AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 15, 2007
File No. 033-42484
File No. 811-06400
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 100 /X/
AND
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
AMENDMENT NO. 101 /X/
Copies to:
Richard W. Grant, Esquire John M. Ford, Esquire Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP One Oxford Centre 1701 Market Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-6401 Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921 |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
PROSPECTUS
_____ __, 200_
WHG LARGECAP VALUE FUND
WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
A CLASS SHARES
INVESTMENT ADVISER:
WESTWOOD MANAGEMENT CORP.
THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
The WHG LargeCap Value Fund and the WHG Income Opportunity Fund (each, a "Fund" and together, the "Funds") are each a separate series of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund (the "Trust"), a mutual fund family that offers separate investment portfolios. The portfolios have individual investment goals and strategies. This prospectus gives you important information about the A Class Shares of the Funds that you should know before investing. Please read this prospectus and keep it for future reference.
This prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Funds, please see:
PAGE WHG LARGECAP VALUE FUND...........................................1 FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.....................................1 PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES...............................1 PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND......................1 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.......................................3 FUND FEES AND EXPENSES........................................4 WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND.......................................6 FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.....................................6 PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES...............................6 PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND......................6 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.......................................8 FUND FEES AND EXPENSES........................................9 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK.......................................12 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS...........................13 INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS..............................13 INVESTMENT ADVISER................................................13 PORTFOLIO MANAGERS................................................14 HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE DATA OF THE ADVISER........................16 PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING FUND SHARES....................20 DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES.......................................28 SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS................................28 PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES..............................29 OTHER POLICIES....................................................29 DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.......................................31 TAXES.............................................................32 HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS................Back Cover |
WHG LARGECAP VALUE FUND
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the WHG LargeCap Value Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks and other equity securities of large companies that have a market capitalization within the range of the companies comprising the Russell 1000 Value Index. This "80% policy" is a non-fundamental investment policy that can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days' prior notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund invests will be primarily common stocks, but may also include shares of large-cap stocks of exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), royalty trusts, and master limited partnerships ("MLPs"). The Fund will generally invest in equity securities of domestic companies, but may also invest in equity securities of foreign companies and American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs").
The Fund invests in approximately 40-60 securities with attractive valuations. In selecting investments for the Fund, Westwood Management Corp. (the "Adviser") utilizes a value style of investing in which it chooses common stocks that it believes are currently undervalued in the market. Other key metrics for evaluating the risk/return profile of an investment include an improving return on equity, a declining debt/equity ratio and, in the case of common equities, positive earnings surprises without a corresponding increase in Wall Street estimates. The Adviser has disciplines in place that serve as sell signals, such as a security reaching a predetermined price target or a change to a company's fundamentals that negatively impacts the original investment thesis. The Adviser will not necessarily sell a security that has depreciated below the stated market capitalization defined above.
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
As with all mutual funds, a shareholder's investment in the Fund is subject to the risk that the shareholder could lose money on his or her investment. The principal risks affecting shareholders' investments in the Fund are set forth below.
EQUITY RISK - Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. 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. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.
FOREIGN COMPANY RISK - Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through ADRs which are traded on U.S. exchanges and represent an ownership interest in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These events will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may
affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund's investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer's home country.
INVESTMENT STYLE RISK - The Fund pursues a "value style" of investing. Value investing focuses on companies with stocks that appear undervalued in light of factors such as the company's earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser's assessment of a company's value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations or market conditions is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, "value stocks" can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.
REIT RISK - REITs are pooled investment vehicles that own, and usually operate, income-producing real estate. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as: declines in property values; increases in property taxes, operating expenses, rising interest rates or competition overbuilding; zoning changes; and losses from casualty or condemnation. REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund's investments in REITs will result in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the REITs' operating expenses, in addition to paying Fund expenses.
INVESTMENTS IN ETFS - To the extent the Fund invests in ETFs, the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities comprising the index on which the ETF is based and the value of the Fund's investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of the underlying index. Similar to REITs, ETFs typically incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund's investments in ETFs will result in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the ETFs' operating expenses, in addition to paying Fund expenses.
ROYALTY TRUST RISK - The Fund may invest in royalty trusts, which are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty trust. A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.
MLP RISK - MLPs are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to oil and gas industries, but they also may finance research and development and other projects. To the extent that an MLP's interests are all in a particular industry, the MLP will, accordingly, be negatively impacted by economic events impacting that industry. The risks of investing in a MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions which will have the effect of reducing the amount of income paid by the MLP to its investors.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund. Of course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Please note that the A Class Shares commenced operations on __________ __, 200_ and therefore do not have a full calendar year of performance.
THE BAR CHART SHOWS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND'S INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FOR THE MOST RECENT CALENDAR YEAR. THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN TABLE COMPARES THE AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS OF INSTITUTIONAL SHARES OF THE FUND TO THOSE OF A BROAD-BASED SECURITIES MARKET INDEX. INSTITUTIONAL SHARES OF THE FUND ARE OFFERED IN A SEPARATE PROSPECTUS. A CLASS SHARES OF THE OF THE FUND WOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PERFORMANCE AS INSTITUTIONAL SHARES BECAUSE THE SHARES ARE INVESTED IN THE SAME PORTFOLIO OF SECURITIES AND THE ANNUAL RETURNS WOULD DIFFER
ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE EXPENSES OF THE A CLASS SHARES ARE HIGHER THAN THE EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SHARES AND, THEREFORE, RETURNS FOR THE A CLASS SHARES WOULD BE LOWER THAN THOSE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SHARES. RETURNS ARE BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE AND ARE NOT AN INDICATION OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
2007 XX.XX% BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER X.XX% (X.XX)% (XX/XX/XX) (XX/XX/XX) |
In addition, the Adviser also manages separate accounts and commingled funds with substantially similar investment objectives and policies as the Fund. For more information about these similar accounts, including performance information, see "Historical Performance Data of the Adviser."
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
THIS TABLE COMPARES THE FUND'S INSTITUTIONAL SHARES AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 TO THOSE OF THE RUSSELL 1000 VALUE INDEX.
1 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND RETURN BEFORE TAXES XX.XX% XX.XX% FUND RETURN AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS XX.XX% XX.XX% FUND RETURN AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS AND SALE OF FUND SHARES XX.XX% XX.XX% RUSSELL 1000 VALUE INDEX _____ XX.XX% XX.XX% |
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index measures the market prices of a specific group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. Unlike a mutual fund, an index does not have an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index had expenses, its performance would be lower. The Russell 1000 Value Index is an unmanaged index which measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the US equity markets. It contains those Russell 1000 Index companies with lower-price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth.
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold A Class Shares of the Fund.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- A CLASS SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) 5.00%* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of net asset value) None* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions (as a None percentage of offering price) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)** None ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- |
* This sales charge varies depending on how much you invest in the Fund. A Class Shares purchased without an initial sales charge may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within 12 months of purchase. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSC) - A Class Shares." ** Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), by ACH, or by check to your address of record.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ A CLASS SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Investment Advisory Fees 0.75% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Distribution Fees 0.25% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Other Expenses* X.XX% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.00%** ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses*** X.XX% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ |
* Other expenses, including custodian, legal and audit expenses, are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. ** Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on an estimated amount of less than 0.01% for the current fiscal year. *** The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may discontinue all or part of its waiver at any time. In addition, if at any point it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to make expense limitation reimbursements, the Board may permit the Adviser to retain the difference between the "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and 1.25% to recapture all of a portion of its prior expense limitation reimbursements made during the preceding three-year period.
For more information about these fees, see "Investment Adviser" and "Distribution of Fund Shares."
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, Fund operating expenses remain the same and you reinvest all dividends and distributions.* Although your actual costs and returns might be different, based on these estimates your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Fund would be:
------------------------------- ----------------------------- 1 YEAR 3 YEARS ------------------------------- ----------------------------- $XXX $XXX ------------------------------- ----------------------------- |
* THE COST FIGURES IN THE EXAMPLE ARE BASED ON THE FUND'S TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES, WHICH DO NOT REFLECT FEE WAIVERS OR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS.
WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The primary investment objective of the WHG Income Opportunity Fund is to provide current income. A secondary objective of the Fund is to provide the opportunity for long-term capital appreciation.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to meet its investment objective by investing primarily in dividend-paying and/or interest-bearing securities. The Fund seeks to invest in securities of companies with a strong and improving cash flow sufficient to support a sustainable or rising income stream for investors. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser chooses among a diversified group of income-producing asset classes. Equity securities may include dividend-paying common stocks, preferred stocks, and convertible securities. Fixed income securities may include bonds and other debt securities, and money market instruments. Other types of income-producing securities may include interests in royalty trusts and master limited partnerships ("MLPs"), securities of real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), and shares of exchange-traded funds ("ETFs").
The Fund generally invests in securities of domestic companies, but may also invest in foreign securities and ADRs. The Fund's investments are expected to have a bias toward larger capitalization issuers, but the Fund is permitted to invest in companies of any capitalization range. The Fund's fixed income investments are, in the aggregate, of investment grade (rated in one of the three highest rating categories by a rating agency), but may at times include securities rated below investment grade. In addition, the Fund's fixed income securities may include unrated securities, if deemed by the Fund's Adviser to be of comparable quality to investment grade.
The Fund's investment strategy is designed to provide a higher level of current income than offered by traditional fixed income products, such as U.S. government bonds and money market securities. The Adviser's investment process incorporates relative value analysis among capital instruments as well as among asset classes to determine where downside potential can be limited to achieve the goal of generating an attractive level of current income. Other key metrics for evaluating the risk/return profile of an investment include an improving return on equity, a declining debt/equity ratio and in the case of common equities, positive earnings surprises without a corresponding increase in Wall Street estimates. The Adviser has disciplines in place that serve as sell signals, such as: a security reaching a predetermined price target; a change to a company's fundamentals that make the risk/reward profile unattractive; or a need to improve the overall risk/reward profile of the Fund.
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
As with all mutual funds, a shareholder's investment in the Fund is subject to the risk that the shareholder could lose money on his or her investment. The principal risks affecting shareholders' investments in the Fund are set forth below.
EQUITY RISK - Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. 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. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.
FOREIGN COMPANY RISK - Investing in foreign companies, whether through investments made in foreign markets or made through purchasing ADRs traded on U.S. exchanges, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These events will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund's investments. These currency movements may happen separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer's home country.
SMALL- AND MID-CAPITALIZATION COMPANY RISK - The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small- and mid-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to 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.
MICRO-CAPITALIZATION COMPANY RISK - Micro-capitalization companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development with limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Therefore, micro-capitalization companies may be less financially secure than large-, mid- and small- capitalization companies and may be more vulnerable to key personnel losses due to reliance on smaller number of management personnel. In addition, there may be less public information available about these companies. Micro cap stock prices may be more volatile than large-, mid- and small- capitalization companies and such stocks may be more thinly traded and thus difficult for the Fund to buy and sell in the market.
REIT RISK - REITs are pooled investment vehicles that own, and usually operate, income-producing real estate. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as: declines in property values; increases in property taxes, operating expenses, rising interest rates or competition overbuilding; zoning changes; and losses from casualty or condemnation. REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund's investments in REITs will result in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the REITs' operating expenses, in addition to paying Fund expenses.
ROYALTY TRUST RISK - The Fund may invest in royalty trusts which are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty trust. A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.
MLP RISK - MLPs are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
market. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to oil and gas industries, but they also may finance research and development and other projects. To the extent that an MLP's interests are all in a particular industry, the MLP will, accordingly be negatively impacted by economic events impacting that industry. The risks of investing in a MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions which will have the effect of reducing the amount of income paid by the MLP to its investors.
FIXED INCOME RISK - The prices of the Fund's fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers. Generally, the Fund's fixed income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa, and the volatility of lower-rated securities is even greater than that of higher-rated securities. Also, longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the average maturity or duration of these securities affects risk. Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will fail to make timely payments of interest or principal or go bankrupt. The lower the ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks. In addition, these risks are often magnified for securities rated below investment grade, often referred to as "junk bonds," and adverse changes in economic conditions or market perception are likely to cause issuers of these securities to be unable to meet their obligations to repay principal and interest to investors.
INVESTMENTS IN ETFS - To the extent the Fund invests in ETFs, the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities comprising the index on which the ETF is based and the value of the Fund's investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of the underlying index. Similar to REITs, ETFs typically incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund's investments in ETFs will result in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the ETFs' operating expenses, in addition to paying Fund expenses.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund. Of course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Please note that the A Class Shares commenced operations on __________ __, 200_ and therefore do not have a full calendar year of performance.
THE BAR CHART SHOWS HOW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND'S INSTITUTIONAL SHARES HAS VARIED FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN TABLE COMPARES THE AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS OF INSTITUTIONAL SHARES OF THE FUND TO THOSE OF A BROAD-BASED SECURITIES MARKET INDEX. INSTITUTIONAL SHARES OF THE FUND ARE OFFERED IN A SEPARATE PROSPECTUS. A CLASS SHARES OF THE OF THE FUND WOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PERFORMANCE AS INSTITUTIONAL SHARES BECAUSE THE SHARES ARE INVESTED IN THE SAME PORTFOLIO OF SECURITIES AND THE ANNUAL RETURNS WOULD DIFFER
ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE EXPENSES OF THE A CLASS SHARES ARE HIGHER THAN THE EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SHARES AND, THEREFORE, RETURNS FOR THE A CLASS SHARES WOULD BE LOWER THAN THOSE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SHARES. RETURNS ARE BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE AND ARE NOT AN INDICATION OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
2006 12.60% 2007 XX.XX% BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER X.XX% (X.XX)% (XX/XX/XX) (XX/XX/XX) |
In addition, the Adviser also manages separate accounts and commingled funds with substantially similar investment objectives and policies as the Fund. For more information about these similar accounts, including performance information, see "Historical Performance Data of the Adviser."
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
THIS TABLE COMPARES THE FUND'S INSTITUTIONAL SHARES AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 TO THOSE OF THE 25/25/25/25 BLENDED BENCHMARK INDEX, THE CITIGROUP 10-YEAR TREASURY INDEX, THE CITIGROUP 3-MONTH TREASURY BILL INDEX, THE S&P 500 INDEX, AND THE FTSE NAREIT U.S. EQUITY INDEX.
1 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -------------------- FUND RETURN BEFORE TAXES XX.XX% XX.XX% FUND RETURN AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS XX.XX% XX.XX% FUND RETURN AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS AND SALE OF FUND SHARES XX.XX% XX.XX% 25/25/25/25 BLENDED BENCHMARK INDEX** XX.XX% XX.XX% CITIGROUP 10-YEAR TREASURY INDEX XX.XX% XX.XX% CITIGROUP 3-MONTH TREASURY BILL INDEX XX.XX% XX.XX% S&P 500 INDEX XX.XX% XX.XX% FTSE NAREIT U.S. EQUITY INDEX XX.XX% XX.XX% |
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index measures the market prices of a specific group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. Unlike a mutual fund, an index does not have an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index had expenses, its performance would be lower. The Citigroup 10-Year Treasury Index computes returns for the current treasury notes with a maturity of 10 years or less. treasury notes are fixed income securities whose interest and principal payments are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index computes returns for the current treasury bills with a maturity of 90 days or less. Treasury bills are securities whose interest and principal payments are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged, capital-weighted index (higher market value stocks have more influence that lower market value stocks) of the common equity of 500 companies primarily traded on the NYSE, and is designed to mimic the overall U.S. equity market's industry weightings. The FTSE NAREIT US Equity Index is an unmanaged index of all tax-qualified REITs listed on the NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ which have 75% or more of their gross invested book assets invested directly or indirectly in the equity ownership of real estate.
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold A Class Shares of the Fund.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- A CLASS SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) 5.00%* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of net asset value) None* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions (as a None percentage of offering price) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)** None ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- |
* This sales charge varies depending on how much you invest in the Fund. A Class Shares purchased without an initial sales charge may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within 12 months of purchase. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (CDSC) - A Class Shares." ** Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), by ACH, or by check to your address of record.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ A CLASS SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Investment Advisory Fees 0.75% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Distribution Fees 0.25% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Other Expenses* X.XX% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.00%** ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses*** X.XX% ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ |
* Other expenses, including custodian, legal and audit expenses, are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. ** Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on an estimated amount of less than 0.01% for the current fiscal year. *** The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may discontinue all or part of its waiver at any time. In addition, if at any point it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to make expense limitation reimbursements, the Board may permit the Adviser to retain the difference between the "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" and 1.25% to recapture all of a portion of its prior expense limitation reimbursements made during the preceding three-year period.
For more information about these fees, see "Investment Adviser" and "Distribution of Fund Shares."
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, Fund operating expenses remain the same and you reinvest all dividends and distributions.* Although your actual costs and returns might be different, based on these estimates your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Fund would be:
------------------------------- ---------------------------------- 1 YEAR 3 YEARS ------------------------------- ---------------------------------- $XXX $XXX ------------------------------- ---------------------------------- |
* THE COST FIGURES IN THE EXAMPLE ARE BASED ON THE FUND'S TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES, WHICH DO NOT REFLECT FEE WAIVERS OR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
The Funds are mutual funds. A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using professional investment managers, invests it in securities.
The Funds have investment goals and strategies for reaching these goals. The
Funds' investment adviser, Westwood Management Corp., invests the Funds' assets
in a way that it believes will help the Funds achieve their goals. Still,
investing in the Funds involves risk and there is no guarantee that any Fund
will achieve its goals. 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
money on your investment in a Fund, just as you could with similar investments.
A FUND SHARE IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE FDIC
OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
The value of your investment in a 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 it trades. 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.
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, interests in MLPs and royalty trusts, shares of REITs, and ADRs, as well as shares of ETFs that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. 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. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund's net asset value to fluctuate. 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.
FOREIGN SECURITY RISK - Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as ADRs) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign companies or governments generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to domestic U.S. companies or governments. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the U.S. and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio.
FIXED INCOME RISK (WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND ONLY) - The market value of fixed income investments change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the values of outstanding fixed income securities generally rise. Moreover, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, the prices of longer maturity securities are also subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, certain debt obligations with high interest rates may be prepaid (or "called") by the issuer prior to maturity. In addition to these risks, fixed income securities may be subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that an issuer will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of either principal or interest.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS
The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Funds use under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, each 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 objectives. If a Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Funds will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for capital appreciation or current income.
This prospectus describes the Funds' principal investment strategies, and the Funds will normally invest in the types of securities and other investments described in this prospectus. In addition to the securities and other investments described in this prospectus, each 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 strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Funds' 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 a Fund will achieve its investment goals.
INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
A description of the Funds' policy and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Funds disclose their portfolio securities is available in the SAI. Within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each October 31, January 31, April 30, and July 31), each Fund will post its complete portfolio holdings on the internet at http://www.whgfunds.com. The information is provided with a lag of at least 60 days and is publicly available.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Westwood Management Corp., a New York corporation formed in 1983, serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser's principal place of business is located at 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75201. The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., an institutional asset management company. As of November 30, 2007, the Adviser had approximately $X.XX billion in assets under management.
The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers each Fund's investment program. The Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board") supervises the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of each Fund. The Adviser has
voluntarily agreed to limit the total annual Fund operating expenses of the Funds (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to 1.25% of each Fund's average daily net assets. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may waive a portion of its management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses of each Fund. The Adviser intends to continue its expense limitations until further notice, but may discontinue either limitation at any time. In addition, if at any point it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to make expense limitation reimbursements, the Board may permit the Adviser to retain the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses and 1.25%, to recapture all or a portion of its prior expense limitation reimbursements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's approval of the Funds' investment advisory agreement is available in the Funds' Annual Report dated October 31, 2007.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The Adviser also manages institutional separate accounts and is the sub-adviser to other mutual funds. The investment process is the same for similar accounts, including the Funds, and is driven by proprietary team-oriented, in-depth, fundamental research. The investment research team is organized by industry coverage and supports all of the accounts managed in each of the Adviser's investment strategies. Each of the Adviser's investment strategies is managed by a portfolio management team. Weekly research meetings provide a forum where the Adviser's investment professionals discuss current investment ideas within their assigned industries. Generally, the entire portfolio management team, or a sub-set of the team, then debates the merits of recommendations, taking into account the prevailing market environment, the portfolio's current composition, and the relative value of alternative investments. Investment decisions are made by majority agreement of the portfolio management team.
Although each Fund is managed by a portfolio management team, the Adviser has identified the team members with the most significant responsibility for the Funds' assets. This list does not include all members of the investment team. A description of each of the listed investment professional's role on the portfolio team is set forth below.
Ms. Susan M. Byrne has served as Chairman and Chief Investment Officer since founding the Adviser in April 1983. Ms. Byrne has served on the portfolio team for the WHG LargeCap Value Fund and the WHG Income Opportunity Fund since each Fund's inception. Ms. Byrne participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team decides the stock/weight selection for the model portfolio. She has authority to direct trading activity on the Funds and is also responsible for representing the Funds to investors. Ms. Byrne has more than 38 years of investment experience.
Mr. Mark R. Freeman, CFA, has served as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for the Adviser since July 2006. He joined the Adviser in 1999 and served as Vice President and Portfolio Manager from July of 2000 to July of 2006. Mr. Freeman has served on the portfolio team for the WHG LargeCap Value Fund and the WHG Income Opportunity Fund since each Fund's inception. Mr. Freeman participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team determines the stock/weight selection for the model portfolio. He has authority to direct trading activity on the Funds and is also responsible for representing the Funds to investors. Mr. Freeman has more than 20 years of investment experience.
Ms. Kellie R. Stark, CFA, has served as Senior Vice President for the Adviser since July 2004. Prior to this appointment, she served as Vice President and Associate Portfolio Manager for the Adviser from July 1997 to July 2004. She joined the Adviser in 1993 and has served on the portfolio team for the WHG LargeCap Value Fund since its inception. Ms. Stark participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team decides the stock/weight selection for the model
portfolio. She has authority to direct trading activity on the Fund and is also responsible for representing the Fund to investors. Ms. Stark has more than 19 years of investment experience.
Mr. Christopher J. MacDonald, CFA, has served as Vice President and Senior Research Analyst of the Adviser since July 2007. Prior to this appointment, he served as Vice President and Research Analyst for the Adviser since 1997. He joined the Adviser in 1994 and has served on the portfolio team for the WHG LargeCap Value Fund since its inception. Mr. MacDonald participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team determines the stock/weight selection for the model portfolio. He has authority to direct trading activity on the Fund and is also responsible for representing the Fund to investors. Mr. MacDonald has more than 19 years of investment experience.
Mr. Scott D. Lawson, CFA, has served as Vice President and Senior Research Analyst since he joined the Adviser in October 2003. Mr. Lawson has served on the portfolio team for the WHG LargeCap Value Fund since its inception. He has served on the portfolio team for the above listed Funds since their inception. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Lawson was an Assistant Portfolio Manager at Bank of America from 2000 to 2003. From 1995 to 2000, he was a Research Analyst with Mississippi Valley Advisors, specializing in the Technology and Industrial sectors. Mr. Lawson participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team decides the stock/weight selection for the target portfolio. He has authority to direct trading activity on the Fund, and he is also responsible for representing the Fund to investors. Mr. Lawson has more than 19 years of investment experience.
Mr. Todd L. Williams, CFA, has served as Vice President and Research Analyst for the Adviser since July 2005. Prior to this appointment, he served as Assistant Vice President and Research Analyst for the Adviser from July 2003 to July 2005, and as Research Analyst from November 2002 to July 2003. Before joining the Adviser, Mr. Williams was a portfolio manager and analyst with AMR Investments, Inc. Mr. Williams has served on the portfolio team for the WHG Income Opportunity Fund since its inception. He participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team decides the stock/weight selection for the model portfolio. He has authority to direct trading activity on the Fund. Mr. Williams is also responsible for representing the Fund to investors. Mr. Williams has more than 11 years of investment experience.
Ms. Lisa Dong, CFA, has served as Vice President and Research Analyst for the Adviser since June 2005. Prior to this appointment, she served the Adviser as Assistant Vice President and Research Analyst from October 2001 to July 2005, as Research Analyst from June 2001 to October 2001, and as Assistant Research Analyst from December 2000 to June 2001. Ms. Dong has served on the portfolio team for the WHG Income Opportunity Fund since its inception. Ms. Dong participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team decides the stock/weight selection for the model portfolio. She has authority to direct trading activity on the Fund, and she is also responsible for representing the Fund to investors. Ms. Dong has more than 11 years of investment experience.
Mr. Corey Henegar, CFA, has served as Vice President and Research Analyst for the Adviser since July 2007. Prior to this appointment, he served the Adviser as Assistant Vice President and Research Analyst from July 2004 to July 2007, as Research Analyst from July 2002 to July 2004, and as Assistant Research Analyst from June 2001 to July 2002. Mr. Henegar has served on the portfolio team for the WHG Income Opportunity Fund since its inception. He participates in the investment decision process during the portfolio team meetings in which the team decides the stock/weight selection for the model portfolio. He has authority to direct trading activity on the Fund, and he is also responsible for representing the Fund to investors. Mr. Henegar has more than 7 years of investment experience.
The Funds' SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund shares.
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE DATA OF THE ADVISER
The following tables give the historical performance of actual, fee-paying separate accounts, each referred to as a "Composite," managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies, strategies and risks substantially similar to those of each Fund. None of the Composites reflect all of the firm's assets under management. A complete list and description of the firm's composites are available upon request. The data illustrates the past performance of the Adviser in managing substantially similar accounts. THE DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUNDS. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Funds or of the Adviser.
The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composites differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Funds. Each Composite's performance data was calculated in accordance with the standards of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute ("CFAI").(1) All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. Except as otherwise noted, all returns reflect the payment of investment management fees, brokerage commissions, and execution costs paid by the accounts included in the composites, without taking into account federal or state income taxes. Custodial fees, if any, were not included in the calculations. Securities are valued as of trade-date. Accounts in the each Composite were under management for the entire reporting period. Beginning January 1, 2006, the minimum portfolio size for inclusion in a Composite was $5 million dollars. Prior to January 1, 2006, there was no minimum asset size below which portfolios were excluded from a Composite.
The currency used to express performance in each Composite is U.S. dollars. Performance results are presented both net of investment management fees and gross of investment management fees. Because of variation in fee levels, the "net of fees" Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.
The Accounts that are included in each Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Funds are subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for each Composite could have been adversely affected if the accounts in the Composite were subject to the same federal securities tax laws as the Funds.
The investment results for each Composite presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Funds. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Funds' own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.
