buy part of any new issue prior to its public offering. This provision allows existing shareholders to maintain their original ownership percentage. However, pre-emptive rights often raise the cost of capital by increasing both the time and expense of issuing new shares. Therefore, pre-emptive rights should generally be eliminated, except where SCM’s analysis concludes such rights have value to the shareholders.

 

8.                        “Anti-Takeover” measures should be submitted for shareholder approval. SCM is generally against such measures.

 

B- 3



 

9.                        Bundled Proposals: Occasionally management will attempt to tie a non-routine issue to one that is routine, attempting to pass both items in the form of a bundled proposal. Disparate issues should not be combined and presented for a single vote. Such proposals are generally not well received and must be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

10.                 Special Meetings of the Board of Directors, on such issues as takeovers and changes in the make-up of the Board, by its shareholders is permitted at most companies. Schneider Capital Management is generally against limitations on the calling of Special Meetings.

 

D.                      EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: The board and its compensation committee should set executive compensation levels adequate to attract and retain qualified executives. These managers should be rewarded in direct relationship to the contribution they make in maximizing shareholder value. SCM readily admits it is not qualified to thoroughly evaluate the specific issues of executive compensation for each of its portfolio holdings; however the firm does evaluate the reasonableness of compensation policies, criteria and formulas. Likewise, SCM decides what constitutes adequate disclosure of executive compensation. SCM generally supports sound “pay for performance” plans which ensure equitable treatment of both corporate management and shareholders. Compensation should include both salary and performance components. The salary should have a defined relationship to salaries in an industry peer group. Similarly, performance measures should relate to key industry success measurements and be judged over adequate time periods.

 

1.                        Incentive Plans should be set forth annually in the proxy statement. The criteria used to evaluate the performance of senior executives should be clearly stated. Terms of the awards, such as type, coverage and option price should be specified. Excess discretion will not be approved. SCM generally supports management if the company defines their performance goals. However, SCM opposes incentive plans where no specific goals are defined. Without specific performance goals, there is no assurance that awards will be paid based upon realistic performance criteria. SCM also votes against plans where performance hurdles are, in its opinion, set too low. Total potential dilution from existing and proposed compensation plans should not exceed 10% over the duration of the plan(s). Finally, SCM generally opposes plans which grant reload options (favorable repricing of options) or where options become immediately exercisable following a change of control defined as anything less than 50%.

 

2.                        Stock/Stock Option Plans: SCM generally votes against a plan if the exercise price is unspecified or below 90% of the fair market value on the date of the grant.

 

3.                        Golden Parachutes should always be put to shareholder vote because they often exceed ordinary compensation practices. We are generally against Golden Parachutes.

 

E.                       ROUTINE CORPORATE ISSUES: Proposals in this category, which have been seen repeatedly on an historical basis, are usually non-controversial. Generally, these issues revolve around items that are related to the normal operating procedures of the company. SCM, however, votes against a management proposal to “approve any other business that properly comes before the meeting.” As a fiduciary, SCM opposes any attempt by management to get a blanket approval without full disclosure. Conversely, each of the proposals listed below are generally supported, unless compelling reasons exist to question why it is not in the best interest of shareholders.

 

1.                        Appointment of Auditors

 

2.                        Corporate Name and/or Ticker Change

 

3.                        Approval of Articles of Incorporation

 

4.                        Changes to the Articles of Incorporation

 

5.                        Changes in the Date, Time and/or Location of Annual Meeting

 

6.                        Stock Splits

 

7.                        Acceptance of Director’s Report

 

8.                        Approval of Corporate Dividend

 

B- 4



 

II.                     SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES: Schneider Capital Management acknowledges its duty both as a corporate citizen and as a manager of investment funds to address important social issues. The intention of our firm is not to impose its moral or social views upon clients. Nor should SCM restrict in any way the day-to-day operating procedures of a corporation unless, in so doing, the economic value of the client’s investment is enhanced.

 

DOCUMENTATION OF VOTING DECISIONS

 

Schneider Capital Management maintains accurate records of each corporate proxy received and voted along with documentation of the proxy voting decisions on each issue. The records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

 

REPORTING

 

In order to facilitate a client’s monitoring of proxy decisions made and actions taken by Schneider Capital Management, a report summarizing each corporate issue and corresponding proxy vote is available to clients upon request.

 

B- 5



 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

 

a series of THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

 

TICKER:

CLASS I — DWUGX

CLASS II — DWUHX

INSTITUTIONAL - DWUIX

 

December 31, 2015

 

Investment Adviser:

 

SCOTIA INSTITUTIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT US, LTD. (the “Adviser”)

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Class I Shares, Class II Shares, and Institutional Shares (collectively, the “Shares”) of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund* (the “Fund”). This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (“Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus.

 

The financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 including the notes thereto and the report of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, thereon dated October 24, 2015, included in the Fund’s Annual Report dated August 31, 2015 (“Annual Report”), are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein. Copies of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free 1-888-572-0968.

 


*Scotia, Dynamic and Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund are registered and proprietary trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia, an affiliate of Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (the “Adviser”), used under license by the Adviser.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE COMPANY

S-1

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

S-1

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

S-12

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

S-14

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

S-15

CODE OF ETHICS

S-23

PROXY VOTING

S-23

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

S-24

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

S-24

FUND TRANSACTIONS

S-31

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

S-31

VALUATION OF SHARES

S-33

TAXES

S-33

MISCELLANEOUS

S-35

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

S-36

APPENDIX A —RATINGS

A-2

APPENDIX B — PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

B-1

 



 

THE COMPANY

 

General.  The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-three separate portfolios. The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988. This SAI pertains to the Class I Shares, Class II Shares, and Institutional Shares of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Fund”). Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM” or the “Adviser”), formerly known as GCIC US Ltd, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Before the Fund commenced operations, all of the assets and liabilities of the Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of Scotia Institutional Funds (“Predecessor Fund Trust”), which was formerly known as DundeeWealth Funds, were transferred to the Fund in a tax-free reorganization (the “Reorganization”). The Reorganization occurred on March 21, 2014. The Predecessor Fund commenced operations on March 31, 2009. As a result of the Reorganization, the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund was assumed by the Fund.  Financial and performance information prior to the close of business on March 21, 2014 included herein is that of the Predecessor Fund.

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategy are described in the Prospectus.  The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.  This goal is not fundamental and may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective.  The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

As its principal investment strategy, the Fund invests primarily in securities of U.S. companies as described in the Prospectus.  Consistent with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act the Fund has adopted a “non-fundamental” policy to invest at least 80% of its assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, under normal circumstances in equity securities of U.S. companies chosen according to a growth oriented investment approach.  This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Directors upon 60 days’ notice to Fund shareholders.

 

During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s objective.

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate.  Portfolio turnover rate is defined under Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regulations as the value of the securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year.  Based on this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one year are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate.  Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one year.  The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

S- 1



 

The Fund will only invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices if such investment or activity is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies.  Unless otherwise noted, the following investments are non-principal investments of the Fund.

 

American, European and Global Depositary Receipts.  American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”), as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer.  These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country.  The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions.  ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies.  However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may subject the Fund to investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in securities of U.S. issuers.  Such risks include future adverse political and economic developments, possible imposition of withholding taxes on income, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign deposits, possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source or greater fluctuation in value due to changes in exchange rates.  Foreign issuers of securities often engage in business practices different from those of domestic issuers of similar securities, and there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers.  In addition, foreign issuers are, generally speaking, subject to less government supervision and regulation and different accounting treatment than are those in the United States.

 

Equity Securities.  As part of its principal investment strategy, the Fund invests in equity securities, primarily in the form of common stocks.  Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time.  Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market.  Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·                   Common Stock.   Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

·                   Preferred Stock.   Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

·                   Warrants.   Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss.  Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not

 

S- 2



 

represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

·                   Convertible Securities.   Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue.  If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks.  Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities.  Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion.  The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates.  When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.  However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder.  When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase.  At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks.  Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.  Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

·                   Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers.  To the extent consistent with its principal investment strategy, the Fund may invest in small and medium capitalization issuers.  Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies.  This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.  The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange.  Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

Money Market Securities.  During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments (the types of which are discussed below) that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s objective.  For purposes of these policies, money market securities include (i) short-term U.S. government securities, including custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; (ii) commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (“NRSRO”), such as Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; (iii) short-term bank obligations (certificates of

 

S- 3



 

deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. domestic banks, foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks, and commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and (iv) repurchase agreements involving such securities.  Each of these types of money market securities is discussed in more detail below. For a description of ratings, see Appendix A to this SAI.

 

U.S. Government Securities.  Examples of types of U.S. government obligations in which the Fund may invest include U.S. Treasury obligations and the obligations of U.S. government agencies such as Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks,  Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), Government National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Freddie Mac (formerly Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Maritime Administration, and other similar agencies.  Whether backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury or not, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to fluctuating interest rates.

 

·                   U.S. Treasury Obligations.   U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

·                   Receipts.   Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank.  The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts.  The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register.  Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities.   STRIPS are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons.  Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal.  The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes.  Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically.  Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Agencies.   Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity.  Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities or to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

There is the risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.  Although the issuers of many U.S. Government agency obligations purchased by the Fund, such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal

 

S- 4



 

Home Loan Banks, may be chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and, therefore, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government agency obligations held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury.  It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA.  On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

Commercial Paper.  Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities.  Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.

 

Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks.   The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions.  Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks.  Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks.  These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund.  Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:

 

·                   Bankers’ Acceptances .  Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank.  Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange.  Maturities are generally six months or less.

 

·                   Certificates of Deposit Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity.  They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity.  Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.

 

·                   Time Deposits.   Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds.  Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market.  Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

 

Repurchase Agreements.   The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions.  The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements.  These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser.  The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement).  Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral.  In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will

 

S- 5



 

seek to liquidate such collateral.  However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss.  It is the current policy of the Fund, not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets.  The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies.  Securities of other investment companies, including shares of exchange-traded funds, closed-end investment companies, unit investment trusts, open-end investment companies and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), represent interests in professionally managed portfolios that may invest in any type of instrument.  Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company-level, such as portfolio management fees and operating expenses.  Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their net asset value.  Others are continuously offered at net asset value, but may also be traded in the secondary market. Federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies.  The Fund is prohibited from acquiring the securities of another investment company if, as a result of such acquisition:  (i) the Fund owns more than 3% of the total voting stock of the other company; (ii) securities issued by any one investment company represent more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets; or (iii) securities issued by all investment companies represent more than 10% of the total assets of the Fund, unless it does so in reliance on a statutory exemption under the 1940 Act, rule, or SEC staff interpretations thereunder.

 

REITs.   A REIT is a corporation or trust that pools the capital of many investors to purchase income property and/or mortgage loans.

 

A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income, and with a regulatory requirement that it distribute to its shareholders or unitholders at least 90% of its taxable income for each taxable year.  Generally, REITs can be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs.  Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales.  Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.  Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity and Mortgage REITs.  By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, shareholders of the Fund will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also indirectly, similar expenses of underlying REITs.

 

REITs may be affected by changes in their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants.  Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended.  Furthermore, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills.  Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of properties.  REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations.

 

In addition, the performance of a REIT may be affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), or its failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Futures and Options on Futures.  Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by

 

S- 6



 

another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price.  An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option.  The Fund will reduce the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures contracts that are traded on a national futures exchange regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).  The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or other risk management purposes.  To the extent futures and/or options on futures are employed by the Fund, such use will be in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”).  The Company, on behalf of the Fund, will file a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) in accordance with Rule 4.5 and therefore, the Fund will not be subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA.

 

The Fund will limit investments in futures to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  For this reason, with respect to the Fund, the Adviser is not required to register as a CPO Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO.  First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments).  Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions).  In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets.  In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO with respect to the Fund, the disclosure and operations of the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck.  No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

 

When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may maintain with its custodian bank, a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities (i) equal to the contracts’ full notional value (in the case of contracts that are not required to “cash settle”) or (ii) in amounts (marked-to-market on a daily basis) that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, the rules, and SEC interpretations thereunder.  The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

S- 7



 

The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high or higher than the price of the futures contract.  In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the price of the futures contract, the Fund will maintain cash or liquid securities in a segregated account equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.  The Fund may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.

 

The Fund may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option.  In the alternative, if the long position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, the Fund will maintain cash or liquid securities in a segregated account equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the call and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a call option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the call option.  The Fund may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a put option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the put option.

 

There are significant risks associated with the Fund’s use of futures contracts and related options, including the following: (i) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates, (ii) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures, (iii) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option, (iv) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange, and (v) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures.  In addition, some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

 

Options The Fund may trade and write put and call options on securities and securities indices, as the Adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Fund’s investment objective, and except as restricted by the Fund’s investment limitations.  See “Investment Limitations.”  A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period.  A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period.  The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.”  In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened.  If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

 

S- 8



 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future. The Fund will pay a premium when purchasing put and call options.  If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

 

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option.  This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

When the Fund trades or writes options, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  In the case of a call option, the option is “covered” if the Fund owns the instrument underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that instrument without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, liquid assets in such amount are segregated) upon conversion or exchange of other instruments held by it.  A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same instrument as the option written where the exercise price of the option held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the option written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates liquid assets in the amount of the difference.  The Fund may also cover options on securities by segregating cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any margin on deposit, that is equal to the market value of the securities in the case of a call option. A put option is also covered if the Fund holds a put on the same instrument as the option written where the exercise price of the option held is (i) equal to or higher than the exercise price of the option written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates liquid assets in the amount of the difference.

 

The Fund may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index, or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional consideration which has been segregated by the Fund) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. The Fund may also cover call and put options on a securities index by segregating cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any margin on deposit, that is equal to the market value of the underlying securities in the case of a call option or the exercise price in the case of a put option, or by owning offsetting options as described above.

 

The Fund may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its portfolio and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When the Fund sells an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option.  When a call option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at the strike price which may be in excess of the market value of such securities.

 

S- 9



 

The Fund may purchase and write options, without limitation, on an exchange or over-the-counter.  Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects.  They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer.  OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.

 

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security.  Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Risks associated with options transactions include:  (i) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (ii) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (iii) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (iv) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

 

Illiquid Securities.  Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business (within seven days) at approximately the prices at which they are valued.  Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid securities must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to fair value procedures approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.  Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, the Fund’s illiquid securities are subject to the risk that the security’s fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition.  Difficulty in selling illiquid securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the Fund.  Under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. In determining the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Adviser may consider various factors, including  (i) the frequency and volume of trades and quotations, (ii) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (iii) dealer undertakings to make a market, and (iv) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security).  The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

Restricted Securities.  Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or an exemption from registration.  If consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest in Section 4(2) commercial paper.  Section 4(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment.  Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper.  The Company believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Board of Directors of the Company.  The Company intends to treat such commercial paper as liquid and not subject to the investment limitations applicable to illiquid securities or restricted securities.

 

Borrowing.   The Fund may borrow money from a bank equal to 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes to meet redemptions or to pay dividends.  Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the Fund’s shares and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio.  Although the principal of any borrowing will be fixed, the

 

S- 10



 

Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding.  The Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so in order to make payments with respect to any borrowing.  The Fund may be required to earmark or segregate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet its obligations in connection with such borrowings. In an interest rate arbitrage transaction, the Fund borrows money at one interest rate and lends the proceeds at another, higher interest rate.  These transactions involve a number of risks, including the risks that the borrower will fail or otherwise become insolvent or that there will be a significant change in prevailing interest rates.

 

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”).   The Adviser generally attempts to allocate IPOs on a pro rata basis.  However, due to the typically small size of the IPO allocation available to the Fund and the nature and market capitalization of the companies involved in IPOs, pro rata allocation may not always be possible.  Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, the Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance.  This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs.  By selling shares of an IPO, the Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.  Most IPOs involve a high degree of risk not normally associated with offerings of more seasoned companies.  Companies involved in IPOs generally have limited operating histories, and their prospects for future profitability are uncertain.  These companies often are engaged in new and evolving businesses and are particularly vulnerable to competition and to changes in technology, markets and economic conditions.  They may be dependent on certain key managers and third parties, need more personnel and other resources to manage growth and require significant additional capital.  They may also be dependent on limited product lines and uncertain property rights and need regulatory approvals.  Investors in IPOs can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.  Stock prices of IPOs can also be highly unstable, due to the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available for trading and limited investor information.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events.  Events in the financial sector over the past few years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally.  While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected.  These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments.  It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets.  Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable.  Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.  The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s holdings.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose

 

S- 11



 

operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”), cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk.   The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions.   In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. government securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental policies of the Fund that cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares.  The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.             Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the total assets of the Fund to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that this limitation does not apply to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities.