The Adviser's LargeCap Value Composite Characteristics(2)
(January 1, 1987 through September 30, 2007)
------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- TOTAL RETURN TOTAL ASSETS PERCENTAGE OF (GROSS OF RUSSELL 1000 NUMBER OF AT END OF FIRM ASSETS YEAR INVESTMENT VALUE PORTFOLIOS DISPERSION PERIOD MANAGEMENT INDEX3, (4) (MILLIONS) FEES) ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2007 YTD 13.6% 6.0% 34 0.1 $2,856.3 41.1% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2006 19.9% 22.3% 32 0.1 $2,368.8 43.4% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2005 15.8% 7.1% 32 0.3 $2,656.2 57.7% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2004 14.2% 16.5% 39 0.3 $2,572.6 67.7% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2003 24.8% 30.0% 42 0.5 $2,341.3 61.4% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2002 (15.7%) (15.5%) 38 0.5 $1,822.5 45.4% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2001 (8.2%) (5.6%) 35 0.4 $1,880.7 46.8% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 2000 13.5% 7.0% 33 0.6 $1,637.3 46.1% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 1999 13.8% 7.4% 26 1.6 $1,111.4 48.0% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 1998 21.5% 15.6% 17 4.3 $536.6 26.2% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 1997 33.6% 35.2% 11 0.2 $194.0 11.6% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 1996 27.8% 21.6% 4 0.2 $131.4 14.0% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- 1995 40.5% 38.4% 4 0.0 $112.4 15.7% ------------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------- |
----------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ Adviser's Time Period Composite Returns ----------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Annualized Returns (as of 9/30/2007) -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- Net of Investment Gross of Investment Management Fees Management Fees ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1 Year 20.4% 20.9% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2 Years 17.5% 18.0% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 3 Years 18.9% 19.4% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 4 Years 19.0% 19.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 5 Years 18.5% 19.1% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 6 Years 12.7% 13.2% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 7 Years 8.4% 8.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 8 Years 9.5% 10.0% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 9 Years 10.9% 11.4% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 10 Years 10.1% 10.6% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 11 Years 12.8% 13.3% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 12 Years 13.9% 14.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 13 Years 14.9% 15.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 14 Years 14.5% 15.1% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 15 Years 15.1% 15.7% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 16 Years 14.5% 15.1% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 17 Years 15.0% 15.7% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 18 Years 13.1% 13.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 19 Years 14.1% 14.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 20 Years 12.8% 13.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- Since Inception (1/1/1987) 13.8% 14.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- |
----------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ Adviser's Time Period Composite Returns ----------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Calendar Years ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- Net of Investment Gross of Investment Management Fees Management Fees ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2007 13.2% 13.6% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2006 19.5% 19.9% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2005 15.3% 15.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2004 13.7% 14.2% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2003 24.3% 24.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2002 (16.1%) (15.7%) ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2001 (8.7%) (8.2%) ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 2000 13.1% 13.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1999 13.3% 13.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1998 20.6% 21.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1997 32.7% 33.6% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1996 26.9% 27.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1995 39.3% 40.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1994 3.5% 4.2% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1993 18.5% 19.2% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1992 8.3% 9.0% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1991 23.9% 24.7% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1990 (10.0%) (9.2%) ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1989 31.7% 32.5% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1988 15.7% 16.6% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- 1987 6.9% 7.8% ----------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- |
(1) CFAI is an international, nonprofit organization of more than 50,000 investment practitioners and educators in over 100 countries. CFAI offers services in three broad categories: Education through seminars and publications; Professional Conduct and Ethics; and Standards of Practice and Advocacy. These CFAI(R) performance presentation standards are intended to (i) promote full and fair presentations by investment advisers of their performance results and (ii) ensure uniformity in reporting so that performance results of the investment advisers are directly comparable. The Adviser has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS(R)). CFAI has not been involved in the preparation or review of this report.
(2) The calculation of returns is computed on a monthly basis starting January 1, 1997 for the Composite; including accrued dividends and interest income. Actual results may vary depending on level of assets and fee schedule. Performance results net of management fees reflect the actual rate of fees paid by the accounts included in the Composite. Westwood's fee schedules are as follows: for the LargeCap Value strategy, 0.75% on the first $25 million, negotiable thereafter. All fees are stated in annual rates and are typically billed quarterly. Asset-weighted standard deviation of investment returns versus asset-weighted composite includes accounts managed for the entire year. Westwood Management Corp. has been verified for the periods January 1, 1995 through December 31, 2006 by an independent verifier. A copy of the verification report is available upon request.
(3) The Russell 1000 Value Index is an unmanaged index which measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the US equity markets. It contains those Russell 1000 Index companies with lower-price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth.
(4) The comparative benchmark returns include interest and dividend income but do not include taxes, potential transaction costs or management fees.
The Adviser's Income Opportunity Composite Characteristics(2)
(January 1, 2003 through September 30, 2007)
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- YEAR TOTAL 10 YEAR 3 MONTH S&P NAREIT6, BLENDED NUMBER OF DISPERSION TOTAL PERCENTAGE RETURN TREASURY TREASURY 5005, (8) BENCHMARK7, PORTFOLIOS ASSETS OF FIRM (GROSS OF NOTE3, BILL(4,8) (8) (8) AT END ASSETS INVESTMENT (8) OF MANAGEMENT PERIOD FEES) --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- 2007 YTD 3.9% 4.7% 1.2% 2.0% 2.6% 2.8% 3 0.3 $198.4 2.9% --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- 2006 14.1% 1.4% 4.8% 15.8% 35.1% 13.7% 5 0.2 $235.0 4.3% --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- 2005 5.7% 2.0% 3.0% 4.9% 12.2% 5.7% 20 0.3 $119.6 2.6% --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- 2004 16.8% 4.9% 1.2% 10.9% 31.6% 12.0% 2 0.3 $32.7 0.9% --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- 2003 23.5% 1.3% 1.1% 28.7% 37.1% 16.3% 2 0.2 $18.9 0.5% --------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ------------- |
--------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Time Period Adviser's Composite Returns --------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Annualized Returns (as of 9/30/2007) -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- Net of Investment Gross of Investment Management Fees Management Fees ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 1 Year 9.0% 9.6% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 2 Years 7.8% 8.4% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 3 Years 10.2% 10.7% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 4 Years 11.9% 12.4% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- Since Inception 12.8% 13.3% (1/1/2003) ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Calendar Years -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- Net of Investment Gross of Investment Management Fees Management Fees ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 2007 YTD 3.6% 3.9% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 2006 13.7% 14.1% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 2005 5.4% 5.7% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 2004 16.3% 16.8% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- 2003 23.2% 23.5% ------------------------ ------------------------- --------------------------- |
(1) CFAI is an international, nonprofit organization of more than 50,000 investment practitioners and educators in over 100 countries. CFAI offers services in three broad categories: Education through seminars and publications; Professional Conduct and Ethics; and Standards of Practice and Advocacy. These CFAI performance presentation standards are intended to (i) promote full and fair presentations by investment advisers of their performance results and (ii) ensure uniformity in reporting so that performance results of the investment advisers are directly comparable. The Adviser has prepared and presented this report in compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS(R)). CFAI has not been involved in the preparation or review of this report.
(2) The calculation of returns is computed on a monthly basis starting January 1, 2002 for the Composites; including accrued dividends and interest income. Actual results may vary depending on level of assets and fee schedule. Performance results net of management fees reflect the actual rate of fees paid by the accounts included in the Composites. Westwood's fee schedules for the Income Opportunity strategy is 0.80% on the first $10 million, negotiable thereafter. All fees are stated in annual rates and are typically billed quarterly. Asset-weighted standard deviation of investment returns versus asset-weighted composite includes accounts managed for the entire year. Westwood Management Corp. has been verified for the periods January 1, 1995 through December 31, 2006 by an independent verifier. A copy of the verification report is available upon request.
(3) The Citigroup Treasury 10-Year Index computes returns for the current Treasury Notes with a maturity of 10 years or less. Treasury Notes are fixed income securities whose interest and principal payments are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
(4) The Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index computes returns for the current Treasury Bills with a maturity of 90 days or less.
(5) The S&P 500 Index is a widely recognized, market value weighted (higher market value stocks have more influence that lower market value stocks) index of 500 stocks designed to mimic the overall U.S. equity market's industry weightings.
(6) The NAREIT U.S. Equity Index is an unmanaged index of all tax qualified REITs listed on the NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ which have 75% or more of their gross invested book assets invested directly or indirectly in the equity ownership of real estate.
(7) The blended benchmark is comprised of the following: 25% S&P 500 Index / 25% NAREIT U.S. Equity Index / 25% Citigroup 3 Month Treasury Bill Index / 25% Citigroup 10-Yr. Treasury Note Index.
(8) The comparative benchmark returns include interest and dividend income but do not include taxes, potential transaction costs or management fees.
PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING FUND SHARES
This section tells you how to purchase and sell (sometimes called "redeem") and exchange A Class Shares of the Funds.
A Class Shares are for individual and retail investors.
HOW TO PURCHASE FUND SHARES
You will ordinarily submit your purchase orders through your securities broker or other financial intermediary through which you opened your shareholder account. To purchase shares directly from the Funds through their transfer agent, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-877-FUND-WHG or log on to the Funds' website at WWW.WHGFUNDS.COM.
All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (ACH), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler's checks, money orders or cashier's checks.
The Funds reserve the right to reject any specific purchase order for any reason. The Funds are not intended for short-term trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Funds' policy on short-term trading, see "Market Timing Policies and Procedures."
The Funds do not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Funds subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Funds for more information.
BY MAIL
REGULAR MAIL ADDRESS
WHG Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009
EXPRESS MAIL ADDRESS
WHG Funds
430 W. 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
BY WIRE
To open an account by wire, first call 1-877-FUND-WHG for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund name and your account number).
WIRING INSTRUCTIONS
UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA#: 101000695
WHG Funds
DDA# 9871063178
Ref: fund name/account name/account number
BY AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN (VIA AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE OR ACH)
You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Funds. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually in amounts of at least $25 per Fund. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at WHG Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121 (Express Mail Address: 430 W. 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64015). Allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.
GENERAL INFORMATION
You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for business (a "Business Day"). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share (the "Offering Price") will be the net asset value per share ("NAV") next determined after the Fund receives your purchase order in proper form. "Proper form" means that the Funds were provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor's social security number, tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds.
Each Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the regularly-scheduled close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). So, for you to receive the current Business Day's NAV, a Fund must receive your purchase order in proper form before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. If the NYSE closes early - such as on days in advance of certain holidays - the Funds reserve the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Funds will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions.
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from a Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of a Fund through your account with your broker or financial intermediary. For the reasons discussed below, if you place an order through a financial intermediary, please consult with the financial intermediary to determine when your order will be executed. In addition, when dealing with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with a Fund. Certain financial intermediaries may charge fees for purchase and/or redemption transactions by customers.
Certain financial intermediaries are authorized agents of the Fund for the sole purpose of accepting purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (referred to herein as "Authorized Intermediaries"). Purchase and redemption requests sent to such Authorized Intermediaries are executed at the NAV next determined after the intermediary receives the request if transmitted to the Fund's transfer agent in accordance with the Fund's procedures and applicable law. So, for you to receive the current Business Day's NAV, an Authorized Intermediary must receive your purchase or sale order in proper form before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Authorized Intermediaries are responsible for transmitting requests and delivering funds on a timely basis. If an Authorized Intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses.
If your financial intermediary is not an Authorized Intermediary, you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to your intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This earlier cut-off time allows these intermediaries time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund. These intermediaries are responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. Purchase and redemption requests sent to intermediaries that are not Authorized Intermediaries are executed at the NAV next determined after the Fund's transfer agent receives the order from the intermediary.
HOW THE FUNDS CALCULATE NAV
NAV for one Fund share is the value of that share's portion of all of the net assets of the Fund. In calculating NAV, each Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or a Fund reasonably believes that they are unreliable, such as in the case of a foreign security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, the Fund is required to price those securities at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Funds' Board. Pursuant to the policies adopted by, and under the ultimate supervision of the Funds' Board, these methods are implemented through the Funds' Fair Value Pricing Committee, members of which are appointed by the Board. A Fund's determination of a security's fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that the Fund assigns to a security may be higher or lower than the security's value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.
Although the Funds invest primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Funds would price securities at fair value - for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Funds calculated their NAV.
With respect to any non-U.S. securities held by the Funds, the Funds may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Funds may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international
markets and the time the Funds price their shares, the value the Funds assign to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Funds will consider any relevant information as related to the securities such as, the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, or securities market movements in the U.S.
MINIMUM PURCHASES
To purchase shares for the first time, you must invest at least $5,000. To purchase shares for an individual retirement account ("IRA") or other tax qualified account only, you must invest at least $5,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. The Fund may accept initial investments of smaller amounts at its discretion.
FUND CODES
The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Funds to purchase A Class Shares, check daily NAV or get additional information.
---------------------------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- FUND NAME TRADING SYMBOL CUSIP FUND CODE ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund TBD TBD TBD ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund TBD TBD TBD ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- |
HOW TO SELL YOUR FUND SHARES
If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund's transfer agent directly by mail or telephone at 1-877-FUND-WHG.
If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Funds.
If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Funds in writing and include a signature guarantee by a bank or other financial institution (a notarized signature is not sufficient). Signature guarantees may also be required for redemption requests for amounts over $25,000. In addition, you will need to provide a signature guarantee for wire redemptions made within 30 days of changing your bank account information and for check redemptions made within 30 days of changing your mailing address. A Fund may require that signatures be guaranteed by a bank or member firm of a national securities exchange. Signature guarantees are for the protection of the shareholders. Before they grant a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to insure proper authorization.
BY MAIL
To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to a Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:
o The Fund name;
o The account number;
o The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;
o The account name(s); and
o The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.
All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.
REGULAR MAIL ADDRESS
WHG Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009
EXPRESS MAIL ADDRESS
WHG Funds
430 W. 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
BY TELEPHONE
You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-877-FUND-WHG to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.
BY SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN (VIA ACH)
If your account balance is at least $10,000, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service, you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.
RECEIVING YOUR MONEY
Normally, a Fund will send your sale proceeds within seven days after the Fund receives your request. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via Automated Clearing House to your bank account once you have established banking instructions with the Fund. IF YOU ARE SELLING SHARES THAT WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED BY CHECK OR THROUGH ACH, REDEMPTION PROCEEDS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL YOUR CHECK HAS CLEARED OR THE ACH TRANSACTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED (WHICH MAY TAKE UP TO 15 DAYS FROM YOUR DATE OF PURCHASE).
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND
The Funds generally pay sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Funds' remaining shareholders the Funds might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in liquid securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in kind). It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in kind, but if they were, you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you will continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in kind until you sell them.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTIONS OF YOUR SHARES
If your account balance drops below $5,000 because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Funds will provide you at least 30 days' written notice to give you sufficient time to add to your account and avoid the sale of your shares.
SUSPENSION OF YOUR RIGHT TO SELL YOUR SHARES
The Funds may suspend your right to sell your shares during times when trading on the NYSE is restricted or halted, or otherwise as permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.
HOW TO EXCHANGE FUND SHARES
At no charge, you may exchange A Class Shares of one WHG Fund for A Class Shares of another WHG Fund by writing to or calling the Funds. You may only exchange shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses).
The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Funds may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Funds. For more information about the Funds' policy on excessive trading, see "Market Timing Policies and Procedures."
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Funds have certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Funds are not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Funds over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.
SALES CHARGES
FRONT-END SALES CHARGES - A CLASS SHARES
The offering price of A Class Shares is the NAV next calculated after the Funds receive your request, plus the front-end sales charge. The amount of any front-end sales charge included in your offering price varies depending on the amount of your investment.
------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ INVESTMENT YOUR SALES CHARGE AS A PERCENTAGE YOUR SALES CHARGE AS A PERCENTAGE OF OF YOUR OFFERING PRICE NET INVESTMENT ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Less than $50,000 5.00% 5.26% ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ $50,000 but less than $100,000 4.00% 4.17% ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ $100,000 but less than $250,000 3.00% 3.09% ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ $250,000 but less than $500,000 2.50% 2.56% ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ $500,000 but less than $1,000,000 2.00% 2.04% ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ $1,000,000 and over* None None ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ |
* Even though you do not pay a sales charge on purchases of $1,000,000 or more, these purchases may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within 12 months of purchase. See "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDCS) - A Class Shares."
You may qualify for reduced sales charges or sales charge waivers. If you believe that you may qualify for a reduction or waiver of the sales charge, you should discuss this matter with your broker or other financial intermediary. To qualify for these reductions or waivers, you or your financial intermediary must provide sufficient information at the time of purchase to verify that your purchase qualifies for such treatment. This information could be used to aggregate, for example, holdings in personal or retirement accounts, Fund shares owned by your immediate family members, and holdings in accounts at other brokers or financial intermediaries. The Funds or your financial intermediary may request documentation from you in order to verify your eligibility for a breakpoint discount. This information may include account statements and records regarding Fund shares held at all financial intermediaries by you and members of your immediate family. In addition to breakpoint discounts, the following sections describe other circumstances in which sales charges are waived or otherwise may be reduced.
WAIVER OF FRONT-END SALES CHARGE - A CLASS SHARES
Certain investors may be eligible for a waiver of the sales loads due to the nature of the investors and/or the reduced sales efforts necessary to obtain their investments. The front-end sales charge will be waived on A Class Shares purchased:
o Through reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
o Through an account advised or sub-advised by the Adviser or its
affiliates;
o By persons repurchasing shares they redeemed within the last 90 days
(see "Repurchase of A Class Shares");
o By employees, officers and directors, and members of their immediate
family, of the Adviser and its affiliates;
o By persons reinvesting distributions from qualified employee benefit
retirement plans and rollovers from individual retirement accounts
("IRAs") as long as the plan was previously invested in one or more
WHG Funds;
o By investors who purchase shares with redemption proceeds (but only to
the extent of such redemption proceeds) from another investment
company within 30 days of such redemption, provided that the investors
paid either a front-end or contingent deferred sales charge on the
original shares redeemed;
o Through dealers, retirement plans, asset allocation programs and
financial institutions that, under their dealer agreements with the
distributor or otherwise, do not receive any portion of the front-end
sales charge;
o Purchases by registered representatives and other employees of certain
financial intermediaries (and their immediate family members) having
selling agreements with the Adviser or distributor;
o Broker-dealer sponsored wrap program accounts and/or fee-based
accounts maintained for clients of certain financial intermediaries
who have entered into selling agreements with the distributor; and
o Certain other investors as deemed appropriate by the Adviser.
REPURCHASE OF A CLASS SHARES
You may repurchase any amount of A Class Shares of any Fund at NAV (without the normal front-end sales charge), up to the limit of the value of any amount of A Class Shares (other than those which were purchased with reinvested dividends and distributions) that you redeemed within the past 90 days. In
effect, this allows you to reacquire shares that you may have had to redeem, without repaying the front-end sales charge. To exercise this privilege, the Fund must receive your purchase order within 90 days of your redemption. In addition, you must notify your investment professional or institution when you send in your purchase order that you are repurchasing shares. Certain tax rules may limit your ability to recognize a loss on the redemption of your A Class Shares, and you should consult your tax advisor if recognizing such a loss is important to you.
RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION
In calculating the appropriate sales charge rate, this right allows you to add
the value of the A Class Shares you already own to the amount that you are
currently purchasing. The Fund will combine the value of your current purchases
with the current value of any A Class Shares you purchased previously for (i)
your account, (ii) your spouse's account, (iii) a joint account with your
spouse, or (iv) your minor children's trust or custodial accounts. A fiduciary
purchasing shares for the same fiduciary account, trust or estate may also use
this right of accumulation. If your investment qualifies for a reduced sales
load due to accumulation of purchases, you must notify the transfer agent at the
time of purchase of the existence of other accounts and/or holdings eligible to
be aggregated to reduce or eliminate the sales load. You may be required to
provide records, such as account statements, regarding the Fund shares held by
you or related accounts at the Fund or at other financial intermediaries in
order to verify your eligibility for a breakpoint discount. You will receive the
reduced sales load only on the additional purchases and not retroactively on
previous purchases. The Fund may amend or terminate this right of accumulation
at any time.
LETTER OF INTENT
You may purchase A Class Shares at the sales charge rate applicable to the total
amount of the purchases you intend to make over a 13-month period. In other
words, a Letter of Intent allows you to purchase A Class Shares of a Fund over a
13-month period and receive the same sales charge as if you had purchased all
the shares at the same time. The Fund will only consider the value of A Class
Shares sold subject to a sales charge. As a result, shares of the A Class Shares
purchased with dividends or distributions will not be included in the
calculation. To be entitled to a reduced sales charge on the purchase of A Class
Shares based on shares you intend to purchase over the 13-month period, you must
send the Fund a Letter of Intent. In calculating the total amount of purchases,
you may include in your Letter purchases made up to 90 days before the date of
the Letter. Purchases resulting from the reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains do not apply toward fulfillment of the Letter. The 13-month period begins
on the date of the first purchase, including those purchases made in the 90-day
period before the date of the Letter. Please note that the purchase price of
these prior purchases will not be adjusted.
You are not legally bound by the terms of your Letter of Intent to purchase the amount of your shares stated in the Letter. The Letter does, however, authorize the Fund to hold in escrow 5% of the total amount you intend to purchase. If you do not complete the total intended purchase of A Class Shares at the end of the 13-month period, the Fund's transfer agent will redeem the necessary portion of the escrowed shares to make up the difference between the reduced rate sales charge (based on the amount you intended to purchase) and the sales charge that would normally apply (based on the actual amount you purchased).
COMBINED PURCHASE/QUANTITY DISCOUNT PRIVILEGE
When calculating the appropriate sales charge rate, a Fund will combine same-day
purchases of A Class Shares (that are subject to a sales charge) made by you,
your spouse and your minor children (under age 21). This combination also
applies to A Class Shares you purchase with a Letter of Intent.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SALES CHARGES
Your securities dealer is paid a commission when you buy your shares and is paid a servicing fee as long as you hold your shares. Your securities dealer or servicing agent may receive different levels of compensation depending on which class of shares you buy.
From time to time, some financial institutions may be reallowed up to the entire sales charge. Firms that receive a reallowance of the entire sales charge may be considered underwriters for the purpose of federal securities law.
The Distributor may, from time to time in its sole discretion, institute one or more promotional incentive programs for dealers, which will be paid for by the Distributor from any sales charge it receives or from any other source available to it. Under any such program, the Distributor may provide cash or non-cash compensation as recognition for past sales or encouragement for future sales that may include merchandise, travel expenses, prizes, meals, lodgings, and gifts that do not exceed $100 per year, per individual.
Information regarding the Fund's sales charges may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free 1-877-FUND-WHG.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES (CDSC) - A CLASS SHARES
You will not pay a sales charge if you purchase $1,000,000 or more of A Class Shares. The offering price of A Class Shares is calculated in the NAV. If you purchase $1,000,000 or more of A Class Shares and sell your shares within 12 months after your purchase, you may pay a CDSC of 1.00% on certain purchases for either (1) the NAV of the shares at the time of purchase or (2) the NAV of the shares next calculated after the Fund receives your sale request, whichever is less. The sales charge does not apply to shares you purchase through reinvestment of dividends or distributions. So, you never pay a deferred sales charge on any increase in your investment above the initial offering price. This sales charge does not apply to exchanges of A Class Shares of one Fund for A Class Shares of another Fund.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES
The Funds have adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for A Class Shares that allows the Funds to pay distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of their shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Funds' assets continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual distribution fee for A Class Shares is 0.25%.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
The Funds may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to shareholders. "Financial Intermediaries" include 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 Funds, their service providers or their respective affiliates. This section and the following section briefly describe how Financial Intermediaries may be paid for providing these services.
The Funds generally pay Financial Intermediaries a fee that is based on the assets of each Fund that are attributable to investments by customers of the financial intermediary. The services for which Financial
Intermediaries are compensated may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders' accounts and other shareholder services. In addition to these payments, your Financial Intermediary may charge you account fees, transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Funds, or other fees for servicing your account. Your Financial Intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request. The Funds do not pay these service fees on shares purchased directly. In addition to payments made directly to Financial Intermediaries by each Fund, the Adviser or its affiliates may, at their own expense, pay Financial Intermediaries for these and other services to Fund shareholders, as described in the section below.
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, at their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated Financial Intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support. These payments may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 fees that are reflected in the fee table section of this prospectus. These payments are sometimes characterized as "revenue sharing" payments and are made out of the Adviser's and/or its affiliates' own legitimate profits or other resources, and are not paid by the Funds. A Financial Intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (E.G., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, Financial Intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Funds available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Funds with "shelf space," placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Funds in certain sales programs that are sponsored by Financial Intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to Financial Intermediaries. For more information please see "Payments to Financial Intermediaries" under the heading "Shareholder Services" in the Fund's SAI.
The level of payments to individual Financial Intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of the Funds' shares, the amount of the Funds' assets serviced by the Financial Intermediary or the quality of the Financial Intermediary's relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the Financial Intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a Financial Intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your Financial Intermediary. Any such payments will not change the net asset value or price of the Funds' shares. Please contact your Financial Intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of the Funds' shares or the provision of services to the Funds' shareholders, as well as information about any fees and/or commissions it charges.
OTHER POLICIES
MARKET TIMING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Funds are intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourage shareholders from engaging in "market timing" or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Funds may present risks to the Funds' long-term shareholders, all of which could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Funds' investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Funds to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs.
Because the Funds may invest in foreign securities that trade primarily on markets that close prior to the time a Fund determines its NAV, frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of a Fund's shares as compared to a fund investing in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by a Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as "price" or "time zone" arbitrage). This type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund's shares if the price of the Fund's foreign securities do not reflect their fair value. The Funds have procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating their NAV when such an event has occurred. However, because fair value pricing involves judgments which are inherently subjective, the use of fair value pricing may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage.
In addition, because the WHG Income Opportunity Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, this Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund's shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.
The Funds' service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Funds' policies and procedures described in this prospectus and approved by the Funds' Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Funds' service providers will consider the trading history of accounts known to be under common ownership or control to the extent they believe an investor or group of investors is attempting to evade detection under the Funds' policies and procedures by the use of multiple accounts. The Funds' policies and procedures include:
o Shareholders are restricted from making more than 4 "round trips" into or out of any Fund over any rolling 12 month period. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Funds and/or their service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase orders. The Funds define a "round trip" as a purchase into a Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.
o The Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Funds or their Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Funds.
The Funds and/or their service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Funds' long-term shareholders. The Funds do not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders.
Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Funds will occur, particularly with respect to trades placed by shareholders that invest in the Funds through omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan accounts and other financial intermediaries. The Funds' and their service providers' access to information about individual shareholder transactions made through such omnibus arrangements is often unavailable or severely limited. As a result, the Funds cannot assure that their policies will be enforced with regard to those Fund shares held through such omnibus arrangements (which may represent a majority of Fund shares), and as a result frequent trading could adversely affect
the Funds and their long-term shareholders as discussed above. In addition, if you own your Fund shares through an omnibus account maintained by a broker, retirement plan or other financial intermediary, it is possible that your financial intermediary's policies regarding frequent trading may differ from those of the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.
CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.
What this means to you: When you open an account, the Funds will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Funds to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.
The Funds are required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.
In certain instances, the Funds are required to collect documents to fulfill their legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify a customer's identity.
Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information is unable to be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds, your application will be rejected.
Upon receipt of your application in proper form (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV per share.
However, the Funds reserve the right to close or liquidate your account at the NAV next determined and remit proceeds to you via check if they are unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds. Further, the Funds reserve the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM
Customer identification and verification is part of the Funds' overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Funds have adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Funds from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Funds reserve the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Funds or in cases when the Funds are requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Funds are required to withhold such proceeds.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The WHG LargeCap Value Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. The WHG Income Opportunity Fund distributes its net investment income quarterly and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund's record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Funds in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Funds receive your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Funds written notice.
TAXES
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES. Below is a summary of some important tax issues that affect the Funds and their shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change.
Each Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from each Fund may be taxable whether or not you reinvest them. Income distributions, other than distributions of qualified dividend income, and distributions of short-term capital gains are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions of long-term capital gains and distributions of qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains.
Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale. The gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or a long term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TAXES IS IN THE SAI.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
WHG FUNDS
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Westwood Management Corp.
200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
DISTRIBUTOR
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
LEGAL COUNSEL
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND IS AVAILABLE, WITHOUT CHARGE, THROUGH THE FOLLOWING:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ("SAI"): The SAI, dated __________ __, 200_ includes detailed information about the WHG Funds and The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund. The SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this prospectus.
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: These reports list the Funds' holdings and contain information from the Funds' managers about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on the Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Funds.
TO OBTAIN AN SAI OR MORE INFORMATION:
BY TELEPHONE: 1-877-FUND-WHG BY MAIL: WHG Funds P.O. Box 219009 Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 BY INTERNET: WWW.WHGFUNDS.COM FROM THE SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, |
as well as other information about The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund, from the
EDGAR Database on the SEC's website at: HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. You may review and
copy documents at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (for
information on the operation of the Public Reference Room, call 202-942-8090).
You may request documents by mail from the SEC, upon payment of a duplicating
fee, by writing to: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Reference
Section, Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain this information, upon
payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address:
PUBLICINFO@SEC.GOV.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT REGISTRATION NUMBER IS
811-06400.
WHG-PS-XXX-XXXX
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHG LARGECAP VALUE FUND
WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND
EACH, A SERIES OF THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
____________ __, 200_
INVESTMENT ADVISER:
WESTWOOD MANAGEMENT CORP.
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 Advisors' Inner Circle Fund (the "Trust") and the WHG LargeCap Value Fund and the WHG Income Opportunity Fund (each a "Fund" and together, the "Funds"). This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Funds' prospectus dated _______ __, 200_. Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the prospectus. The financial statements for the Funds and notes thereto contained in the 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders are herein incorporated by reference into and deemed to be part of this SAI. A copy of the 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders must accompany the delivery of this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Funds' prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by calling the Funds at 1-877-FUND-WHG.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE TRUST..................................................................S-1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES............S-1 DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS.......................................S-4 INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS....................................................S-15 THE ADVISER...............................................................S-17 THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS....................................................S-18 THE ADMINISTRATOR.........................................................S-20 THE DISTRIBUTOR...........................................................S-21 FINANCIAL PAYMENTS TO INTERMEDIARIES......................................S-21 THE TRANSFER AGENT........................................................S-22 THE CUSTODIAN.............................................................S-22 INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.............................S-22 LEGAL COUNSEL.............................................................S-22 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST........................................S-22 PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES...........................................S-27 DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE..........................................S-27 TAXES.....................................................................S-28 FUND TRANSACTIONS.........................................................S-30 PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS........................................................S-33 DESCRIPTION OF SHARES.....................................................S-34 SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY.....................................................S-34 LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES' LIABILITY.........................................S-34 PROXY VOTING..............................................................S-34 CODE OF ETHICS............................................................S-35 APPENDIX A - RATINGS.......................................................A-1 APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES..........................B-1 _______ __, 200_ WHG-SX-XXX-XXXX |
THE TRUST
GENERAL. Each Fund is a series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended February 18, 1997. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series ("funds") of shares of beneficial interest ("shares"). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each Fund is a separate mutual fund, and each share of each Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. The Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses and (ii) other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets.
DESCRIPTION OF MULTIPLE CLASSES OF SHARES. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Funds in the following classes: Institutional Class Shares and A Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in certain distribution and shareholder servicing expenses and in the minimum initial investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the prospectuses. For more information on shareholder servicing and distribution expenses, see the "Distributor." The Funds are currently offered in the following classes of shares:
-------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- FUND INSTITUTIONAL ("I") CLASS SHARES A CLASS SHARES -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund X X -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund X X -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- |
VOTING RIGHTS. Each share held entitles the shareholder of record to one vote for each dollar invested. In other words, each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value of the shares held on the record date for the meeting. As a Massachusetts business trust, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholder approval will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate each Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if any Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board of Trustees (the "Board").
In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
Each Fund's investment objectives and principal investment strategies are described in the prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the prospectus. For a description of certain permitted investments discussed below, see "Description of Permitted Investments" in this SAI.
WHG LARGECAP VALUE FUND. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Fund is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. The Fund is classified as a "diversified" investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in common stocks and other equity securities of large companies that have a market capitalization within the range of the companies comprising the Russell 1000 Value index. This "80% policy" is a non-fundamental investment policy that can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days' prior notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund invests will be primarily common stocks, but may also include shares of large-cap stocks of exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), royalty trusts, and master limited partnerships ("MLPs"). The Fund generally invests in equity securities of domestic companies, but may also invest in equity securities of foreign companies and American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs").
The Fund invests in approximately 40-60 securities with attractive valuations. Companies that produce ample levels of free cash flow and maintain relatively low levels of debt are preferred. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Westwood Management Corp. (the "Adviser") utilizes a value style of investing in which it chooses common stocks that they believe are currently undervalued in the market. Other key metrics for evaluating the risk/return profile of an investment include an improving return on equity, a declining debt/equity ratio and in the case of common equities, positive earnings surprises without a corresponding increase in Wall Street estimates. The Adviser has disciplines in place that serve as sell signals, such as a security reaching a predetermined price target; or a change to a company's fundamentals that negatively impacts the original investment thesis. The Adviser will not necessarily sell a security that has depreciated outside the stated market capitalization range defined above.
WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND. The primary investment objective of the Fund is to provide current income. A secondary objective of the Fund is to provide the opportunity for long-term capital appreciation. The investment objectives of the Fund are non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund is classified as a "diversified" investment company under the 1940 Act.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks its investment objectives by investing primarily in dividend-paying and/or interest bearing securities. The Fund seeks to invest in securities of companies with a strong and improving cash flow sufficient to support a sustainable or rising income stream for investors. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser chooses a diversified group of different types of income-producing asset classes. Equity securities may include dividend-paying common stocks, preferred stocks, and convertible securities. Fixed income securities may include bonds and other debt securities, and money market instruments. Other types of income-producing securities may include interests in royalty trusts and MLPs, and securities of REITs and ETFs.
The Fund will generally invest in securities of domestic companies, but may also invest in foreign securities and ADRs. The Fund's investments are expected to have a bias toward larger capitalization issuers, but the Fund is permitted to invest in companies of any capitalization range. The Fund's fixed income investments will, in the aggregate, be of investment grade (rated in one of the three highest rating categories by a rating agency), but may at times include securities rated below investment grade. In addition, the Fund's fixed income securities may include unrated securities if deemed by the Fund's Adviser to be of comparable quality to investment grade.
The Fund's investment strategy is designed to provide a higher level of current income than offered by traditional fixed income products, such as U.S. government bonds and money market securities. The Adviser's investment process incorporates relative value analysis among capital instruments as well as among asset classes to determine where downside potential can be limited to achieve the goal of generating an attractive level of current income. Other key metrics for evaluating the risk/return profile of an investment include an improving return on equity, a declining debt/equity ratio and in the case of common equities, positive earnings surprises without a corresponding increase in Wall Street estimates. The Adviser has disciplines in place that serve as sell signals, such as a security reaching a predetermined price target; a change to a company's fundamentals that make the risk/reward profile unattractive; or a need to improve the overall risk/reward profile of the Fund.
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices discussed in the "Additional Information About Investment Objectives and Policies" section and the associated risk factors. The Funds 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.
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY 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. Depositary receipts are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities that have been deposited with a "depository" and may be sponsored or unsponsored. 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.
For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other depositary receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs are issued in registered form, denominated in U.S. dollars, and designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. Other depositary receipts, such as GDRs and EDRs, may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies, and are generally designed for use in securities markets outside the U.S. While the two types of depositary receipt facilities (unsponsored or sponsored) are similar, there are differences regarding a holder's rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depository of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the underlying issuer or to pass through voting rights to depositary receipt holders with respect to the underlying securities.
Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depository receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depository receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholders meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer's request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequency is 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.
For purposes of a Fund's investment policies, investments in depositary receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. Depository receipts do not eliminate all of the risks associated with directly investing in the securities of foreign issuers.
Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may subject the Funds 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. Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company or partnership and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, securities convertible into common stock, and investments in master limited partnerships. 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 a Fund invests will cause the net asset value of a fund to fluctuate. The U.S. stock market tends to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. The Funds purchase equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:
o 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.
o 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.
o ROYALTY TRUSTS. Royalty trusts are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty trust. A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.
o EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS. ETFs are investment companies whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. Some examples of ETFs are SPDRs(R), streetTRACKS, DIAMONDS(SM), NASDAQ 100 Index Tracking Stock(SM) ("QQQs(SM)"), and iShares(R). A Fund could purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. See also "Investment Company Shares" below.
o 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.
o 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 a 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.
o 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 micro and 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 micro and 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.
MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. MLPs are limited partnerships or limited liability companies, whose partnership units or limited liability interests are listed and traded on a U.S. securities exchange, and are treated as publicly traded partnerships for federal income tax purposes. To qualify to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes, an MLP must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources as set forth in Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). These qualifying sources include activities such as the exploration, development, mining, production, processing, refining, transportation, storage and marketing of mineral or natural resources. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. MLPs that are formed as limited liability companies generally have two analogous classes of owners, the managing member and the members. For purposes of this section, references to general partners also apply to managing members and references to limited partners also apply to members. The general partner is typically owned by a major energy company, an investment fund, the direct management of the MLP or is an entity owned by one or more of such parties. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP through an equity interest of as much as 2% in the MLP plus, in many cases, ownership of common units and subordinated units. Limited partners own the remainder of the MLP through ownership of common units and have a limited role in the MLP's operations and management.
MLPs are typically structured such that common units and general partner interests have first priority to receive quarterly cash distributions up to an established minimum amount ("minimum quarterly distributions" or "MQD"). Common and general partner interests also accrue arrearages in distributions to the extent the MQD is not paid. Once common and general partner interests have been paid, subordinated units receive distributions of up to the MQD; however, subordinated units do not accrue arrearages. Distributable cash in excess of the MQD paid to both common and subordinated units is distributed to both common and subordinated units generally on a pro rata basis. The general partner is also eligible to receive incentive distributions if the general partner operates the business in a manner which results in distributions paid per common unit surpassing specified target levels. As the general partner increases cash distributions to the limited partners, the general partner receives an increasingly higher percentage of the incremental cash distributions. A common arrangement provides that the general partner can reach a tier where it receives 50% of every incremental dollar paid to common and subordinated unit holders. These incentive distributions encourage the general partner to streamline costs, increase capital expenditures and acquire assets in order to increase the partnership's cash flow and raise the quarterly cash distribution in order to reach higher tiers. Such results benefit all security holders of the MLP.
General partner interests of MLPs are typically retained by an MLP's original sponsors, such as its founders, corporate partners, entities that sell assets to the MLP and investors such as us. A holder of general partner interests can be liable under certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder's investment in the general partner interest. General partner interests often confer direct board participation rights and in many cases, operating control, over the MLP. These interests themselves are not publicly traded, although they may be owned by publicly traded entities. General partner interests receive cash distributions, typically 2% of the MLP's aggregate cash distributions, which are contractually defined in the partnership agreement. In addition, holders of general partner interests typically hold incentive distribution rights ("IDRs"), which provide them with a larger share of the aggregate MLP cash distributions as the distributions to limited partner unit holders are increased to prescribed levels. General partner interests generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unitholders choose to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by limited partner unitholders.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES. Fixed income securities include bonds, notes, debentures and other interest-bearing securities that represent indebtedness. The market value of the fixed income investments in which a Fund invests will change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the values of outstanding fixed income securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the values of such securities generally decline. Moreover, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, the prices of longer maturity securities are also subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Changes by recognized agencies in the rating of any fixed income security and in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of these securities will not necessarily affect cash income derived from these securities but will affect a Fund's net asset value.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Foreign securities include equity securities of foreign entities, obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and of foreign banks, including, without limitation, European Certificates of Deposit, European Time Deposits, European Bankers' Acceptances, Canadian Time Deposits, Europaper and Yankee Certificates of Deposit, and investments in Canadian Commercial Paper and foreign securities. These instruments have investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. Such risks include future adverse political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest or other income, possible seizure, nationalization, or expropriation of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source, greater fluctuations in value due to changes in exchange rates, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations. Such investments may also entail higher custodial fees and sales commissions than domestic investments. Foreign issuers of securities or obligations are often subject to accounting treatment and engage in business practices different from those respecting domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks.
INVESTMENT COMPANY SHARES. The Funds 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 Funds. The Funds' 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 Funds' expenses. Under applicable regulations, unless an exception is
available, the Funds are prohibited from acquiring the securities of another
investment company if, as a result of such acquisition: (1) the Funds own more
than 3% of the total voting stock of the other company; (2) securities issued by
any one investment company represent more than 5% of the Funds' total assets; or
(3) securities (other than treasury stock) issued by all investment companies
represent more than 10% of the total assets of the Funds.
For hedging or other purposes, each 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 ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See "Exchange Traded Funds" above). 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 an order issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to iShares(R) Funds and procedures approved by the Board, each Fund may invest in iShares Funds in excess of the 5% and 10% limits described above, provided that the Fund has described 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. iShares(R) is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. ("BGI"). Neither BGI nor the iShares Funds makes any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the iShares Funds.
MONEY MARKET SECURITIES. Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; 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; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described below. For a description of ratings, see "Appendix A - Ratings" to this SAI.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS. A REIT is a corporation or 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 from taxable income the 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), 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 annually 95% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.
REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.
REITs in which a Fund invests may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of a Fund's investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower's or a lessee's ability
to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations in which the Funds 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, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Student Loan Marketing Association, 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.
o 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").
o 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.
o 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.
o 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 a Fund's shares.
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 Funds 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 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. Bank obligations include the following:
o 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.
o 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.
o 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 Funds may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. The Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds, 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 Funds will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Funds' 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, a Fund could suffer a loss. It is the current policy of the Funds, 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 Funds 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 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 Funds can invest in securities of other investment companies. The Funds are prohibited from acquiring the securities of another investment company if, as a result of such acquisition: (1) a Fund owns more than 3% of the total voting stock of the other company; (2) securities issued by any one investment company represent more than 5% of a Fund's total assets; or (3) securities (other than treasury stock) issued by all investment companies represent more than 10% of the total assets of a Fund, unless it does so in reliance on a statutory exemption under the 1940 Act or rule or SEC staff interpretations thereunder.
SECURITIES LENDING. The Funds may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Funds' Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of a Fund (including the loan collateral). The Funds will not lend portfolio securities to their investment adviser, sub-adviser or their affiliates unless they have applied for and received specific authority to do so from the SEC. 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 100% of the current market value of the loaned 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 Funds.
The Funds may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Funds' securities lending agent.
By lending its securities, a 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 Funds will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed in the preceding paragraph from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund's administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund's ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.
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 Funds will reduce the risk that they 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 Funds 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 Funds, such use will be in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA"). The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" in accordance with Rule 4.5 and therefore, the Funds are not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.
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 a 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 (and marked-to-market on a daily basis), a segregated account consisting of 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.
A 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 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. A 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. A 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.
A 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. A 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. A 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, a 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. A 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 Funds' 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 a 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 Funds' exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.
OPTIONS. The Funds 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.
A 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 a 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 a Fund writes an option on a security, on 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.
A Fund may trade put and call options on securities, securities indices and currencies, as the investment adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Fund's investment objectives, 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, a 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 a 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.
A 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.
A 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 a 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 a 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 a 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.
A 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 a 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 procedures approved by the Trust's Board. Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, a 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 their 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 Trust's Board, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Funds' investments. In determining the liquidity of the Funds' 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). A 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. As consistent with each Fund's investment objectives, the Funds 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 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 Trust believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid to the extent it meets the criteria established by the Board. The Trust 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 each Fund's investment objectives, the Funds 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 a taxable transaction to the Funds with respect to the securities that are sold short.
Uncovered short sales are transactions under which a 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 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.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
The following investment limitations are fundamental policies of the Funds that cannot be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Funds' outstanding shares. In addition, the WHG LargeCap Value Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy. The phrase "majority of the outstanding shares" means the vote of (i) 67% or more of a 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 a Fund's outstanding shares, whichever is less.
The Funds may not:
1. Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
2. Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
3. Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
4. Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
5. Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
6. Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
The following investment limitations of the Funds are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Trust's Board without shareholder approval. In addition, the investment objective of the WHG Income Opportunity is a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Trust's Board without shareholder approval. These non-fundamental policies are based upon the regulations currently set forth in the 1940 Act.
The Funds may not:
1. Purchase securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if as a result more than 5% of the total assets of a Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of a Fund's total assets.
2. Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the total assets of a 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, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities. For purposes of this limitation, (i) utility companies will be classified according to their services, for example, gas distribution, gas transmission, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; and (ii) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services, for example, automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry.
3. Borrow money from a bank in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets, provided that, for purposes of this limitation, investment strategies that either obligate a Fund to purchase securities or require a Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowing. Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowing, except where a Fund has borrowed money, from any source, for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of its total assets.
4. Make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that a 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.
5. Purchase or sell real estate, real estate limited partnership interests, physical commodities or commodities contracts except that a Fund may purchase (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including real estate investment trusts), commodities or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.
6. Invest in illiquid securities in an amount exceeding, in the aggregate, 15% of a Fund's net assets.
7. Under normal circumstances, the WHG LargeCap Value Fund shall invest at least 80% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of large-cap companies.
Except with respect to Fund policies concerning borrowing and illiquid securities, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances causes a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.
The following descriptions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:
DIVERSIFICATION. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment management company, as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agents or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting securities would be held by the fund.
CONCENTRATION. The SEC staff has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company's total assets in an industry or group of industries.
BORROWING. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total.
SENIOR SECURITIES. 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.
LENDING. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies. The Funds' current investment policy on lending is as follows: a Fund may not 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) engage in securities lending as described in its Statement of Additional Information.
UNDERWRITING. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.
REAL ESTATE. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company's ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Funds will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Funds may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs).
COMMODITIES. The Funds will not purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts, except that the Funds may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in commodities or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.
THE ADVISER
GENERAL. Westwood Management Corp., a New York corporation formed in 1983, is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., an institutional asset management company. As of November 30, 2007, the Adviser had approximately $X.XX billion in assets under management.
ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement"). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Funds, subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, the Trustees of the Trust. After the initial two year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Funds and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees 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 Trustees of the Trust or by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Funds, on not less than 30-days' nor more than 60-days' written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 90-days' written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust 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 the fiscal years ended October 31, 2006 and 2007, the Funds paid the following in management fees to the Adviser:
-------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- FUND ADVISORY FEES PAID ADVISORY FEES WAIVED ADVISORY FEES REIMBURSED -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 -------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund* ($33,930) $X,XXX $15,680 $X,XXX $33,930 $X,XXX -------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund** $7,027 $X,XXX $310,860 $X,XXX $0 $X,XXX -------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- |
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
This section includes information about the Funds' portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.
COMPENSATION. The Adviser compensates the Funds' portfolio managers for their management of the Funds. Each of the Funds' portfolio managers' compensation consists of a fixed cash salary and employer 401(k) matching contributions. The portfolio managers are also paid a discretionary cash bonus and a restricted stock award which takes into account performance of the products they manage, including the Funds and other accounts, and profitability of the firm.
FUND SHARES OWNED BY PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. The Funds are required to show the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager's "beneficial ownership" of shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. "Beneficial ownership" is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- NAME DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Susan M. Byrne None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Mark R. Freeman None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Kellie R. Stark None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Christopher J. MacDonald None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Scott D. Lawson None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Todd L. Williams None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Lisa Dong None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Corey Henegar None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- |
OTHER ACCOUNTS. In addition to the Funds, certain portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. Note that two of the accounts listed below are subject to a performance-based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2007.
The Adviser also manages institutional separate accounts and is the sub-adviser to other mutual funds. The investment process is the same for similar accounts, including the Funds, and is driven by proprietary team-oriented, in-depth, fundamental research. The investment research team is organized by industry coverage and supports all of the accounts managed in each of the Adviser's investment strategies. Each of the Adviser's investment strategies is managed by a portfolio team. Weekly research meetings provide a forum where the Adviser's investment professionals discuss current investment ideas within their assigned industries. Generally, the entire portfolio team, or a sub-set of the team, then debates the merits of recommendations, taking into account the prevailing market environment, the portfolio's current composition, and the relative value of alternative investments. Investment decisions are made by majority agreement of the portfolio team.
-------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- REGISTERED OTHER POOLED INVESTMENT COMPANIES INVESTMENT VEHICLES OTHER ACCOUNTS -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- NUMBER OF TOTAL ASSETS* NUMBER OF TOTAL ASSETS* NUMBER OF TOTAL ASSETS* NAME ACCOUNTS ($ MILLIONS) ACCOUNTS ($ MILLIONS) ACCOUNTS ($ MILLIONS) -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Susan M. Byrne XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX** -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Mark R. Freeman XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX** -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Kellie R. Stark XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX** -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Christopher J. MacDonald XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX** -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Scott Lawson XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX** -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Lisa Dong XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Corey Henegar XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- Todd L. Williams XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX XX $XX.XX** -------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------------- |
** Includes two accounts with aggregated assets under management of $824.3 million that are subject to performance-based advisory fees.
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 Funds' 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 Funds. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the 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 Funds. 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. The Adviser's trade allocation policy is to aggregate client transactions, including the Funds', where possible when it is believed that such aggregation may facilitate the Adviser's duty of best execution. Client accounts for which orders are aggregated receive the average price of such transaction. Any transaction costs incurred in the transaction are shared pro rata based on each client's participation in the transaction. The Adviser generally allocates securities among client accounts according to each account's pre-determined participation in the transaction. The Adviser's policy prohibits any allocation of trades that would favor any proprietary accounts, affiliated accounts, or any particular client(s) or group of clients more over any other account(s). The Adviser prohibits late trading, frequent trading and/or market timing in the funds and monitors trades daily to ensure this policy is not violated.
THE ADMINISTRATOR
GENERAL. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the "Administrator"), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation ("SIMC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company ("SEI Investments"), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of funds evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an administration agreement (the "Administration Agreement"). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities. The Administrator also serves as the shareholder servicing agent for the Fund under a shareholder servicing agreement with the Trust pursuant to which the Administrator provides certain shareholder services in addition to those set forth in the Administration Agreement.
The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder. The Administration Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of one year after the effective date of the agreement and shall continue in effect for successive periods of two years unless terminated by either party on not less than 90 days' prior written notice to the other party.
ADMINISTRATION FEES PAID TO THE ADMINISTRATOR. The Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities. For these administrative services, the Administrator is entitled to a fee, which is detailed below in the following schedule:
---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- FEE (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE AVERAGE ANNUAL ASSETS) FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- 0.12% First $100 million ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- 0.08% $100 - $300 million ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- 0.06% $300 - $850 million ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- 0.04% Over $850 million ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- |
The foregoing fee is subject to a minimum annual fee of $100,000 for the Westwood Management Corp. fund complex, and is applicable to each portfolio within the fund complex.
o The Administrator will waive $25,000 for the first year of operations for each portfolio launched during the first twenty four (24) months of the Administration Agreement.
o For each additional class of shares of a fund established after the initial
(1) class of shares per fund, the minimum annual fee will be increased by
$15,000.
The fees outlined above will remain in place for a period of three (3) years.
For the fiscal period ended October 31, 2006 and 2007, the Funds paid the following administration fees:
-------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- FUND ADMINISTRATION FEES PAID ADMINISTRATION FEES WAIVED -------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 -------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund* $6,516 $X,XXX $0 $X,XXX -------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund** $121,221 $X,XXX $0 $X,XXX -------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ---------------------- |
THE DISTRIBUTOR
GENERAL. SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the "Distributor"), a wholly -owned subsidiary of SEI Investments, and the Trust are parties to a distribution agreement dated May 31, 2000 ("Distribution Agreement"). The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.
The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or "interested persons" of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, upon not more than 60 days' written notice by either party. The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust 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.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan (the "Plan") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or interested persons (as defined by the 1940 Act) of any party to the Distribution Agreement ("Qualified Trustees"). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and of the Qualified Trustees.
o A CLASS SHARES. Under the Plan, the Distributor, or third parties that enter into agreements with the Distributor ("Service Providers"), may receive up to 0.25% of each Fund's assets attributable to A Class Shares as compensation for distribution and shareholder services pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act.
o DESCRIPTION OF DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. Distribution services may
include: (i) services in connection with distribution assistance; or
(ii) payments to financial institutions and other financial
intermediaries, such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance
companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund
"supermarkets" and the Distributor's affiliates and subsidiaries, as
compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in
connection with distribution assistance. The Distributor may, at its
discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for
distribution services and distribution related expenses such as the
costs of preparation, printing, mailing or otherwise disseminating
sales literature, advertising, and prospectuses (other than those
furnished to current shareholders of the Funds), promotional and
incentive programs, and such other marketing expenses that the
Distributor may incur.
THE TRANSFER AGENT
DST Systems, Inc., 430 W. 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105, serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust (the "Transfer Agent").
THE CUSTODIAN
U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the "Custodian"), serves as the custodian of the Funds. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Funds as required by the 1940 Act.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1701 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2921, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES. The management and affairs of the Trust and the Funds are supervised by the Trustees under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Each Trustee is responsible for overseeing the Funds and each of the Trust's additional 36 funds, which includes funds not described in this SAI. The Trustees have approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. Set forth below are the names, dates of birth, position with the Trust, length of term of office, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as Trustees of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.