 

2.             Borrow money in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets, provided that, for purposes of this limitation, investment strategies which either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowings.  Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowings, except where the Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% of its total assets.

 

S- 12



 

3.             Make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its securities.

 

4.             Purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs), commodities, or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

5.             Issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act except as permitted by rule, regulation or order of the SEC.

 

6.             Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except as it may be deemed an underwriter in selling a portfolio security.

 

The foregoing percentages (except with respect to the limitation on borrowing) will apply at the time of the purchase of a security and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs immediately after or as a result of a purchase of such security.  With respect to the restriction under number 2 above, the Fund may borrow money from banks as permitted under the 1940 Act.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations are non-fundamental policies of the Fund and may be changed with respect to the Fund by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.             Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate assets except to secure borrowings permitted by the Fund’s fundamental limitation on borrowing; provided that, such pledging, mortgaging or hypothecation does not exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

2.             Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.

 

3.             Purchase securities on margin or effect short sales, except that the Fund may (i) obtain short-term credits as necessary for the clearance of security transactions; (ii) provide initial and variation margin payments in connection with transactions involving futures contracts and options on such contracts; (iii) make short sales “against the box”; and (iv) make short sales in compliance with the SEC’s position regarding the asset segregation requirements imposed by Section 18 of the 1940 Act.

 

4.             Invest its assets in securities of any investment company, except as permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

5.             Purchase or hold illiquid securities, i.e., securities that cannot be disposed of for their approximate carrying value in seven days or less (which term includes repurchase agreements and time deposits maturing in more than seven days) if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities.  The 15% limitation on investments in illiquid securities applies both at the time of initial purchase and while the Fund holds such securities.

 

6.             Enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts except as permitted by the Prospectus and in this SAI.

 

S- 13



 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts of interests of the Fund shareholders and its service providers. The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund. It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include  The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; BBD, LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; Merrill Corporation, the financial printer; and Glass, Lewis & Company, the Fund’s proxy voting service. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund. Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information, and (ii) financial consultants to assist them in determining the suitability of the Fund as an investment for their clients, in each case in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Company’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders. The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures. Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the

 

S- 14



 

Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Valuation and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

S- 15



 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
by Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust  (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

S- 16



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
by Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 67

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since 1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 53

 

President

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present
2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Independent Trustee of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg

Vigilant Compliance, LLC

Gateway Corporate Center

Suite 216

223 Wilmington West Chester Pike

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

S- 17



 

Name, Address,
and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
by Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director
in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 50

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and  Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Age: 55

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)          Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)          Mr. Sablowsky is an considered “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as an “Interested Director.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.  Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and also serves on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of

 

S- 18



 

senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company.  The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations. The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

S- 19



 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

S- 20



 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014:

 

 

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by
Director within the Family
of Investment Companies

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-10,000

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

$50,001-$100,000

 

Over $100,000

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director, a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee will each receive an additional fee of $10,000 for his services. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each

 

S- 21



 

regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended telephonically.   The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, each Chairman of the Audit Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $7,500 per year for his services, and the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

From January 1, through December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the  Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.  

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company. Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Company in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,150.48

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,133.95

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,376.55

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,218.83

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,606.08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,125.49

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,317.77

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

 

S- 22



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA
Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,528.32

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


* Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”).  Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company.  The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Fund’s Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund. The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund.  The Adviser employs a third party service provider to assist in the voting of proxies.  The Adviser’s procedures have been provided to the service provider, who analyzes the proxies and votes such proxies in the manner outlined in the procedures.  The Adviser’s proxy policies and procedures are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-572-0968 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

S- 23



 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

 

 

Number of Shares

 

Percentage of Shares

 

Fund/Shareholder Name and Address

 

Owned as of December 1, 2015

 

Owned as of December 1, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCOTIA DYNAMIC US GROWTH FUND CLASS I FUND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

 

1,129,069.172

 

37.01

%

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUST

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR

 

 

 

 

 

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

 

650,721.322

 

21.33

%

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

 

 

 

 

 

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

101 MONTGOMERY STREET

 

 

 

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA CUSTODIAN

 

395,683.435

 

12.97

%

FBO MFO 3252822

 

 

 

 

 

PO BOX 843896

 

 

 

 

 

DALLAS, TX 75284-1575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSHING LLC

 

272,984.363

 

8.95

%

P.O. BOX 2052

 

 

 

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07303-9998

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 1, 2015, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each portfolio and class within the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser.   Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM” or the “Adviser”) is an investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.  SIAM serves as the Adviser to the Fund.  SIAM was established in 1995 and offers investment management services to investors located in the United States.  SIAM is a wholly-owned indirect investment subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia, a Canadian-based bank providing retail, commercial, corporate, investment and international banking services.  SIAM is an affiliate of Scotia Institutional Investment US, LP (“SII US”), formerly known as DundeeWealth US, LP.  The Predecessor Fund was advised by SII US, and sub-advised by the Adviser.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Company.  The Company and the Adviser have entered into an Investment

 

S- 24



 

Management Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the Investment Adviser for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the respective investment program of the Fund, subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, the Directors of the Company.  The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund.  The Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved, (and after the initial term, approved at least annually) (i) by the vote of the Directors or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.    The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Directors of the Company or by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, on not less than 60-days’ written notice.  The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Company or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.

 

For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets equal to 0.65%.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its fee and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) for the Institutional Shares, Class I Shares and Class II Shares of the Fund from exceeding the following annual percentage rates of its average daily net assets until December 31, 2016:

 

Average Daily Net Assets

 

Institutional

 

Class I

 

Class II

 

0.74

%

0.84

%

0.99

%

 

If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waiver reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) to exceed 0.74%, 0.84% and 0.99% for the Fund’s Institutional, Class I and Class II Shares, respectively.

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement. The Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser. General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees

 

S- 25



 

of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy material that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value a portfolio’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers. Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2015.  Copies of future shareholder reports, may be obtained by calling 1-888-572-0968 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2013, SII US earned advisory fees shown below from the Predecessor Fund, for the eleven-month fiscal period ended August 31, 2014 SII US and SIAM US earned the advisory fees shown below from the Predecessor Fund and the Fund, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, SIAM US earned advisory fees from the Fund as follows:(1)

 

Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2015

 

Fiscal Period Ended
August 31, 2014

 

Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2013

 

Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

398,591

 

$

396,037

 

$

328,475

 

$

378,900

 

 

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2013, SII US waived fees shown below from the Predecessor Fund, for the eleven-month fiscal period ended August 31, 2014 SII US and SIAM US waived fees and reimbursed expenses from the Predecessor Fund and the Fund, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, SIAM US waived fees expenses from the Fund as follows:(1)

 

Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2015

 

Fiscal Period Ended
August 31, 2014

 

Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2013

 

Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

223,030

 

$

174,307

 

$

96,041

 

$

141,276

 

 


(1)          Prior to December 1, 2012, SII US was entitled to advisory fees at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Predecessor Fund’s average daily net assets and waived and/or reimbursed expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) from exceeding 0.95% and 1.20% of the Predecessor Fund’s Class I Shares and Class II Shares, respectively.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Description of Compensation. The Adviser compensates the portfolio manager for his management of the Fund.  The portfolio manager’s compensation consists of a salary and a discretionary bonus.  The bonus is based on

 

S- 26



 

profitability of the firm and individual performance.  Individual performance is subjective and may be based on a number of factors, such as the individual’s leadership and contribution to the strategic planning and development of the investment team.

 

Other Accounts . The following information is as of August 31, 2015, assets under management reported in U.S. dollars:

 

 

 

Type of Accounts

 

Number of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets
Managed
(in millions)

 

Number of
Accounts
Managed with
Performance-
Based
Advisory Fees

 

Total Assets
Managed with
Performance-
Based
Advisory Fees
(in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noah Blackstein

 

Registered Investment Companies

 

1

 

$

119

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

14

 

$

2,504

 

7

 

$

2,021

 

 

 

Other Accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Material Conflicts of Interest .  As is typical for many money managers, potential conflicts of interest may arise related to portfolio manager’s management of accounts including the Fund relating to:  where not all accounts are able to participate in a desired IPO or another limited opportunity, the use of soft dollars and other brokerage practices, the voting of proxies, employee personal securities trading, the side by side management of accounts with performance based fees and accounts with fixed fees, and a variety of other circumstances.  In all cases, however, the Adviser believes it has written policies and procedures in place reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws and to prevent material conflicts of interest from arising.  The Adviser’s Form ADV, Part 2 also contains a description of some of its policies and procedures in this regard.

 

Securities Ownership .  The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio manager in the Fund as of August 31, 2015.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

Noah Blackstein

 

None

 

S- 27



 

Custodian Agreement.  The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), with offices at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a Custodian Agreement dated July 18, 2011, as amended and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”). Under the Custodian Agreement, BNY: (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of the Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations. BNY is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that BNY remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian. The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee based on each Fund’s average daily gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

BNY was the custodian for the Predecessor Fund.

 

Transfer Agency Agreement .  BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon: (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund. For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 - $50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company. In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Fund’s Customer Identification Program, including verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification. The Fund will pay BNY Mellon $2.25 per customer verification and $0.02 per month per record result maintained.

 

BNY was the Transfer Agent for the Predecessor Fund.

 

Distribution Agreement . Foreside Funds Distributors LLC  (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement dated October 28, 2014 (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Fund.

 

S- 28



 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

The Distributor for the Predecessor Fund was Foreside Fund Services, LLC. The Predecessor Fund adopted a distribution agreement (the “Predecessor Fund’s Distribution Agreement”) under which Foreside Fund Services received no compensation for its distribution services from the Predecessor Fund Trust.  Shares were sold with no sales commission; accordingly, Foreside Fund Services, LLC received no sales commissions.

 

Shareholder Servicing.   The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the “Shareholder Services Plan”).  Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the service providers may be entitled to receive aggregate fees for shareholder services not exceeding (i) ten basis points (0.10%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares and (ii) twenty-five basis points (0.25%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class II Shares in return for providing a broad range of shareholder services, including: (i) maintaining accounts relating to shareholders that invest in Shares; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed by service providers; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in the Company; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders

 

S- 29



 

showing their position in the Company; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or their service providers; and (ix) processing dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders.  Institutional Shares do not charge a shareholder servicing fee.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, shareholder servicing fees were $61,322 for Class I Shares. As of August 31, 2015, no other classes of the Fund were offered.

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement.   BNY Mellon serves as administrator to the Fund pursuant to an administration and accounting services agreement with respect to the Fund (the “Administration Agreement”). BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund. In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepare materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund. The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of:

 

·                            .060% of the Fund’s first $250 million of average daily net assets;

 

·                            .050% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets;

 

·                            .040% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average daily net assets; and

 

·                            .030% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $750 million.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,833 per month, exclusive of Rule 38a-1 base compliance support services fees, costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid BNY Mellon administration, accounting and regulatory administration fees and related out-of-pocket expenses as follows:

 

 

 

Administration, Accounting and
Regulatory Administration
Fees Paid
(after waivers and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

88,189

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

BNY Mellon served as the administrator for the Predecessor Fund. For the eleven-month fiscal period ended August 31, 2014 and the fiscal years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, BNY Mellon received fees in the amount of $67,224 (from the Predecessor Fund and the Fund), $49,369 (from the Predecessor Fund), and $59,943 (from the Predecessor Fund), respectively, for services to the Fund pursuant to the fee schedule in

 

S- 30



 

effect during such fiscal period or year.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund. In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

The Fund does not have any obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions. The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Fund and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Fund and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long term.

 

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2013, the Predecessor Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions shown below, for the eleven-month fiscal period ended August 31, 2014, the Predecessor Fund and the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions shown below, and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year
Ended August 31,
2015

 

For the Fiscal Period
Ended August 31,
2014

 

Predecessor Fund
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2013

 

Predecessor Fund
Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

145,056

 

$

111,010

 

$

156,776

 

$

186,410

 

 

Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser are made independently of each other in the light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as the Fund is concerned, in other cases it is believed to be beneficial to the Fund.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire. The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction

 

S- 31



 

costs in converting these securities into cash. A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account with an authorized dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner’s account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of the beneficial owner’s transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the Authorized Dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the Authorized Dealer.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record;

 

S- 32



 

(6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than Foreside Distributors), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.  As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated

 

S- 33



 

investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active

 

S- 34



 

share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the Fund with each other share that represents an interest in the Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in the Fund. Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of Common Stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each class of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio. Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel .  The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.   BBD, LLP,  1853 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG, LLP served as the Predecessor

 

S- 35



 

Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm commencing for the three fiscal years ended September 30, 2013.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for its fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein.  The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by BBD LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated by reference into this SAI.  Such financial statements have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such report given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.  Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning the Fund at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

S- 36



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

A- 2



 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A- 3



 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

A- 4



 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of

 

A- 5



 

a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A- 6



 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

A- 7



 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

A- 8



 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

A- 9



 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk, market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 10



 

APPENDIX B — PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 



 

SCOTIA INSTITUTIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT US, LTD.

 

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

 

Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM”), in its capacity as an investment advisor, provides investment management and administrative services to investment companies, trusts, estates, individuals, pension plans and corporations (collectively the “Funds”).

 

SIAM is a subsidiary of the Bank of Nova Scotia (“BNS”). BNS is a financial services company which provides a broad range of financial products and services to individuals, institutions and corporations through a number of operating subsidiaries including SIAM.

 

The purpose of this document is to outline the general guidelines used by SIAM for voting proxies received from companies held in Funds managed by SIAM.

 

Subject to compliance with the provisions from time to time of applicable securities and corporate legislation, rules, regulations and policies, SIAM, in its capacity as investment advisor, acting on each Fund’s behalf, has the right and obligation to vote proxies relating to the issuers of each Fund’s portfolio securities. In certain circumstances, SIAM may delegate this function to the Fund’s portfolio advisor or sub-advisor as part of such advisor’s discretionary authority to manage the Fund’s assets. In all cases, SIAM, or the portfolio advisor or the sub-advisor, voting proxies on behalf of a Fund must do so in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its securityholders. The proxy voting guidelines described below form an important part of SIAM fiduciary duty to maximize the long-term value of each Fund for the benefit of its securityholders.  While the SIAM proxy voting guidelines are stated below, the portfolio managers will take into consideration all relevant facts and circumstances, and retain the right to vote proxies as deemed appropriate.

 

Our fundamental policy is that SIAM will vote with management of an issuer on routine business matters, otherwise a Fund will not own or maintain a position in the security of that issuer. Examples of routine business applicable to an issuer are voting on the size, nomination and election of the board of directors as well as the appointment of auditors. All other matters that are special or non-routine are assessed on a case-by-case basis with a focus on the potential impact of the vote on the value of the particular investment of the Fund.

 

Special or non-routine matters are brought to the attention of the portfolio manager(s) of the applicable Fund, and, after assessment, the portfolio manager(s) will direct that such matters be voted in a way that he or she believes will better protect or enhance the value of the investment for the Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, examples of non-routine business that require assessment on a case-by-case basis before voting the proxies of the issuer are: stock-based compensation plans, executive severance compensation arrangements, shareholders rights plans, corporate restructuring plans, going private transactions in connection with leveraged buyouts, lock-up arrangements,

 

B- 1



 

crown jewel defenses, supermajority approval proposals, stakeholder or shareholder proposals etc.  The portfolio managers have responsibility for exercising all proxy votes and in doing so, for acting in the best interest of the Fund and its securityholders.