----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- POSITION WITH TRUST AND NAME AND LENGTH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DATE OF BIRTH OF TERM IN PAST 5 YEARS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERESTED TRUSTEES ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- Robert Nesher Chairman of the SEI employee 1974 to Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (08/17/46) Board of present; currently performs Bishop Street Funds, SEI Global Master Fund, plc, Trustees* various services on behalf SEI Global Assets Fund, plc, SEI Global Investments (since 1991) of SEI Investments for which Fund, plc, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Mr. Nesher is compensated. Opportunity Master Fund, L.P., SEI Opportunity Executive Vice President of Fund, L.P., SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Index SEI Investments, 1986 to Fund, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional 1994. Director and International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Executive Vice President of Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Liquid the Administrator and the Asset Trust and SEI Tax Exempt Trust. Distributor, 1981 to 1994. ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- William M. Doran Trustee* Self-Employed Consultant Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (05/26/40) (since 1992) since 2003. Partner, Bishop Street Funds, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Index Fund, SEI (law firm) from 1976 to Institutional International Trust, SEI 2003, counsel to the Trust, Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional SEI Investments, the Managed Trust, SEI Liquid Asset Trust and SEI Tax Administrator and the Exempt Trust., SEI Investments - Global Fund Distributor. Director of the Services Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, Distributor since 2003. SEI Investments (Europe), Limited, SEI Investments Director of SEI Investments (Asia) Limited, and SEI Asset Korea Co., Ltd. since 1974; Secretary of SEI Investments since 1978. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- Charles E. Carlbom Trustee Self-Employed Business Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (08/20/34) (since 2005) Consultant, Business Bishop Street Funds; Board Member, Oregon Transfer Projects Inc. since 1997. Co., and O.T. Logistics, Inc. Director, Crown Pacific Inc., CEO and President, United Grocers Inc. from 1997 to 2000. ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- Mitchell A. Johnson Trustee Retired. Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (03/01/42) (since 2005) Bishop Street Funds; Director, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation; Trustee of Diversified Investors Portfolio, The Diversified Investors Fund Group, The Diversified Investors Fund Group II, and the Diversified Investors Strategies Variable Funds. ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- Betty L. Krikorian Trustee Self-Employed Legal and Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II and (01/23/43) (since 2005) Financial Services Bishop Street Funds. Consultant since 2003. State Street Bank In-house counsel, 1995 to 2003. ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- POSITION WITH TRUST AND NAME AND LENGTH PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DATE OF BIRTH OF TERM IN PAST 5 YEARS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ James M. Storey Trustee Attorney, Solo Practitioner Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (04/12/31) (since 1994) since 1994. Partner, Dechert Bishop Street Funds, Massachusetts Health and Price & Rhoads (law firm), Education Tax-Exempt Trust, SEI Asset Allocation September 1987 to December Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Index Fund, SEI 1993. Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Liquid Asset Trust and SEI Tax Exempt Trust, and U.S. Charitable Gift Trust. ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- George J. Sullivan, Jr. Trustee Chief Executive Officer, Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (11/13/42) (since 1999) Newfound Consultants Inc. Bishop Street Funds, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, since April 1997. General SEI Opportunity Fund, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Partner, Teton Partners, Index Fund, SEI Institutional International Trust, L.P., June 1991 to December SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI 1996; Chief Financial Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Liquid Asset Officer. Trust, SEI Opportunity Master Fund, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, and State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust. ----------------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- |
BOARD STANDING COMMITTEES. The Board has established the following standing committees:
o AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees of the Trust. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: recommending which firm to engage as the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm's compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm's independence; pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm's opinion, any related management letter, management's responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Trust's Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management's responses to any such reports; reviewing the Trust's audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust's management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust's senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firm's report on the adequacy of the Trust's internal financial controls; reviewing, in consultation with the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing the Trust's financial statements; and other audit related matters. Messrs. Carlbom, Johnson, Storey, Sullivan and Ms. Krikorian currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four times in the most recently completed Trust fiscal year.
o FAIR VALUE PRICING COMMITTEE. The Board has a standing Fair Value Pricing Committee that is composed of at least one Trustee and various representatives of the Trust's service providers, as appointed by the Board. The Fair Value Pricing Committee operates under procedures approved by the Board. The principal responsibility of the Fair Value Pricing Committee is to determine the fair value of securities for which current market quotations are not readily available. The Fair Value Pricing Committee's determinations are reviewed by the Board. Mr. Nesher currently serves as the Board's delegate on the Fair Value Pricing Committee. The Fair Value Pricing Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met 40 times in the most recently completed Trust fiscal year.
o NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Board has a standing Nominating Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees of the Trust. The principal responsibility of the Nominating Committee is to consider, recommend and nominate candidates to fill vacancies on the Trust's Board, if any. The Nominating Committee will review all shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust's office. Messrs. Carlbom, Johnson, Storey, Sullivan and Ms. Krikorian currently serve as members of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and did not meet during the most recently completed Trust fiscal year.
FUND SHARES OWNED BY BOARD MEMBERS. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee's "beneficial ownership" of shares of each Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. "Beneficial ownership" is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"). The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- NAME DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF SHARES (FUND)* (ALL FUNDS)* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERESTED TRUSTEES ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Nesher None None ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Doran None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Carlbom None None ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Johnson None None ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Krikorian None None ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Storey None None ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Sullivan None None ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- |
BOARD COMPENSATION. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during its most recently completed fiscal year.
------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- PENSION OR RETIREMENT ESTIMATED ANNUAL TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM AGGREGATE COMPENSATION BENEFITS ACCRUED AS BENEFITS UPON TRUST AND FUND COMPLEX NAME OF TRUSTEE FROM THE TRUST PART OF FUND EXPENSES RETIREMENT PAID TO TRUSTEES* ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Carlbom $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Doran $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Johnson $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Krikorian $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Nesher $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Peters** $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- Storey $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX $XX,XXX ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------- ---------------------------- |
* The Trust is the only investment company in the "Fund Complex." ** Served as Trustee until August 26, 2007.
TRUST OFFICERS. Set forth below are the names, dates of birth, position with the Trust, length of term of office, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as Executive Officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.
Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments Company or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.
------------------------ --------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------ NAME AND POSITION WITH TRUST AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS IN PAST 5 YEARS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH LENGTH OF TERM HELD ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- James F. Volk President Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Compliance None. (08/28/62) (since 2003) Officer at SEI Investment Manager Services since 2004. Senior Operations Officer at SEI Investments, Fund Accounting and Administration from 1996 to 2004. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Michael Lawson Controller and Chief Director of SEI Funds Accounting since July 2005, None. (10/8/60) Financial Officer Manager, Funds Accounting, SEI Investments AVP from (since 2005) April 1995 through July 2005, excluding February 1998 through October 1998, Assistant Product Manager, Pilgrim Baxter & Associates February 1998 through October 1998. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Russell Emery Chief Compliance Officer Director of Investment Product Management and None. (12/18/62) (since 2006) Development, SEI Investments, since February 2003; Senior Investment Analyst - Equity Team, SEI Investments, from March 2000 to February 2003. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Carolyn Mead Vice President and Counsel, SEI Investments since 2007; Associate, None. (07/08/57) Secretary Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young from 2004 to 2007; (since 2007) Counsel, ING Variable Annuities from 1999 to 2002. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Timothy D. Barto Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary of SIMC and the None. (03/28/68) Assistant Secretary Administrator since 2004. Vice President of SIMC (since 1999) and the Administrator since 1999. Vice President and Assistant Secretary of SEI Investments since 2001. Assistant Secretary of SIMC, the Administrator and the Distributor and Vice President of the Distributor from 1999 to 2003. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- James Ndiaye Vice President Vice President and Assistant Secretary of SIMC since None. (09/11/68) and Assistant Secretary 2005. Vice President at Deutsche Asset Management (since 2004) from 2003 to 2004. Associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP from 2000 to 2003. Assistant Vice President at ING Variable Annuities Group from 1999 to 2000. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- |
------------------------ --------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------ NAME AND POSITION WITH TRUST AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS IN PAST 5 YEARS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH LENGTH OF TERM HELD ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Sofia A. Rosala Vice President Vice President and Assistant Secretary of SIMC and None. (02/01/74) and Assistant Secretary the Administrator since 2005. Compliance Officer at (since 2006) SEI Investments from 2001 to 2004. Account and Product Consultant at SEI Private Trust Company from 1998 to 2001. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Joseph Gallo Vice President Attorney, Investment Management Legal Department at None. (04/29/1973) and Assistant Secretary SIMC since 2007. Associate Counsel at ICMA-RC from (since 2007) 2004 to 2007. Assistant Secretary at The VantageTrust Company in 2007. Assistant Secretary for Vantagepoint Funds from 2006 to 2007. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Nicole Welch AML Officer Compliance Analyst, TD Waterhouse, 2004. Senior None. (09/13/77) (since 2005) Compliance Analyst, UBS Financial Services, 2002-2004. Knowledge Management Analyst, PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting, 2000 to 2002. ------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- |
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES
Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business. Shares of the Funds are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the Trust is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It is currently the Trust's policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Funds in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A Shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from the Funds up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust's net assets during any 90-day period. The Trust has obtained an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Trust to make in-kind redemptions to those shareholders of the Trust that are affiliated with the Trust solely by their ownership of a certain percentage of the Trust's investment portfolios.
The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted, or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of the Funds' securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Funds for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
GENERAL POLICY. The Funds adhere to Section 2(a)(41), and Rule 2a-4 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trust's Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.
EQUITY SECURITIES. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on the primary exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, if a security's primary exchange is
normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds' pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trust's Board.
MONEY MARKET SECURITIES AND OTHER DEBT SECURITIES. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund's pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trust's Board.
USE OF THIRD-PARTY INDEPENDENT PRICING AGENTS. Pursuant to contracts with the Trust's Administrator, market prices for most securities held by the Funds are provided daily by third-party independent pricing agents that are approved by the Board. The valuations provided by third-party independent pricing agents are reviewed daily by the Administrator.
TAXES
The following is only a summary of certain federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders that are not described in the Funds' prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Funds' prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state and local tax liabilities.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.
QUALIFICATIONS AS A REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Funds each intend to qualify and elect to be treated as a "regulated investment company" ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Code. By following such a policy, the Funds expect to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which they may be subject. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Funds as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.
In order to be taxable as a RIC, the Funds must distribute at least 90% of their net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any, to its shareholders and also must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund's gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or certain other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stocks, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership; (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Funds' taxable year, at least 50% of the value of each Fund's total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of each Fund's assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (iii) at the close of each quarter of the Funds' taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of each Fund's assets may be
invested in securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Funds control and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or business, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. Although the Funds intend to distribute substantially all of their net investment income and may distribute their capital gains for any taxable year, the Funds will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.
If a Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a RIC, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. In this event, distributions generally will be eligible for the 70% dividend-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for the lower capital gains rates on qualified dividend income for individual shareholders to the extent they would qualify if the Fund was a regular corporation.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. The Funds may derive capital gains and losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of their portfolio of securities. Distributions of net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions of net long-term capital gains will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain regardless of how long you have held your shares. Distributions of dividends will be taxed as ordinary income except that distributions of qualified dividend income will be taxed at the lower capital gains rates available for individual shareholders.
The Funds will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, at the time they are paid and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Fund shares for a full year, the Funds may designate and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Funds.
If a Fund's distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder's cost basis in a Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.
The Funds may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Funds are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Funds and/or defer the Funds' ability to recognize losses. In turn, those rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Funds.
In certain cases, the Funds will be required to withhold at the applicable withholding rate, and remit to the United States Treasury, back up withholding on any distributions paid to a shareholder who (1) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the Internal Revenue Service, (3) has not certified to the Funds that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (4) has failed to certify that he or she is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien.
In the case of corporate shareholders, Fund distributions (other than capital gains distributions) generally qualify for the dividend-received deduction to the extent such distributions are so designated and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Funds for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. All such qualifying dividends (including the deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation.
Certain distributions from the Funds may qualify as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income distributed to an individual is taxable at the lower, long-term capital gains rates. A distribution from the Funds generally qualifies as qualified dividend income to the extent it is designated as such by the Funds and was distributed from dividends received by the Funds from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, subject to limitations
including holding period limitations, imposed on the Funds and their shareholders. Absent further legislation, the lower, long-term capital gain rates on qualified dividend income will not apply to dividends received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010.
With respect to investments in STRIPS, TRs, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, a Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because each Fund distributes all of its net investment income to its shareholders, a Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.
The status of the swap agreements and other commodity-linked derivative instruments under tests to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code has been recently addressed in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 and Revenue Ruling 2006-31 which provide that income from commodity-linked swaps in which the Funds invest will not be considered qualifying income as of September 30, 2006. As a result, the Funds will therefore restrict their income from commodity-linked swaps (when combined with its other investments that produce non-qualifying income) to be less than 10 percent of its gross income.
SALES, EXCHANGES, OR REDEMPTIONS. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who is not a dealer in securities will generally, for individual shareholders, be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period.
FEDERAL EXCISE TAX. If a Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the year and 98% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of that year (and any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which a Fund paid no federal income tax), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% Federal excise tax on the undistributed amounts. The Funds intend to make sufficient distributions to avoid imposition of this tax, or to retain, at most their net capital gains and pay tax thereon.
STATE TAXES. The Funds are not liable for any income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if they qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Distributions by the Funds to shareholders and the ownership of shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Funds.
Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by a fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker's acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.
FUND TRANSACTIONS
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS. Generally, equity securities 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 Funds 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 Funds execute transactions in the over-the-counter market, they 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 it manages, including the Funds, 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 Funds may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions. Nonetheless, the Adviser believes that the ability of the Funds to participate in higher volume transactions will generally be beneficial to the Funds.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2006 and 2007, the Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:
----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fund Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- 2006 2007 ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund $2,958* $15,420 ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund $105,420** $146,863 ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------------------- * For the fiscal period from June 28, 2006 to October 31, 2006. ** For the fiscal period from December 19, 2005 to October 31, 2006. |
BROKERAGE SELECTION. The Trust 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 Funds' 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.
Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Funds 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 Funds.
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 Funds' 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 Funds may purchase new issues of securities 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. The National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") 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).
For the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the Funds paid the following commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research or other brokerage services to the Adviser:
----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- Total Dollar Amount of Total Dollar Amount of Fund Brokerage Commissions for Research Transactions Involving Brokerage Services Commissions for Research Services ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund $14,242.65 $23,461,308.37 ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund $138,645.85 $86,522,219.14 ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- |
BROKERAGE WITH FUND AFFILIATES. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds, the Adviser or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules require that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Funds for exchange transactions not exceed "usual and customary" brokerage commissions. The rules define "usual and customary" commissions to include amounts which are "reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time." The Trustees, including those who are not "interested persons" of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.
For the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the Funds did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.
SECURITIES OF "REGULAR BROKER-DEALERS." The Funds are required to identify any securities of their "regular brokers and dealers" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which the Funds may hold at the close of their most recent fiscal period. As of October 31, 2007, the WHG Large Cap Value Fund holds debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX, debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX, debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX, and debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX. As of October 31, 2007, the WHG Income Opportunity Fund holds debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX, debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX, and debt/equity securities of _______ valued at $XXX,XXX.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES. Portfolio turnover rate is defined under 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 Funds may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one-year. The Funds may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ 2006 2007 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ WHG LargeCap Value Fund 13% XX% -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ WHG Income Opportunity Fund 45% XX% -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ |
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Board has approved a policy and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Funds' portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Funds' shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Funds' Adviser, principal underwriter or any affiliated person of the Funds, their Adviser, or their principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser's Chief Compliance Officer (the "Authorized Person") to authorize the release of the Funds' portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Authorized Person reports at least quarterly to the Board regarding the implementation of such policies and procedures.
Pursuant to applicable law, the Funds are required to disclose their complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each October 31, January 31, April 30 and July 31). The Funds disclose a complete schedule of investments in each Semi-Annual Report and Annual Report to Fund shareholders or, following the first and third fiscal quarters, in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. Semi-Annual and Annual Reports are distributed to Fund shareholders. Quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC on Form N-Q are not distributed to Fund shareholders, but are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at WWW.SEC.GOV.
The Funds provide information about their complete portfolio holdings, updated on a quarterly basis, on the internet at http://www.whgfunds.com. This information is provided with a lag of at least 30 days and is publicly available to all shareholders. On a monthly basis, the Fund will post its top ten portfolio holdings on the internet at HTTP://WWW.WHGFUNDS.COM. The information on the Fund's website is provided on the next Business Day after the month end and is publicly available to all categories of persons.
The Funds' policies and procedures provide that the Authorized Persons, may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information to third parties at differing times and/or with different lag times then the information posted to the internet; provided that the recipient is, either by contractual agreement or otherwise by law, (i) required to maintain the confidentiality of the information and (ii) prohibited from using the information to facilitate or assist in any securities transactions or investment program. No compensation or other consideration is paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Funds, Adviser and its affiliates or recipient of the Funds' portfolio holdings information. The Funds will review a third party's request for portfolio holdings information to determine whether the third party has legitimate business objectives in requesting such information.
In addition, the Funds' service providers, such as the custodian, Administrator and transfer agent, may receive portfolio holdings information as frequently as daily in connection with their services to the Funds. In addition to any contractual provisions relating to confidentiality of information that may be included in the service providers contract with the Trust, these arrangements impose obligations on the Funds' service providers that would prohibit them from disclosing or trading on the Funds' non-public information. Financial printers and pricing information vendors may receive portfolio holdings information, as necessary, in connection with their services to the Funds.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund, each of which represents an equal proportionate interest in the portfolio with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any additional funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Funds' shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES' LIABILITY
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee's individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.
PROXY VOTING
The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Funds to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI. The Board will periodically review the Funds' proxy voting record.
A description of the policies and procedures that the Adviser uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, as well as information relating to how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, is available on Form N-PX: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-877-FUND-WHG and (ii) on the SEC's website at HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees ("access persons"). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. Access persons are prohibited from engaging in personal securities transactions in securities that are held by the Funds. In addition, all access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.
5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS
As of December 1, 2007, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% and 25% or more of any class of the shares of a Fund.
WHG LARGECAP VALUE FUND SHAREHOLDER NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT ----------- ---------------- ------- WHG INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND SHAREHOLDER NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT ----------- ---------------- ------- |
The Funds believe that most of the shares referred to above were held by the persons indicated in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Any shareholder listed above as owning 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund may be presumed to "control" (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the Fund. Shareholders controlling the Fund could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the Fund on any matter requiring the approval of Fund shareholders.
APPENDIX A - RATINGS
RATINGS
The following descriptions are summaries of published ratings.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
A-1 This is the highest category by Standard and Poor's (S&P) and indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation. A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory and the obligation is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. PRIME-1 Issues rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) by Moody's have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: - Leading market positions in well-established industries. - High rates of return on funds employed. - Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection. - Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation. - Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. |
The rating F1 (Highest Credit Quality) is the highest commercial rating assigned by Fitch Inc. Paper rated F1 is regarded as having the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. The rating F2 (Good Credit Quality) is the second highest commercial paper rating assigned by Fitch Inc., which reflects a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
The rating TBW-1 by Thomson BankWatch ("Thomson") indicates a very high likelihood that principal and interest will be paid on a timely basis.
DESCRIPTION OF MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
Moody's highest rating for state and municipal and other short-term notes is MIG-1 and VMIG-l. Short-term municipal securities rated MIG-1 or VMIG-1 are of the best quality. They have strong protection from established cash flows, superior liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing or both. Short-term municipal securities rated MIG-2 or VMIG-2 are of high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the MIG-I/VMIG-2 group.
An S&P note rating reflects the liquidity concerns and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The following criteria will be used in making that assessment:
- 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.
S&P note rating symbols are as follows:
SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay a debt service is given a plus (+) designation. SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the votes. |
DESCRIPTION OF CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
S&P
Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating S&P assigns to a debt obligation. Such a rating indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations. Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories. Debt rated BB and B is regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative grade debt. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating. Debt rate B has greater vulnerability to default but presently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions would likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category also is used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.
MOODY'S
Bonds that are rated Aaa by Moody's are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large, or an exceptionally stable, margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Bonds rated Aa by Moody's are judged by Moody's to be of high quality by all standards. Together with bonds rated Aaa, they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities. Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (I.E., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Moody's bond ratings, where specified, are applied to financial contracts, senior bank obligations and insurance company senior policyholder and claims obligations with an original maturity in excess of one-year. Obligations relying upon support mechanisms such as letters-of-credit and bonds of indemnity are excluded unless explicitly rated.
Obligations of a branch of a bank are considered to be domiciled in the country in which the branch is located. Unless noted as an exception, Moody's rating on a bank's ability to repay senior obligations extends only to branches located in countries which carry a Moody's sovereign rating. Such branch obligations are rated at the lower of the bank's rating or Moody's sovereign rating for the bank deposits for the country in which the branch is located.
When the currency in which an obligation is denominated is not the same as the currency of the country in which the obligation is domiciled, Moody's ratings do not incorporate an opinion as to whether payment of the obligation will be affected by the actions of the government controlling the currency of denomination. In addition, risk associated with bilateral conflicts between an investor's home country and either the issuer's home country or the country where an issuer branch is located is not incorporated into Moody's ratings.
Moody's makes no representation that rated bank obligations or insurance company obligations are exempt from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or issued in conformity with any other applicable law or regulation. Nor does Moody's represent that any specific bank or insurance company obligation is legally enforceable or is a valid senior obligation of a rated issuer.
Moody's ratings are opinions, not recommendations to buy or sell, and their accuracy is not guaranteed. A rating should be weighed solely as one factor in an investment decision and you should make your own study and evaluation of any issuer whose securities or debt obligations you consider buying or selling.
FITCH INC. ("FITCH")
Bonds rated AAA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be strictly high grade, broadly marketable, suitable for investment by trustees and fiduciary institutions liable to but slight market fluctuation other than through changes in the money rate. The prime feature of an AAA bond is a showing of earnings several times or many times interest requirements, with such stability of applicable earnings that safety is beyond reasonable question whatever changes occur in conditions. Bonds rated AA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be of safety virtually beyond question and are readily salable, whose merits are not unlike those of the AAA class, but whose margin of safety is less strikingly broad. The issue may be the obligation of a small company, strongly secured but influenced as to rating by the lesser financial power of the enterprise and more local type market.
Bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
Bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings. Bonds rated BB are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements. Bonds rated B are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.
THOMSON
Bonds rated AAA by Thomson BankWatch indicate that the ability to repay principal and interest on a timely basis is extremely high. Bonds rated AA indicate a very strong ability to repay principal and interest on a timely basis, with limited incremental risk compared to issues rated in the highest category. Bonds rated A indicate the ability to repay principal and interest is strong. Issues rated A could be more vulnerable to adverse developments (both internal and external) than obligations with higher ratings.
Bonds rated BBB (the lowest investment-grade category) indicate an acceptable capacity to repay principal and interest. Issues rated "BBB" are, however, more vulnerable to adverse developments (both internal and external) than obligations with higher ratings.
While not investment grade, the BB rating suggests that the likelihood of default is considerably less than for lower-rated issues. However, there are significant uncertainties that could affect the ability to adequately service debt obligations. Issues rated B show a higher degree of uncertainty and therefore greater likelihood of default than higher-rated issues. Adverse developments could negatively affect the payment of interest and principal on a timely basis.
APPENDIX B -PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
WESTWOOD MANAGEMENT CORP.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PROXY VOTING
POLICY
Westwood has engaged ISS (Institutional Shareholder Services) for assistance with the proxy voting process for our clients. ISS is a leading provider of corporate governance and proxy voting services. Their main objective is to assist institutional investors by researching the financial implications of proxy proposals and by casting votes that will enhance and protect shareholder returns. In most cases, we agree with the recommendations of ISS, however, ballots are reviewed bi-monthly by our analysts and we may choose to vote differently than ISS if we believe it in the best interest of our clients.
PROCEDURES
With respect to proxy record keeping, Westwood maintains complete files for all clients. These files include a listing of all proxy material sent on behalf of our clients along with individual copies of each response. Client access to these files can be arranged upon request. A summary of voting is sent to each client on an annual basis.
ISS PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY
The following is a concise summary of ISS's proxy voting policy guidelines.
1. AUDITORS
Vote for proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:
|X| An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent
|X| Fees for non-audit services are excessive, or
|X| 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.
2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
VOTING ON DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS
Votes on director nominees should be made on a case-by-case basis, examining the following factors: independence of the board and key board committees, attendance at board meetings, corporate governance provisions and takeover activity, long-term company performance, responsiveness to shareholder proposals, any egregious board actions, and any excessive non-audit fees or other potential auditor conflicts.
CLASSIFICATION/DECLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD
Vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board.
Vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.
INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN (SEPARATE CHAIRMAN/CEO)
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals requiring that the positions of chairman and CEO be held separately. Because some companies have governance structures in place that counterbalance a combined position, certain factors should be taken into account in determining whether the proposal warrants support. These factors include the presence of a lead director, board and committee independence, governance guidelines, company performance, and annual review by outside directors of CEO pay.
MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that a majority or more of directors be independent unless the board composition already meets the proposed threshold by ISS's definition of independence.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that board audit, compensation, and/or nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors if they currently do not meet that standard.
3. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
SHAREHOLDER ABILITY TO ACT BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Vote against proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take action by written consent.
Vote for proposals to allow or make easier shareholder action by written consent.
SHAREHOLDER ABILITY TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS
Vote against proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special meetings.
Vote for proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management.
SUPERMAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENTS
Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote.
Vote FOR proposals to lower supermajority vote requirements.
CUMULATIVE VOTING
Vote against proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.
Vote proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting on a case-by-case basis relative to the company's other governance provisions.
CONFIDENTIAL VOTING
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that corporations adopt confidential voting, use independent vote tabulators and use independent inspectors of election, as long as the proposal includes a provision 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 will not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.
Vote FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.
4. PROXY CONTESTS
VOTING FOR DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN CONTESTED ELECTIONS
Votes in a contested election of directors must be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the factors that include the long-term financial performance, management's track record, qualifications of director nominees (both slates), and an evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders.
REIMBURSING PROXY SOLICITATION EXPENSES
Vote CASE-BY-CASE. Where ISS recommends in favor of the dissidents, we also recommend voting for reimbursing proxy solicitation expenses.
5. POISON PILLS
Vote for shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification. Review on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to redeem a company's poison pill and management proposals to ratify a poison pill.
6. MERGERS AND CORPORATE RESTRUCTURINGS
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and corporate restructurings based on such features as the fairness opinion, pricing, strategic rationale, and the negotiating process.
7. REINCORPORATION PROPOSALS
Proposals to change a company's state of incorporation should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving consideration to both financial and corporate governance concerns, including the reasons for reincorporating, a comparison of the governance provisions, and a comparison of the jurisdictional laws. Vote FOR reincorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or negative governance changes.
8. CAPITAL STRUCTURE
COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZATION
Votes on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a model developed by ISS.
Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with dual-class capital structures to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior voting rights.
Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a company's shares are in danger of being delisted or if a company's ability to continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain.
DUAL-CLASS STOCK
Vote AGAINST proposals to create a new class of common stock with superior voting rights.
Vote FOR proposals to create a new class of nonvoting or subvoting common stock if:
o It is intended for financing purposes with minimal or no dilution to current shareholders
o It is not designed to preserve the voting power of an insider or significant shareholder
9. EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Votes with respect to compensation plans should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Our methodology for reviewing compensation plans primarily focuses on the transfer of shareholder wealth (the dollar cost of pay plans to shareholders instead of simply focusing on voting power dilution). Using the expanded compensation data disclosed under the SEC's rules, ISS will value every award type. ISS will include in its analyses an estimated dollar cost for the proposed plan and all continuing plans. This cost, dilution to shareholders' equity, will also be expressed as a percentage figure for the transfer of shareholder wealth, and will be considered long with dilution to voting power. Once ISS determines the estimated cost of the plan, we compare it to a company-specific dilution cap.
Vote AGAINST equity plans that explicitly permit repricing or where the company has a history of repricing without shareholder approval.
MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS SEEKING APPROVAL TO REPRICE OPTIONS
Votes on management proposals seeking approval to reprice options are evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis giving consideration to the following:
o Historic trading patterns
o Rationale for the repricing
o Value-for-value exchange
o Option vesting
o Term of the option
o Exercise price
o Participation
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS
Votes on employee stock purchase plans should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR employee stock purchase plans where all of the following apply:
o Purchase price is at least 85 percent of fair market value
o Offering period is 27 months or less, and
o Potential voting power dilution (VPD) is ten percent or less.
Vote AGAINST employee stock purchase plans where any of the opposite conditions obtain.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS ON COMPENSATION
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for all other shareholder proposals regarding executive and director pay, taking into account company performance, pay level versus peers, pay level versus industry, and long term corporate outlook.
10. SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
These issues cover a wide range of topics, including consumer and public safety, environment and energy, general corporate issues, labor standards and human rights, military business, and workplace diversity.
In general, vote CASE-BY-CASE. While a wide variety of factors goes into each analysis, the overall principal guiding all vote recommendations focuses on how the proposal will enhance the economic value of the company.
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 100
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS:
(a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund
(the "Registrant") dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated
February 18, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(1)(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950109-97-001691 on February 27, 1997.
(b) Registrant's Amended and Restated By-Laws are incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (b)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-01-500070 on June
22, 2001.
(c) Not Applicable.
(d)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and HGK Asset
Management, Inc. dated August 15, 1994 is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (5)(e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-96-001199 on
February 28, 1996.
(d)(2) Expense Limitation Agreement dated March 1, 2007 between the Registrant
and HGK Asset Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (d)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000065 on February 28, 2007.
(d)(3) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and AIG Capital
Management Corp. (now, AIG Global Investment Corp.) is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (5)(f) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
28 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950109-97-001691 on February 27, 1997.
(d)(4) Assignment and Assumption Agreement between AIG Capital Management
Corp. and AIG Global Investment Corp. dated December 31, 2003 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(31) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-04-000095 on March 1, 2004.
(d)(5) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and First
Manhattan Co. dated May 3, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (5)(g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-96-001199 on February 28, 1996.
(d)(6) Amended and Restated Schedule dated May 19, 1998 to the Investment
Advisory Agreement dated May 3, 1995 between the Registrant and First
Manhattan Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(9) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001047469-98-021496 on May 21, 1998.
(d)(7) Investment Advisory Agreement dated March 15, 1999 between the
Registrant and LSV Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference
to exhibit (d)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-01-500070 on June
22, 2001.
(d)(8) Schedule dated February 20, 2007 to the Investment Advisory Agreement
dated March 15, 1999 between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(8) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(d)(9) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 1, 2001 between the Registrant
and Prospect Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (d)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-01-500070 on June 22, 2001.
(d)(10) Expense Limitation Agreement dated March 1, 2005, between the
Registrant and Prospect Asset Management, Inc. is incorporated herein
by reference to exhibit (h)(48) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-05-000104 on February 28, 2005.
(d)(11) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the
Registrant and Acadian Asset Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on
August 30, 2002.
(d)(12) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the
Registrant and Analytic Investors, Inc. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 90 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000164 on
April 26, 2006.
(d)(13) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002, between the
Registrant and Cambiar Investors LLC is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on
August 30, 2002.
(d)(14) Amended Schedule A dated August 7, 2007 to the Investment Advisory
Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the Registrant and Cambiar
Investors LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(14)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000376 on August 28, 2007.
(d)(15) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the
Registrant and Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (d)(23) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
55 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(16) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the
Registrant and C.S. McKee, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (d)(24) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(17) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002, between the
Registrant and Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC is incorporated herein
by reference to exhibit (d)(25) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(18) Amended Schedule dated July 31, 2004 to the Investment Advisory
Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the Registrant and Rice Hall
James & Associates, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(34) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000638 on December 23, 2004.
(d)(19) Expense Limitation Agreement dated March 1, 2007 between the Registrant
and Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC, is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(22) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000065 on
February 28, 2007.
(d)(20) Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 24, 2002 between the
Registrant and Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, Inc. is incorporated herein
by reference to exhibit (d)(27) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(21) Investment Advisory Agreement dated September 3, 2002 between the
Registrant and Commerce Capital Markets, Inc. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(28) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000384 on
December 9, 2002.
(d)(22) Amended Schedule A dated November 29, 2006 to the Investment Advisory
Agreement dated September 3, 2002 between the Registrant and Commerce
Capital Markets, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(24) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000007 on January 12, 2007.
(d)(23) Investment Advisory Agreement dated March 1, 2003 between the
Registrant and National City Investment Management Co. (now Allegiant
Asset Management Co.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(31) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000264 on April 30, 2003.
(d)(24) Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 30, 2007 between the
Registrant and Fiduciary Management Associates, LLC is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (d)(27) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(d)(25) Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 16, 2003 between the Registrant
and CB Investment Managers, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (d)(32) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000177 on April 29, 2004.
(d)(26) Investment Advisory Agreement dated May 28, 2004 between the Registrant
and Haverford Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-05-000093 on
February 25, 2005.
(d)(27) Expense Limitation Agreement dated March 1, 2007 between the Registrant
and Haverford Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000065 on
February 28, 2007.
(d)(28) Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 16, 2005 between the
Registrant and Westwood Management Corp. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(28) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000081 on
February 28, 2006.
(d)(29) Schedule A dated December 16, 2005 as amended August 8, 2006 to the
Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 16, 2005 between the
Registrant and Westwood Management Corp. is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(27) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000426 on
September 8, 2006.
(d)(30) Investment Advisory Agreement dated February 27, 2006 between the
Registrant and Edgewood Management LLC is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(33) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000007 on
January 12, 2007.
(d)(31) Expense Limitation Agreement dated February 28, 2007 between the
Registrant and Edgewood Management LLC is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(34) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000065 on
February 28, 2007.
(e)(1) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Financial
Services Company, dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated
August 8, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (6) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-96-001199 on February 28, 1996.
(e)(2) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Distribution Co. dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated
November 12, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(e)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000108 on February 28, 2003.
(e)(3) Amended and Restated Sub-Distribution and Servicing Agreement between
SEI Investments Company and AIG Equity Sales Corporation is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 32 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001047469-98-008087 on February 27, 1998.
(e)(4) Form of Amended Sub-Distribution and Servicing Agreement between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. is incorporated herein
by reference to exhibit (e)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-06-000081 on February 28, 2006.
(f) Not Applicable.
(g)(1) Custodian Agreement dated August 12, 1991 between the Registrant and
CoreStates Bank N.A. (now, Wachovia Bank, National Association) is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (6) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950109-97-001691 on February 27, 1997.
(g)(2) Amendment dated May 21, 2001 to the Custodian Agreement dated August
12, 1991 between the Registrant and First Union National Bank (now, US
Bank, National Association, NA) is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (g)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000175 on June 14, 2002.
(g)(3) Amended Fee Schedule dated February 18, 2004 to the Custodian Agreement
dated August 12, 1991 between the Registrant and Wachovia Bank,
National Association (now, US Bank, National Association, NA) is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(7) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-04-000095 on March 1, 2004.
(g)(4) Amendment and Assignment dated August 8, 2006 to the Custodian
Agreement dated August 12, 1991, as amended May 21, 2001, between the
Registrant and Wachovia Bank, N.A., (now, US Bank, National
Association, NA) assigning the Custodian Agreement to U.S. Bank
National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(g)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000367 on August 28, 2006.
(g)(5) Custodian Agreement dated June 26, 2001 between the Registrant and
Union Bank of California, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (g)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000175 on June 14, 2002.
(g)(6) Custody Agreement dated February 3, 2003 between the Registrant and
National City Bank is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(g)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000264 on April 30, 2003.
(g)(7) Amended Fee Schedule dated February 19, 2003 to the Custody Agreement
dated February 3, 2003 between the Registrant and National City Bank is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(6) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 68 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-03-000630 on December 29, 2003.
(g)(8) Amendment dated March 14, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated August
12, 1991, as amended May 21, 2001, August 8, 2006 and November 8, 2006,
between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association. is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(8) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(h)(1) Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(h)(50) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000108 on February 28, 2003.
(h)(2) Consent to Assignment and Assumption of Administration Agreement dated
June 1, 1996 between the Registrant and SEI Financial Management
Corporation (now, SEI Investments Global Funds Services) is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (9)(f) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950109-97-001691 on February 27, 1997.
(h)(3) Amendment dated April 1, 2006 to the Amended and Restated
Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services, relating to the LSV Value Equity Fund, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(28) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 91 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-06-000213 on June 7, 2006.
(h)(4) Amended Schedule to the Administration Agreement dated November 14,
1991, as amended and restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant
and SEI Investment Global Fund Services, relating to the LSV
Conservative Value Equity Fund and the LSV Conservative Core Equity
Fund, to be filed by amendment.
(h)(5) Amendment and Schedule thereto dated September 1, 2005 to the
Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services, relating to the HGK Equity Value Fund, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(38) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 88 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-06-000081 on February 28, 2006.
(h)(6) Schedule dated May 21, 2001 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated May 17, 1994, between the
Registrant and SEI Fund Resources (now SEI Investments Global Funds
Services), relating to the Japan Smaller Companies Fund, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(27) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-01-500070 on June 22, 2001.
(h)(7) Schedule dated February 20, 2002 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated May 17, 1994 between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Mutual Funds Services (now SEI
Investments Global Funds Services), relating to the TS&W Portfolios, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(32) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(h)(8) Schedule dated February 20, 2002 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991 as amended and restated May 17, 1994 between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Mutual Funds Services (now SEI
Investments Global Funds Services), relating to the ICM Small Company
Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(33) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000175 on June 14, 2002.
(h)(9) Schedule dated February 20, 2002 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated May 17, 1994, between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Mutual Funds Services (now SEI
Investments Global Funds Services), relating to the Analytic
Portfolios, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(34) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(h)(10) Schedule dated February 20, 2002 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991 as amended and restated May 17, 1994 between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Mutual Funds Services (now SEI
Investments Global Funds Services), relating to the FMA Small Company
Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(37) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000175 on June 14, 2002.
(h)(11) Schedule dated February 20, 2002 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated May 17, 1994, between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Mutual Funds Services (now SEI
Investments Global Funds Services), relating to the Acadian Emerging
Markets Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(h)(40) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000175 on June 14, 2002.
(h)(12) Schedule dated February 20, 2002 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated May 17, 1994, between the
Registrant and SEI Investments Mutual Funds Services (now SEI
Investments Global Funds Services), relating to the McKee International
Equity Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(h)(41) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000175 on June 14, 2002.
(h)(13) Amendment and Attachment 1 dated November 29, 2006 to the
Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services, relating to the Commerce Funds, is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (h)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
95 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000007 on January 12, 2007.
(h)(14) Schedule dated February 19, 2003 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 12, 2002, between
the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services, relating to
the CB Core Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(h)(61) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000495 on August 28, 2003.
(h)(15) Schedule dated February 18, 2004 to the Administration Agreement dated
November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 12, 2002, between
the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services, relating to
the Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (d)(32) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000127 on
March 17, 2004.
(h)(16) Amendment and Attachment 1 thereto to the Administration Agreement
dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 12, 2002,
between the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services,
relating to the Cambiar Funds, to be filed by amendment.
(h)(17) Amendment and Schedule thereto dated July 30, 2004 to the
Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services, relating to the Rice Hall James Funds, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(59) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 76 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-04-000402 on August 27, 2004.
(h)(18) Amendment and Attachment 1 dated May 20, 2005 to the Administration
Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 12,
2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services,
relating to AIG Money Market Fund, is incorporated herein by reference
to exhibit (h)(49) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-05-000492 on
August 29, 2005.
(h)(19) Amendment and Attachment 1 thereto dated July 1, 2005 to the
Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services, relating to the FMC Select and FMC Strategic
Value Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(48) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-05-000492 on August 29, 2005.
(h)(20) Amendment and Attachment 1 dated September 7, 2006 to the
Administration Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and
restated November 12, 2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments
Global Funds Services, relating to the WHG Funds, is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (h)(25) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
95 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000007 on January 12, 2007.
(h)(21) Amendment and Attachment 1 dated January 27, 2006 to the Administration
Agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 12,
2002, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services,
relating to the Edgewood Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (h)(26) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000007 on
January 12, 2007.
(h)(22) Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2000 between
the Registrant and Forum Shareholder Services, LLC (now Citigroup
Global Fund Services, LLC), is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (h)(21) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-00-004829 on December 13, 2000.
(h)(23) Schedule dated October 23, 2002 to the Transfer Agency and Services
Agreement dated October 1, 2000 between the Registrant and Forum
Shareholder Services (now Citigroup Global Fund Services, LLC),
relating to Commerce Bank, is incorporated herein by reference to
exhibit (h)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000384 on December 9, 2002.
(h)(24) Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2000, as
amended and restated February 21, 2001, between the Registrant and
Forum Shareholder Services, LLC (now Citigroup Global Fund Services,
LLC) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(24) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000218 on June 15, 2007.
(h)(25) AML Delegation Amendment dated May 20, 2003 to the Transfer Agency and
Services Agreement dated October 1, 2000, as amended and restated
February 21, 2001, between the Registrant and Forum Shareholder
Services, LLC (now Citigroup Global Fund Services, LLC) is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (h)(64) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
68 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-03-000630 on December 29, 2003.
(h)(26) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated January 15, 2003 between
the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated
herein by reference to exhibit (h)(62) of Post-Effective Amendment No.
67 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-03-000495 on August 28, 2003.
(h)(27) AML Delegation Amendment dated May 20, 2003 to the Transfer Agency and
Service Agreement dated January 15, 2003 between the Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference
to exhibit (h)(65) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000630 on
December 29, 2003.
(h)(28) Transfer Agency Agreement dated February 5, 2004 between the Registrant
and DST Systems, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(h)(54) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000127 on March 17, 2004.
(h)(29) Amended Exhibit D dated April 2007 to the Transfer Agency Agreement
dated February 5, 2004 between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc. is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(29) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(h)(30) Transfer Agency Agreement dated May 31, 2007 between the Registrant and
UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(h)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000376 on August 28, 2007.
(h)(31) Shareholder Servicing Agreement, relating to the AIG Money Market Fund,
is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 32 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001047469-98-008087 on February 27, 1998.
(h)(32) Shareholder Services Agreement, relating to the Commerce Funds, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(55) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-04-000177 on April 29, 2004.
(h)(33) Shareholder Services Plan, relating to the Commerce Funds, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(34) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000065 on February 28, 2007.
(h)(34) Shareholder Services International Fund, is incorporated herein by
reference to exhibit (m)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484),
filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000154 on
April 16, 2004.
(h)(35) Shareholder Services Plan, relating to the Edgewood Growth Fund, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(42) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 89 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-06-000148 on April 14, 2006.
(h)(36) Shareholder Services Plan, relating to the WHG Funds is filed herewith.
(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, is filed
herewith.
(j) Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young
LLP, to be filed by Amendment.
(k) Not Applicable.
(l) Not Applicable.
(m)(1) Distribution Plan dated August 8, 1994, as amended August 14, 2000, is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950109-00-004829 on December 13, 2000.
(m)(2) Amended Schedule dated November 14, 2007 to the Distribution Plan dated
August 8, 1994, as amended August 14, 2000, is filed herewith.
(m)(3) Distribution Plan dated September 17, 2002 and Schedule A dated
September 12, 2002, as amended, relating to the Rice Hall James Mid Cap
Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m)(6) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000242 on June 1, 2004.
(m)(4) Amended Schedule A dated September 17, 2002, as amended May 18, 2004 to
the Distribution Plan dated September 17, 2002, is incorporated herein
by reference to exhibit (m)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-04-000638 on December 23, 2004.
(n)(1) Registrant's Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated February 21,
2007 (including Schedules and Certificates of Class Designation
thereto) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(1) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000376 on August 28, 2007.
(n)(2) Schedule G to the Registrant's Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan
dated February 21, 2007, relating to the WHG Funds, is filed herewith.
(o) Not Applicable.
(p)(1) Registrant's Code of Ethics is filed herewith.
(p)(2) HGK Asset Management, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics dated July 27, 2006
is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(3) LSV Asset Management Revised Code of Ethics dated January 19, 2007 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(4) Prospect Asset Management, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics dated March 2007
is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(4) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(5) Analytic Investors, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics dated September 30,
2005 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(6) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(6) Cambiar Investors, LLC Revised Code of Ethics dated May 2005 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(7) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(7) Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC Revised Code of Ethics dated
March 13, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(8) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(8) C.S. McKee, LLP Revised Code of Ethics dated February 1, 2007 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(9) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(9) Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics dated January
17, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(10) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(10) First Manhattan Co. Revised Code of Ethics dated December 2006 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(11) Haverford Investment Management, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics dated June
2006 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(12) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(12) AIG Global Investment Corp. Revised Code of Ethics dated September 13,
2007 is filed herewith.
(p)(13) Fiduciary Management Associates, LLC Revised Code of Ethics dated
January 1, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(14)
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(14) Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC Revised Code of Ethics dated February
1, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(15) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(15) CB Investment Managers, LLC Revised Code of Ethics dated December 2006
is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(16) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(16) Acadian Asset Management, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics dated April 1,
2007 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(17) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(17) Westwood Management Corp. Revised Code of Ethics dated March 1, 2006 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(19) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000065 on February 28, 2007.
(p)(18) Edgewood Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics dated August 9, 2006 is
incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(20) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(19) Allegiant Asset Management Company Revised Code of Ethics dated August
24, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(21) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(20) Commerce Capital Management Revised Code of Ethics dated October 6,
2005 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(22) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(21) SEI Investments Global Funds Services Revised Code of Ethics dated
January 2006 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(25) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-42484), filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000081 on February 28, 2006.
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT:
Not Applicable.
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION:
Article VIII of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit (a)(1) to the Registrant's Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to trustees, directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS:
Other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which each director or principal officer of each Adviser is or has been, at any time during the last two fiscal years, engaged for his own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee are as follows:
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
Acadian Asset Management, Inc. ("Acadian") is the investment adviser to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio. The principal address of Acadian Asset Management, Inc. is One Post Office Square, 20th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. Acadian is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Gary Leonard Bergstrom - Chairman, -- -- Director & Treasurer ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Ronald Dickson Frashure - President & -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Churchill Gibson Franklin - Executive -- -- Vice President & Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- John Robert Chisholm - Executive Vice -- -- President & Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Barry Bennett White - Clerk Foley Hoag LLP Partner ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Scott Francis Powers - Member of Old Mutual U.S. Holdings, Inc. CEO Acadian's board of directors ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
AIG GLOBAL INVESTMENT CORP.
AIG Global Investment Corp. ("AIG") is the investment adviser for the AIG Money
Market Fund. The principal address of AIG Global Investment Corp. is 70 Pine
Street, New York, New York 10270. AIG is an investment adviser registered under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Win Jay Neuger American International Group, Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Director, Investment Officer Chairman of Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Director/Chief Executive Corp. Officer/Chairman of Board of Directors AIG Global Investment Fund Management Director Ltd. AIG Global Investment Corp. (Europe), Ltd Director ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- George Coheleach American International Group, Inc. Assistant Treasurer Portfolio Manager ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Mark P. Gross N/A N/A Managing Director ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Richard W. Scott AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Director Director and Corp. Senior Managing Director ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Richard Biegen AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Managing Director Managing Director and Corp. Director of Global Compliance ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Erik Mogavero AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Managing Director Managing Director and Corp. Chief Compliance Officer ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- |
ALLEGIANT ASSET MANAGEMENT CO.
Allegiant Asset Management Co. ("Allegiant") is the investment adviser to the UA S&P 500 Index Fund. The principal address of Allegiant Asset Management Co. is 200 Public Square, 5th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Allegiant is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- NAME AND POSITION NAME OF OTHER COMPANY CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- John G. Abunassar, Director, President and National City Bank Officer CEO ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- National City Bank Officer Kathleen T. Barr, Director and Senior Chief Compliance Officer Managing Director and Chief Administrative Allegiant Funds Officer ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Andrew G. Harding, Director - - ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Gordon A. Johnson, Director - - ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Joseph C. Penko, Director and Treasurer National City Bank Officer ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Anthony Cipiti, Jr., Secretary National City Bank Officer ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- |
ANALYTIC INVESTORS, INC.
Analytic Investors, Inc. ("Analytic") is the investment adviser to the Analytic
Global Long-Short Fund, and the Analytic Short Term Income Fund. The principal
address of Analytic Investors, Inc. is 500 South Grand Avenue, 23rd Floor, Los
Angeles, California 90071. Analytic is an investment adviser registered under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Dr. Roger Glen Clarke, Chairman Ensign Peak Advisors President (September 1997 - present) Bonneville Holding Corporation Director (January 2000 - present) Deseret Trust Company Director (September 1996 - present) Director (March 2006 - present) Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators Investment Committee Member (September 1996 - present) ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Harindra de Silva, Director and Analytic US Market Neutral, Ltd. Director (01/1999 - present) President Analytic US Market Offshore Master, Ltd. Director (11/2000 - present) Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore II, Ltd. Director (05/2002 - present) Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore Master II, Ltd. Director (05/2002 - present) Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore M, Ltd. Director (03/2004 - present) Analytic Japanese Equity Market Neutral Offshore, Ltd. Director (11/2004 - present) Analytic Japanese Equity Market Neutral Offshore Master, Ltd. Director (11/2004 - present) Analytic Market Neutral V-6, Ltd. Analytic Global Opportunity Fund I, Ltd. Director (04/2005 - present) Director (04/2005 - present) 15 |
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Marie Nastasi Arlt, Director, Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore, Ltd. Director (11/2001 - present) Treasurer, Vice President, Chief Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore II, Operating Officer and Corporate Ltd. Director (05/2002 - present) Secretary Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore M, Ltd. Director (03/2004 - present) Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore Master, Ltd. Director (04/2005 - present) Analytic US Market Neutral Offshore Master II, Ltd. Director (04/2005 - present) Analytic Japanese Equity Market Neutral Offshore, Ltd. Director (11/2004 - present) Analytic Japanese Equity Market Neutral Offshore Master, Ltd. Director (11/2004 - present) Analytic Market Neutral V-6, Ltd. Analytic Global Opportunity Fund I, Ltd. Director (04/2005 - present) Director (04/2005 - present) ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Scott F. Powers, Director Old Mutual US Holdings, Inc. Chief Executive Officer (September 2001 - present) ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Thomas M. Turpin, Director Old Mutual US Holdings, Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (April 2002 - present) ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
CAMBIAR INVESTORS LLC
Cambiar Investors LLC ("Cambiar") is the investment adviser to the Cambiar
Opportunity Fund, the Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar
Conquistador Fund and the Cambiar Aggressive Value Fund. The principal address
of Cambiar Investors LLC is 2401 East Second Street, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado
80206. Cambiar is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940.
------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Brian M. Barish, President, Director -- -- Research ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Nancy H. Wigton, Principal, Director -- -- Marketing ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Tim Beranek, Sr. Vice President -- -- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Maria L. Azari, Principal -- -- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Anna A. Aldrich, Principal -- -- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Christine M. Simon, Sr. Vice President, -- -- Director Compliance & Human Resources ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Jennifer M. Dunne, Vice President The Rise School of Denver Board of Directors, Treasurer ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
CB INVESTMENT MANAGERS, LLC
CB Investment Managers, LLC ("CB") is the investment adviser to the CB Core Equity Fund. The principal address of CB Investment Managers, LLC is 300 West Vine Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. CB is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- NAME AND POSITION NAME OF OTHER COMPANY CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Timothy D. Fyffe, Officer Central Bank & Trust Senior Vice President ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Kathy Wilson Gibson, Officer Central Bank & Trust Vice President ---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------- |
COMMERCE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
Commerce Capital Markets, Inc. ("Commerce") is the investment adviser to the
Commerce Capital Government Money Market Fund, the Commerce Capital Treasury
Obligations Money Market Fund, and the Commerce Capital Institutional Select
Government Money Market Fund. The principal address of Commerce Capital Markets,
Inc. is One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103. Commerce is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
--------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Stanley A. Gregor, CEO/President Commerce Capital Investments, Inc CEO/President --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Terrence J. Malloy, Director Commerce Capital Investments, Inc Director --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Marc A. Rubinsohn, Accounting Commerce Capital Investments, Inc Accounting Manager/FINOP Manager/FINOP --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Maria F. Lutzker, Chief Compliance Commerce Capital Investments, Inc Chief Compliance Officer Officer --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
C.S. MCKEE, L.P.
C.S. McKee, L.P. (C.S. McKee) is the investment adviser to the McKee International Equity Portfolio. The principal address of C.S. McKee, L.P. is One Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. C.S. McKee is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Eugene M. Natali, President, CEO -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Gregory M. Melvin, EVP, CIO Dartmouth Capital Advisor's Inc. President ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Norman S. Allan, EVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Lloyd F. Stamy, Jr., SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Joseph A. Buongiorno, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Boyd M. Hanson, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Jack P. White, VP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Brian S. Allen, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Bryan R. Johanson, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Suda Vatsan, VP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Robert A. McGee, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Mark Gensheimer, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Christy S. Brenza, VP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- William J. Andrews, SVP -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Eugene M. Natali, Jr. -- -- Marketing & Client Service Rep. ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Ulf A. Skreppen, CCO, Operations Manager -- -- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- |
EDGEWOOD MANAGEMENT LLC
Edgewood Management LLC ("Edgewood") is the investment adviser to the Edgewood Growth Fund. The principal address of Edgewood Management LLC is 350 Park Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10022-6057. Edgewood is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Alan Whitman Breed, President, & EMC Longboat Key Partners LLC Managing Member Managing Member of the Board of EMC Tidemark Partners LLC Managing Member Managers Rockridge Partners LP President & Principal ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Donna Marie Colon, Secretary & Member -- -- of the Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Fausto Rotundo, Chief Financial Kozmo Properties LLC President Officer, Chief Compliance Officer & Member of the Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Alex Manouchehr Farman-Farmaian, Vice -- -- Chairman & Member of the Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Peter Howard Jennison, Member of the -- -- Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Kevin Ryan Seth, Member of the Board -- -- of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Nicholas Andrew Stephens, Member of -- -- the Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Lawrence Gardiner Creel, Member of the Hydrogenica Partners Advisory Board Member Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ James William Carrier, Member of the -- -- Board of Managers ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ |
FIDUCIARY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, LLC
Fiduciary Management Associates, LLC ("FMA") is the investment adviser to the
FMA Small Company Portfolio. The principal address of Fiduciary Management
Associates, LLC is 55 West Monroe Street, Suite 2550, Chicago, Illinois 60603.
FMA is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Kathryn A. Vorisek, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Ophelia Barsketis, Managing Director Cashmere Linen Home Collection LLC Owner, Member ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Frederick M. Devlin, Managing Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- David J. Meyer, Managing Director Security Traders Association of President Chicago Institutional Investor Trader Forum Advisory Board Member ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Lloyd J. Spicer, Managing Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Andrew S. Hadland, Senior Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Leo Harmon, Senior Director CFA Chicago Board Member ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Candice Melcher, Senior Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Anne T. Durkin, Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Dan Dutile, Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Nancy A. Fisher, Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Greeta E. Hootman, Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
FIRST MANHATTAN CO.