 

SIAM fundamental policy to vote proxies on behalf of a Fund in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its securityholders will always guide any proxy voting decision. If SIAM, on behalf of a Fund, votes against management of an issuer on any particular proposal, whether routine or non-routine, and the Fund continues to own the security of such issuer, documentation of that vote is required along with an explanation to be kept on file. In situations where a portfolio manager decides to vote securities held in his or her Fund differently from another portfolio manager(s) who holds the same security on behalf of another Fund, rationale for the differing vote is documented and kept on file. Factors such as an individual Fund’s investment objectives and strategies may lead to different judgments and conclusions by different portfolio managers about the expected impact of proxy proposals.  On occasion, a portfolio manager may abstain from voting a proxy or a specific proxy item when he or she concludes that the potential benefit of voting the proxy of that issuer is outweighed by the cost. Such instances require that a detailed explanation be kept on file. All such documentation will be submitted to the Portfolio Administrator for filing and record keeping.

 

SIAM will not vote proxies received for issuers of securities that are no longer held in a Fund. SIAM, on behalf of a Fund, will not vote any of the securities a Fund holds in any of its affiliates or associates. However, SIAM, in its sole discretion, may arrange for securityholders of a Fund to vote their share of those securities.

 

Where SIAM provides sub advisory investment management services to a registered investment company, SIAM will work with the fund’s manager to identify the proxy reports the Fund’s board requires, as well as the frequency of those reports.  SIAM will also work with the fund manager to assist in facilitating all required regulatory reporting surrounding proxy voting.

 

As noted above, SIAM is a subsidiary of BNS.  Some of the Funds may hold common shares of BNS or other related entities. There is the potential for a conflict of interest between the interests of the Funds and the interests of SIAM or its employees in connection with the exercise of voting rights of the Funds attached to the BNS shares. There is also the potential for a conflict of interest in connection with the exercise of the Funds’ voting rights attached to the shares of another issuer, where the outcome of the vote may directly impact the price of BNS shares.  To the extent that a portfolio manager has any conflict of interest with respect to a company or a matter presented in a proxy proposal, that portfolio manager is required to report to the Legal and Compliance department any such conflicts of interest.  In addition, any new conflict of interest situations must also be referred to the Legal & Compliance department.

 

In order to balance the interests of the Funds in exercising proxies with the desire to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest, SIAM has instituted procedures to help

 

B- 2



 

ensure that a Fund’s proxy is voted:

 

·                   in accordance with the business judgment of the portfolio manager, uninfluenced by considerations other than the best interests of the Fund; and

 

·                   free from any influence by BNS and without taking into account any consideration relevant to BNS or any of its associates or affiliates.

 

SIAM will maintain records relating to a Fund’s proxy voting activity.  These will include a record of all proxies received; a record of votes cast; a copy of the reasons for voting against management; a copy of reasons for a portfolio manager voting differently from another portfolio manager; and a copy of any documents prepared by SIAM that were material to making a decision on how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for a decision.

 

It is the responsibility of the Director, Head Compliance and Investment Counsel to amend this document when necessary to reflect changes at SIAM and changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements.  At a minimum, the document will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine any necessary amendments.

 

Inquiries should be directed to the Legal and Compliance Department, 29 th  Floor, 1 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2V9.

 

B- 3



 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

 

a series of THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

Class A Shares Ticker Symbol: LVOLX

Retail Shares Ticker Symbol: SGLVX

Class I Shares Ticker Symbol: SILVX

Class C Shares Ticker Symbol: SGICX

 

December 31, 2015

Investment Adviser:

 

SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides supplementary information pertaining to shares of four classes, Class A Shares, Retail Shares, Class I Shares and Class C Shares (collectively, the “Shares”), representing interests in the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus dated December 31, 2015 (the “Prospectus”) and the Fund’s Annual Report dated August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”).  The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.  Copies of the Prospectus and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free 855-744-8500.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

1

 

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

1

 

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

2

 

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

13

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

14

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

15

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

21

 

 

PROXY VOTING

21

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

22

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

22

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

22

 

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

24

 

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

25

 

 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

26

 

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

26

 

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

26

 

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

28

 

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

28

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

31

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

33

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

33

 

 

TAXES

33

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

35

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

35

 

 

APPENDIX A - DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING

B-1

 



 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating 23 separate portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund, a diversified portfolio. Summit Global Investments, LLC (“Summit” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.

 

The Fund seeks to outperform the S&P 500 Index over a market cycle while reducing overall volatility.  There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.  The Fund may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI, or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate.  Portfolio turnover rate is defined under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules as the greater of the value of the securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year.  Based on this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one year are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate.  The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.  During the 2015 fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was significantly lower than it was during the 2014 fiscal year.  The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was significantly lower because the Adviser felt the overall risk in the market compared to the risk in the Fund maintained risk levels that the Adviser felt met the parameters of the Fund’s mandate.  Additional trading during this period would not have met the Adviser’s criteria and would only have created unnecessary costs and portfolio turnover.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

Equity Securities.   Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock.  Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

·                   Common Stock.   Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

·                   Preferred Stock.   Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends.  In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

·                   Warrants.   Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security.  The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.  These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

1



 

·                   Convertible Securities.   Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio.  A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue.  If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion.  The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities.  However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder.  When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase.  At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise.  Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

·                   Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers.  Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies.  This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.  The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange.  Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events.  Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected.  These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments.  It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund.

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS

 

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities.  Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.

 

2



 

Corporate Obligations. The Fund may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations without limit on credit quality or maturity.  See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings. An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal. Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

 

Forward Commitment and When-Issued Transactions. The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis (subject to its investment policies and restrictions). These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months later).  The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges. The Fund will not enter into such transactions for the purpose of leverage.

 

When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable the Fund to lock in what is believed by the Adviser to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. When-issued securities or forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of the Fund’s Net Asset Value (“NAV”) starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the Fund is subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the securities on that date. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. When the Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the Fund’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but the Fund may agree to a longer settlement period.

 

The Fund will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. The Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. The Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions, and its distributions from any net realized capital gains will be taxable to shareholders. When the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund or the custodian will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the Fund’s purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that the Fund will maintain sufficient assets at all times

 

3



 

to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.

 

Futures and Options on Futures.  Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. The Fund will reduce the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures contracts that are traded on a national futures exchange regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).  The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for: bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; attempting to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or other risk management purposes. To the extent futures and/or options on futures are employed by the Fund, the Fund will limit such investments in commodity futures, commodity options contracts and swaps to below the de minimis thresholds adopted by the CFTC in its recent amendments to Rule 4.5 (see below for a description of these thresholds).  For this reason, the Adviser is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act at this time.

 

With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s positions in such investments may not exceed five percent (5%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, may not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO with respect to the Fund, the disclosure and operations of the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations.

 

An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

 

When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks.  To cover its position, the Fund may segregate (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. The segregated account functions as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding portfolio securities.  Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high or higher than the price of the futures contract.  In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the price of the futures contract, the Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.  The Fund may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.

 

The Fund may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option.  In the alternative, if the long position in the

 

4



 

underlying futures contract is established at a price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the call and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a call option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the call option.  The Fund may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract.  The Fund may also cover its sale of a put option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the put option.

 

There are significant risks associated with the Fund’s use of futures contracts and related options, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

 

Illiquid Securities.  Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business (within seven days) at approximately the prices at which they are valued.  Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid securities must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.  Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, the Fund’s illiquid securities are subject to the risk that the security’s fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid securities may result in a loss or may be costly to the Fund.  Under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. In determining the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Adviser may consider various factors, including: (1) the frequency and volume of trades and quotations; (2) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market; and (4) the nature of the security and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security). The Fund will not hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities.  The Fund may invest in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, known as “TIPs” or “Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities,” which are debt securities whose principal and interest payments are adjusted for inflation and interest is paid on the adjusted amount. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the consumer price index. A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest payments increase. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of the investment. Inflation-protected securities normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and inflation is 2%, the real interest rate is 3%.) If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected security will decline and could result in losses for the Fund.

 

Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by Internal Revenue Service regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, the Fund holding these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.

 

Initial Public Offerings. To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, the Fund may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”). An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public. Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the

 

5



 

absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. When the Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the underlying investment company. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Fund cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

 

Investment Company Shares.   The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses. Unless an exception is available, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined.  These limits will not apply to the investment of uninvested cash balances in shares of registered or unregistered money market funds whether affiliated or unaffiliated.  The foregoing exemption, however, only applies to an unregistered money market fund that (i) limits its investments to those in which a money market fund may invest under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act, and (ii) undertakes to comply with all the other provisions of Rule 2a-7.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), are traded on a securities exchange. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Investments by the Fund in other investment companies, including ETFs, will be subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act except as permitted by SEC orders.  The Fund may rely on SEC orders that permit them to invest in certain ETFs beyond the limits contained in the 1940 Act, subject to certain terms and conditions.  Generally, these terms and conditions require the Company’s Board of Directors to approve policies and procedures relating to certain of the Fund’s investments in ETFs.  These policies and procedures require, among other things, that (i) the Adviser conducts the Fund’s investment in ETFs without regard to any consideration received by the Fund or any of its affiliated persons and (ii) the Adviser certifies to the Company’s Board of Directors quarterly that it has not received any consideration in connection with an investment by the Fund in an ETF, or if it has, the amount and purpose of the consideration will be reported to the Company’s Board of Directors and an equivalent amount of advisory fees shall be waived by the Adviser.

 

Certain investment companies whose securities are purchased by the Fund may not be obligated to redeem such securities in an amount exceeding 1% of the investment company’s total outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days.  Therefore, such securities that exceed this amount may be illiquid.

 

If required by the 1940 Act, the Fund expects to vote the shares of other investment companies that are held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such securities.

 

Large Shareholder Purchase and Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund.  Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell its securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity.  Similarly, large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would.  In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.  However, this risk may be limited to the extent that the Adviser and the Fund have entered into a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement.

 

6



 

Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks.   The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks.  Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks.  These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks.  Bank obligations include the following:

 

·                   Bankers’ Acceptances .  Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank.  Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange.  Maturities are generally six months or less.

 

·                   Certificates of Deposit Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity.  They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity.  Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.

 

·                   Time Deposits.   Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds.  Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market.  Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

 

Options.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on securities and securities indices and enter into related closing transactions. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period.  The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

Put and call options on securities indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

All options written on indices or securities must be covered. When the Fund writes an option on a security or an index, it will establish a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the option and will maintain the account while the option is open or will otherwise cover the transaction.

 

The Fund may trade put and call options on securities and securities indices, as the Adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Fund’s investment objective, and except as restricted by the Fund’s investment limitations.  See “Investment Limitations.”

 

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities

 

7



 

in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future. The Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium therefor. If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

 

The Fund may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When the Fund writes an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which the Fund is the writer is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

 

The Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.

 

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

 

Repurchase Agreements.  The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which the Fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day).  Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully.  The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It is the current policy of the Fund, not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by that Fund, amounts to more than 15% of the Fund’s total assets. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

Restricted Securities.  The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (“1933 Act”) but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act

 

8



 

(“Restricted Securities”). These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in an underlying investment company during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.  In reaching liquidity decisions, the Adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

As consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may also invest in Section 4(2) commercial paper. Section 4(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper. The Company believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company intends to treat such commercial paper as liquid and not subject to the investment limitations applicable to illiquid securities or restricted securities.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities for temporary purposes (such as to obtain cash to meet redemption requests) when the liquidation of portfolio securities is deemed disadvantageous or inconvenient by the Adviser. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest. Such agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act and may be entered into only for temporary or emergency purposes. While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian or a qualified sub-custodian, cash or liquid securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities, plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase and the interest received on the cash exchanged for the securities.

 

Rights Offerings and Purchase Warrants.  Rights offerings and purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the right’s or warrant’s expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

Risk Considerations of Medium Grade Securities.  Debt obligations in the lowest investment grade ( i.e. , BBB or Baa), referred to as “medium grade” obligations, have speculative characteristics, and changes in economic conditions and other factors are more likely to lead to weakened capacity to make interest payments and repay principal on these obligations than is the case for higher rated securities. In the event that a security purchased by the Fund is subsequently downgraded below investment grade, the Adviser will consider such event in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the security.

 

Risk Considerations of Lower Rated Securities. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities that are not investment grade but are rated as low as B by Moody’s or B by S&P ®  (or their equivalents or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). In the case of a security that is rated differently by two or more rating services, the higher rating is used in connection with the foregoing limitation. In the event that the rating on a security held in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating service, such action will be considered by the Adviser in its evaluation of the

 

9



 

overall investment merits of that security, but will not necessarily result in the sale of the security. The widespread expansion of government, consumer and corporate debt within the U.S. economy has made the corporate sector, especially cyclically sensitive industries, more vulnerable to economic downturns or increased interest rates. An economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for high yield fixed income securities and adversely affect the value of outstanding fixed income securities and the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest.

 

The Fund may invest in high yield debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations. The Fund will invest in high yield debt instruments when the Fund believes that such instruments offer a better risk/reward profile than comparable equity opportunities. High yield fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are considered speculative investments while generally providing greater income than investments in higher rated securities, involve greater risk of loss of principal and income (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities) and may involve greater volatility of price (especially during periods of economic uncertainty or change) than securities in the higher rating categories. Since yields vary over time, no specific level of income can ever be assured.

 

The prices of high yield fixed income securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. Also, during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress, which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed income security owned by the Fund defaulted, the Fund could incur additional expenses in attempting to obtain a recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices of high yield fixed income securities and the Fund’s NAV to the extent it holds such securities.

 

High yield fixed income securities also present risks based on payment expectations. For example, high yield fixed income securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund may, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities, have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which may result in a decreased return for investors. Conversely, a high yield fixed income security’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s assets, to the extent it holds such fixed income securities.  In addition, to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of high yield fixed income securities, and this may have an impact on the Adviser’s ability to accurately value such securities and the Fund’s assets and on the Fund’s ability to dispose of such securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield fixed income securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

 

New laws proposed or adopted from time to time may have an impact on the market for high yield securities.

 

Finally, there are risks involved in applying credit or dividend ratings as a method for evaluating high yield securities. For example, ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest or dividend payments, not market value risk of high yield securities. Also, since rating agencies may fail to timely change the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events, the Fund will continuously monitor the issuers of high yield securities in its portfolio, if any, to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flow and profits to meet required principal and interest payments, and to assure the security’s liquidity so the Fund can meet redemption requests.

 

Securities Lending.  The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to financial institutions. Such loans would involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreases below the value of the securities loaned or of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers which the Adviser deems to be of good standing and only when, in the Adviser’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. The Fund may not make loans in excess of 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets. The Fund does not have the right to vote loaned securities. The Fund may attempt to call loaned securities back to permit the exercise of voting rights if time and jurisdictional restrictions permit. There is no guarantee that all loans can be recalled.

 

Special Situation Companies. The Fund may invest in “Special Situations.” The term “Special Situation” shall be deemed to refer to a security of a company in which an unusual and possibly non-repetitive development is taking place

 

10



 

which, in the opinion of the Adviser, may cause the security to attain a higher market value independently, to a degree, of the trend in the securities market in general. The particular development (actual or prospective), which may qualify a security as a Special Situation, may be one of many different types.

 

Such developments may include, among others, a technological improvement or important discovery or acquisition which, if the expectation for it materialized, would effect a substantial change in the company’s business; a reorganization; a recapitalization or other development involving a security exchange or conversion; a merger, liquidation or distribution of cash, securities or other assets; a breakup or workout of a holding company; litigation which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock; a new or changed management; or material changes in management policies. A Special Situation may often involve a comparatively small company, which is not well known, and which has not been closely watched by investors generally, but it may also involve a large company. The fact, if it exists, that an increase in the company’s earnings, dividends or business is expected, or that a given security is considered to be undervalued, would not in itself be sufficient to qualify as a Special Situation. The Fund may invest in securities (even if not Special Situations) which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are appropriate investments for the Fund, including securities which the Adviser believes are undervalued by the market.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions.   In anticipation of or in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in cash, cash equivalents and all types of money market and short-term debt securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

 

U.S. Government Securities.   The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years.  Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity.