First Manhattan Co. ("FMC") is the investment adviser for the FMC Select Fund and FMC Strategic Value Fund. The principal address of First Manhattan Co. is 437 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022. FMC is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- David Sanford Gottesman, Senior Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Member, Board of Directors Managing Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Daniel Rosenbloom, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Jack H. Varon, Senior Managing Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Allan Howard Glick, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Bernard C. Groveman, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Charles M. Rosenthal, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- |
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- David M. Manischewitz, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Arthur Joel Stainman, Senior Managing Ark Restaurants Corp. Member, Board of Directors Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- John R. Loomis, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Michael P. Helmick, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Robert W. Gottesman, Chief Executive -- -- Officer and Senior Managing Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- A. Byron Nimocks, III, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Neal K. Stearns, Senior Managing -- -- Director, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Carrol A. Muccia, Jr., Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Richard A. Pearl, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Keith B. Josephson, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- William F. Guardenier, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Todd W. Green, Senior Managing Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Samuel Flug Colin, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Jay Vodofsky, Senior Managing Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Cheryl M. Kallem, Senior Managing -- -- Director, Chief Financial Officer and co-Chief Compliance Officer ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Edward I. Lefferman, Senior Managing -- -- Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- |
HAVERFORD INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
Haverford Investment Management, Inc. ("Haverford") is the investment adviser
for the Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund. The principal address of Haverford
Investment Management, Inc. is Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450, Radnor,
Pennsylvania 19087-4546. Haverford is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ NAME AND POSITION NAME OF OTHER COMPANY CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ George Connell, The Haverford Trust Company Chairman/CEO Chairman and CEO Haverford Financial Services, Inc. Chairman/CEO Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Chairman ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Joseph J. McLaughlin Jr., President and The Haverford Trust Company President Director Haverford Financial Services, Inc. President Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Registered Representative ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Binney H. C. Wietlisbach, The Haverford Trust Company Executive Vice President Vice President and Director Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. President/CCO ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Henry B. Smith, The Haverford Trust Company Vice President Vice President and Director Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Registered Representative ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ |
HGK ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
HGK Asset Management, Inc. ("HGK") is the investment adviser for the HGK Equity Value Fund and the HGK Mid Cap Value Fund. The principal address of HGK Asset Management, Inc. is Newport Tower, 525 Washington Boulevard, Suite 2000, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310. HGK is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Jeffrey Theodore Harris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Arthur Ettore Coia, II, President and Chief Compliance Officer -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Michael Pendergast, CFA Chief Investment Officer Managing -- -- Director Equity Investments ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Gregory W. Lobo Managing Director, Fixed Income -- -- Investments ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Richard J. Bruce Bruce Nelson Capital LLP Chief Investment Officer Director, International (EAFE) London, England Investment Disciplines ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Martin J. Maddaloni, Jr. -- -- Managing Director, Sales, Marketing and Client Service ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Carol Bandille Managing Director -- -- Office Operations ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
INVESTMENT COUNSELORS OF MARYLAND, LLC
Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC ("ICM") is the investment adviser to the ICM Small Company Portfolio. The principal address of Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC is 803 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. ICM is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Stuart M. Christhilf, III -- -- Principal - Director ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Donald J. Hoelting Principal - Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Robert D. McDorman, Jr. Principal - Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Paul L. Borssuck Principal -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Andrew L. Gilchrist Principal -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- William V. Heaphy Principal - Director -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Stephen T. Scott Principal -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Simeon F. Wooten, III Principal -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Linda L. Rosatelli Vice President of Operations and Chief Compliance Officer -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Edward W. Brown, Jr. Vice President -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Svietlana T. Franke Vice President -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Wendy E. Brown Operations Manager -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Kanda K. Harp Operations Administrator -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Caroline N. Johnson Marketing Associate -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Daisy Vega-Galarza Portfolio Accountant -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Angela Montgomery Marketing Associate -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Robert Jacapraro Senior Vice President -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Gary Merwitz Senior Vice President -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Vitaly Korchevsky Senior Vice President -- -- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Thomas Turpin Executive Vice President and Chief Director of ICM Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.* Operating Officer ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- |
* Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC is an affiliate of Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.
LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT
LSV Asset Management ("LSV") is the investment adviser to the LSV Value Equity Fund, the LSV Conservative Core Equity Fund and the LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund. The address of LSV Asset Management is 1 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. LSV is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Josef Lakonishok, CEO, Portfolio University of Illinois Professor of Finance Manager ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Robert Vishny, Partner, Portfolio -- -- Manager ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Menno Vermeulen, Partner, Portfolio -- -- Manager ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Tremaine Atkinson, Chief Operating -- -- Officer, Chief Compliance Officer ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Christopher LaCroix, Partner, Managing Director of Business Development -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- SEI Funds, Inc., General Partner -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
PROSPECT ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
Prospect Asset Management, Inc. ("Prospect") is the investment adviser to the
Japan Smaller Companies Fund. The principal address of Prospect Asset
Management, Inc. is 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 122, Honolulu, Hawaii
96825. Prospect is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Robert Priske, Director Robert Priske LLC Investment Advisor ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Daniel Kerrigan, Director, CEO -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Hamilton Smith, Director, CFO Prospect Co. Ltd* Director ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Cheri Nakamura, Director, Operations -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
* Prospect Co. Ltd is the parent company of Prospect Asset Management, Inc.
RICE HALL JAMES & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC ("Rice Hall") is the investment adviser to the Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio, Rice Hall James Mid Cap Portfolio and Rice Hall James Small/Mid Cap Portfolio. The principal address of Rice Hall James & Associates is 600 West Broadway, Suite 1000, San Diego, California 92101-3383. Rice Hall is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
-------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Thao Buu-Hoan, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Kevin Hamilton, Partner & President -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Charles G. King, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Thomas McDowell, Partner, Chief -- -- Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Carl M. Obeck, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Gary S. Rice, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Douglas Sheres, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- David P. Tessmer, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Cara Thome, Partner -- -- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Timothy A. Todaro, Partner -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
THOMPSON, SIEGEL & WALMSLEY, INC.
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, Inc. ("TS&W") is the investment adviser to the TS&W Equity Portfolio, TS&W International Equity Portfolio and TS&W Fixed Income Portfolio. The principal address of Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, Inc. is 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300, P.O. Box 6883, Richmond, Virginia 23230. TS&W is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Larry E. Gibson, -- -- Managing Director, President, Co-CEO ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Horace P. Whitworth, -- -- Managing Director, Co-CEO, CFO ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- H.B. Thomson III, Secretary -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Cheryl Mounce, Treasurer -- -- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Scott Powers, Director Old Mutual Asset Management* CEO ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Matthew G. Thompson, Chairman of the -- -- Board ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- |
* TS&W is an affiliate of Old Mutual Asset Management.
WESTWOOD MANAGEMENT CORP.
Westwood Management Corp. ("Westwood") is the investment adviser for the WHG Income Opportunity Fund, WHG SMidCap Fund, WHG LargeCap Value Fund, WHG SmallCap Value Fund, WHG AllCap Value Fund, and WHG Balanced Fund. The principal address of Westwood Management Corp. is 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75201. Westwood is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
--------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION NAME OF OTHER COMPANY CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Susan Byrne Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* Chief Investment Officer and Chief Investment Officer and (NYSE: WHG) Chairman of the Board Chairman of the Board --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Brian Casey Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. President and Chief Executive President and Chief Executive Officer (NYSE: WHG) Officer and Director and Director --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Westwood Trust** President and Director --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- William R. Hardcastle Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer (NYSE: WHG) --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Sylvia L. Fry Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Westwood Trust** Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- |
* Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Trust are wholly owned subsidiaries of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., a publicly traded company on the NYSE (NYSE: WHG). ** Westwood Trust provides trust and custodial services and participation in common trust funds that it sponsors to institutions and high net worth individuals.
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS:
(a) Furnish the name of each investment company (other than the Registrant) for which each principal underwriter currently distributing the securities of the Registrant also acts as a principal underwriter, distributor or investment adviser.
Registrant's distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the "Distributor"), acts as distributor for:
SEI Daily Income Trust July 15, 1982 SEI Liquid Asset Trust November 29, 1982 SEI Tax Exempt Trust December 3, 1982 SEI Index Funds July 10, 1985 SEI Institutional Managed Trust January 22, 1987 SEI Institutional International Trust August 30, 1988 The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund November 14, 1991 The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II January 28, 1993 Bishop Street Funds January 27, 1995 SEI Asset Allocation Trust April 1, 1996 SEI Institutional Investments Trust June 14, 1996 HighMark Funds February 15, 1997 Oak Associates Funds February 27, 1998 CNI Charter Funds April 1, 1999 iShares Inc. January 28, 2000 iShares Trust April 25, 2000 JohnsonFamily Funds, Inc. November 1, 2000 Causeway Capital Management Trust September 20, 2001 The Japan Fund, Inc. October 7, 2002 Barclays Global Investors Funds March 31, 2003 The Arbitrage Funds May 17, 2005 The Turner Funds January 1, 2006 ProShares Trust November 14, 2005 25 |
Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund January 8, 2007 Accessor Funds March 1, 2007 TD Asset Management USA Funds July 25, 2007 |
The Distributor provides numerous financial services to investment managers, pension plan sponsors, and bank trust departments. These services include portfolio evaluation, performance measurement and consulting services ("Funds Evaluation") and automated execution, clearing and settlement of securities transactions ("MarketLink").
(b) Furnish the Information required by the following table with respect to each director, officer or partner of each principal underwriter named in the answer to Item 20 of Part B. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each director or officer is Oaks, PA 19456.
POSITION AND OFFICE POSITIONS AND OFFICES NAME WITH UNDERWRITER WITH REGISTRANT ---- ---------------- --------------- William M. Doran Director -- Edward D. Loughlin Director -- Wayne M. Withrow Director -- Kevin Barr President & Chief Executive Officer -- Maxine Chou Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer -- Thomas Rodman Chief Operations Officer -- John C. Munch General Counsel & Secretary -- Karen LaTourette Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer & Assistant Secretary -- Mark J. Held Senior Vice President -- Lori L. White Vice President & Assistant Secretary -- John Coary Vice President & Assistant Secretary -- John Cronin Vice President -- Mark McManus Vice President -- Robert McCarthy Vice President -- Robert Silvestri Vice President -- Michael Farrell Vice President -- |
ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS:
Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:
(a) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3);
(6); (8); (12); and 31a-1 (d), the required books and records are maintained at
the offices of Registrant's custodians:
U.S. Bank, National Association Union Bank of California, N.A. 800 Nicollett Mall 475 Sansome Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 15th Floor San Francisco, California 94111 |
(b)/(c) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1 (b)(1),(4); (2)(C) and (D); (4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10); (11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of Registrant's administrator:
SEI Investments Global Funds Services One Freedom Valley Drive Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
(c) With respect to Rules 31a-1 (b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1
(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of the
Registrant's investment advisers:
Acadian Asset Management, Inc. One Post Office Square, 8th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02109
AIG Global Investment Corp.
70 Pine Street, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10270
Allegiant Asset Management Company
200 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Analytic Investors, Inc.
500 South Grand Avenue, 23rd Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071
Cambiar Investors LLC
2401 East Second Street, Suite 400
Denver, Colorado 80206
CB Investment Managers, LLC
300 West Vine Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
Commerce Capital Markets, Inc.
One Commerce Square
2005 Market Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
C.S. McKee, LLP
One Gateway Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Edgewood Management LLC
305 Park Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10022-6057
Fiduciary Management Associates, LLC
55 West Monroe Street, Suite 2550
Chicago, Illinois 60603
First Manhattan Co.
437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022-7022
Haverford Investment Management, Inc. Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-4546
HGK Asset Management, Inc.
Newport Tower
525 Washington Blvd.
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310
Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC
803 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
LSV Asset Management
1 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Prospect Asset Management, Inc. 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 122 Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
Rice Hall James & Associates 600 West Broadway, Suite 1000 San Diego, California 92101-3383
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, Inc. 5000 Monument Avenue, P.O. Box 6883 Richmond, Virginia 23230
Westwood Management Corp.
200 Crescent Court
Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES: None.
ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS: None.
NOTICE
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust for The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund (the "Trust") is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this registration statement has been executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer of the Trust as an officer and by its trustees as trustees and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this registration statement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registration Statement No. 33-42484 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized in the City of Oaks, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 15th day of November, 2007.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
By: /s/ JAMES F. VOLK -------------------------- James F. Volk, President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity and on the dates indicated.
* Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ Charles E. Carlbom * Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ William M. Doran * Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ Mitchell A. Johnson * Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ Betty L. Krikorian * Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ Robert A. Nesher * Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ George J. Sullivan, Jr. * Trustee November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ James M. Storey /s/ JAMES F. VOLK President November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ James F. Volk * Controller & November 15, 2007 ------------------------------------ Chief Financial Michael Lawson Officer *By: /s/ JAMES F. VOLK ------------------------------- James F. Volk Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to the powers of attorney filed herewith. |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ Michael Lawson Date: 11-13-07 ------------------------------------------- --------------------- Michael Lawson Controller and Chief Financial Officer |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ W. M. Doran Date: ------------------------------------------- --------------------- William M. Doran Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ R. A. Nesher Date: ------------------------------------------- --------------------- Robert A. Nesher Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ J. M. Storey Date: ------------------------------------------- --------------------- James M. Storey, Esq. Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ George J. Sullivan Date: Nov 13, 2007 ------------------------------------------- --------------------- George J. Sullivan, Jr. Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ Charles E. Carlbom Date: 11-13-07 ------------------------------------------- --------------------- Charles E. Carlbom Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ Mitchell A. Johnson Date: 11/13/07 ------------------------------------------- --------------------- Mitchell A. Johnson Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints James F. Volk and Carolyn Mead, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ Betty L. Krikorian Date: 11/13/07 ------------------------------------------- --------------------- Betty L. Krikorian Trustee |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
THE BISHOP STREET FUNDS
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned trustee and/or officer of the above referenced funds (the "Trusts"), each a business trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints Carolyn Mead, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him and in his name, place and stead, and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to each Trust's registration statement on Form N-1A under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal as of the date set forth below.
/s/ James F. Volk Date: 11/15/07 ------------------------------------------- --------------------- James F. Volk President |
EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. EXHIBIT ---------- ------- EX-99.H36 Shareholder Services Plan, relating to the Westwood Funds. EX-99.I Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. EX-99.M2 Amended Schedule dated November 14, 2007 to the Distribution Plan dated August 8, 1994, as amended August 14, 2000. EX-99.N2 Schedule G to the Registrant's Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated February 21, 2007, relating to the WHG Funds. EX-99.P1 Registrant's Code of Ethics is filed herewith. EX-99.P12 AIG Global Investment Corp. Revised Code of Ethics dated September 13, 2007. |
EXHIBIT H-36
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
WHG FUNDS
WHEREAS, The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund (the "Trust") is engaged in business as an open-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and the Trust desires to compensate service providers who provide the services described herein ("Service Providers") to clients (the "Clients") who from time to time beneficially own shares (the "Shares") of certain classes of shares of certain portfolios of the WHG Funds (the "Funds") listed in Exhibit A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust have determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the following Plan will benefit the Funds of the Trust and the Clients of the Shares of the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust adopt the Plan under which Service Providers will provide to Clients some or all of the shareholder services stated in Section 2 herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees of the Trust hereby adopt this Plan.
SECTION 1. The Trust has adopted this Plan to enable the Trust to directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to providing shareholder services.
SECTION 2. The Trust will pay Service Providers a fee up to the amount set forth in Exhibit A for shareholder services. Service Providers may use this fee for (i) maintaining accounts relating to Clients that invest in Shares; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to Client inquiries relating to the services performed by Service Providers; (iv) responding to inquiries from Clients concerning their investment in Shares; (v) assisting Clients in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to Clients showing their position in Shares; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Funds such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to Clients; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from Clients and placing orders with the Funds or its service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting with respect to Shares beneficially owned by Clients; and (x) processing dividend payments from the Funds on behalf of Clients. Service Providers may also use this fee for payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies and investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and the Service Providers's affiliates and subsidiaries as compensation for such services as are described herein.
SECTION 3. This Plan shall not take effect with respect to the Funds until it has been approved, together with any related agreements, by votes of the majority of both (i) the Trustees of the Trust and (ii) the Qualified Trustees (as defined in Section 9 herein), cast in person at a Board of Trustees meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan or such agreement.
SECTION 4. This Plan shall continue in effect until terminated as provided in Section 6.
SECTION 5. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Trust pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement shall provide to the Trustees of the Trust, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
SECTION 6. This Plan may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Shares of the Funds.
SECTION 7. All agreements with any person relating to implementation of this Plan shall be in writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall provide (a) that such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by (i) Clients or Service Providers; (ii) the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or (iii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Shares of the Funds, on not more than 60 days written notice to any other party to the agreement; and (b) that such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
SECTION 8. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
amount of distribution expenses permitted pursuant to Section 2 hereof without
the approval of a majority of the Qualified Trustees, and all material
amendments to this Plan shall be approved in the manner provided in Part (b) of
Section 3 herein for the approval of this Plan.
SECTION 9. As used in this Plan, (a) the term "Qualified Trustees" shall mean those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust, and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements related to it, and (b) the terms "assignment" and "interested person" shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECTION 10. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees then in office who are not interested persons of the Trust.
SECTION 11. This Plan shall not obligate the Trust or any other party to enter into an agreement with any particular person.
EXHIBIT A WHG FUNDS SHAREHOLDER SERVICE FEES WHG FUNDS CLASS OF SHARES SHAREHOLDER SERVICES FEE --------- --------------- ------------------------ WHG SMidCap Fund Institutional 0.20% WHG SmallCap Value Fund Institutional 0.20% |
EXHIBIT I
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
November 15, 2007
The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund
101 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the above-referenced registration statement (as amended, the "Registration Statement") which relates to the Trust's units of beneficial interest, with no par value per share (collectively, the "Shares") of the WHG LargeCap Value Fund and the WHG Income Opportunity Fund. This opinion is being delivered to you in connection with the Trust's filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registration Statement (the "Amendment") to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 485(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have been made without any independent investigation or verification on our part except to the extent otherwise expressly stated, and we express no opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such assumptions or items relied upon.
In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other things, executed copies of the following documents:
(a) a certificate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as to the existence of the Trust, which is duly authorized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
(b) the Agreement and Declaration of Trust for the Trust and all amendments and supplements thereto (the "Declaration of Trust");
(c) a certificate executed by James Ndiaye, the Secretary of the Trust, certifying as to, and attaching copies of, the Trust's Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws (the "By-Laws"), and certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the issuance of the Shares;
and
(d) a printer's proof of the Amendment.
In our capacity as counsel to the Trust, we have examined the originals, or certified, conformed or reproduced copies, of all records, agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed relevant or necessary as the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all original or certified copies, and the conformity to original or certified copies of all copies submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to such opinion, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, certificates and oral or written statements of public officials and officers or representatives of the Funds. We have assumed that the Amendment, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, will be in substantially the form of the printer's proof referred to in paragraph (d) above.
Based upon, and subject to, the limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, and for the consideration described in the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not concede that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act.
Very truly yours,
/S/ MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP ------------------------------- |
EXHIBIT M-2
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
SCHEDULE A
DATED AUGUST 8, 1994,
AS AMENDED NOVEMBER 14, 2007
TO THE DISTRIBUTION PLAN DATED AUGUST 8, 1994,
AMENDED AUGUST 14, 2000
Subject to any limitations imposed by Rule 2830 of the NASD's Conduct Rules, the Distributor shall receive Rule 12b-1 fees, which shall be paid on a monthly basis. These fees will be calculated based on the annual rate set forth below, as applied to the average daily net assets of the respective Portfolios.
PORTFOLIO CLASS OF SHARES FEE Commerce Capital Government Administration .25% Money Market Fund Commerce Capital Treasury Obligations Service .50% Money Market Fund HGK Equity Value Fund .25% UA S&P 500 Index Fund II .10% Edgewood Growth Fund Retail .25% WHG LargeCap Value Fund A Class .25% WHG Income Opportunity Fund A Class .25% |
EXHIBIT N-2 SCHEDULE G TO THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND AMENDED AND RESTATED RULE 18F-3 MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN DATED FEBRUARY 21, 2007 WHG FUNDS --------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS A CLASS -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- WHG LargeCap Value Fund X X -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- WHG SMid Cap Fund X -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- WHG SmallCap Value Fund X -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- WHG Income Opportunity Fund X X -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- WHG Balanced Fund X -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- WHG AllCap Value Fund X -------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------- |
1. PERSONAL SECURITIES TRADING - CODE OF ETHICS (RULE 17J-1)
Policy Statement: The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II and the Bishop Street Funds (each, a "Trust") have adopted a Code of Ethics (the "Code") to govern the personal securities trading activities of "Access Persons," as defined in the Code, of each Trust as required by Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.
The Code prohibits Access Persons from engaging in fraudulent, deceitful, or manipulative practices in connection with the purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by each Trust or any series thereof (each, a "Fund"). The Code also prohibits access persons from making any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state material facts where necessary. The Code is designed to detect and prevent access persons from engaging in the fraudulent personal trading and other activities proscribed by Rule 17j-1 and the Code.
PROCEDURES: The Trusts have adopted the following procedures:
1. PROCEDURES - The Trusts have adopted the procedures set forth in the "Code of Ethics Adopted under Rule 17j-1") (copy attached) to implement and monitor compliance with the Trusts' policies. Fund Compliance will communicate these procedures to each Fund adviser and sub-adviser and other Fund Access Persons through delivery of the Code.
2. SEPARATE CODES - SEIGFS, SIDCO and each Adviser and Sub-Adviser (excluding those advisers who manage only money market funds) maintain separate codes of ethics that are designed to comply with the requirements of Rule 17j-1.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
CODE OF ETHICS
ADOPTED UNDER RULE 17J-1
Officers, Trustees, and other persons involved with The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II and the Bishop Street Funds, (each a "Trust," and together, the "Trusts") and the series thereof, (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") are required to act with integrity and good faith, particularly when their personal interests may conflict with the Trusts' interests. Potential conflicts of interests include circumstances where officers, Trustees and certain other persons:
o Know about the Funds' present or future portfolio transactions; or
o Have the power to influence the Funds' portfolio transactions; and
o Engage in securities transactions in their personal account(s).
In accordance with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, the Trusts have adopted this Code of Ethics (the "Code") to address transactions and conduct that may create conflicts of interest, establish reporting requirements, and create enforcement procedures. Definitions of underlined terms used throughout the Code are included in Appendix I.
I. ABOUT THIS CODE OF ETHICS
A. WHO IS COVERED BY THE CODE?
All Trust access persons are covered under this Code. Trust access persons generally are:
o All Trustees of a Trust, both interested and independent;
o All Trust Officers; and
o Natural persons in a control relationship to a Trust who obtain information concerning recommendations about the purchase or sale of a security by a Fund ("Natural Control Persons").
B. What Rules Apply to Me?
o This Code sets forth specific prohibitions and restrictions. They apply to all Trust access persons except where otherwise noted. The Code also sets out reporting requirements for access persons. For the reporting requirements that apply to you, please refer to Parts A, B and C, as indicated below:
Independent Trustees Part A Interested Trustees and Trust Officers Part B Natural Control Persons Part C II. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES |
In recognition of the trust and confidence placed in each Trust by Fund shareholders, the Trusts have adopted the following principles to be followed by their Access Persons:
A. The interests of the Funds' shareholders are paramount. You must place shareholder interests before your own.
B. You must effect all personal securities transactions in a manner that avoids any conflict, or even the appearance of a conflict, between your personal interests and the interests of the Funds or their shareholders.
C. You must avoid actions or activities that allow, or appear to allow, you or your family to profit or benefit from your position with respect to a Trust or Fund, or that bring into question your independence or judgment.
D. Portfolio Managers must inform the Board of Trustees prior to accepting to serve on the board of a company in which the Funds that they manage invest or may consider investing in the future.
E. You must not disclose material nonpublic information to others or engage in the purchase or sale (or recommend or suggest that any person engage in the purchase or sale) of any security to which such information relates.
III. GENERAL PROHIBITION AGAINST FRAUD, DECEIT AND MANIPULATION
Access persons may not, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a Security held or to be acquired by the Funds:
A. Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Funds;
B. Make any untrue statement of a material fact to the Funds or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the Funds, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
C. Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Funds;
or
D. Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Funds.
IV. PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS FOR ACCESS PERSONS
(not applicable to Independent Trustees)
A. Blackout Period on Personal Securities Transactions.
This restriction applies to:
(i) Access persons who, in connection with their regular duties, make, participate in, or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchases or sales; and
(ii) Natural Control Persons.
These persons may not purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any security in which they have (or by reason of such transaction acquire) any beneficial ownership on the same day as the same security is being purchased or sold by a Fund.
B. Pre-Approval for IPOs and Limited Offerings.
This restriction applies to:
(i) access persons who, in connection with their duties, make or participate in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities by a Fund and
(ii) Natural Control Persons.
These persons must obtain approval from the Review Officer (as defined in Section VI below) before directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership of any securities in an IPO or limited offering.
C. Limits on Accepting or Receiving Gifts.
Access persons cannot accept or receive any gift of more than $100.00 in value from any person or entity in connection with a Fund or Trust entry into a contract, development of an economic relationship, or other course of dealing by or on behalf of the Fund or Trust.
V. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Access persons of each Trust must comply with the reporting requirements set forth in Parts A-C (attached), with the exception of those access persons reporting subject to Section VII of this Code.
VI. REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE
A. Appointment of a Review Officer.
The Funds' Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") shall appoint a review officer ("Review Officer") to perform the duties described below.
B. The Review Officer's Duties and Responsibilities.
1. The Review Officer shall notify each person who becomes an access person of the Fund and who is required to report under this Code of Ethics of their reporting requirements no later than 10 days before the first quarter in which such person is required to begin reporting.
2. The Review Officer will, on a quarterly basis, compare all reported personal securities transactions with each Fund's portfolio transactions completed during the period to determine whether a Code violation may have occurred. Before determining that a person has violated the Code, the Review Officer must give the person a reasonable opportunity to supply explanatory material.
3. If the Review Officer determines that a material Code violation has occurred, or believes that a material Code violation may have occurred, the Review Officer must submit a written report regarding the possible violation to the Funds' CCO, together with any explanatory material provided by the person who violated or may have violated the Code. The CCO shall make an independent determination as to whether the person violated the Code.
4. No person is required to participate in a determination of whether he or she has committed a Code violation or discuss the imposition of any sanction against himself or herself.
5. The Review Officer will submit his or her own reports, as may be required pursuant to Parts A-C (attached), to an Alternate Review Officer who shall fulfill the duties of the Review Officer with respect to the Review Officer's reports.
6. The Review Officer will create a written report detailing any approvals granted to Access Persons for the acquisition of securities offered in connection with an IPO or limited offering. The report must include the rationale supporting any decision to approve such an acquisition.
C. Resolution; Sanctions.
If the CCO determines that a person has violated the Code pursuant to paragraph B. (3) above, the CCO will determine a resolution of the situation and impose upon the person any sanctions that the CCO deems appropriate. The CCO will submit a report of the violation, including a description of the resolution, to the Board at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting unless, in the CCO's sole discretion, circumstances warrant an earlier report.
VII. INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CODES OF ETHICS
A. General Principle: Overlapping Responsibilities.
A person who is both an access person of a Fund and an access person of an investment adviser to a Fund is only required to report under and otherwise comply with the investment adviser's code of ethics, provided such code has been adopted pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 17j-1. Such report will satisfy any reporting obligations under this Code. These access persons, however, remain subject to the principles and prohibitions in Sections II and III hereof.
B. Procedures.
Each investment adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter, and administrator of any Fund of a Trust must:
1. Submit to the Board of Trustees of the Fund a copy of its code of ethics adopted pursuant to or in compliance with Rule 17j-1;
2. Promptly furnish to the Trust, upon request, copies of any reports made under its code of ethics by any person who is also covered by the Fund's Code; and
3. Promptly report to the Trust, in writing, any material amendments to its code of ethics, along with the certification described under Section VII.C., above.
VIII. ANNUAL WRITTEN REPORTS TO THE BOARD
At least annually, the CCO of the Trusts, and each adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter, and administrator will provide written reports to the Board of Trustees as follows:
A. Issues Arising Under the Code. The reports must describe any issues that arose during the previous year under its code of ethics or procedures thereto, including but not limited to, information about any material code or procedural violations and any resulting sanctions.
B. The CCO, advisers, sub-advisers, principal underwriter, and administrator may report to the Board more frequently as they deem necessary or appropriate and shall do so as requested by the Board.
C. Certification. Each report must be accompanied by a certification to the Board that each Fund, adviser, sub-adviser, principal underwriter, and administrator has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent their access persons from violating their code of ethics.
IX. RECORDKEEPING
Each Trust will maintain the following records in accordance with Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act and the following requirements. These records will be available for examination by representatives of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies.
A. A copy of this Code and any other code adopted by a Trust, which is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect will be preserved in an easily accessible place.
B. A record of any Code violation, and of any action taken as a result of the violation, will be preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of at least five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred.
C. A copy of each Quarterly Transaction Report, Initial Holdings Report, and Annual Holdings Report submitted by an Access Person under this Code, including any information provided in lieu of any such reports made under the Code (see Parts A-C for more information about reporting), will be preserved for a period of at least five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
D. A list of all persons who are, or within the past five years have been, required to submit reports under this Code, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, will be maintained in an easily accessible place.
E. A copy of each report annual report to the Board of Trustees, as required by Section VII of this Code, must be maintained for at least five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
F. A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by investment personnel of Securities acquired in an IPO or limited offering, for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval was granted.
X. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Confidentiality.
All reports of securities transactions and other information submitted to a Trust pursuant to this Code will be treated as confidential to the maximum extent possible, provided that such reports and information may be produced to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies and to persons who have a need to know such information for purposes of administering this Code.
B. Interpretation of Provisions.
The Board of Trustees may from time to time adopt such interpretations of this Code as it deems appropriate.
C. Compliance Certification.
Within 10 days of becoming an Access Person of a Trust, and each year thereafter, each such person must complete the Compliance Certification, attached as Appendix V.
Adopted this 13th day of November, 1995.
Revised November 11, 1996.
Revised February 18, 1997.
Revised November 16, 1998. Revised February 23, 2000. Revised November 23, 2000.
Revised November 13, 2001. Revised September 16, 2004. Revised November 14,
2007.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
PART A - INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
I. REQUIRED REPORTS
A. Subject to Section II. (B) below, each quarter, you must report all of your securities transactions effected, as well as any securities accounts you established, during the quarter. You must submit your report to the Review Officer no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A Quarterly Personal Securities Transactions Report Form is included as Appendix II.
B. If you had no reportable transactions and did not open any securities accounts during the quarter, you are still required to submit a report. Please note on your report that you had no reportable items during the quarter, and return it, signed and dated.
C. You need not submit a quarterly report if the report would duplicate information in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Fund, provided that all required information is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements and is received by the Review Officer no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter. Please see the Review Officer for more information about this reporting mechanism.
II. WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR QUARTERLY REPORTS?
A. You must report all transactions in Securities that: (i) you directly or indirectly beneficially owned or (ii) because of the transaction, you acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership. In addition, you must also report any account you established during the quarter in which any securities were held for your direct or indirect benefit.
B. Notwithstanding Section I above, reports of individual Securities transactions are required only if you knew at the time of the transaction, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling your official duties as a Trustee should have known, that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or following the date of your transaction, the same Security was purchased or sold, or was being considered for purchase or sale, by a Fund or Trust.
The "should have known" standard does not:
o imply a duty of inquiry;
o presume you should have deduced or extrapolated from discussions or memoranda dealing with the Funds' (or a series) investment strategies; or
o impute knowledge from your awareness of the Funds' (or a series) portfolio holdings, market considerations, or investment policies, objectives and restrictions.
III. WHAT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR QUARTERLY REPORTS?
You are not required to detail or list the following items on your quarterly report:
A. Securities accounts, as well as purchases or sales effected for or securities held in any account, over which you have no direct or indirect influence or control;
B. Purchases or sales made pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan;
C. Purchases or sales of any of the following securities:
o Direct obligations of the U.S. government;
o Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and
o Shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies other than Fund shares.
You may include a statement in your report that the report shall not be construed as your admission that you have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security included in the report.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
PART B - INTERESTED TRUSTEES AND FUND OFFICERS
I. REQUIRED REPORTS
A. Initial Holdings Report.
You must submit a listing of all securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts to the Review Officer within 10 days of the date you first become subject to this Code's reporting requirement. The information contained therein must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you become subject to this Code's reporting requirements. An Initial Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix III.
B. Annual Holdings Report.
Each year, you must submit to the Review Officer a listing of all securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts. Your list must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before you submit the report. An Annual Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix IV.
C. Quarterly Transaction and Account Reports.
1. Each quarter, you must report all of your securities transactions effected, as well as any securities accounts you established, during the quarter. You must submit your report to the Review Officer no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A Quarterly Personal Securities Transactions Report Form is included as Appendix II.
2. If you had no reportable transactions and did not open any securities accounts during the quarter, you are still required to submit a report. Please note on your report that you had no reportable items during the quarter, and return it, signed and dated.
3. You need not submit a quarterly report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Fund, provided that all required information is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements and is received by the Review Officer no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter. Please see the Review Officer for more information about this reporting mechanism.
II. WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORTS?
You must report all transactions in securities that: (i) you directly or indirectly beneficially owned; or (ii) because of the transaction, you acquire direct or indirect beneficial ownership. In addition, you must also report all of your accounts in which any securities were held for your direct or indirect benefit.
III. WHAT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR REPORTS?
You are not required to detail or list the following items on your reports:
A. Securities accounts, as well as purchases or sales effected for or Securities held in any account, over which you have no direct or indirect influence or Control;
B. Purchases or sales made pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan;
C. Purchases or sales of any of the following securities:
o Direct obligations of the U.S. government;
o Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and
o Shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies other than Fund shares.
You may include a statement in your report that the report shall not be construed as your admission that you have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Security included in the report.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
PART C - NATURAL CONTROL PERSONS
I. QUARTERLY TRANSACTION AND ACCOUNT REPORTS
A. Initial Holdings Report.
You must submit a listing of all securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts to the Review Officer within 10 days of the date you first become subject to this Code's reporting requirement. The information contained therein must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you become subject to this Code's reporting requirements. An Initial Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix III.
B. Annual Holdings Report.
Each year, you must submit to the Review Officer a listing of all securities you beneficially own, as well as all of your securities accounts. Your list must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before you submit the report. An Annual Holdings Report Form is attached as Appendix IV.
C. Quarterly Transaction and Account Reports.
1. Each quarter, you must report all of your securities transactions effected, as well as any securities accounts you established, during the quarter. You must submit your report to the Review Officer no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. A Quarterly Personal Securities Transactions Report Form is included as Appendix II.
2. If you had no reportable transactions and did not open any securities accounts during the quarter, you are still required to submit a report. Please note on your report that you had no reportable items during the quarter, and return it, signed and dated.
3. You need not submit a quarterly report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements received by the Fund, provided that all required information is contained in the broker trade confirmations or account statements and is received by the Review Officer no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter. Please see the Review Officer for more information about this reporting mechanism.
II. WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORTS?
You must report all transactions in securities that: (i) you directly or indirectly beneficially owned; or (ii) because of the transaction, you acquired direct or indirect beneficial ownership. In addition, you must also report all of your accounts in which any securities were held for your direct or indirect benefit.
III. WHAT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR REPORTS?
You are not required to detail or list the following items on your reports:
A. Securities accounts, as well as purchases or sales effected for or securities held in any account, over which you have no direct or indirect influence or Control;
B. Purchases or sales made pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan;
C. Purchases or sales of any of the following securities:
o Direct obligations of the U.S. government;
o Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and
o Shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies other than Fund shares.
You may include a statement in your report that the report shall not be construed as your admission that you have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security included in the report.
APPENDIX I
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
DEFINITIONS
General Note
The defined terms used in this Code of Ethics are intended to have the same meaning as such terms have under the 1940 Act and the other federal securities laws. If a definition hereunder conflicts with the definition in the 1940 Act or other federal securities laws, or if a term used in this Code is not defined, you should follow the definitions and meanings in the 1940 Act or other federal securities laws, as applicable.
Access person means:
o each Trustee or officer of a Trust;
o any employee of a Trust (or of any company in a control relationship to a Trust) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of securities by a Trust or Fund or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchases or sales; and
o any natural person in a control relationship to a Trust who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Trust with regard to the purchase or sale of securities by a Fund; and
o each director, officer or general partner of any principal underwriter for a Trust, but only where such person, in the ordinary course of business, either makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund(s), or whose functions relate to the making of recommendations regarding securities to the Fund(s).
Note: Persons who are access persons of a Trust because of their position with the Trust or with a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser, will generally not be considered access persons of another Trust, unless they satisfy the criteria described above with respect to that particular Trust, e.g., an access person of one Trust covered by this joint Code is not automatically considered an access person of another Trust covered by this Code.
Automatic Investment Plan means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.
Beneficial ownership is determined in the same manner as it is for purposes of
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 16a-1(a)(2)
thereunder. You should generally consider yourself the "beneficial owner" of any
securities in which you have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest. In
addition, you should consider yourself the beneficial owner of securities held
by your spouse, your minor children, a relative who shares your home, or other
persons by reason of any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship
that provides you with sole or shared voting or investment power.
Control shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. Section 2(a)(9) provides that "control" means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company.
Ownership of more than 25% of a company's outstanding voting securities is presumed to give the holder of such securities control over the company. The SEC may determine, however, that the facts and circumstances of a given situation that may counter this presumption.
Trust officers means any person lawfully elected by the Board of Trustees and authorized to act on behalf of the Funds. Additional information regarding the Trusts' officers may be found in each Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
High quality short-term debt instrument means any instrument that has a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (e.g., Moody's Investors Service).
Independent Trustee means a Trustee of the Trust who is not an "interested person" of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. The Trust's Independent Trustees are:
Charles E. Carlbom Mitchell A. Johnson Betty L. Krikorian James M. Storey George J. Sullivan, Jr.
IPO (i.e., initial public offering) means an offering of Securities registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before
registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Interested Trustee means a Trustee of the Trust who is an "interested person" of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. The Trusts' interested Trustees are:
William M. Doran Robert A. Nesher
Limited offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2), Section 4(6), Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 (e.g., private placements).
Material - Information is "material" where there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor could consider the information important in deciding whether to buy or sell the securities in question, or where the information, if disclosed, could be viewed by a reasonable investor as having significantly altered the "total mix" of information available. Where the nonpublic information relates to a possible or contingent event, materiality depends upon a balancing of both the probability that the event will occur and the anticipated magnitude of the event in light of the totality of the activities of the issuer involved. Common, but by no means exclusive, examples of "material" information include information concerning a company's sales, earnings, dividends, significant acquisitions or mergers and major litigation. So-called "market information," such as information concerning an impending securities transaction may also, depending upon the circumstances, be "material." Because materiality determinations are often challenged with the benefit of hindsight, if an employee has any doubt whether certain information is "material," this doubt should be resolved against trading or communicating this information.
Nonpublic information - Information is "nonpublic" until it has been made available to investors generally. In this respect, one must be able to point to some fact to show that the information is generally public, such as inclusion in reports filed with the SEC or press releases issued by the issuer of the securities, or reference to this information in publications of general circulation such as The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times. In general, information may be presumed to have been made available to investors after two business days from the formal release of this information.
Purchase or sale of a Security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Security.
Security has the same meaning as that set forth under Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, except that it does not include direct obligations of the U.S. government or any agency thereof, bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, or shares issued by registered, open-end investment companies.
A Security "held or to be acquired" by a Trust or any Fund means: (A) any Security that within the most recent 15 days (i) is or has been held by a Trust or any Fund thereof; or (ii) is being or has been considered by a Fund's adviser or sub-adviser for purchase by the Fund; and (B) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, any Security described in (A) of this definition.
A Security is being purchased or sold by a Trust or any Fund from the time when a purchase or sale program has been communicated to the person who places the buy and sell orders for the Trust or Fund until the program when such program has been fully completed or terminated.
A Security is being considered for purchase by the Fund when a Security is identified as such by the investment adviser to the Fund.
APPENDIX II
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
QUARTERLY PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REPORT
Name of Reporting Person: ___________________________ Calendar Quarter Ended: ___________________________ Date Report Due: ____________________30, ____ Date Report Submitted: ___________________________ |
Securities Transactions
---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- Principal Name of Issuer No. of Amount, Maturity Name of Broker, and Shares Date and Dealer or Bank Date of Title of (if Interest Rate Type of Effecting Transaction Security applicable) (if applicable) Transaction Price Transaction ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ -------------- ----------- ----------------- |
If you have no securities transactions to report for the quarter, please check here. |_|
If you do not want this report to be construed as an admission that you have beneficial ownership of one or more securities reported above, please describe below and indicate which securities are at issue.
Securities Accounts
If you established a securities account during the quarter, please provide the
following information:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank Date Account was Established Name(s) on and Type of Account ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
If you did not establish a securities account during the quarter, please check here. |_|
I certify that I have included on this report all securities transactions and accounts required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics.
Signature Date
APPENDIX III
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT
Name of Reporting Person: ____________________________ [Note: Information must be current Date Person Became Subject to the as of a date no more than 45 days Code's Reporting Requirements: ____________________________ prior to the date that you became Information in Report Dated as of: ____________________________ subject to the Code's reporting Date Report Due: requirements] ____________________________ Date Report Submitted: ____________________________ Securities Holdings |
------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Name of Issuer and No. of Shares Principal Amount, Maturity Date and Title of Security (if applicable) Interest Rate (if applicable) ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- |
If you have no securities holdings to report, please check here. |_|
If you do not want this report to be construed as an admission that you have beneficial ownership of one or more securities reported above, please describe below and indicate which securities are at issue.
Securities Accounts
Please provide the following information regarding your existing securities
accounts:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank Name(s) on and Type of Account -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
If you have no securities accounts to report, please check here. |_|
I certify that I have included on this report all securities holdings and accounts required to be reported pursuant to the Code of Ethics.
Signature Date
APPENDIX IV
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT
Name of Reporting Person: ________________________ Information in Report Dated as of: ________________________ [Note: Information must be current Date Report Due: as of a date no more than 45 days ________________________ before the report is submitted.] Date Report Submitted: _________________________ Calendar Year Ended: December 31, ____ |
Securities Holdings
------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Name of Issuer and No. of Shares Principal Amount, Maturity Date and Title of Security (if applicable) Interest Rate (if applicable) ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- |
If you have no securities holdings to report, please check here. |_|
If you do not want this report to be construed as an admission that you have beneficial ownership of one or more securities reported above, please describe below and indicate which securities are at issue.
Securities Accounts
Please provide the following information regarding your existing securities
accounts:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank Name(s) on and Type of Account -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
If you have no securities accounts to report, please check here. |_|
I certify that I have included on this report all securities holdings and accounts required to be reported pursuant to the Trusts' Code of Ethics.
Signature Date
V-1 1-WA/2802599.4 APPENDIX V |
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND II
BISHOP STREET FUNDS
Initial Certification I certify that I: (i) have received, read and reviewed the Trusts' Code of Ethics; (ii) understand the policies and procedures in the Code; (iii) recognize that I am subject to such policies and procedures; (iv) understand the penalties for non-compliance; (v) will fully comply with the Trusts' Code of Ethics; and (vi) have fully and accurately completed this Certificate. Signature: ---------------------------------------------------- (Please print) Name: ---------------------------------------------------- Date Submitted: Date Due: ---------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual Certification I certify that I: (i) have received, read and reviewed the Trusts' Code of Ethics; (ii) understand the policies and procedures in the Code; (iii) recognize that I am subject to such policies and procedures; (iv) understand the penalties for non-compliance; (v) have complied with the Trusts' Code of Ethics and any applicable reporting requirements during this past year; (vi) have fully disclosed any exceptions to my compliance with the Code below; (vii) will fully comply with the Trusts' Code of Ethics; and (vi) have fully and accurately completed this Certificate. EXCEPTION(S): Signature: ----------------------------------------------------- (Please print) Name: ---------------------------------------------------- Date Submitted: Date Due: ---------------------------------------------------- |
EXHIBIT P-12
AIG Investments
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 5, 2005
AMENDED:
MAY 10, 2005
SEPTEMBER 2, 2005
SEPTEMBER 13, 2007
DEFINITIONS..............................................................................................4 I. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................6 A. PURPOSE.....................................................................................6 B. COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CODE...................................................................6 1. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE..........................................................7 2. BOARD APPROVAL.....................................................................7 II. PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS....................................................................8 A. TRADING IN GENERAL..........................................................................8 1. EXEMPT SECURITIES..................................................................8 2. CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING PRE-CLEARANCE..............................................9 A. PRE-CLEARANCE APPROVAL...............................................9 B. PROCEDURES FOR APPROVAL..............................................9 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS ("IPOS").................................................10 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS................................................................10 5. SHORT-TERM TRADING................................................................10 6. MARKET TIMING.....................................................................11 7. GIFTING OF SECURITIES.............................................................11 B. REPORTING..................................................................................11 1. DISCLOSURE OF HOLDINGS AND ACCOUNTS...............................................11 2. TRANSACTIONS FOR ALL ACCESS PERSONS...............................................12 III. FIDUCIARY DUTIES...................................................................................12 A. FRAUDULENT PRACTICES.......................................................................12 B. DISPENSING INFORMATION.....................................................................13 C. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT....................................................................13 D. AIG SECURITIES.............................................................................14 E. OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES................................................................15 IV. INSIDER TRADING....................................................................................17 A. MATERIAL INFORMATION.......................................................................17 B. NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION.....................................................................18 1. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONFIDENCE................................................18 2. INFORMATION DISCLOSED IN BREACH OF DUTY...........................................18 C. GUIDANCE ON INSIDER TRADING................................................................19 D. PENALTIES FOR INSIDER TRADING..............................................................19 E. PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY AGAINST INSIDER TRADING.................................19 1. TRADING RESTRICTIONS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS...................................19 2. INFORMATION BARRIER POLICY........................................................20 A. CROSS-BARRIER PROCEDURES.................................................20 B. THE ADVISER WATCH LIST...................................................21 I. PLACEMENT OF SECURITIES ON/OFF THE ADVISER WATCH LIST...........21 II. IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING..................................21 C. THE ADVISER RESTRICTED LIST..............................................21 I. PLACEMENT OF SECURITIES ON/OFF THE ADVISER RESTRICTED LIST......21 II. IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING..................................22 3. CONFIDENTIALITY...................................................................22 APPENDIX A..............................................................................................23 APPENDIX B..............................................................................................25 APPENDIX C..............................................................................................26 |
DEFINITIONS
ACCESS PERSON: For the purpose of this Code, all employees of AIG Investments
are considered Access Persons. This includes certain staff who have
responsibilities on investment-related activities within affiliated companies of
AIG.
NOTE: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS CODE, A PROHIBITION OR REQUIREMENT APPLICABLE TO ANY ACCESS PERSON APPLIES ALSO TO TRANSACTIONS IN SECURITIES FOR ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH THE ACCESS PERSON OR A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER HAS CONTROL AND/OR A BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP.
ADVISER: the advisers of AIG Investments to which this Code applies. Please see Appendix B for the list of advisers.
ADVISORY CLIENT: An entity that has signed an agreement with the Adviser for the provision of discretionary or non-discretionary investment management services.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP: A direct or indirect Pecuniary Interest in the securities that an Access Person has or shares.
NOTE: ACCESS PERSONS SHOULD CONSULT THE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT IF IN DOUBT AS TO WHETHER HE/SHE HAS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES.
CLOSED END FUND: type of fund that has a fixed number of shares usually listed on a major stock exchange. Unlike open-ended mutual funds, closed end funds do not issue and redeem shares on a continuous basis.
DISINTERESTED DIRECTOR/NON-EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE PERSONNEL: A director of any Fund managed by the Adviser who is not in the position to influence the operations of an Advisory Client. Disinterested Directors are currently not subject to the requirements of this Code.
ENTERTAINMENT: An event where a business contact, counterparty or vendor is present with the employee and where business matters can be discussed.
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (ETF): A fund that tracks an index, but can be traded like a stock. ETFs always bundle together the securities that are in an index or sector but never track actively managed mutual fund portfolios. Investors can do just about anything with an ETF that they can do with a normal stock, such as short selling. Because ETFs are traded on stock exchanges, they can be bought and sold at any time during the day (unlike most mutual funds).
FUND: Registered open-end and closed-end investment companies or commingled vehicles advised or sub-advised by the Adviser.
GIFT: Anything of value that is received and/or offered from/to a business contact, vendor or counterparty.
HOUSEHOLD MEMBER: A member of an Access Person's family and/or legal dependent that shares the same residence as the Access Person.
INVESTMENT PERSONNEL: Any employee entrusted with the direct responsibility and authority, either alone or as part of a co-manager team or group, to make investment decisions affecting an Advisory Client's investment plans and interests, as well as other personnel, such as research analysts, trading personnel, individuals who provide information or advice to portfolio managers and those individuals who execute portfolio manager decisions.
PECUNIARY INTEREST: The opportunity to profit directly or indirectly or share in any profit derived from a transaction in a security.
PRIVATE PLACEMENT: The sale of a bond or other security directly to a limited number of investors in a private offering.
PROTEGENT PTA: A web based application used by Access Persons to submit all necessary forms/reports under the requirements of this Code. Access Persons must, whenever possible, use Protegent PTA to comply with the reporting requirements of this Code. However, in cases where an Access Person does not have access to the system, the Access Person must receive approval from the Compliance Department prior to submitting any required forms/reports manually.
SECURITIES: Any note, stock (including ADRs), treasury stock, bond debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or subscription transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, futures contracts and options traded on a commodities exchange, including: currency futures; fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights; any put, call, straddle, option or privilege on any security or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof); or any put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency or; in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a security or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any security.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CODE, COMMODITIES ARE NOT CONSIDERED SECURITIES. NONETHELESS, FUTURES AND OPTIONS ON ANY GROUP OR INDEX OF SECURITIES ARE CONSIDERED SECURITIES.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. PURPOSE
The Adviser believes that individual investment activities by its officers and employees should not be prohibited or discouraged. Nonetheless, the nature of the Adviser's fiduciary obligations necessarily requires some restrictions on the investment activities of Access Persons and their Household Members.
Access Persons are agents of the Adviser. In managing assets for the Adviser's Clients, Access Persons have a fiduciary responsibility to treat the Adviser's Clients fairly. This duty requires a course of conduct, consistent with other statutory obligations, that seeks to be prudent and in the Client's best interest.
This Code of Ethics (the "Code") is intended to address three fundamental principles that must guide the personal investment activities of Access Persons in light of his/her fiduciary duties:
(1) PLACE THE INTERESTS OF THE ADVISER'S CLIENTS FIRST. As fiduciaries, Access Persons must avoid serving personal interests ahead of the interests of the Adviser's Clients.
(2) AVOID TAKING INAPPROPRIATE ADVANTAGE OF ONE'S POSITION AS AN ACCESS PERSON.
(3) CONDUCT PERSONAL INVESTING ACTIVITIES IN SUCH A WAY AS TO AVOID EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FOR THE ADVISER'S CLIENTS.
This Code has been adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Company Act") and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), which require that every registered investment company and registered investment adviser adopt a code of ethics regarding personal investment activities of persons having access to information about portfolio transactions of the Adviser's Clients. In addition, Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act requires that registered investment advisers keep certain records regarding personal investment activities of Access Persons and make them available for inspection by representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
B. COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CODE
Compliance with this Code and the Federal Securities Laws is a condition of employment. A violation of this Code may be cause for disciplinary action by the Adviser, including termination of employment. Other disciplinary actions may include warnings and periods of "probation" during which all personal investment activities (except for specifically approved liquidation of current positions) are prohibited.
Any transactions that appear to indicate a pattern of abuse of an Access Person's fiduciary duties to the Adviser's Clients will be subject to scrutiny regardless of technical compliance with the Code.
In addition to this Code, Access Persons are subject to policies and procedures which have been created by or on behalf of American International Group, Inc. ("AIG"). This Code shall not supersede any such policies or procedures established by AIG.
THIS CODE SHALL BE SUPERSEDED BY LOCAL REGULATORY PRACTICES AS APPLICABLE. EACH REGIONAL COMPLIANCE OFFICER SHALL COMMUNICATE SUCH EXCEPTIONS TO ALL ACCESS PERSONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGION.
ACCESS PERSONS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT ANY VIOLATIONS OF THIS CODE TO THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER (OR HIS/HER DESIGNEE). ACCESS PERSONS WILL NOT FACE RETALIATION IF HE/SHE REPORTS VIOLATIONS OF THIS CODE. RETALIATION ITSELF CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THIS CODE.
1. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Employees will receive a copy of this Code and any amendments as they are made. New hires are required to certify that have received a copy of the Code. In addition, employees must make an annual Certification within 30 days of year-end using PROTEGENT PTA ("Protegent PTA"), the Adviser's Code of Ethics/personal securities investing application(1).
2. BOARD APPROVAL
The directors of the Adviser and the directors of each Fund are required to make a determination that this Code contains provisions reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the anti-fraud provisions of Rule 17j-1 under the Company Act.
A majority of the Fund's board, including a majority of the Fund's independent directors, is required to:
a) approve the Code when the Fund initially engages the Adviser, and
b) approve any subsequent material changes to the Code within six months of the change.
II. PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
A. TRADING IN GENERAL
Access Persons may not knowingly engage in the purchase or sale of a Security
(other than an Exempt Security, as explained below) of which they have
Beneficial Ownership (other than an Exempt Transaction, as explained in Appendix
A) and which, within seven (7) calendar days before and after the transaction:
(1) is being considered for purchase or sale by an Advisory
Client, or
(2) is being purchased or sold by an Advisory Client.
1. EXEMPT SECURITIES
Exempt Securities are Securities that do not have to be pre-cleared or reported to the Compliance Department and are not subject to the short swing profit limitation requirement of this Code.
The following are Exempt Securities:
i. Securities that are direct obligations of the U.S. and foreign governments (e.g., U.S. Treasury obligations);
ii. Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements. ADRs do not fall into this category;
NOTE: HIGH QUALITY SHORT-TERM DEBT INSTRUMENTS ARE INTERPRETED TO MEAN ANY INSTRUMENT THAT HAS A MATURITY AT ISSUANCE OF LESS THAN 366 DAYS AND IS RATED IN ONE OF THE TWO HIGHEST RATING CATEGORIES BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STATISTICAL RATING ORGANIZATION.
iii. Shares of unaffiliated registered open-end investment companies, annuities, or other commingled vehicles. The requirement to report holdings of affiliated funds does not apply to holdings in defined benefit plans including 401(k) plans, AIG Retirement and 529 plans.
NOTE: EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS ("ETFS") AND CLOSED END FUNDS ARE NOT EXEMPT UNDER THE CODE. TRANSACTIONS IN THESE SECURITIES MUST BE REPORTED (BUT NOT PRE-CLEARED) ON PROTEGENT PTA.
iv. Municipal bonds (general and revenue) issued by a state or local government entity;
v. Any transactions and/or holdings in Securities in an account over which an Access Person has no direct or indirect influence, control or knowledge
(e.g., a blind trust/non-discretionary account. An Access Person must notify the Compliance Department of the establishment of such an account and Compliance Department must receive duplicate statements);
vi. 529 Plans that only have the ability to invest in Exempt Securities (including affiliated funds) as defined in this section;
vii. Transactions within the AIG Retirement Plan, including affiliated funds. This also applies to retirement plans of Household Members; and
NOTE: IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THERE ARE CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS DESIGNATED BY THE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AS EXEMPT ("EXEMPT TRANSACTIONS"), WHICH ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE PRE-CLEARED, BUT ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO COMPLIANCE. THESE TRANSACTIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN APPENDIX A.
2. CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING PRE-CLEARANCE
All Access Persons must obtain Pre-clearance from the Compliance Department prior to purchasing or selling a Security that is neither an Exempt Security nor can be bought or sold in an Exempt Transaction.