 

The extreme and unprecedented volatility and disruption that impacted the capital and credit markets during late 2008 and into 2009 have led to increased market concerns about Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s ability to withstand future credit losses associated with securities held in their investment portfolios, and on which they provide guarantees, without the direct support of the federal government.  On September 6, 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”).  Under the plan of conservatorship, the FHFA has assumed control of, and generally has the power to direct, the operations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and is empowered to exercise all powers collectively held by their respective shareholders, directors and officers, including the power to (1) take over the assets of and operate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with all the powers of the shareholders, the directors, and the officers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and conduct all business of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (2) collect all obligations and money due to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (3) perform all functions of Freddie Mac and

 

11



 

Fannie Mae which are consistent with the conservator’s appointment; (4) preserve and conserve the assets and property of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; and (5) contract for assistance in fulfilling any function, activity, action or duty of the conservator.  In addition, in connection with the actions taken by the FHFA, the U.S. Treasury Department (the “Treasury”) has entered into certain preferred stock purchase agreements with each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which establish the Treasury as the holder of a new class of senior preferred stock in each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which stock was issued in connection with financial contributions from the Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The conditions attached to the financial contribution made by the Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and the issuance of this senior preferred stock place significant restrictions on the activities of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae must obtain the consent of the Treasury to, among other things, (i) make any payment to purchase or redeem its capital stock or pay any dividend other than in respect of the senior preferred stock, (ii) issue capital stock of any kind, (iii) terminate the conservatorship of the FHFA except in connection with a receivership, or (iv) increase its debt beyond certain specified levels.  In addition, significant restrictions are placed on the maximum size of each of Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s respective portfolios of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities portfolios, and the purchase agreements entered into by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae provide that the maximum size of their portfolios of these assets must decrease by a specified percentage each year.  The future status and role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could be impacted by (among other things) the actions taken and restrictions placed on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s operations and activities as a result of the senior preferred stock investment made by the Treasury, market responses to developments at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership, structure and/or mission of these institutions, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on any mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

·                   U.S. Treasury Obligations.   U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

·                   Receipts.   Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank.  The custodian bank holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts.  The custodian bank arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury.  Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities.   STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons.  Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal.  The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes.  Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically.  Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·                   U.S. Government Agencies.   Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

12



 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a) (42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.                         Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements provided that there is at least 300% asset coverage for the borrowings of the Fund. The Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing. However, the amount shall not be in excess of lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing, provided that: (a) short sales and related borrowings of securities are not subject to this restriction; and (b) for the purposes of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to options, short sales, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin and collateral arrangements with respect to derivatives instruments are not deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets. Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation;

 

2.                         Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities;

 

3.                         Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest: (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts;

 

4.                         Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may purchase and sell options, futures contracts and related options on such futures contracts;

 

5.                         Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

6.                         Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to (i) instruments issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia or any of their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, and (ii) repurchase agreements secured by the instruments described in clause (i); (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; or

 

7.                         Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

13



 

In addition to the fundamental investment limitations specified above, the Fund is subject to the following non-fundamental limitations, which may be changed without shareholder approval, in compliance with applicable law and regulatory policy. The Fund may not:

 

1.                             Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, but investments by the Fund in wholly-owned investment entities created under the laws of certain countries will not be deemed the making of investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

 

2.                             Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may use margin to the extent necessary to engage in short sales and may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Securities held by the Fund generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, a policy relating to the selective disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by the Adviser, director, officer, or third party service provider, in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions).  Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

14



 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information.  Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 15 - day time lag.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Fund.

 

The Board provides ongoing oversight of the Company’s policies and procedures and compliance with such policies and procedures.  As part of this oversight function, the Board receives from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as necessary, reports on compliance with these policies and procedures.  In addition, the Board receives an annual assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the policies and procedures with respect to the Fund, and any changes thereto, and an annual review of the operation of the policies and procedures.  Any violation of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violation must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s CCO, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter.  The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established seven standing committees — Audit, Contract, Executive, Nominating and Governance, Product Development, Regulatory Oversight and Valuation Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

15



 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company as of January 1, 2016, their ages, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 82

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

From 1969 to 2011, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications).

 

23

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Since 1984, Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.); since 2004, Director of Cornerstone Bank.

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 49

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from 2003-2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

23

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 72

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 1997, Consultant, financial services organizations.

 

23

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 67

 

Chairman
Director

 

2005 to present
1991 to present

 

Since 2006, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC (online beauty and health appointment booking service).

 

23

 

EIP Investment Trust (Registered Investment Company).

 

16



 

Name, Address, and
Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Company

 

Term of Office
and
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director in the
Past 5 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 74

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; since1980, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group (law firm).

 

23

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 77

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

23

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance
, LLC
Gateway Corporate Center, Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 53

 

President

Chief Compliance Officer

 

2009 to present

2004 to present

 

Since 2004, President, Vigilant Compliance , LLC (investment management services company); since 2005, Director of EIP Investment Trust (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Amweg
Vigilant Compliance, LLC Gateway Corporate enter, Suite 216
223 Wilmington West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Age: 62

 

Treasurer

 

Since 2016

 

Since 2013, Compliance Director, Vigilant Compliance, LLC (investment management services company); since 2012, Consultant to the financial services industry; from 2007 to 2012, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Investments, LP (registered investment company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Morse
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 51

 

Secretary

 

2015 to present

 

Since 2014, Vice President and Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); from 2013 to 2014, Counsel, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (asset management); from 2009 to 2013, Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Age: 55

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square,
Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Age: 56

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

17



 


* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)          Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky.  Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)          Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and is referred to as an “Interested Director.”  He is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.  Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and also serves on the board of another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive-level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive-level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.   The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Giordano.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Contract Committee. The Board has a Contract Committee comprised of the Interested Director and two Independent Directors. The current members of the Contract Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Chandler and Sablowsky. The Contract Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuation of agreements and plans of the Company. The Contract Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Executive Committee.   The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chandler, Giordano, Reichman and Sablowsky.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.   The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board all persons to be

 

18



 

nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Valuation Committee.   The Board has a Valuation Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three officers of the Company.  The members of the Valuation Committee are Messrs. Faia, Sablowsky and Shaw and Joel Weiss.  Mr. Amweg will become a Valuation Committee member effective January 1, 2016, replacing Mr. Weiss, the Company’s previous Treasurer. The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing fair value determinations.  The Valuation Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee .  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of the Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky and Straniere.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of the Interested Director and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman and Sablowsky. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products. The Product Development Committee convened twice during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.

 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

19



 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios of the Company (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2014:

 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by Director within the
Family of Investment Companies

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$50,001-$100,000

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

None

 

None

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

None

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTOR

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

$1-10,000

 

Over $100,000

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company will pay each Director a retainer at the rate of $85,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee each receives an additional fee of $10,000 for his services.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Chairman of the Contract Committee each receives an additional fee of $6,000 per year for his services. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional $25,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $50,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board, and $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board attended in-person or telephonically. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Regulatory Oversight Committee each received an additional fee of $7,500 for his services.  The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.  The Chairman of the Board received an additional $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Company paid each Director, except Jay Nusblatt (who was not compensated by the Company for his service on the Board), a retainer at the rate of $35,000 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board and Committee meeting attended telephonically. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of each of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services.

 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or any committee thereof.  Employees of Vigilant Compliance, LLC serve as President, Chief Compliance Officer and, effective January 1, 2016, Treasurer of the Company.  Vigilant Compliance, LLC is compensated for the services provided to the Company, and such compensation is determined by the Board.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, each of the following members of the Board and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Fund and the Company in the following amounts:

 

20



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Fund

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

1,170

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,600

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

1,154

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

64,750

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director

 

$

1,399

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

75,375

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

1,238

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

66,750

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

1,631

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

85,250

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

1,145

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

62,750

 

Interested Director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

1,344

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

79,675

 

Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA
Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

12,591

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

384,496

 

 


*Mr. Nusblatt resigned from the Board effective November 30, 2015.

 

Each compensated Director is entitled to participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan (the “DC Plan”). Under the DC Plan, a compensated Director may elect to defer all or a portion of his compensation and have the deferred compensation treated as if it had been invested by the Company in shares of one or more of the portfolios of the Company. The amount paid to the Directors under the DC Plan will be determined based upon the performance of such investments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Fund’s Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund.  The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

21



 

The Adviser will vote proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Company is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX.  The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30th is available upon request by calling 855-744-8500 or by writing to the Fund at: Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., PO Box 9841, Providence, Rhode Island 02940. The Fund’s Form N-PX is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 1, 2015, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of the Fund as indicated below. See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below. Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class. Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

Class, Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number of shares
owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
December 1, 2015

 

CLASS A:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1905

 

38,242.325

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASS I:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4122

 

4,017,984.949

 

73.15

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMER
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FLOOR
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

 

625,206.197

 

11.38

%

 

As of December 1, 2015, Directors and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Company.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Summit Global Investments, LLC (“Summit” or the “Adviser”) is a Limited Liability Company registered with the State of Utah in October 2010.  The Adviser is 100% privately-owned and is controlled by David Harden.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Company.  The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment

 

22



 

Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated as of February 28, 2012.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of the securities and other investments to be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales of securities and other investments made for the Fund.  The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and reimburse expenses through December 31, 2016, to the extent that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed 1.23%, 1.23%, 0.98% and 1.98% for Class A Shares, Retail Shares, Class I Shares and Class C Shares, respectively.

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  The Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Board in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy material that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value a portfolio’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

23



 

 

 

Advisory Fees Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

333,220

 

$

147,547

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014

 

$

149,203

 

$

170,961

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013

 

$

(139,028

)

$

91,823

 

$

139,028

 

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 and may be obtained by calling 855-744-8500 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund.  The Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Description of Compensation .  As of the date of this SAI, The Adviser compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund.  The portfolio managers are compensated through equity ownership of the Adviser, adjusted to reflect current market rates, and therefore compensation is in part based on the value of the Fund’s net assets and other client accounts they are managing.  The Adviser’s Board of Managers reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager periodically and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market.

 

Other Accounts.   In addition to the Fund, each portfolio manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below.  The information below is provided as of August 31, 2015.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets
(in millions)

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee Based on
Performance
(in millions)

 

1. David Harden

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

4

 

$

195

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Rick Jaster, CFA

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

8

 

$

93

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Conflict of Interest . The portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with his management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other.  The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund.  Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another.  Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund.  However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.

 

24



 

Securities Ownership . The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each portfolio manager in the Fund or Funds managed by each such portfolio manager as of August 31, 2015.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar Value of Securities Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

David Harden

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

 

Rick Jaster

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 1980, serves as administrator to the Fund pursuant to administration and accounting services agreements with respect to the Fund (the “Administration Agreements”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepare materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to the Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.08% of the Fund’s first $250 million of average net assets; 0.065% of the Fund’s next $250 million of average net assets; 0.055 of the Fund’s next $250 million of average net assets; 0.040% of the Fund’s next $750 million of average net assets; and 0.03% of the Fund’s average net assets in excess of $1.5 billion.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,833 per month, exclusive of Rule 38a-1 base compliance support services fees, costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

The administration fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

 

 

Administration,
Accounting and
Regulatory
Administration Fees
Paid
(after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

For the fiscal year August 31, 2015

 

$

91,147

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal year August 31, 2014

 

$

91,015

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal year August 31, 2013

 

$

87,191

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

25



 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”), One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, is custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement dated July 19, 2011 (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of the Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s portfolio securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Board concerning the Fund’s operations.  The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any affiliate, sub-custodian or domestic sub-custodian.  The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company (formerly, PFPC Trust Company) to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”).  For its services to the Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, based on the Fund’s average gross assets calculated daily and payable monthly, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to the Fund.

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT

 

BNY Mellon, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, also serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Board concerning the operations of the Fund.  BNY Mellon may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any affiliate . For its services to the Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the number of accounts in the Fund, subject to a minimum monthly fee payable monthly on a pro rata basis, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Fund’s Customer Identification Program, including verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Fund will pay BNY Mellon a fee for each customer verification and a monthly fee for each record result maintained.

 

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the underwriter to the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”).  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  The Distributor is not affiliated with the Company, the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Fund.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.

 

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund.  With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Adviser, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements.  These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor.  These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are

 

26



 

responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein.  Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares.  Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary.  The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the financial intermediary.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan is effective.  The Adviser pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Company on behalf of the Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the performance of the Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such duties and obligations, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

 

Plan of Distribution

 

Class I Shares .  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering of the Fund’s shares.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.  The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Company for the distribution of the Funds Class I shares; however, the Adviser pays an annual fee to The Distributor as compensation for underwriting services rendered to the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

 

Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares .  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and the related Plans of Distribution for Class A Shares, Retail shares and Class C Shares (together, the Plans”), which were adopted by the Company in the manner prescribed by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Distributor will act as the agent of the Company in connection with the continuous offering for the sale of the Fund’s Class A Shares, Retail shares and Class C Shares, respectively.  The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis.  The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares.  The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Company.  Payments to the Distributor under the Plans are to compensate it for distribution assistance and expenses assumed and activities intended to result in the sale of Class A Shares, Retail shares and Class C Shares, including advertising, printing and mailing of prospectuses to others than current shareholders, compensation of underwriters, compensation to broker-dealers, compensation to sales personnel, and interest, carrying or other financing changes.  As compensation for its distribution services, the Distributor receives, pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, a distribution fee under the Plans, to be calculated daily and paid monthly by the Class A Shares, Retail shares and Class C Shares of the Fund at the annual rates set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Among other things, the Plans provide that: (1) the Distributor shall be required to submit quarterly reports to the Directors of the Company regarding all amounts expended under the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made, including commissions, advertising, printing, interest, carrying charges and any allocated overhead expenses;

 

27



 

(2) the Plans will continue in effect only so long as they are approved at least annually, and any material amendment thereto is approved, by the Company’s Directors, including a majority of those Directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any agreements related to the Plans, acting in person at a meeting called for said purpose; (3) the aggregate amount to be spent by the Fund on the distribution of the Fund’s Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class C Shares under the respective Plans shall not be materially increased without shareholder approval; and (4) while the Plans remain in effect, the selection and nomination of the Company’s Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company (as defined in the 1940 Act) shall be committed to the discretion of such Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company.

 

Mr. Sablowsky, a Director of the Company, has an indirect interest in the operation of the Plans by virtue of his position with Oppenheimer Co., Inc., a broker-dealer.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates, at their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets.  Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events.  The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates.  A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

28



 

Brokerage Transactions

 

Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts they manage, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account and the fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser and the Board that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions. Nonetheless, the Adviser believes that the ability of the Fund to participate in higher volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the Fund.

 

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Fund paid the following commissions to brokers on account of research services:

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014

 

$

0

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013

 

$

0

 

 

The following chart shows the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015

 

$

12,309

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014

 

$

25,056

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013

 

$

8,483

 

 

The Fund is required to identify any securities of the Company’s regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by the Fund as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2015, there were no securities held by the Fund of its regular broker-dealers.

 

Brokerage Selection

 

The Company does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Fund’s Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

29



 

Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, permits an investment adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause a fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Fund may purchase new issues of securities for clients in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

30



 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

Read the Fund’s Prospectus for information regarding the purchase and redemption of Fund shares, including, in the case of Class A Shares, any applicable sales charges. The following information supplements information in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm, financial institutions and industry professionals (“Service Organizations”) and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).

 

Shares of the Fund are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Board, desirable in order to prevent the Company or the Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

Class A Shares of the Fund may be subject to sales charges as described below.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions . Purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Class A Shares are not subject to an initial sales charge; however, a contingent deferred sales charge is payable on these investments in the event of a share redemption within 18 months following the share purchase, at the rate of 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable, and the amount of the charge, it is assumed that shares purchased with reinvested dividend and capital gain distributions and then other shares held the longest are the first redeemed. The contingent deferred sales charge is waived in the event of (a) the death or disability (as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code) of the shareholder, (b) a lump sum distribution from a benefit plan qualified under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or (c) systematic withdrawals from ERISA plans if the shareholder is at least 59 1/2 years old. The Fund applies the waiver for death or disability to shares held at the time of death or the initial determination of disability of either an individual shareholder or one who owns the shares of a joint tenant with the right of survivorship or as a tenant in common.

 

Reducing or Eliminating the Front-End Sales Charge

 

The Fund’s Class A Shares are offered to the public at NAV plus a front-end sales charge. You can reduce or eliminate the front-end sales charge on Class A Shares of the Fund as follows:

 

31



 

Quantity Discounts . Purchases of at least $50,000 can reduce the sales charges you pay, and purchases of at least $1,000,000 can eliminate the sales charges you pay.

 

Combined Purchase Privilege . The following purchases may be combined for purposes of determining the “amount of purchase”: (a) individual purchases, if made at the same time, by a single purchaser, the purchaser’s spouse and children under the age of 25 purchasing Class A Shares for their own accounts, including shares purchased by a qualified retirement plan(s) exclusively for the benefit of such individual(s) (such as an IRA, individual-type section 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan) or by a Company, as defined in Section 2(a)(8) of the 1940 Act, solely controlled, as defined in the 1940 Act, by such individual(s), or (b) individual purchases by trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing Class A Shares (i) for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, including an employee benefit plan, or (ii) concurrently by two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of employers affiliated with each other in accordance with Section 2(a)(3)(c) of the 1940 Act (excluding in either case an employee benefit plan described in (a) above), provided such trustees or other fiduciaries purchase shares in a single payment. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts may not be combined with purchases made for such other accounts.

 

Cumulative Quantity Discount. You may combine the value of Class A Shares held in the Fund, along with the dollar amount of Class A Shares being purchased, to qualify for a cumulative quantity discount. The value of Class A Shares held is the higher of their cost or current net asset value. For example, if you hold Class A Shares having a value of $225,000 and purchase $25,000 of additional Class A Shares, the sales charge applicable to the additional investment would be 2.50%, the rate applicable to a single purchase of $250,000. In order to receive the cumulative quantity discount, the value of Class A Shares held must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

 

Letter of Intent . You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase at least $50,000 in Class A Shares of the Fund within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. A portion of your Fund shares will be held in escrow. If you complete your purchase commitments as stated in the Letter of Intent, your Fund shares held in escrow will be released to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the appropriate amount of Fund shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

 

Dealer Reallowances

 

As shown in the table below, the Distributor for the shares of the Fund, may provide dealer reallowances up to the full sales charge for purchases of the Fund’s Class A Shares in which a front-end sales charge is applicable.

 

Amount of Purchase

 

Sales Charge as a
% of Offering
Price

 

Commission as a
% of Offering Price

 

Less than $50,000

 

5.25

%

4.75

%

At least $50,000 but less than $100,000

 

4.75

%

4.25

%

At least $100,000 but less than $250,000

 

3.50

%

3.25

%

At least $250,000 but less than $500,000

 

2.50

%

2.25

%

At least $500,000 but less than $750,000

 

2.00

%

1.90

%

At least $750,000 but less than $1,000,000

 

1.50

%

1.45

%

$1,000,000 or greater

 

None

 

*

 

 


No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1,000,000 or more; however, a 1% contingent deferred sales charge is imposed in the event of redemption within 18 months following any such purchase.  The Fund’s distributor may pay a commission at the rate of 1% to certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals, including affiliates of the Adviser, who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1,000,000 or more.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account with an authorized dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner’s account will be performed by the authorized

 

32



 

dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent.  Since the Fund will have no record of the beneficial owner’s transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the authorized dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account.  The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the authorized dealer.

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers, financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Board, the NAV per share of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is generally closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day (observed), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

 

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the NYSE is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV (as the same may be subsequently adjusted), and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing NAV. The Company reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

 

The securities of the Fund are valued under the direction of the Fund’s administrator and under the general supervision of the Board.  Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices.  Subject to the approval of the Board, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the investments being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Board.

 

The procedures used by any pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Company under the general supervision of the Board.

 

The Fund may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  These securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV.  As a result, the value of these investments may change on days when you cannot purchase or sell Fund shares.

 

TAXES

 

General

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly alter the statements included herein, and such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

 

The Fund qualified during its last taxable year and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As such, the Fund generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest,

 

33



 

certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a “regulated investment company” and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which the Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 83.023 billion shares have been classified into 157 classes, however, the Company only has 33 active share classes that

 

34



 

have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Each share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the Fund with each other share that represents an interest in the Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in the Fund.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each class of the Fund will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio or class of shares. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, Suite 700, 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 , serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included in the Annual Report have

 

35



 

been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Such financial statements have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such report given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning the Fund at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

36



 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

“P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

“P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

“NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

A- 1



 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” — Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” — Securities possess good short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” — Securities possess fair short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” — Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality.  This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” — Securities possess high short-term default risk.  Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” — Restricted default.  Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations.  Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” — Default.  Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims.  The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high.  Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high.  Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial.  Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories.  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable.  May be vulnerable to

 

A- 2



 

future events.  A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality.  There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due.  May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” — Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” — Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” — Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

“AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.  The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

A- 3



 

“C” — An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.  For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) — The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings.  An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” — Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note:  Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” — Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality.  “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This

 

A- 4



 

capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” — Securities considered to be of very high credit quality.  “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” — Securities considered to be of high credit quality.  “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” — Securities considered to be of good credit quality.  “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” — Securities considered to be speculative.  “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative.  “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” — A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” — A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” — A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default.  That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued.  Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims.  All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”.  The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.  The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” -  Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high.  Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree.  Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality.   The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.”  May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable.  May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” — Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality.  The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain.  Vulnerable to future events.

 

A- 5



 

“B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality.  There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” — Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. I n danger of defaulting on financial obligations.  There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.  Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur.  DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

·                                           Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

·                                           Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” — A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” — A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” — A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

A- 6



 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned:  a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” — Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations.  Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.  Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are, and must be construed solely as, statements of forward-looking opinions as to the creditworthiness of an issuer, which are based on the quantitative and qualitative analyses done by DBRS in accordance with applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”).  Credit ratings are not statements of fact. DBRS credit ratings exclusively address credit risk and not any other types of risk.  Although there are numerous non-credit risks that can impact the performance of ratings, these are not captured in credit ratings. Non-credit risks include (among others) market risk,

 

A- 7



 

market liquidity risk, covenant risk and non-cumulative risk.

 

The data and information received on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed “under review” with the appropriate Implications designation, confirmed and discontinued.  Certain ratings are also assigned trends that may change over time.

 

DRBS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market.

 

A- 8



 

APPENDIX B

 

Proxy Voting

 

Issue

 

Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act requires every investment adviser to adopt and implement written policies and procedures, reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of its clients.  The procedures must address material conflicts that may arise in connection with proxy voting.  The Rule further requires the adviser to provide a concise summary of the adviser’s proxy voting process and offer to provide copies of the complete proxy voting policy and procedures to clients upon request.  Lastly, the Rule requires that the adviser disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted their proxies.

 

SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC does vote proxies on behalf of its clients.

 

Policy

 

SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC does vote proxies on behalf of its clients.

 

Procedures for SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC’s Receipt of Class Actions

 

The following procedures outline SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC’s receipt of “Class Action” documents from clients and custodians.  It is SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC’s position not to file these “Class Action” documents, but if received will follow these guidelines:

 

1.               If “Class Action” documents are received by SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC from the Client , SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC will gather any requisite information it has and forward to the client, to enable the client to file the “Class Action” at the client’s discretion.  SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC will not file “Class Actions” on behalf of any client.

 

2.               Similarly, if “Class Action” documents are received by SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC from the Custodian , SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC will gather any requisite information it has and forward to the client, to enable the client to file the “Class Action” at the client’s discretion.  SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC will not file “Class Actions” on behalf of any client.

 

B- 1



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

PEA 187

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28 .                           EXHIBITS

 

(a)

 

Articles of Incorporation.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Articles of Incorporation of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 24, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 24, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 12, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 12, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 27, 1990, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 1, 1990, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(7)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 22, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(9)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1993, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(10)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1993, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(11)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

2



 

(12)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(14)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(15)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 31, 1995.

 

 

 

(16)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 16, 1996.

 

 

 

(17)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 11, 1996.

 

 

 

(18)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.

 

 

 

(19)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.

 

 

 

(20)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.

 

 

 

(21)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(22)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(23)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.

 

 

 

(24)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.

 

 

 

(25)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.

 

 

 

(26)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 29, 1999.

 

 

 

(27)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.

 

 

 

(28)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.

 

 

 

(29)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.

 

 

 

(30)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.

 

3



 

(31)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 15, 2001.

 

 

 

(32)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant ( Boston Partners Bond Fund — Institutional Class and Boston Partners Bond Fund — Investor Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.

 

 

 

(33)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund — Institutional Class and Boston Partners Bond Fund — Institutional Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.

 

 

 

(34)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Schneider Value Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 16, 2002.

 

 

 

(35)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Institutional Liquidity Fund for Credit Unions and Liquidity Fund for Credit Union Members ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2003.

 

 

 

(36)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2004.

 

 

 

(37)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund — Investor Class, Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund — Institutional Class, Robeco WPG Tudor Fund — Institutional Class, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund — Institutional Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 4, 2005.

 

 

 

(38)

 

Certificate of Correction of Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 2005.

 

 

 

(39)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund — Investor Class, Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund — Institutional Class, Robeco WPG Tudor Fund — Institutional Class, Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund — Institutional Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 2005.

 

 

 

(40)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Senbanc Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 6, 2005.

 

 

 

(41)

 

Articles of Amendment of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund — Retirement Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 19, 2005.

 

 

 

(42)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund — Investor Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 27, 2005.

 

 

 

(43)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.

 

 

 

(44)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.

 

 

 

(45)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Bear Stearns Ultra Short Income Fund f/k/a Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.

 

 

 

(46)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.

 

4



 

(47)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant (Bear Stearns Ultra Short Income Fund f/k/a Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.

 

 

 

(48)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Bear Stearns Ultra Short Income Fund f/k/a Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.

 

 

 

(49)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed Income Fund) incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.

 

 

 

(50)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund — Investor Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 13, 2007.

 

 

 

(51)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 17, 2007.

 

 

 

(52)

 

Articles of Amendment of Registrant (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund — Institutional Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 4, 2007.

 

 

 

(53)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 17, 2007.

 

 

 

(54)

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant (Bear Stearns Ultra Short Income Fund f/k/a Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 28, 2007.

 

 

 

(55)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( SAM Sustainable Global Active Fund, SAM Sustainable Themes Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 23, 2009.

 

 

 

(56)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 2, 2009.

 

 

 

(57)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( S1 Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 135 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 19, 2010.

 

 

 

(58)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 136 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 4, 2010.

 

 

 

(59)

 

Articles of Amendment of Registrant (Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 28, 2010.

 

 

 

(60)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 14, 2011.

 

 

 

(61)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2011.

 

 

 

(62)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed Income Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

5



 

(63)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(64)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — Institutional Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(65)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International VI Equity Portfolio, Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 20, 2013.

 

 

 

(66)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

(67)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — Institutional Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(68)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund and Altair Smaller Companies Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(69)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(70) 

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed Income Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(71)

 

Articles of Amendment of Registrant ( Boston Partners Investment Funds ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(72)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015

 

 

 

(73)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(74)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(75)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund — Class C ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 184 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2015.

 

 

 

 

(76)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — Institutional Class)  are filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

(b)

 

By-Laws.

 

 

 

(1)

 

By-Laws, as amended, are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(c)

 

Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders.

 

6



 

(1)

 

See Articles VI, VII, VIII, IX and XI of Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation dated February 17, 1988 which are incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 24, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(2)

 

See Articles II, III, VI, XIII, and XIV of Registrant’s By-Laws as amended through August 25, 2004, which are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2004.

 

 

 

(d)

 

Investment Advisory Contracts.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Bogle Investment Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement (Money Market Portfolio ) between Registrant and BlackRock Advisors, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed Income Fund) between Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. (f/k/a Abundance Technologies, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 27, 2008.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Investment Advisory Agreement ( Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund ) between Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. (f/k/a Abundance Technologies, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

 

(7)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(9)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(10)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund) is filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

(11)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Perimeter Capital Management is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(12)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Perimeter Capital Management is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (S1 Fund) between Registrant and Simple Alternatives, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2010.

 

7



 

(14)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (S1 Fund) between Registrant and Simple Alternatives, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(15)

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (S1 Fund) between Simple Alternatives, LLC and Roaring Blue Lion Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(16)

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (S1 Fund) between Simple Alternatives, LLC and Courage Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(17)

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (S1 Fund) between Simple Alternatives, LLC and Starwood Real Estate Securities, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(18)

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (S1 Fund) between Simple Alternatives, LLC and Maerisland Capital, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(19)

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement ( S1 Fund) between Simple Alternatives, LLC and Garelick Capital Partners, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(20)

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement ( S1 Fund) between Simple Alternatives, LLC and Sonica Capital, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(21)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund ) between Registrant and Summit Global Investments, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

 

(22)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund ) between Registrant and Summit Global Investments, LLC is filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

(23)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement between Registrant and BlackRock Advisors, LLC ( Money Market Portfolio ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(24)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement (Robeco Investment Funds) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(25)

 

Addendum No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement ( Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(26)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) between Registrant and Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, LTD. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

 

(27)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) between Registrant and Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. is filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

(28)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund ) between Registrant and Abbey Capital Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(29)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund ) between Registrant and Abbey Capital Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

8



 

(30)

 

Investment Advisory Agreement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund ) between Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited and Abbey Capital Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(31)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Altis Partners (Jersey) Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(32)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Cantab Capital Partners, LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(33)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Eclipse Capital Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(34)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Graham Capital Management, LP is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(35)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and P/E Investments, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(36)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Revolution Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(37)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Trigon Investment Advisors, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(38)

 

Form of Trading Advisory Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) among Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, Abbey Capital Limited and Harmonic Capital Partners LLP is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(39)

 

Addendum No. 2 to Investment Advisory Agreement ( Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(40)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II and Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(41)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( Altair Smaller Companies Fund ) between Registrant and Altair Advisers LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(42)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Altair Smaller Companies Fund ) between Registrant and Altair Advisers LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

9



 

(43)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 29, 2014 ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(44)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 2, 2015 ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(45)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Campbell Core Offshore Limited and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

(46)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is filed herewith.

 

(47)

 

Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) among Registrant, Altair Advisers LLC and Aperio Group, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(48)

 

Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) among Registrant, Altair Advisers LLC and Driehaus Capital Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(49)

 

Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) among Registrant, Altair Advisers LLC and Granite Investment Partners, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(50)

 

Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) among Registrant, Altair Advisers LLC and Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(51)

 

Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) among Registrant, Altair Advisers LLC and Pier Capital, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(52)

 

Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) among Registrant, Altair Advisers LLC and River Road Asset Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

(53)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio) between Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. is filed herewith.

 

(54)

 

Form of Addendum No. 3 to Investment Advisory Agreement ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund ) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 14, 2015.

 

 

 

(55)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund ) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 14, 2015.

 

10



 

(56)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Registrant and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(57)

 

Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Campbell Core Carry Offshore Limited and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(58)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Registrant and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(59)

 

Form of Addendum No. 4 to Investment Advisory Agreement ( Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund ) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015

 

 

 

(60)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund ) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

 

(61)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund ) between Registrant and Abbey Capital Limited is filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

(e)

 

Underwriting Contracts.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC dated as of October 31, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Form of First Amendment to Distribution Agreement entered into as of November 7, 2014 between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund ) between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 14, 2015.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund) between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(f)

 

Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Form of Deferred Compensation Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(g)

 

Custodian Agreements.

 

11



 

(1)

 

Custody Agreement dated July 18, 2011 between Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Foreign Custody Manager Agreement dated July 18, 2011 between Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 2011.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Form of Amended and Restated Schedule II to the Custody Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(h)

 

Other Material Contracts.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement (Sansom Street) between Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation, dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Sansom Street Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Sansom Street Government Obligations Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Shareholder Services Plan (Sansom Street Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement (Bedford Money Market) between Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation, dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement and Supplements (Bradford, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Theta) between Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation dated as of November 5, 1991 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(7)

 

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company and PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) dated February 1, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 6, 1995.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Supplement to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, State Street Bank and Trust Company, Inc. and PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) dated April 10, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 6, 1995.

 

 

 

(9)

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 15, 1994 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 25, 1995.

 

12



 

(10)

 

Transfer Agreement and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 30, 1996.

 

 

 

(11)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund - Institutional Class) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.

 

 

 

(12)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) dated, May 30, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.

 

 

 

(14)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(15)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(16)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) - Institutional Class) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(17)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) - Investor Class) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(18)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Boston Partners Micro Cap Value Fund)) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(19)

 

Administrative and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Institutional and Investor Classes) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.

 

 

 

(20)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Institutional and Investor Classes) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.

 

 

 

(21)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity)) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.

 

 

 

(22)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity)) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.

 

13



 

(23)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.

 

 

 

(24)

 

Non 12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth - Investor Shares) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.

 

 

 

(25)

 

Agreement between E*TRADE Group, Inc., Registrant and Registrant’s principal underwriter is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 1, 1999.

 

 

 

(26)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 1, 1999.

 

 

 

(27)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Supplement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(28)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.

 

 

 

(29)

 

Transfer Agency Supplement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(30)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 16, 2002.

 

 

 

(31)

 

Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(32)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Customer Identification Program) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2003.

 

 

 

(33)

 

Regulatory Administration Services Agreement between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2003.

 

 

 

(34)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund, and Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.

 

 

 

(35)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.

 

 

 

(36)

 

Non-12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Related Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund — Institutional Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.

 

14



 

(37)

 

Delegation Agreement (Money Market Portfolio) among Registrant, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) , BlackRock Institutional Management Corp. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(38)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 24, 2008.

 

 

 

(39)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Free Market International Equity Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 24, 2008.

 

 

 

(40)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Free Market Fixed Income Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 24, 2008.

 

 

 

(41)

 

Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed Income Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PFPC Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 24, 2008.

 

 

 

(42)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Red Flags Amendment) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc . ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2008.

 

 

 

(43)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(44)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 28, 2010.

 

 

 

(45)

 

Amended Schedule A to the Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (f/k/a PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 28, 2010.

 

 

 

(46)

 

Administrative and Accounting Services Agreement (S1 Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (f/k/a PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(47)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (S1 Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc . (f/k/a PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(48)

 

Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (S1 Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. ( f/k/a PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(49)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

15



 

(50)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(51)

 

Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(52)

 

Form of Money Market Fund Services Amendment to Delegation Agreement (Money Market Portfolio) between Registrant, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (f/k/a BlackRock Institutional Management Corp.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No.33-20827 ) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(53)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Robeco Boston Global Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(54)

 

Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Global Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(55)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Global Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(56)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(57)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(58)

 

Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(59)

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(60)

 

Form of Amendment No. 5 to Transfer Agency Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund, Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund and Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

16



 

(61)

 

Form of Money Market Fund Services Amendment to Delegation Agreement (Money Market Portfolio) between Registrant, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (f/k/a BlackRock Institutional Management Corp.) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 28, 2010.

 

 

 

(62)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(63)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Global Long/Short Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(64)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Robeco Boston Global Long/Short Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(65)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Matson Money U.S. Equity Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity Portfolio, Matson Money Fixed Income Portfolio) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(66)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Matson Money U.S. Equity Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity Portfolio, Matson Money Fixed Income Portfolio) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(67)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Matson Money U.S. Equity Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity Portfolio, Matson Money Fixed Income Portfolio) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(68)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 333-193147) filed on January 31, 2014.

 

 

 

(69)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

(70)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

(71)

 

Services Plan for Class I Shares and Form of Servicing Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

(72)

 

Services Plan for Class II Shares and Form of Servicing Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

(73)

 

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of March 14, 2014 ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 21, 2014.

 

17



 

(74)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 167 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(75)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 167 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(76)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Altair Smaller Companies Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(77)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(78)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Altair Smaller Companies Fund and Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(79)

 

Form of Amended and Restated Administration and Accounting, Transfer Agency and Custody Services Fee Deferral Letter ( Altair Smaller Companies Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

 

 

(80)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 14, 2015.

 

 

 

(81)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 14, 2015.

 

 

 

(82)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(83)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(84)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement ( Campbell Core Carry Fund ) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 2, 2015.

 

 

 

(85)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(86)

 

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

18



 

(87)

 

Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015

 

 

 

(88)

 

Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund) between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

(i)

(1)

 

Opinion and Consent of Counsel is filed herewith.

 

(2)

 

Consent of Counsel is filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

(j)

(1)

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Consent of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Consent of BBD LLP is filed herewith.

 

(k)

 

None.

 

 

 

(l)

 

Initial Capital Agreements.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Subscription Agreement, relating to Classes A through N, is incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 12, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Planco Financial Services, Inc., relating to Classes O and P is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1990.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Planco Financial Services, Inc., relating to Class Q is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1990.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Counselors Securities Inc. relating to Classes R, S, and Alpha 1 through Theta 4 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. relating to Classes TT and UU (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company relating to Class YY (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(7)

 

Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. relating to Classes DDD and EEE (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value)) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management relating to Classes III and JJJ (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral)) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.

 

 

 

(9)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L. P. relating to Classes KKK and LLL (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity)) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.

 

19



 

(10)

 

Purchase Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Bogle Investment Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.

 

 

 

(11)

 

Purchase Agreement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(12)

 

Purchase Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Purchase Agreement (Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 6, 2005.

 

 

 

(14)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund) between Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. (f/k/a Abundance Technologies, Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.

 

 

 

(15)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Free Market International Equity Fund) between Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. (f/k/a Abundance Technologies, Inc.) , is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.

 

 

 

(16)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Free Market Fixed Income Fund) between Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. (f/k/a Abundance Technologies, Inc.) , is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.

 

 

 

(17)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement ( Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund ) between Registrant and Perimeter Capital Management is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2009.

 

 

 

(18)

 

Purchase Agreement (S1 Fund) between Registrant and Simple Alternatives, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to the Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2010.

 

 

 

(19)

 

Purchase Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 136 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 4, 2010.

 

 

 

(20)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 t the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 14, 2011.

 

 

 

(21)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 t the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 14, 2011.

 

 

 

(22)

 

Purchase Agreement (Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund) between Registrant and Summit Global Investments, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(23)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund-Investor Class) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(24)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund-Institutional Class) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

20



 

(25)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund-Investor Class) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management Inc. is incorporated hereby by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(26)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ) between Registrant and Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(27)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund) between Registrant and Abbey Capital Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(28)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Altair Smaller Companies Fund) between Registrant and Altair Advisers LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(29)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ) between Registrant and Campbell & Company, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

(30)

 

Purchase Agreement (Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is filed herewith.

 

 

 

(31)

 

Purchase Agreement (Campbell Core Carry Fund) between Registrant and Campbell & Company, Inc. is filed herewith.

 

(32)

 

Form of Purchase Agreement (Boston Partners Alpha Blue Dynamic Equity Fund) between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(m)

 

Rule 12b-1 Plan.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Plan of Distribution (Bedford Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 10, 1998.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Amendment to Plans of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 12, 1998.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long Short Equity) - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.

 

 

 

(7)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Agreement between Registrant, Bear Stearns Securities Corp. and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (f/k/a PFPC Distributors, Inc.) dated as of November 17, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on December 29, 2005.

 

21



 

(9)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund — Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 to the Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 22, 2009.

 

 

 

(10)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1( Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — Investor Class ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 28, 2010.

 

 

 

(11)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (S1 Fund — R Shares) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 1, 2010.

 

 

 

(12)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1( Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund — Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 14, 2011.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund — Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 14, 2011.

 

 

 

(14)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund — Retail Class) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2011.

 

 

 

(15)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund — Class A) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2011.

 

 

 

(16)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund — Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 154 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 11, 2013.

 

 

 

(17)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class A) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(18)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund — Class C) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(19)

 

Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 ( Summit Global U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund —Class C) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 184 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2015.

 

 

 

(n)

 

Rule 18f-3 Plan.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Amended Rule 18f-3 Plan to be filed by amendment.

 

 

 

(p)

 

Code of Ethics.

 

 

 

(1)

 

Code of Ethics of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2006.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Code of Ethics of Robeco Investment Management is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Code of Ethics of Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 2, 2009.

 

22



 

(4)

 

Code of Ethics of Bogle Investment Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 2, 2009.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Code of Ethics of Matson Money, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(6)

 

Code of Ethics of Perimeter Capital Management is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(7)

 

Code of Ethics of Simple Alternatives, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(8)

 

Code of Ethics of Blue Lion Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(9)

 

Code of Ethics of Courage Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(10)

 

Code of Ethics of Starwood Real Estate Securities, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 1, 2010.

 

 

 

(11)

 

Code of Ethics of Foreside Funds Distributors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 16, 2015.

 

 

 

(12)

 

Code of Ethics of Summit Global Investments, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2011.

 

 

 

(13)

 

Code of Ethics of Maerisland Capital, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(14)

 

Code of Ethics of Sonica Capital, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(15)

 

Code of Ethics of Garelick Capital Partners, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 2013.

 

 

 

(16)

 

Code of Ethics of Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 167 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 16, 2014.

 

 

 

(17)

 

Code of Ethics of Abbey Capital Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 30, 2014.

 

 

 

(18)

 

Code of Ethics of Altair Advisers LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(19)

 

Code of Ethics of Aperio Group is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(20)

 

Code of Ethics of Driehaus Capital Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

23



 

(21)

 

Code of Ethics of Granite Investment Partners, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(22)

 

Code of Ethics of Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(23)

 

Code of Ethics of Pier Capital LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(24)

 

Code of Ethics of River Road Asset Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 17, 2014.

 

 

 

(25)

 

Code of Ethics of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 23, 2014.

 

Item 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

 

None.

 

Item 30. INDEMNIFICATION

 

Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Article VIII of Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference as Exhibits (a)(1) and (a)(3), provide as follows:

 

Section 1. To the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of directors and officers are permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, no director or officer of the Corporation shall have any liability to the Corporation or its shareholders for damages. This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a person serves as a director or officer of the Corporation whether or not such person is a director or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted.

 

Section 2. The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to its currently acting and its former directors to the fullest extent that indemnification of directors is permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law. The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to its officers to the same extent as its directors and to such further extent as is consistent with law. The Board of Directors may by law, resolution or agreement make further provision for indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Maryland General Corporation law.

 

Section 3. No provision of this Article shall be effective to protect or purport to protect any director or officer of the Corporation against any liability to the Corporation or its security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

 

Section 4. References to the Maryland General Corporation Law in this Article are to the law as from time to time amended. No further amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation shall decrease, but may expand, any right of any person under this Article based on any event, omission or proceeding prior to such amendment. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, 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 Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the

 

24



 

question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (“Robeco”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(24), provides for the indemnification of Robeco against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (“Bogle”), dated September 15, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2) provides for the indemnification of Bogle against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of each of the Investment Advisory Agreements between the Registrant and Schneider Capital Management (“Schneider”) incorporated herein by reference as exhibits (d)(1) and (d)(3) provides for the indemnification of Schneider against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Matson Money, Inc. ( f/k/a Abundance Technologies, Inc.) , (“Matson Money”) dated December 31, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(5) provides for the indemnification of Matson Money against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Summit Global Investments, LLC (“SGI”) incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(21) provides for the indemnification of SGI against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of the form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM”) incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(26) provides for the indemnification of SIAM against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of the form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Abbey Capital Limited (“Abbey Capital”) incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(28) provides for the indemnification of Abbey Capital against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of the form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Altair Advisers LLC (“Altair”) incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(41) provides for indemnification of Altair against certain losses.

 

Sections 7 and 8 of the Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Foreside Funds Distributors LLC, dated October 31, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1) provides for the indemnification of Foreside Funds Distributors LLC against certain losses.

 

Section 12 of each of the forms of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC (“CCIA”) incorporated herein by reference as exhibits (d)(43) and (d)(57) provide for indemnification of CCIA against certain losses.

 

Item 31.                                                   BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS.

 

1.               Bogle Investment Management, LP:

The sole business activity of Bogle Investment Management, LP (“Bogle”), 2310 Washington Street, Suite 310, Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462, is to serve as an investment adviser. Bogle is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The directors and officers have not held any positions with other companies during the last two fiscal years.

 

25



 

2.               Schneider Capital Management Company:

 

The sole business activity of Schneider Capital Management Company (“Schneider”), 460 E. Swedesford Road, Suite 2000, Wayne, PA 19087, is to serve as an investment adviser.  Schneider is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Information as to the directors and officers of Schneider is as follows:

 

Name and Position with
Schneider

 

Other Company

 

Position With Other Company

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold C. Schneider, III
President and Chief Investment Officer

 

Turnbridge Management Partners Corp.

 

President

 

 

 

 

 

Steven J. Fellin
Sr. Vice President, Chief Operating & Financial Officer Chief Compliance Officer

 

Turnbridge Management Partners Corp.

 

Vice President

 

3.               Robeco Investment Management , Inc. dba Boston Partners

 

The sole business activity of Robeco Investment Management, Inc. dba Boston Partners (“Boston Partners”), 909 Third Avenue, New York 10022, is to serve as an investment adviser.  Boston Partners provides investment advisory services to the Boston Partners Funds and the WPG Partners Funds.

 

Robeco Investment Management, Inc. dba Boston Partners is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and serves as an investment adviser to domestic and foreign institutional investors, investment companies, commingled trust funds, private investment partnerships and collective investment vehicles.  Information as to the directors and officers of Boston Partners is as follows:

 

Name and Position with
RIM

 

Other Company

 

Position With Other Company

 

 

 

 

 

Mark E. Donovan
Co-Chief Executive Officer

 

Robeco Institutional Asset Management US Inc.

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph F. Feeney, Jr.
Co-Chief Executive Officer

 

Robeco US Holding, Inc.

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

William George Butterly, III
Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Secretary

 

Robeco Institutional Asset Management US Inc.

 

Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer & Secretary

 

 

Robeco Securities, L.L.C.

 

Chief Legal Officer

 

 

Robeco Trust Company

 

Chief Operating Officer, Secretary & Director

 

 

RobecoSAM USA, Inc.

 

Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer & Secretary

 

 

Robeco Boston Partners (UK) Limited

 

Director, Chief Operating Officer & Secretary

 

26



 

Matthew J. Davis
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer

 

Robeco Institutional Asset Management US Inc.

 

President, Treasurer & Director

 

 

Robeco Securities, L.L.C.

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Robeco Trust Company

 

Director, President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Director

 

 

Robeco Boston Partners (UK) Limited

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

David SteynDirector

 

Robeco Groep N.V.

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Leni M. Boeren
Director

 

Robeco Groep N.V.

 

Chief Operating Officer

 

 

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.

 

Director

 

 

RobecoSAM AG

 

Director

 

 

RobecoSAM USA, Inc.

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Mlynár
Director

 

Corestone Investment Managers AG

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Source Capital AG

 

Board Member

 

 

Source Capital Holding AG

 

Board Member

 

4.               Matson Money, Inc.:

 

The sole business activity of Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money”), 5955 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, OH 45040, is to serve as an investment adviser.  Matson Money is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Below is a list of each executive officer and director of Matson Money indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged within the last two years, for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.

 

Name and Position
with Matson Money,
Inc.

 

Name of Other
Company

 

Position With Other Company

 

 

 

 

 

Mark E. Matson
CEO

 

Keep It Tight Fitness, LLC

 

50% owner

 

 

 

 

 

Mark E. Matson
CEO

 

The Matson FamilyFoundation

 

100% owner

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle Matson
Vice President/ Secretary

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel J. List
Chief Compliance Officer

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Steven B. Miller
President

 

None

 

None

 

27



 

5.               Summit Global Investments, LLC:

 

The sole business activity of Summit Global Investments, LLC (“SGI”), 620 South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah 84010, is to serve as an investment adviser.  SGI is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Below is a list of each executive officer and director of SGI indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged within the last two years, for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.

 

Name and Position with
SGI

 

Name of Other Company

 

Position With Other
Company

David Harden
President
Chief Investment Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryce Sutton
Chief Compliance Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Partner, Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

6.               Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. :

 

The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. directors and officers is with Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd.

 

7.               Abbey Capital Limited :

 

The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Abbey Capital Limited directors and officers is with Abbey Capital Limited.

 

8.               Altair Advisers LLC:

 

The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Altair Advisers LLC directors and officers is with Altair Advisers LLC.

 

9.               Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC:

 

The principal business activity of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC (“CCIA”), 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, MD 21209, is to serve as an investment adviser.  CCIA is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Below is a list of each executive officer and director of CCIA indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged within the last two years, for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.

 

Name and Position
with CCIA

 

Name of Other Company

 

Position With Other Company

G. Williams Andrews
Chief Executive Officer

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Campbell & Company, LLC

 

Director & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

EC LLC

 

Managing Member

 

 

The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust

 

Trustee & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Campbell Financial Services, LLC

 

Director

 

 

Campbell & Company

 

Director & President

 

28



 

 

 

International Bahamas Limited

 

 

 

 

Campbell Core Offshore Limited

 

Director

 

 

Campbell Core Carry Offshore Limited

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory T. Donovan
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary

 

 

Campbell & Company, LLC

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust

 

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary

 

 

Campbell Financial Services, LLC

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

Campbell & Company International Bahamas Limited

 

Director & Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

Michael S. Harris
President

 

Campbell & Company, LLC

 

President

 

 

Campbell & Company, LLC

 

Director & President

 

 

EC LLC

 

Managing Member

 

 

The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust

 

President

 

 

Campbell Financial Services, LLC

 

Director

 

 

Managed Futures Association

 

Director & Vice-Chairman

 

 

Campbell & Company International Bahamas Limited

 

Director

 

 

Campbell Core Offshore Limited

 

Director

 

 

Campbell Core Carry Offshore Limited

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Xiaohua Hu
Director of Research

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Director of Research

 

 

 

 

 

Heidi L. Kaiser
Deputy General Counsel & Chief

 

The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust

 

Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

29



 

Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Campbell Financial Services, LLC

 

Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Deputy General Counsel & Director of Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas P. Lloyd
General Counsel, & Secretary

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

General Counsel & Secretary

 

 

Campbell & Company, LLC

 

Secretary

 

 

EC LLC

 

Managing Member

 

 

The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust

 

General Counsel, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer

 

 

Campbell & Company International Bahamas Limited

 

Secretary

 

 

Campbell Core Offshore Limited

 

Director

 

 

Campbell Core Carry Offshore Limited

 

Director

 

 

Campbell Financial Services, LLC

 

General Counsel & Director; previously, Chief Compliance Officer & Secretary until September 2014

 

 

 

 

 

Robert W. McBride
Chief Technology Officer

 

Campbell & Company, LLC

 

Chief Technology Officer

 

 

 

 

 

John R. Radle
Global Head of Trading

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Global Head of Trading

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Johnson
Managing Director

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Managing Director, Global Head of Client Solutions Group of Campbell & Company

 

 

 

 

 

Darvin N. Sterner
Director of Private Wealth Distribution

 

Campbell & Company, LP

 

Director of Private Wealth Distribution

 

 

Campbell Financial Services, LLC

 

Vice President

 

30



 

Item 32 PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

 

(a)               Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 

1.               Aston Funds

2.               E.I.I. Realty Securities Trust

3.               FundVantage Trust

4.               GuideStone Funds

5.               Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust

6.               Matthews International Funds (d/b/a Matthews Asia Funds)

7.               Metropolitan West Funds

8.               The Motley Fool Funds Trust

9.               New Alternatives Fund

10.        Old Westbury Funds, Inc.

11.        The RBB Fund, Inc.

12.        Stratton Mid Cap Fund, Inc. (f/k/a Stratton Multi-Cap Fund, Inc.)

13.        Stratton Real Estate Fund, Inc.

14.        The Stratton Funds, Inc.

15.        The Torray Fund

16.        Versus Capital Multi-Manager Real Estate Income Fund LLC (f/k/a Versus Global Multi-Manager Real Estate Income Fund LLC)

 

(b)               The following are the Officers and Managers of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter.  The Distributor’s main business address is 899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110,Berwyn, PA 19312.

 

Name

 

Address

 

Position with
Underwriter

 

Position with
Registrant

Mark A. Fairbanks

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101

 

President

 

None

Richard J. Berthy

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101

 

Vice President, Treasurer and Manager

 

None

Susan K. Moscaritolo

 

899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312

 

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

 

None

Jennifer E. Hoopes

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101

 

Secretary

 

None

Paula R. Watson

 

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101

 

Assistant Secretary

 

None

 

(c)                Not Applicable

 

Item 33. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

 

(1)          The Bank of New York Mellon, 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286 (records relating to its functions as sub-adviser and custodian).

 

(2)          Foreside Funds Distributors, 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. (records relating to its functions as principal underwriter).

 

(3)          BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Bellevue Corporate Center, 103 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 (records relating to its functions as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent).

 

(4)          BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 (records relating to its function as administrator and accounting agent and Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Minute books).

 

(5)          Robeco Investment Management, Inc. dba Boston Partners, 909 Third Avenue, 32 nd  floor, New York, New York 10022 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

31



 

(6)          Schneider Capital Management Co., 460 East Swedesford Road, Suite 1080, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(7)          Bogle Investment Management, L.P., 2310 Washington Street, Suite 310, Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts 02462 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(8)          Matson Money, Inc. (formerly Abundance Technologies, Inc.), 5955 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, OH 45040 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(9)          Summit Global Investments, LLC, 620 South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah 84010 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(10)   Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd., 1 Adelaide St. E., Ste. 2800, Toronto, ON M5C 2V9 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(11)   Abbey Capital Limited, 1-2 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, Ireland (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(12)   Altair Advisers LLC, 303 W. Madison, Suite 600, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(13)   Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

Item 34. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

 

None.

 

Item 35. UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a)          Registrant hereby undertakes to hold a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of considering the removal of directors in the event the requisite number of shareholders so request.

 

(b)          Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered a copy of Registrant’s latest annual report to shareholders upon request and without charge.

 

32



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 187 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Wilmington, and State of Delaware on the 29th day of December, 2015.

 

 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

Salvatore Faia

 

President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment to Registrant’s Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

 

TITLE

 

DATE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

President (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Compliance Officer

 

December 29, 2015

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Joel L. Weiss

 

Treasurer (Chief Financial Officer)

 

December 29, 2015

Joel L. Weiss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*J. Richard Carnall

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

J. Richard Carnall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Julian A. Brodsky

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

Julian A. Brodsky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Arnold M. Reichman

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

Arnold M. Reichman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Robert Sablowsky

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

Robert Sablowsky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Robert Straniere

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

Robert Straniere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Nicholas A. Giordano

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Gregory P. Chandler

 

Director

 

December 29, 2015

Gregory P. Chandler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

 

Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

 

 

 

33



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Julian A. Brodsky, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

 

/s/ Julian A. Brodsky

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

 

34



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, J. Richard Carnall, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

 

/s/ J. Richard Carnall

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

 

35



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Nicholas A. Giordano, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

 

/s/ Nicholas A. Giordano

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

 

36



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Arnold M. Reichman, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

 

/s/ Arnold M. Reichman

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

 

37



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Robert Sablowsky, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

 

/s/ Robert Sablowsky

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

 

38



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Robert Straniere, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

May 7, 2009

 

 

 

/s/ Robert Straniere

 

Robert Straniere

 

 

39



 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Gregory P. Chandler, hereby constitutes and appoints Salvatore Faia, Michael P. Malloy, James G. Shaw and Joel L. Weiss, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

 

DATED:

 

October 15, 2012

 

 

 

/s/ Gregory P. Chandler

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

 

40



 

PEA 187

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT

 

DESCRIPTION

 

 

 

(a)(76)

 

Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — Institutional Class).

 

 

 

(d)(7)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund).

 

 

 

(d)(8)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Schneider Value Fund).

 

 

 

(d)(9)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund).

 

 

 

(d)(10)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund).

 

 

 

(d)(22)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund ).

 

 

 

(d)(27)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund ).

 

 

 

(d)(46)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Campbell Core Trend Fund ).

 

 

 

(d)(53)

 

Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio).

 

 

 

(d)(61)

 

Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund ).

 

 

 

(i)(1)

 

Opinion and Consent of Counsel.

 

 

 

(i)(2)

 

Consent of Counsel.

 

 

 

(j)(1)

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

 

 

 

(j)(2)

 

Consent of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP.

 

 

 

(j)(3)

 

Consent of BBD LLP.

 

 

 

(n)(30)

 

Purchase Agreement ( Boston Partners Emerging Markets Long/Short Fund)

 

 

 

(n)(31)

 

Purchase Agreement (Campbell Core Carry Fund)

 

41


Exhibit (a)(76)

 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

 

THE RBB FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

 

FIRST:  In accordance with the requirements of Section 2-208 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, and under a power contained in the charter of the Corporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted resolutions classifying an aggregate of 250,000,000 authorized but unclassified and unissued shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation as follows:

 

1.               Class BBBBB. 250,000,000 shares of authorized but unclassified and unissued shares of Common Stock (the “Undesignated Common Stock”) are hereby classified and designated as additional Class BBBBB shares of Common Stock representing interests in the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund — Institutional Class Shares.

 

SECOND: The additional Class BBBBB shares so classified have the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as set forth in the Charter of the Corporation with respect to such class.

 

THIRD:  The shares aforesaid have been duly classified by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to authority and power contained in the charter of the Corporation. The aggregate number of authorized shares of stock of the Corporation is not changed by the Articles Supplementary.

 

FOURTH:  Immediately after the classification of shares of Undesignated Common Stock as additional shares of Class BBBBB:

 

(a)                                  the Corporation has the authority to issue 100,000,000,000 shares of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, and the aggregate par value of all the shares of all classes is $100,000,000; and

 

(b)                                  the number of authorized shares of each class of Common Stock is as follows:

 

Class A

-

100,000,000

Class B

-

100,000,000

Class C

-

100,000,000

Class D

-

100,000,000

Class E

-

500,000,000

Class F

-

500,000,000

Class G

-

500,000,000

Class H

-

500,000,000

 



 

Class I

-

1,500,000,000

Class J

-

500,000,000

Class K

-

500,000,000

Class L

-

1,500,000,000

Class M

-

500,000,000

Class N

-

500,000,000

Class O

-

500,000,000

Class P

-

100,000,000

Class Q

-

100,000,000

Class R

-

500,000,000

Class S

-

500,000,000

Class T

-

500,000,000

Class U

-

500,000,000

Class V

-

500,000,000

Class W

-

100,000,000

Class X

-

50,000,000

Class Y

-

50,000,000

Class Z

-

50,000,000

 

 

 

Class AA

-

50,000,000

Class BB

-

50,000,000

Class CC

-

50,000,000

Class DD

-

100,000,000

Class EE

-

100,000,000

Class FF

-

50,000,000

Class GG

-

50,000,000

Class HH

-

50,000,000

Class II

-

100,000,000

Class JJ

-

100,000,000

Class KK

-

100,000,000

Class LL

-

100,000,000

Class MM

-

100,000,000

Class NN

-

100,000,000

Class OO

-

100,000,000

Class PP

-

100,000,000

Class QQ

-

100,000,000

Class RR

-

100,000,000

Class SS

-

100,000,000

Class TT

-

100,000,000

Class UU

-

100,000,000

Class VV

-

100,000,000

Class WW

-

100,000,000

Class YY

-

100,000,000

Class ZZ

-

100,000,000

 

 

 

Class AAA

-

100,000,000

Class BBB

-

100,000,000

Class CCC

-

100,000,000

 



 

Class DDD

-

100,000,000

Class EEE

-

100,000,000

Class FFF

-

100,000,000

Class GGG

-

100,000,000

Class HHH

-

100,000,000

Class III

-

100,000,000

Class JJJ

-

100,000,000

Class KKK

-

100,000,000

Class LLL

-

100,000,000

Class MMM

-

100,000,000

Class NNN

-

100,000,000

Class OOO

-

100,000,000

Class PPP

-

100,000,000

Class QQQ

-

2,500,000,000

Class RRR

-

2,500,000,000

Class SSS

-

100,000,000

Class TTT

-

50,000,000

Class UUU

-

50,000,000

Class VVV

-

50,000,000

Class WWW

-

50,000,000

Class XXX

-

100,000,000

Class YYY

-

100,000,000

Class ZZZ

-

100,000,000

 

 

 

Class AAAA

-

50,000,000,000

Class BBBB

-

300,000,000

Class CCCC

-

300,000,000

Class DDDD

-

300,000,000

Class EEEE

-

100,000,000

Class FFFF

-

100,000,000

Class GGGG

-

100,000,000

Class HHHH

-

100,000,000

Class IIII

-

100,000,000

Class JJJJ

-

100,000,000

Class KKKK

-

100,000,000

Class LLLL

-

100,000,000

Class MMMM

-

100,000,000

Class NNNN

-

100,000,000

Class OOOO

-

100,000,000

Class PPPP

-

100,000,000

Class QQQQ

-

100,000,000

Class RRRR

-

100,000,000

Class SSSS

-

100,000,000

Class TTTT

-

100,000,000

Class UUUU

-

100,000,000

Class VVVV

-

100,000,000

Class WWWW

-

100,000,000

Class XXXX

-

100,000,000

 



 

Class YYYY

-

100,000,000

Class ZZZZ

-

100,000,000

 

 

 

Class AAAAA

-

100,000,000

Class BBBBB

-

750,000,000

Class CCCCC

-

100,000,000

Class DDDDD

-

100,000,000

Class EEEEE

-

100,000,000

Class FFFFF

-

100,000,000

Class GGGGG

-

100,000,000

Class HHHHH

-

100,000,000

Class IIIII

-

100,000,000

Class JJJJJ

-

100,000,000

Class KKKKK

-

100,000,000

Class LLLLL

-

100,000,000

Class MMMMM

-

100,000,000

Class NNNNN

-

100,000,000

Class OOOOO

-

100,000,000

Class PPPPP

-

100,000,000

Class QQQQQ

-

100,000,000

Class RRRRR

-

100,000,000

Class SSSSS

-

100,000,000

Class TTTTT

-

100,000,000

Class UUUUU

-

100,000,000

Class VVVVV

-

100,000,000

Class WWWWW

-

100,000,000

Class XXXXX

-

100,000,000

Class YYYYY

-

100,000,000

Class ZZZZZ

-

100,000,000

 

 

 

Class Select

-

700,000,000

Class Beta 2

-

1,000,000

Class Beta 3

-

1,000,000

Class Beta 4

-

1,000,000

Class Principal Money

-

700,000,000

Class Gamma 2

-

1,000,000

Class Gamma 3

-

1,000,000

Class Gamma 4

-

1,000,000

Class Bear Stearns Money

-

2,500,000,000

Class Bear Stearns Municipal Money

-

1,500,000,000

Class Bear Stearns Government Money

-

1,000,000,000

Class Delta 4

-

1,000,000

 



 

Class Epsilon 1

-

1,000,000

Class Epsilon 2

-

1,000,000

Class Epsilon 3

-

1,000,000

Class Epsilon 4

-

1,000,000

Class Zeta 1

-

1,000,000

Class Zeta 2

-

1,000,000

Class Zeta 3

-

1,000,000

Class Zeta 4

-

1,000,000

Class Eta 1

-

1,000,000

Class Eta 2

-

1,000,000

Class Eta 3

-

1,000,000

Class Eta 4

-

1,000,000

Class Theta 1

-

1,000,000

Class Theta 2

-

1,000,000

Class Theta 3

-

1,000,000

Class Theta 4

-

1,000,000

 

 

for a total of 83,023,000,000 shares classified into separate classes of Common Stock.

 

FIFTH:  The undersigned President of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned President acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The RBB Fund, Inc. has caused these presents to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested by its Secretary on the 22nd day of October, 2015.

 

ATTEST:

 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Christina Morse

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

Christina Morse

 

 

Salvatore Faia

Secretary

 

 

President

 


Exhibit (d)(7)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re :   The RBB Fund - Schneider Small Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”)

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (this “Agreement”), intending to be legally bound hereby, Schneider Capital Management Company (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to improve the performance of the Fund, the Adviser shall, from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed a total operating expense ratio (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) of:

 

·               1.15% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser acknowledges that (1) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for waived fees at any time in the future, and (2) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for reimbursed Fund expenses at any time in the future.

 

 

SCHNEIDER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven J. Fellin

 

Name: Steven J. Fellin

 

Title: CFO

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 


Exhibit (d)(8)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re :   The RBB Fund - Schneider Value Fund (the “Fund”)

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (this “Agreement”), intending to be legally bound hereby, Schneider Capital Management Company (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to improve the performance of the Fund, the Adviser shall, from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed a total operating expense ratio (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) of:

 

·               0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser acknowledges that (1) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for waived fees at any time in the future, and (2) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for reimbursed Fund expenses at any time in the future.

 

 

SCHNEIDER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven J. Fellin

 

Name: Steven J. Fellin

 

Title: CFO

 

 

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 


Exhibit (d)(9)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re:                              The RBB Fund, Inc. - Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”)

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (this “Agreement”), Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to improve the performance of the Fund, the Adviser shall, from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed a total operating expense ratio (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) of 1.25% of the Institutional Class of the Fund’s average daily net assets and 1.35% of the Investor Class of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser acknowledges that (1) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for waived fees at any time in the future, and (2) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for reimbursed Fund expenses at any time in the future.

 

 

 

 

BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John C. Bogle, Jr.

 

Name: John C. Bogle, Jr.

 

Title: President, Bogle Investment Management, LP

 

 

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 


Exhibit (d)(10)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re:                  Boston Partners Investment Funds Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, and Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (the “Agreement”), intending to be legally bound hereby, and effective as of the date noted above, Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to maintain the established expense ratios of the following Boston Partners Investment Funds: Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, and Boston Partners Global Equity Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”), the Adviser shall, until further notice, but in no event terminating before December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest, taxes and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which a Fund’s total operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest, taxes and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) exceeds a total operating expense ratio (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest, taxes and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) of:

 

·                   0.80% and 1.05% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund.

 

·                   2.50% and 2.75% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund.

 

·                   1.50% and 1.75% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund.

 

·                   2.00% and 2.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Institutional Class shares and Investor Class shares, respectively, of the Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund.

 

·                   0.95% and 1.20% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Institutional Class shares and Investor Class shares, respectively, of the Boston Partners Global Equity Fund.

 



 

The Adviser acknowledges that (1) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for waived fees at any time in the future, and (2) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for reimbursed Fund expenses at any time in the future, except with respect to the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund only. With respect to the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, or Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, effective with respect to each Fund as of the effective date of the Advisory Agreement between the Company, on behalf of such Fund and the Adviser, if at any time the total annual fund operating expenses of the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund for that year are less than 1.75%, 1.20%, or 2.25%  respectively, of the average daily net assets attributable to that Fund’s Investor Class shares or less than 1.50%, 0.95%, or 2.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets attributable to that Fund’s Institutional Class shares, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, or Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, in whole or in part as provided below, of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Adviser to such Fund pursuant to this Agreement within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made by the Adviser if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed expense limitations that were in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.  The total amount of reimbursement to which the Adviser may be entitled (the “Reimbursement Amount”) shall equal, at any time, the sum of all investment advisory fees previously waived or reduced by the Adviser and all other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, pursuant to this Agreement, less any reimbursement previously paid by the Fund to the Adviser, with respect to such waivers, reductions, and payments. The Reimbursement Amount shall not include any additional charges or fees whatsoever, including, e.g., interest accruable on the Reimbursement Amount.

 

 

 

 

ROBECO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

William G. Butterly, III

 

Title:

Chief Operation Officer

 

 

Senior Managing Director

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

2


Exhibit (d)(22)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re:                              Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (the “Agreement”), intending to be legally bound hereby and effective as of the date noted above, Summit Global Investments, LLC (“Summit”) agrees that in order to maintain the established expense ratio of the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (the “Fund”), of The RBB Fund, Inc., Summit shall, until further notice, but in no event terminating before December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest, taxes and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses for each of its Class A, Class I, Class C and Retail Class Shares (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest, taxes and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) exceeds a total annual fund operating expense ratio (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest, taxes and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) of:

 

·                   1.23% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class A Shares;

 

·                   0.98% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class I Shares;

 

·                   1.98% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class C Shares; and

 

·                   1.23% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Retail Class Shares.

 

Effective January 1, 2013, if at any time the total annual fund operating expenses of the Fund for a year are less than 1.23% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class A Shares, less than 0.98% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class I Shares, less than 1.98% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class C Shares or less than 1.23% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Retail Class Shares, Summit shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Fund, in whole or in part as provided below, of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by Summit to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made by Summit if such reimbursement by the Fund does not cause the Fund to exceed expense limitations that were in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.. The total amount of reimbursement to which Summit may be entitled (the “Reimbursement Amount”) shall equal, at any time, the sum of all investment advisory fees previously waived or reduced by Summit and all other payments remitted by Summit to a Fund, pursuant to this Agreement, less any reimbursement previously paid by the Fund to Summit, with respect to such waivers, reductions, and payments. The Reimbursement Amount shall not include any additional charges or fees whatsoever, including, e.g., interest accruable on the Reimbursement Amount.

 



 

 

SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Harden

 

Name:

David Harden

 

Title:

President

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

2


Exhibit (d)(27)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re:                              Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (the “Agreement”), intending to be legally bound hereby and effective as of the date noted above, Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM”) agrees that in order to maintain the established expense ratio of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Fund”) of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”), SIAM shall, until further notice, but in no event terminating before December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions, interest and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses for each of its Institutional Class, Class I and Class II shares (other than taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions, interest and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) exceeds a total annual fund operating expense ratio (other than taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions, interest and any other items as agreed upon by both parties from time to time) of:

 

·                   0.74% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares;

 

·                   0.84% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class I shares; and

 

·                   0.99% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class II shares.

 

The Company agrees to carry forward, for a period not to exceed three (3) years from the date on which a waiver or reimbursement is made by SIAM, any fees or expenses in excess of the applicable expense limitation that are waived, reimbursed or assumed by SIAM under this Agreement (“Excess Fees and Expenses”) and to repay SIAM in the amount of such Excess Fees and Expenses as set out in this Agreement.  Such repayment will be made as promptly as possible, but only to the extent that it does not cause the fees and expenses for any year to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.  If this Agreement is terminated by the Company, the Company agrees to repay to SIAM in accordance with this Agreement any Excess Fees and Expenses not previously repaid and, subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, such repayment will be made not later than thirty (30) days after the termination of this Agreement and without regard to any expense limitation.

 

 

SCOTIA INSTITUTIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT US, LTD.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 


Exhibit (d)(46)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re:                              The RBB Fund, Inc. — Campbell Core Trend Fund (the “Fund”)

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (this “Agreement”), Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to improve the performance of the Fund, the Adviser shall, from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed a total operating expense ratio (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) of 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

If at any time during the first three years in which the Advisory Agreement is still in effect the total annual fund operating expenses of the Fund for that year are less than 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Fund, in whole or in part as provided below, of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement.  The total amount of reimbursement to which the Adviser may be entitled (the “Reimbursement Amount”) shall equal, at any time, the sum of all investment advisory fees previously waived or reduced by the Adviser and all other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund, pursuant to this Agreement, less any reimbursement previously paid by the Fund to the Adviser, with respect to such waivers, reductions, and payments.  The Reimbursement Amount shall not include any additional charges or fees whatsoever, including, e.g., interest accruable on the Reimbursement Amount.

 

 

CAMPBELL & COMPANY INVESTMENT

 

ADVISER LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory T. Donovan

 

Name: Gregory T. Donovanr

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas P. Lloyd

 

Name: Thomas P. Lloyd

 

Title: Secretary

 



 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

President

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 


Exhibit (d)(53)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re:                              The RBB Fund, Inc. - Matson Money, Inc., Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio (the “Portfolios”)

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (this “Agreement”), intending to be legally bound hereby, Matson Money, Inc. (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to maintain the established expense ratios of the Portfolios of The RBB Fund, Inc., the Adviser shall, until further notice, but in no event terminating before December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which each Portfolio’s total operating expenses (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed a total operating expense ratio (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) of 1.13%, 1.35%, and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Matson Money, Inc. Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, respectively.

 

The Adviser acknowledges that (1) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for waived fees at any time in the future, and (2) it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for reimbursed Portfolio expenses at any time in the future.

 

 

 

 

MATSON MONEY, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kenny Gatliff

 

Name: Kenny Gatliff

 

Title: Portfolio Manager

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 

 


Exhibit (d)(61)

 

December 31, 2015

 

Salvatore Faia

President

The RBB Fund, Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Re: The RBB Fund, Inc. -Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”)

 

Dear Mr. Faia:

 

By our execution of this letter agreement (this “Agreement”), Abbey Capital Limited (the “Adviser”) agrees that in order to improve the performance of the Fund, the Adviser shall, from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2016, waive all or a portion of its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Fund’s total operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed a total operating expense ratio (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) of 1.99% for the Class I Shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 2.24% of the Class A Shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets, and 2.99% of the Class C Shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

If at any time the total annual fund operating expenses of the Fund for a year are less than 1.99% for the Class I Shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 2.24% of the Class A Shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets, or 2.99% of the Class C Shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Fund, in whole or in part as provided below, of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement within three years from the date on which such waiver or reimbursement was made by the Adviser if such reimbursement by the Fund does not cause the Fund to exceed expense limitations that were in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.  The total amount of reimbursement to which the Adviser may be entitled (the “Reimbursement Amount”) shall equal, at any time, the sum of all investment advisory fees previously waived or reduced by the Adviser and all other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund, pursuant to this Agreement, less any reimbursement previously paid by the Fund to the Adviser, with respect to such waivers, reductions, and payments.  The Reimbursement Amount shall not include any additional charges or fees whatsoever, including, e.g., interest accruable on the Reimbursement Amount.

 

 

 

ABBEY CAPITAL LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Your signature below acknowledges

 

acceptance of this Agreement:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia

 

 

President

 

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

 


Exhibit (i)(1)

 

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square

Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Telephone:  (215) 988-2700

 

December 28, 2015

 

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, Delaware 19809

 

Re:                              Shares Registered by Post-Effective Amendment No. 187 to

Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-20827)   

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Post-Effective Amendment No. 187 (the “Amendment”) to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the issuance and sale by the Company of the following classes and numbers of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (collectively, the “Shares”), with respect to the Company’s Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth, Campbell Core Trend, Schneider Small Cap Value, Schneider Value, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity, Boston Partners All-Cap Value, Boston Partners Small Cap Value II, Boston Partners Long/Short Research, WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value, Boston Partners Global Equity, Boston Partners Global Long/Short, Free Market Fixed Income, Free Market International Equity, Free Market U.S. Equity, Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity, Matson Money U.S. Equity VI, Matson Money International Equity VI, Matson Money Fixed Income VI, Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth, Abbey Capital Futures Strategy and Altair Smaller Companies Portfolios:

 

PORTFOLIO

 

CLASS

 

AUTHORIZED SHARES

Bogle Investment Management

 

NNN

 

100 million

Small Cap Growth

 

OOO

 

100 million

Campbell Core Trend

 

VVVVV

 

100 million

Schneider Small Cap Value

 

YY

 

100 million

Schneider Value

 

PPP

 

100 million

Boston Partners Long/Short Equity

 

III
JJJ

 

100 million
100 million

 



 

PORTFOLIO

 

CLASS

 

AUTHORIZED SHARES

Boston Partners All-Cap Value

 

VV
WW

 

100 million
100 million

Boston Partners Small Cap Value II

 

DDD
EEE

 

100 million
100 million

Boston Partners Long/Short Research

 

AAAAA
BBBBB

 

100 million
750 million

WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value

 

UUU

 

50 million

Boston Partners Global Equity

 

CCCCC
DDDDD

 

100 million
100 million

Boston Partners Global Long/Short

 

JJJJJ
KKKKK

 

100 million
100 million

Free Market Fixed Income

 

DDDD

 

300 million

Free Market International Equity

 

CCCC

 

300 million

Free Market U.S. Equity

 

BBBB

 

300 million

Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity

 

GGGGG
HHHHH
IIIII
ZZZZZ

 

100 million
100 million
100 million
100 million

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI

 

LLLLL

 

100 million

Matson Money International Equity VI

 

MMMMM

 

100 million

Matson Money Fixed Income VI

 

NNNNN

 

100 million

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth

 

OOOOO
PPPPP

 

100 million
100 million

 

2



 

PORTFOLIO

 

CLASS

 

AUTHORIZED SHARES

 

 

QQQQQ

 

100 million

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy

 

RRRRR
SSSSS
TTTTT

 

100 million
100 million
100 million

Altair Smaller Companies

 

UUUUU

 

100 million

 

The Amendment seeks to register an indefinite number of the Shares.

 

We have reviewed the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, resolutions of its Board of Directors, and such other legal and factual matters as we have deemed appropriate.  This opinion is based exclusively on the Maryland General Corporation Law and the federal law of the United States of America.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued for payment as described in the Company’s Prospectuses offering the Shares and in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation for not less than $0.001 per share, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company.

 

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment to the Company’s Registration Statement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

 

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

 

3


Exhibit (i)(2)

 

CONSENT OF COUNSEL

 

We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Other Service Providers” in the Boston Partners Investment Funds’ Prospectuses and under the caption “Counsel” in all the Statements of Additional Information that are included in Post-Effective Amendment No. 187 to the Registration Statement (No. 33-20827; 811-5518) on Form N-1A of The RBB Fund, Inc., under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, respectively.  This consent does not constitute a consent under section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, and in consenting to the use of our name and the references to our Firm under such caption we have not certified any part of the Registration Statement and do not otherwise come within the categories of persons whose consent is required under said section 7 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

 

 

 

 

/s/ Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

 

DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

December 29, 2015

 

 


Exhibit (j)(1)

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the references to our firm under the captions “Financial Highlights” and “Other Service Providers” in the Prospectuses of the Boston Partners Investment Funds (Institutional Class and Investor Class), Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (I Shares), Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (I Shares and A Shares) and Campbell Core Trend Fund (Institutional Shares) dated December 31, 2015, and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Financial Statements” in the Statements of Additional Information of the Boston Partners Investment Funds, Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund, Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund and Campbell Core Trend Fund dated December 31, 2015, and to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of The RBB Fund, Inc. (Form N-1A) (Post-Effective Amendment No. 187 to File No. 33-20827) of our reports dated October 30, 2015 with respect to the financial statements and financial highlights of the Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, WPG Partners Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund, Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund, Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund and Campbell Core Trend Fund (ten of the portfolios constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) (the “Funds”), included in the Funds’ Annual Reports to shareholders for the year ended August 31, 2015.

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

December 22, 2015

 


Exhibit (j)(2)

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our reports dated October 23, 2015, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights which appear in the August 31, 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders of the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund, Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed Income Fund, Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, Schneider Small Cap Value Fund, Schneider Value Fund, and the Altair Smaller Companies Fund (each constituting a separate series of the RBB Fund, Inc.), which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.  We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, “Financial Statements”, and “Financial Highlights” in such Registration Statement.

 

 

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

 

Philadelphia, PA

December 28, 2015

 


Exhibit 99.B(j)(3)

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of The RBB Fund, Inc., and to the use of our report dated October 26, 2015 on the financial statements and financial highlights of Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund Fund, a series of shares of common stock in The RBB Fund, Inc.  Such financial statements and financial highlights appear in the August 31, 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders that is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information.

 

 

 

BBD, LLP

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

December 22, 2015

 

 


Exhibit (n)(30)

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation, and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (“Boston Partners”), intending to be legally bound, hereby agree with each other as follows:

 

1. The Company hereby offers Boston Partners and Boston Partners hereby purchases one (1) share of the Boston Partners Emerging Long/Short Fund (the “Fund”) (Class WWWW, par value $.001 per share) at price per Share equivalent to the net asset value per share of the Fund as determined on December 15, 2015.

 

2. The Company hereby acknowledges receipt from Boston Partners of funds in the amount of $10.00 in full payment for the Share.

 

3. Boston Partners represents and warrants to the Company that the Share is being acquired for investment purposes and not with a view to the distribution thereof.

 

4. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the 15 th  day of December, 2015.

 

 

 

 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

Name:

Salvatore Faia

 

Title

President

 

ROBECO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

By:

/s/ Willima G. Butterly, III

 

Name:

William G. Butterly, III

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer

 


Exhibit (n)(31)

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation, and the D. Keith Campbell Declaration of Trust dated December 20, 2004 (the “Trust”), intending to be legally bound, hereby agree with each other as follows:

 

1. The Company hereby offers the Trust, and the Trust hereby purchases one (1) share of the Campbell Core Carry Fund (the “Fund”) (Class YYYYY, par value $.001 per share) at price per Share equivalent to the net asset value per share of the Fund as determined on December 18, 2015.

 

2. The Company hereby acknowledges receipt from the Trust in the amount of $10.00 in full payment for the Share.

 

3. Campbell represents and warrants to the Company that the Share is being acquired for investment purposes and not with a view to the distribution thereof.

 

4. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the 18 th  day of December, 2015.

 

 

THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

By:

/s/ Salvatore Faia

 

Name:

Salvatore Faia

 

Title

President

 

 

 

 

 

D. KEITH CAMPBELL, TRUSTEE OF THE D. KEITH CAMPBELL DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED DECEMBER 20, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Keith Campbell

 

Name:

D. Keith Campbell

 

Title:

Trustee