A. PRE-CLEARANCE APPROVAL: Once received, Pre-clearance approval is valid for the same day and the next business day (THE "APPROVAL PERIOD"). An order that is not executed within the Approval Period must be re-submitted for Pre-clearance approval. Approval for a private placement purchase is valid until the closing of the private placement transaction.
In the event that a "good-till-canceled" limit and/or a "stop loss" order is not executed within the Approval Period, the order does NOT need to be re-submitted for Pre-clearance, provided that no conditions of the order have changed (e.g., limit price, shares) and the transaction is identified on the pre-clearance request form in Protegent PTA ("User Comment" section) as a good-till-canceled limit and/or stop loss order. Additionally, "good-till-canceled" and "stop loss" orders must be documented on the confirmation received from the Access Person's broker by the Compliance Department.
3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS ("IPOS")(3)
The purchase of equity Securities in initial public offerings ("IPOs") by Access Persons can create an appearance that such personnel have taken inappropriate advantage of their positions for personal benefit. Accordingly, Access Persons must obtain prior written approval from the Compliance Department and his/her supervising Managing Director prior to purchasing an IPO.
GLOBAL EQUITY PERSONNEL ARE PROHIBITED FROM INVESTING IN IPOS.
4. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
Access Persons must obtain prior written approval from the Compliance Department AND a supervising Managing Director before acquiring Beneficial Ownership of any Securities in a Private Placement. Approval will be given only if it is determined that the investment opportunity should not be reserved for Advisory Clients and that the opportunity to invest has not been offered to the Access Person by virtue of his/her position.
Access Persons must disclose investments in a Private Placement if an investment in the issuer of the Private Placement is being considered for an Advisory Client and the Access Person is involved in the decision making process. A decision to make such an investment must be independently reviewed by the Access Person's manager or a Managing Director who does not have Beneficial Ownership of any Securities of the issuer.
GLOBAL EQUITY PERSONNEL ARE PROHIBITED FROM INVESTING IN PRIVATE
PLACEMENTS.
5. SHORT-TERM TRADING
Access Persons are prohibited from realizing profits from selling a Security within 60 days of purchase of the position. In addition, Access Persons are prohibited from realizing profits from closing a short position within 60 days of opening the position.
which may be approved by the Compliance Department in extreme circumstances; and (9) any other special exemption approved by Compliance PRIOR to the profit being realized. Hardship exemptions and special exemptions must be approved in advance of the short-term trading. Please contact the Compliance Department with any questions.
The Compliance Department will monitor short-term trading and address any abuses of short-term trading profits on a case-by-case basis. If an abuse is discovered, Access Persons will be required to disgorge any profits realized on personal trades executed within the 60 days. Day trading by Access Persons is strictly prohibited.
Personal trading in unusually high frequency is discouraged. The Compliance Department may contact any Access Person and/or his/her supervisor deemed to be trading with excessive frequency.
6. Market Timing
Market Timing is the short-term trading in and out of U.S. registered investment companies, generally those that are focused on non-U.S. investments using information that is publicly known but not yet reflected in the share price. Furthermore, more sophisticated market timers have taken advantage of disparities between the last quoted prices of a Fund's underlying portfolio Securities and potentially inaccurate fair-valuing of those Securities. Market timing by Access Persons is strictly prohibited whether or not the market timing relates to products advised or sub-advised by the Adviser.
7. Gifting of securities
The gifting of Securities is permitted without pre-clearance. Nonetheless, these Securities must be disclosed in Protegent PTA and reported on the Access Person's Quarterly Transactions Certification.
B. REPORTING
1. DISCLOSURE OF HOLDINGS AND ACCOUNTS
All Access Persons must disclose to the Chief Compliance Officer or other designated persons, whether they have Beneficial Ownership and/or control of any Securities, futures, options, collective schemes, pooled funds or affiliated mutual fund accounts (i.e., Brazos, VALIC, SunAmerica) within 10 days of commencement of employment (such information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to employment). If an Access Person subsequently opens a new account of which he/she has Beneficial Ownership and/or control (whether or not this account holds
reportable Securities), the Access Person must notify the Compliance Department via Protegent PTA within 10 days following the opening of such account. Securities held in certificate form that are not held in street name must also be reported to the Compliance Department via Protegent PTA. All reports submitted to the Compliance Department will be treated as confidential.
Any Access Person who fails to report his/her holdings or the opening of a new brokerage account in accordance with this Code shall be deemed to be in violation of this Code.
ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT
Access Persons must provide and certify on an annual basis, a report of their accounts and beneficial holdings within 30 days after the calendar year end. The information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the submission of the report.
2. TRANSACTIONS FOR ALL ACCESS PERSONS
Access Persons must arrange for the Compliance Department to be provided, on a timely basis, duplicate copies of confirmations for all transactions in an account that is Beneficially Owned and/or controlled by such Access Person. Duplicate copies of periodic statements for the account also must be provided. Upon notification, the Compliance Department will request these documents directly from the broker-dealer identified by each Access Person.
QUARTERLY TRANSACTIONS CERTIFICATION
Access Persons are required, within 30 days after the calendar quarter, to complete a report of all transactions in Securities of which the Access Person had Beneficial Ownership and/or control (except for those Securities classified as Exempt Securities). In accordance with Best Industry Practices, Access Persons are expected to complete their quarterly certifications within 10 days of quarter end, absent exigent circumstances.
Access Persons must complete the report even if no reportable transactions occurred during the quarter.
III. FIDUCIARY DUTIES
A. FRAUDULENT PRACTICES
If an Access Person purchases or sells, directly or indirectly, a Security or commodity which is held or is to be acquired by an Advisory Client, the Access Person may not:
(1) employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud an Advisory Client;
(2) make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to an Advisory Client, a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
(3) engage in any act, practice or course of business which would operate as a fraud or deceit upon an Advisory Client; or
(4) engage in any manipulative practice with respect to such Advisory Client.
B. DISPENSING INFORMATION
Access Persons must obtain prior written approval from the Compliance Department before dispensing any reports, recommendations or other information concerning Securities holdings or Securities transactions for Advisory Clients to anyone, other than the Clients themselves. No approval is needed if such persons have a business need for this information as a part of their normal duties and activities. Access Persons may disclose this information if:
(1) there is a public report containing the same information;
(2) the information is dispensed in accordance with compliance procedures established to prevent conflicts of interest between the Adviser and their Advisory Clients; or
(3) the information is reported to directors or trustees of Advisory Clients or to administrators or other fiduciaries of Advisory Clients and if these persons receive the information in the course of carrying out their fiduciary duties.
NOTE: THE ABOVE DOES NOT APPLY TO CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE DISPENSED BY REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
C. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Gifts and Entertainment present an opportunity for conflicts of interests for the Advisers. Accordingly, it is best practice to monitor the offer and receipt of gifts and/or entertainment. In all matters related to gifts or entertainment, it is the responsibility of the Access Person to exercise good judgment. Offering and/or accepting gifts and entertainment is appropriate provided there is a business purpose, the expense incurred are ordinary and necessary and the gifts or entertainment falls within this Code and all relevant laws and regulations.
1. Access Persons giving Gifts to prospective or existing clients must submit a Gifts and Entertainment Form on Protegent PTA. The Access Person's supervising Managing Director must approve in advance gifts in excess of $150.
2. All Gifts in excess of $150 received by Access Persons may be accepted, but must be shared among the department receiving the gift. Where such a gift cannot be reasonable shared amongst employees (as in the case of an item of clothing), the gift may be accepted and subsequently donated to charity. This includes, among other things, gratuities and gifts received by Access Persons for speaking engagements. The gift must be approved by the Compliance Department and the Access Person's supervising Managing Director and reported via the Gifts and Entertainment Form on Protegent PTA. Refer to the AIG CODE OF CONDUCT for further information.
3. An Access Person may not offer or receive cash in any amount.
4. An Access Person may not solicit a Gift from any counterpart, business contact or vendor.
5. An Access Person must disclose any Entertainment provided to a client and/or prospective client using the Adviser's employee reimbursement system. The Compliance Department will periodically monitor these reports. Access Persons must report and obtain prior approval from a supervising Managing Director for accepting entertainment in excess of $500. Additionally, business meals in excess of $500 (per person/per event), accepted by Access Persons must be reported on Protegent PTA.
In addition to this policy, Access Persons must also comply with the AIG CODE OF CONDUCT's policy on Gifts and Entertainment and AIG'S TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT POLICY.
Access Persons who are FINRA Registered Representatives are required to comply
with the "Gift and Entertainment Guidelines" described within the AIG Equity
Sales Corp. and AIG Global Securities Lending Corp. Supervisory Procedures (AIG
EQUITY SALES MANUAL).
For the gifting of Securities, please see Section II .A. (7).
D. AIG SECURITIES
To avoid any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest, Access Persons may not engage in options transactions or short sales of AIG common stock, other than selling options received from AIG. Purchases and sales of AIG Securities on the open market are required to be pre-cleared and reported to the Compliance Department.
1) EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS/EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN/RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS:
a) Options received, BUT NOT EXERCISED, as part of an employee's compensation package are not required to be reported to the Compliance Department;
b) If an employee exercises an option and subsequently sells the
shares, an employee must submit a pre-clearance request for such
sale;
c) If an employee receives shares as part of an Employee Stock
Option Plan/Restricted Stock Unit Program, the shares must be
reported in Protegent PTA within the quarter in which they are
received (either when the broker receives the shares or when the
employee receives the shares in physical form);
d) Cashless exercise of options must be pre-cleared via Protegent
PTA;
e) Sales of Restricted Stock Units must be pre-cleared.
2) EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN ("ESPP")
Although Access Persons do not need to pre-clear their participation in the ESPP, Access Persons are required to report to the Compliance Department via Protegent PTA the receipt of AIG shares when they are received. Additionally, Access Persons are required to pre-clear the sale of AIG stock acquired through the ESPP.
E. OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
"OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES" include service as a partner, officer, director, owner or trustee of an organization that is not an affiliate of AIG.
Given the nature of AIG Investments' business, AIG Investments' duties to its clients and equity owners, and the role of investment and financial advisory professionals generally, Access Persons who engage in outside business activities may face numerous and significant potential conflicts of interest. The AIG Code of Conduct governs outside business activities of AIG employees, including all Access Persons. This Code supplements the AIG Code of Conduct by requiring certain additional policies and procedures that are applicable to Access Persons only.
Prior to pursuing any such outside business activities, Access Persons must:
o receive written approval from the AIG Legal Department or its designee;
o receive written approval from the AIG Investments Compliance
Department;
o if the outside business activity includes service on a Board or similar
body, receive written approval from the Access Person's supervising
Managing Director or Department Head;
o complete the Outside Business Activities form found on PROTEGENT PTA
(the form can be found in the drop down menu under "Disclosures"); and
o if the outside business activity includes service on a Board of
Directors or similar body, obtain the Acknowledgment and Waiver Letter
described below.
SERVICE ON OUTSIDE BOARDS
The Compliance Department will determine procedures to prevent the misuse of
material, non-public information which may be acquired through outside Board
service, as well as other procedures or investment restrictions which may be
required to prevent actual or potential conflicts of interest.
In addition, the corporation or other entity which the outside Board governs must provide the Access Person with written assurances (an "ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WAIVER LETTER") regarding potential conflicts that may arise from time to time. The Acknowledgement and Waiver Letter should include an acknowledgement by the company that potential conflicts may exist, that the Access Person will resolve those conflicts in favor of AIG, and that the Company has waived any such conflicts. A form of Acknowledgement and Waiver Letter is attached to this Code of Ethics as Appendix C.
In addition to complying with the policies and procedures set forth in the AIG Code of Conduct and in this Code, Access Persons must be vigilant in identifying and managing the potential conflicts of interest that may arise by virtue of their service on outside Boards. Depending on the circumstances, these conflicts may require the Access Person to recuse him- or herself from deliberations of the Board. In some cases, it may be necessary to resign from the Board entirely. Access Persons should seek guidance from the AIG Investments Legal Department as to how these potential conflicts may be best addressed.
INSOLVENT COMPANIES
Access Persons should also be aware that corporations that are insolvent or
operating in the so-called "zone of insolvency" may present particular legal
challenges for officials and directors, including expansion of fiduciary duties
to include the corporation's creditors as well as its shareholders. The case law
relating to duties of directors of insolvent corporations is unsettled, and may
vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Access Persons serving on
an outside Board that becomes insolvent or enters the vicinity of insolvency
should seek legal guidance promptly from the Board's legal counsel.
FURTHER READING
Access Persons serving or contemplating serving on an outside board are
encouraged to review the report of the National Association of Corporate
Directors entitled DIRECTOR LIABILITY: MYTHS, REALITIES, AND PREVENTION.
EXCEPTIONS
The term "outside business activities" , generally is not intended to include
service to any organization that is (I) a personal holding company or (II) an
entity identified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A "PERSONAL
HOLDING COMPANY" is an entity that:
is wholly-owned by the Access Person and/or members of the Access Person's
immediate family;
is used solely for the Access Person's personal investments;
is not actively managed;
does not have any dealings with AIG; and
does not compete with AIG.
The approvals required for outside business activities are not required for activities relating to those exempted organizations. However, these activities must be reported on Protegent PTA. For example, an Access Person would not need to seek approval to establish a personal holding company that holds only a passive investment in real estate and that has no relationship with AIG. However, the Access Person would be required to report this activity on Protegent PTA.
IV. INSIDER TRADING
Insider trading refers to the use of material, non-public information to trade in Securities or communications of material, non-public information to others in breach of a fiduciary duty.
Insider trading law generally prohibits:
(1) Trading by an insider, while in possession of material, non-public information;
(2) Trading by a non-insider, while in possession of material, non-public information, where the information was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider's duty to keep it confidential; or
(3) Communicating material, non-public information to others in breach of a fiduciary duty.
A. MATERIAL INFORMATION
Material information generally is information that an investor would consider important in making his/her investment decision, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a company's Securities. Material information does not have to relate directly to a company's business.
Information is considered material if it relates to matters such as:
(1) dividend or earnings expectations;
(2) write-downs or write-offs of assets;
(3) proposals or agreements involving a joint venture, merger, acquisition, divestiture or leveraged buy-out;
(4) criminal indictments, civil litigation or government investigations;
(5) substantial changes in accounting methods;
(6) major litigation developments;
(7) bankruptcy or insolvency; or
(8) public offerings or private sales of debt or equity securities.
NOTE: THE ABOVE LIST OF EXAMPLES IS NON-EXHAUSTIVE. PLEASE CONTACT THE LEGAL & COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT WITH ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE MATERIALITY OF INFORMATION.
Information provided by a company can be material because of its expected effect on a particular class of the company's Securities, all of the company's Securities, the Securities of another company or the Securities of several companies. This policy applies to all types of Securities, as well as any option related to that Security.
B. NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION
Non-public information is information that has not generally been made available to investors. Information received in circumstances indicating that it is not yet in general circulation or where the recipient knows or should know that the information could only have been provided by an insider is also considered non-public information.
For non-public information to become public, it must be disseminated through recognized channels of distribution designed to reach the securities marketplace. Once the information has been distributed, it is no longer subject to insider trading policies. Disclosure in a national business and financial wire service (e.g., Dow Jones, Bloomberg or Reuters), a national news service (AP), a national newspaper (e.g., THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or THE NEW YORK TIMES), or a publicly disseminated disclosure document (a proxy statement or prospectus) constitutes public information.
NOTE: GENERALLY, INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED NON-PUBLIC UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
1. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONFIDENCE
Occasionally, one or more Access Persons may become temporary insiders because of a fiduciary (a person or entity to whom property is entrusted for the benefit of another) or commercial relationship.
As an insider, the Adviser has a fiduciary responsibility not to breach the trust of the party that has communicated the material, non-public information by misusing that information. The fiduciary duty arises because the Adviser has entered or has been invited to enter into a commercial relationship with the client or prospective client and has been given access to confidential information solely for the corporate purposes of that client. The obligation remains regardless of whether the Adviser ultimately participates in the transaction.
2. INFORMATION DISCLOSED IN BREACH OF DUTY
Even where there is no expectation of confidentiality, a person may become an insider upon receiving material, non-public information in circumstances where a person knows, or should know, that a corporate insider is disclosing information in breach of the fiduciary duty he/she owes the corporation and its shareholders. A prohibited personal benefit could include a present or future monetary gain, a benefit to one's reputation, an expectation of quid pro quo from the recipient or the recipient's employer by a gift of the inside information.
A person may, depending on the circumstances, also become an insider when he/she obtains material, non-public information by happenstance. This includes information derived from social institutions, business gatherings, overheard conversations, misplaced documents and tips from insiders or other third parties.
C. GUIDANCE ON INSIDER TRADING
Any Access Person who is uncertain as to whether the information he/she possesses is material, non-public information should take the following steps immediately:
(1) Report the matter to the Compliance Department;
(2) Refrain from purchasing or selling the securities on behalf of oneself or others, including Advisory Clients managed by the Access Person; and
(3) Refrain from communicating the information inside or outside the Adviser, other than to the Compliance Department.
The Compliance Department will instruct the Access Person on how to proceed.
D. PENALTIES FOR INSIDER TRADING
The penalties for inside trading are severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers. A person can be subject to penalties even if he/she does not benefit personally from the violation.
E. PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY AGAINST INSIDER TRADING
1. TRADING RESTRICTIONS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
a) No Access Person who possesses material, non-public information relating to the Adviser or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, may buy or sell any Securities of the Adviser or engage in any other action to take advantage of, or pass on to others, such information.
b) No Access Person who obtains material, non-public information which relates to any other company or entity in circumstances in which such person is deemed to be an insider or is otherwise subject to restrictions under the securities laws, may buy or sell Securities of that company or otherwise take advantage of, or pass on to others, such information.
c) Access Persons shall submit reports concerning each Securities transaction and should verify their personal ownership of such Securities.
d) Access Persons should not discuss any potentially material, non-public information concerning the Adviser or other companies except as specifically required in the performance of their duties.
2. INFORMATION BARRIER POLICY
The Information Barrier Procedures are designed to restrict the flow of inside information and to prevent employees on the public side (i.e., trading desks) from gaining access to material, non-public information which came from the private side.
The Adviser has implemented a third-party software platform to capture all e-mail communications sent and received by employees. On a routine basis, the Compliance Department will review employees' e-mails to identify any questionable correspondence(4).
For a more detailed description of the Information Barrier Policy, please see the Compliance Manual.
A. CROSS-BARRIER PROCEDURES
A "cross-barrier communication" is a communication between an employee on the public side and employee on the private side. The communication can be in the form of a conversation, an e-mail, a memo, a research report or any other communication of an employee's opinion about the value of a security.
Access Persons are permitted to have cross-barrier communications regarding (a) investments generally, which communications do not relate to any specific issuer (e.g. industry related investment communications) and (b) communications which are issuer specific, but which involve only public information (only if such communication is monitored by the Legal and Compliance Department).
Access Persons on the private side of the Information Barrier are prohibited from communicating non-public information (including impressions or information derived from non-public information) regarding an issuer of public securities to any employee on the public side of the Information Barrier unless the communication is monitored by the Compliance Department and the public side has agreed to receive the information prior to the information being communicated.
B. THE ADVISER WATCH LIST
The Adviser Watch List is a highly confidential list of securities about which the Adviser may have received or may expect to receive material, non-public information. The contents of the Watch List and any related restrictions imposed by the Legal & Compliance Department are extremely confidential therefore access to the Watch List is very limited.
i. Placement of Securities On/Off the Adviser Watch List
A Security normally will be placed on the Watch List when the Adviser has received or expects to receive material, non-public information concerning that Security or its issuer. This usually occurs when the Adviser is involved in an assignment or transaction that has not been publicly announced or when the Adviser otherwise determines that there is a need to monitor the trading activity in such Security.
A Security will be removed from the Watch List at the request of the person who initiated placement on the list, usually when the Adviser's involvement in the transaction relating to the Security has ended. Securities also may be removed from the Watch List when they are moved to the Adviser's Restricted List.
ii. Implementation and Monitoring
The person who initially places a security on the Watch List is responsible for notifying the Compliance Department when it should be removed. The Compliance Department maintains the Watch List. In addition, the Compliance Department monitors trading activity in any Adviser Watch List Security on a periodic basis.
C. THE ADVISER RESTRICTED LIST
The Adviser Restricted List is a confidential list of Securities that are subject to restrictions in trading. Restrictions apply to trading for Advisory Clients, proprietary accounts, and trading for employee and related accounts. Securities on the Restricted List are to be kept confidential and are not to be disclosed to anyone outside of AIG.
i. Placement of Securities On/Off the Adviser Restricted List
The placement of a Security on the Restricted List generally restricts all trading in the Security or its issuer. Since a Security may be placed on the Restricted List for a number of reasons, no inferences should be drawn concerning a company or its securities due to its inclusion on such list.
A Security will be removed from the Restricted List at the request of the person who initiated placement on the list, usually when the Adviser's involvement in the transaction relating to the Security has ended.
ii. Implementation and Monitoring
The Compliance Department is responsible for placing or removing a Security from the Restricted List and has the ultimate responsibility for maintaining the Restricted List.
3. CONFIDENTIALITY
In carrying out business activities, Access Persons often learn confidential or proprietary information about AIG, its customers, suppliers and/or third parties. Access Persons must maintain the confidentiality of all information entrusted to them, except where disclosure is authorized or legally required.
APPENDIX A
EXEMPT TRANSACTIONS
INTRODUCTION
The Adviser's Code provides that no Access Person may engage in the purchase or sale of a Security (other than an Exempt Security) of which he/she has Beneficial Ownership and/or control (other than an Exempt Transaction), and which, within seven (7) calendar days before and after the transaction:
1. is being considered for purchase or sale by an Advisory Client, or
2. is being purchased or sold by an Advisory Client.
The Code provides further that classes of transactions may be designated as Exempt Transactions by the Compliance Department.
DESIGNATION OF EXEMPT TRANSACTIONS
In accordance with the Code, the Compliance Department has designated the following classes of transactions as Exempt Transactions, based upon a determination that the transactions do not involve any realistic possibility of a violation of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act or Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers Act. Unless otherwise noted, the following transactions do not require pre-clearance, but are subject to the reporting requirements of the Code (i.e., reported on the Quarterly Transaction Certification) and are subject to the 60 day short-term trading limitation, unless otherwise noted:
1. Transactions in affiliated mutual funds, excluding activity relating to 401(k) plans, the AIG Retirement Plan and 529 Plans.
2. Purchases or sales of Securities that are not eligible for purchase or sale by Advisory Clients - FOR EXAMPLE, SHARES IN CLOSELY HELD OR FAMILY HELD COMPANIES. (Note: Not subject to the 60 day short term trading limitation.)
3. Purchases of Securities under automatic or dividend reinvestment plans. (Note: Not subject to the 60 day short term trading limitation.)
4. Purchases of Securities by exercise of rights issued to the holders of a class of Securities pro-rata, to the extent they are issued with respect to Securities of which an Access Person has Beneficial Ownership. (Note: Not subject to the 60 day short term trading limitation.)
5. Acquisitions or dispositions of Securities as a result of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, merger, consolidation, spin-off or other similar corporate distribution or reorganization applicable to all holders of a class of Securities of which an Access
Person has Beneficial Ownership. (Note: Not subject to the 60 day short term trading limitation.)
6. Acquisitions of Securities by the exercise of rights which are granted to borrowers/policyholders of financial institutions which apply for a public listing of their shares and offer "Free" shares to existing borrowers/policyholders.
7. Any purchases or sales of fixed-income Securities issued by foreign governments.
8. Purchases of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) common stock through AIG's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (Note: The 60 day short-term trading limitation does not apply.)
9. Transactions in ETFs. (Note: The 60 day short-term trading limitation does not apply to ETFs.)
10. Transactions in closed-end funds.
11. Foreign Currency transactions. (Note: The 60 day short-term limitation does not apply.)
12. Futures, options trading and spreadbetting on broad based indices, such as the S&P 500. (Note: The 60 day short-term limitation does not apply.)
13. Securities designated on the pre-clearance Exempt List, which is available on the Protegent PTA home page. This exemption applies to purchases or sales of up to $100,000 face value of fixed income securities within a 7-day period; or up to 1,000 shares of common stock within a 7-day period.
Local regions may designate additional indices and/securities within the Pre-clearance Exempt List, at their discretion. However, the monitoring of these transactions must be done by each region.
Securities are added to the Pre-clearance Exempt List on the basis that
such transactions (i) are not potentially harmful to any Advisory
Client's interest since they would be unlikely to affect a highly
institutional market, and (ii) because of the circumstances of the
proposed transaction, are clearly not related economically to the
Securities to be purchased, sold or held by an Advisory Client, and
(iii) will not cause you to gain improperly a personal profit as a
result of your relationship with an Advisory Client. The most recent
Pre-clearance Exempt List is also located on the Compliance intranet
site: PRECLEARANCE EXEMPT LIST.
APPENDIX B
LIST OF ADVISERS
ADVISER
AIG Investments Fund Management Limited
AIG Capital Partners, Inc.
AIG Global Investment Company (East Africa) Ltd.
AIG Global Investment Corp.
AIG Global Investment Corp. (Asia) Ltd.
AIG Global Investment Corp. (Canada)
AIG Investments (Europe) Ltd.
AIG Investments Ireland Limited
AIG Global Securities Lending (Ireland) Ltd.
AIG Global Investment Corp. (Latin America) S.A.
AIG Global Investment Corp. (Schweiz) AG
AIG Investments Trust Services Limited
AIG Global Investment Corp. (Japan)
Brazos Capital Management, L.P.
APPENDIX C
BY FIRST CLASS MAIL
[Date]
[Address]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND WAIVER
Dear [Board Member]:
This letter will confirm the understanding between [__________] (the "COMPANY") and you regarding certain matters relating to your service on the Board of Directors of the Company (the "BOARD").
The Company has been informed by you that you are employed by a member company of AIG Investments ("AIG INVESTMENTS"), which provides investment advisory, financial and other related services to a range of clients, including clients affiliated with American International Group, Inc. (together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, "AIG"), as well as clients that are not affiliated with AIG. In that regard, you may owe certain fiduciary and other duties to such clients, to AIG and to AIG Investments (collectively, the "AIG PARTIES"). From time to time, these duties may conflict with your duties to the Company, its shareholders or the Board (the "COMPANY PARTIES") that may arise as a member of the Board.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Company hereby waives
any conflicts arising from your duties to the AIG Parties. Without in any way
limiting the foregoing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) you will
resolve any such conflict in all respects in favor of the relevant AIG Parties;
(II) such conflicts from time to time may cause you to recuse yourself from
deliberations of the Board or any of its committees, or to withdraw from the
Board; and (III) you will be under no obligation or duty to the Company Parties
(or any of them) with respect to business opportunities that you become aware of
other than in connection with your service on the Board, including, without
limitation, any such opportunities that you become aware of in connection with
your employment by AIG Investments.
The Company acknowledges that you are serving on the Board strictly in your individual capacity and not as an agent or designee of any AIG Party.
To the extent practicable, the Company and the Board will undertake to inform you of any conflicts that exist or that may arise from time to time between the Company Parties, on one hand, and the AIG Parties, on the other hand.
Nothing in this letter is intended, nor shall it be deemed, in any way to limit any indemnity, release, exculpation or similar rights and protections to which you are entitled under applicable law, the Company's organizational documents or any other agreement or instrument.
Very truly yours,
[NAME OF THE COMPANY]
Title:
and
Title: