AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 31, 2016
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. 272 /X/
AND
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
AMENDMENT NO. 273 /X/
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
101 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)
1-800-932-7781
(Registrant's Telephone Number)
Michael Beattie
c/o SEI Investments
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Sean Graber, Esquire Dianne M. Descoteaux, Esquire Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP c/o SEI Investments 1701 Market Street One Freedom Valley Drive Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456 |
It is proposed that this filing become effective (check appropriate box)
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
(INVESTOR CLASS: AEMGX) (FORMERLY, INSTITUTIONAL CLASS)
(Y CLASS: AEMVX)
(I CLASS: AEMZX)
INVESTOR CLASS, Y CLASS AND I CLASS SHARES PROSPECTUS
OCTOBER 31, 2016
INVESTMENT ADVISER:
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO ......................................... 1 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE .................................................. 1 FUND FEES AND EXPENSES ................................................ 1 PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY ......................................... 2 PRINCIPAL RISKS ....................................................... 2 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION ............................................... 4 INVESTMENT ADVISER .................................................... 5 PORTFOLIO MANAGERS .................................................... 5 PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES ...................................... 6 TAX INFORMATION ....................................................... 6 PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES ........................................... 6 INVESTING WITH THE FUND .................................................... 7 BUYING SHARES ......................................................... 7 REDEEMING SHARES ...................................................... 10 EXCHANGING SHARES ..................................................... 11 TRANSACTION POLICIES .................................................. 12 ACCOUNT POLICIES ...................................................... 15 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND ...................................... 19 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISKS ..................... 19 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ................................................. 21 PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES .................................. 23 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ....................................................... 23 HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND ....................... BACK COVER |
ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the "Fund") seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks of emerging country issuers.
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT YOU PAY EACH YEAR AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INVESTOR CLASS SHARES Y CLASS SHARES I CLASS SHARES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Management Fees 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other Expenses(1) 0.44% 0.29% 0.19% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shareholder Servicing Fees 0.25% 0.10% None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other Operating Expenses 0.19% 0.19% 0.19% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(2) 1.44% 1.29% 1.19% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
(1) Other Expenses for the Fund's Investor Class Shares (formerly Institutional Class Shares) have been restated to reflect the implementation of a 0.25% shareholder servicing fee.
(2) The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the Investor Class Shares in this fee table do not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund's Financial Highlights because other expenses for the Fund's Investor Class Shares have been restated to reflect the implementation of a 0.25% shareholder servicing fee.
EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investor Class Shares $147 $456 $787 $1,724 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Y Class Shares $131 $409 $708 $1,556 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I Class Shares $121 $378 $654 $1,443 |
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
The Fund will invest primarily in common stocks but also may invest in other types of equity securities, including preferred stock. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, at the time of initial purchase, in equity securities of issuers that:
o Have their principal securities trading market in an emerging
country;
o Alone or on a consolidated basis derive 50% or more of annual revenue
from goods produced, sales made or services performed in emerging
countries; or
o Are organized under the laws of, and have a principal office in, an
emerging country.
This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days' prior written notice to shareholders.
An "emerging market country" is any country that is included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index (the "Index") or that is publicly announced to be added to the Index. The Fund may also invest in securities of issuers located in industrialized countries.
Foreign securities include securities of companies located outside the United States, American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") and exchange traded funds that invest in foreign securities. ADRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally traded on an established market, including those in the United States. GDRs are similar to ADRs, except that European banks or trust companies typically issue them. The Fund also may invest in securities issued by small capitalization companies.
The Fund is non-diversified and may hold a relatively small number of issues in its portfolio. In selecting investments for the Fund, Acadian pursues an active, disciplined investment approach that forecasts markets and securities using a range of quantitative factors related to valuation, earnings, quality, price patterns, economic data and risk. Buy and sell decisions are made objectively and driven by changes in expected returns on investments. In making buy and sell decisions, the Adviser analyzes the risk and expected return characteristics of the portfolio's current holdings as compared to the entire universe of institutionally investable companies with sufficient liquidity and data availability. Less attractive securities are discarded from the portfolio while more attractive securities are added, provided that the cost of the purchase and sale of such securities do not exceed the expected value added to the portfolio of such investment decisions.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A FUND SHARE IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE FDIC OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders' investments in the Fund are set forth below.
ACTIVE MANAGEMENT RISK -- The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the Fund's investments may prove to be incorrect. If the investments selected and strategies employed by the Fund fail to produce the intended results, the Fund could underperform in comparison to other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
EQUITY RISK -- Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may 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. This risk is greater for small- and medium-sized companies, which tend to be more vulnerable to adverse developments than larger companies.
SMALL CAPITALIZATION COMPANY RISK -- The smaller capitalization companies that the Fund invests in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small 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 capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange. The Fund is also subject to the risk that the Adviser's particular investment style, which focuses on small capitalization stocks, may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.
FOREIGN COMPANY RISK -- Investing in foreign companies, whether through investments made in foreign markets or made through the purchase of ADRs and GDRs, which are traded on exchanges and represent an ownership 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. Political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where the Fund invests could cause the Fund's investments in that country to experience gains or losses. These risks 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. While ADRs and GDRs provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in ADRs and GDRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.
EMERGING MARKETS SECURITIES RISK -- Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in non-U.S. securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publically available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which tax would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. In addition, emerging markets securities may be issued by companies with smaller market capitalizations and may
suffer periods of relative illiquidity, significant price volatility, restrictions on foreign investment, and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, emerging market governments may have limited ability to raise taxes or authorize appropriations for debt repayment. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK -- Because non-U.S. securities are usually denominated in currencies other than the dollar, the value of the Fund's portfolio may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS RISK -- To the extent that it focuses its investments in a particular country or region, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within that country or region. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.
NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK -- Because the Fund is not diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer than a diversified fund, which may cause the value of its shares to be more sensitive to changes in the market value of a single issuer than a diversified mutual fund.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's Investor Class Shares' performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund's Investor Class Shares' average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Prior to October 31, 2016, the Fund's Investor Class Shares were called "Institutional Class Shares," and were not subject to the shareholder servicing fees currently applicable to Investor Class Shares. The Investor Class Shares performance provided below for the period prior to October 31, 2016 represents the performance of Investor Class Shares when they were called Institutional Shares and does not include the shareholder servicing fees currently applicable to Investor Class Shares.
The Fund's Y Class Shares and I Class Shares had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus and, therefore, performance information for the Fund's Y Class Shares and I Class Shares is not presented. The Y Class Shares and I Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as the Investor Class 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 Y Class Shares and I Class Shares are lower than the expenses of the Investor Class Shares.
Of course, the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-AAM-6161.
2006 32.67% 2007 46.01% 2008 (58.64)% 2009 77.11% 2010 22.65% 2011 (19.61)% 2012 22.76% 2013 (3.43)% 2014 0.72% 2015 (17.31)% BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER 35.67% (33.59)% (06/30/2009) (12/31/2008) |
The performance information shown above is based on a calendar year. The Fund's Investor Class Shares' performance from 1/1/16 to 9/30/16 was 16.10%.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
This table compares the Fund's average annual total returns for the period ended December 31, 2015 to those of an appropriate broad based index.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts ("IRAs").
Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may be higher than before-tax returns when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of Fund shares.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND RETURNS BEFORE TAXES (17.31)% (4.51)% 3.28% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND RETURNS AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS (17.76)% (4.58)% 2.25% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND RETURNS AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS (9.80)% (3.08)% 3.41% AND SALE OF FUND SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX (REFLECTS (14.60)% (4.47)% 3.95% NO DEDUCTION FOR FEES, EXPENSES, OR TAXES) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTMENT ADVISER |
Acadian Asset Management LLC
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
John Chisholm, CFA, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, has managed the Fund since 1994.
Brendan Bradley, Senior Vice President and Director of Portfolio Management, has managed the Fund since 2014.
Brian Wolahan, CFA, Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since 1994.
Asha Mehta, CFA, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since 2009.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
To purchase shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 for Investor Class Shares, $100,000 for Y Class Shares and $1,000,000 for I Class Shares. Subsequent investments must be at least $1,000 for Investor Class Shares. There are no minimums for subsequent investments in Y Class Shares or I Class Shares.
If you own shares directly, you may sell your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for business (a "Business Day") via Automated Clearing House ("ACH") (subject to certain account minimums) or by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, c/o DST Systems, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or by telephone at 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161).
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 Fund.
The Fund is closed to most new and additional investments because the Adviser believes that the implementation of the Fund's investment strategy may be adversely affected if the size of the Fund is not limited.
While any existing shareholder may continue to reinvest Fund dividends and distributions, other new or additional investments in the Fund may only be made by those investors within the following categories:
o Clients of certain broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries
designated by the Adviser based on their relationships with the Fund;
o Accounts of employee benefit plans sponsored by a business or other
organization or an affiliate thereof, that was a Fund shareholder as
of October 1, 2015; and
o Trustees and officers of the Trust, employees of the Adviser, and
their immediate family members.
TAX INFORMATION
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.
PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's web site for more information.
INVESTING WITH THE FUND
This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called "redeem") and exchange Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares of the Fund.
For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see "Taxes."
HOW TO CHOOSE A SHARE CLASS
The Fund offers three classes of shares to investors, Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares. Each share class has its own investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund's share classes and how to choose between them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASS NAME INVESTMENT MINIMUMS FEES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investor Class Initial - $2,500 0.25% Shares Shareholder Subsequent -- $1,000 Servicing Fee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Y Class Shares Initial - $100,000 0.10% Shareholder Subsequent -- None Servicing Fee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I Class Shares Initial - $1,000,000 No Shareholder Subsequent -- None Servicing Fee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisors, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase any class of shares for which it meets the minimum investment requirements. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.
The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and waive or reduce the minimum investment requirements for any share class in its sole discretion.
BUYING SHARES
All investments must be made by check, wire or ACH Transfer. 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 Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund's policy on excessive trading, see "Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures."
The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.
The Fund is closed to most new and additional investments because the Adviser believes that the implementation of the Fund's investment strategy may be adversely affected if the size of the Fund is not limited.
While any existing shareholder may continue to reinvest Fund dividends and distributions, other new or additional investments in the Fund may only be made by those investors within the following categories:
o Clients of certain broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries
designated by the Adviser based on their relationships with the Fund;
o Accounts of employee benefit plans sponsored by a business or other
organization or an affiliate thereof, that was a Fund shareholder as
of October 1, 2015; and
o Trustees and officers of the Trust, employees of the Adviser, and
their immediate family members.
BY MAIL
You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the "Invest by Mail" stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number and the Fund name. Make your check payable to "Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio."
REGULAR MAIL ADDRESS
Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009
EXPRESS MAIL ADDRESS
Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
c/o DST Systems, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund's transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund's transfer agent receives the order in proper form at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.
BY WIRE
To open an account by wire, call 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include your account number).
WIRING INSTRUCTIONS
UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA #: 101000695
Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
DDA Acct. #: 9871063178
Ref: account number/account name/share class
BY AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN (VIA AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE ("ACH")) (INVESTOR CLASS SHARES ONLY)
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 Fund. Purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually in amounts of at least $1,000 to meet the minimum investment amount. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121 (Express Mail Address: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, c/o DST Systems, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.
PURCHASES IN-KIND
Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund's investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the Fund's valuation policies. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.
MINIMUM PURCHASES
To purchase shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 for Investor Class Shares, $100,000 for Y Class Shares and $1,000,000 for I Class Shares. Subsequent investments must be at least $1,000 for Investor Class Shares. There are no minimums for subsequent investments in Y Class Shares or I Class Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion.
FUND CODES
The Fund's reference information, which is listed below, will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, exchange shares, check daily net asset value per share ("NAV") or obtain additional information.
FUND NAME SHARE CLASS TICKER CUSIP FUND SYMBOL CODE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio Investor Class Shares AEMGX 00758M162 1260 Y Class Shares AEMVX 00769G196 1360 I Class Shares AEMZX 00769G188 1960 |
REDEEMING SHARES
PAYMENT OF REDEMPTION PROCEEDS
Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address, sent to your bank by ACH transfer or wired to your bank account (provided that your bank information is already on file). The Fund will pay for all shares redeemed within seven days after it receives a redemption request in proper form, meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation (such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.).
Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that we must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of our shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.
Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership, may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the "Program"), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-866-226-6161 for more information.
If you redeem shares that were purchased by check or through ACH, you will not receive your redemption proceeds until the check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed, which may take up to 15 days from the purchase date.
BY MAIL
You may contact the Fund directly by mail at: Acadian Emerging Markets
Portfolio, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121 (Express Mail Address:
Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, c/o DST Systems, Inc., 430 West 7th Street,
Kansas City, MO 64105). Send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered
parties on the account specifying:
o The Fund name;
o The share class;
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 share owner(s) must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.
Certain shareholders may need to include additional documents or provide a signature guarantee to redeem shares.
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sell orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund's transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sell order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund's transfer agent receives the order in proper form at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.
BY TELEPHONE
You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application.
Call 1-866-AAM-6161 to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you or send them to your bank by either Fed wire or ACH.
BY SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN (VIA ACH) (INVESTOR CLASS SHARES ONLY)
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. To participate in this service, you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.
REDEMPTIONS IN-KIND
The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund's remaining shareholders, the Fund 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 would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until the securities are sold.
EXCHANGING SHARES
At no charge, you may exchange one class of shares of the Fund directly to another class of shares of the Fund by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the eligibility requirements and the fees and expenses of such other class of shares, as set forth in this prospectus. You may only exchange shares between accounts with identical registrations (I.E., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.
The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund 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 Fund. For more information about the Fund's policy on excessive trading, see "Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures."
TRANSACTION POLICIES
CALCULATING YOUR SHARE PRICE
You may buy or sell shares of the Fund on any Business Day at a price equal to the Fund's NAV next computed after it, or an authorized institution, receives and accepts your order in proper form. The Fund calculates NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day's NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive your order in good form (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.) before the close of trading on the NYSE that day. Otherwise, you will receive the NAV that is calculated at the close of trading on the following Business Day. If the NYSE closes early -- such as on days in advance of certain generally observed holidays -- the Fund will calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. Shares will not be priced on days the NYSE is closed for trading, including nationally observed holidays.
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, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or the Fund reasonably believes that they are unreliable, such as in the case of a 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 Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board"). Pursuant to the policies adopted by, and under the ultimate supervision of the Board, these methods are implemented through the Trust's Fair Value Pricing Committee, members of which are appointed by the Board. The 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.
With respect to any non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund prices its shares, the value the Fund assigns 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 Fund may consider the performance of securities on its primary exchange, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.
There may be limited circumstances in which the Fund would price securities at fair value for stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges--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 Fund calculated its NAV.
When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the Fund uses the value of the security provided by pricing services. The values provided by a pricing service may be based upon market quotations for the same security, securities expected to trade in a similar manner or a pricing matrix. When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, the Fund may use the security's amortized cost. Amortized cost and the use of a pricing matrix in valuing fixed income securities are forms of fair value pricing.
Securities, options, futures contracts and other assets (including swap agreements) for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution (defined below), orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day's NAV.
Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares ("authorized institutions"). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund's behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution's designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund's NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution's designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution's designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.
If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.
REDEMPTION FEE
In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of short-term trading, the Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions (including exchanges) of shares that have been held for less than 30 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the Fund's sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund. The fee does not apply to shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of the Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.
The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Fund recognizes that, due to
operational requirements, the intermediaries' methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund's.
The Fund reserves the right to reduce all or a portion of the redemption fee in
its discretion when it believes such reduction is in the best interests of the
Fund, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund
reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns.
These categories include, but are not limited to, the following: (i)
participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are
incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders;
(ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a
shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or
by regulatory authorities; (iv) systematic redemptions; and (v) retirement
loans and withdrawals.
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions the Fund reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.
RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE FUND
PURCHASES
At any time and without notice, the Fund may:
o Stop offering shares;
o Reject any purchase order; or
o Bar an investor engaged in a pattern of excessive trading from buying shares. Excessive trading can hurt performance by disrupting management and increasing expenses. The Fund will consider various factors in determining whether an investor has engaged in excessive trading. These factors include, but are not limited to, the investor's historic trading patterns, the number of transactions, the size of the transactions, the time between transactions and the percentage of the investor's account involved in each transaction. For more information about the Fund's policies on excessive trading, see "Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures. "
REDEMPTIONS
At any time, and without notice, the Fund may change or eliminate any of the redemption methods described above, except redemption by mail. The Fund may suspend your right to redeem your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.
For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see "Taxes on Distributions."
ACCOUNT POLICIES
EXCESSIVE TRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in "market timing" or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund's long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund's investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs.
In addition, because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the 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). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund's shares by virtue of their Fund share transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although the Fund has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating its NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information about how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see "Calculating Your Share Price."
The Fund's service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund's policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Fund's Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund's service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund's policies and procedures include:
o Shareholders are restricted from making more than five "round trips," including exchanges, into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a "round trip" as a purchase into the 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 Fund assesses a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions by shareholders of Fund shares held for less than 30 days (subject to certain exceptions as discussed in "Redemption Fee").
o The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.
The Fund and/or its 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 Fund's long-term shareholders. The
Fund does 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 Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.
Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into "information sharing agreements" with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary's customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary's ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund's shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an "indirect intermediary"), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.
The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary's customers. 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 Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.
The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.
In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its 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 Fund, your application will be rejected.
Upon receipt of your application in proper form (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.), or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application, your investment will be received and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.
The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves 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 are part of the Fund's overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves 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 Fund or in cases when the Fund is 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 Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
Each state has rules governing the definition and treatment of unclaimed property. Triggers include inactivity (e.g., no owner-generated activity for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or "RPO," as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once property is flagged as unclaimed, an attempt is made to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state. More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161).
SMALL ACCOUNTS
The Fund may redeem your shares without your permission if the value of your account falls below $1,250 for Investor Class Shares, $50,000 for Y Class Shares or $500,000 for I Class Shares, excluding accounts for which the minimum initial investment amount has been waived. This provision does not apply:
o To retirement accounts and certain other accounts; or
o When the value of your account falls because of market fluctuations and not your redemptions.
The Fund will provide you at least 30 days' written notice to allow you time to add to your account and avoid the sale of your shares. If your Fund shares are redeemed for this reason within 30 calendar days of their purchase, the redemption fee will not be applied.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Normally, the Fund distributes its net investment income and its net capital gains, if any, at least once a year. The Fund will automatically reinvest dividends and distributions in additional shares of the Fund, unless you elect on your account application to receive them in cash.
FEDERAL TAXES
The following is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future. You should always consult your tax advisor for specific guidance regarding the federal, state and local tax effects of your investment in the Fund.
TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive, whether in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains distributions and distributions that are reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains and currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.
The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after that date. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.
You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as "buying a dividend" and should be avoided by taxable investors. Call 1-866-AAM-6161(1-866-226-6161) to find out when the Fund expects to make a distribution to shareholders.
Each sale of shares of the Fund may be a taxable event. A sale may result in a capital gain or loss to you. The gain or loss generally will be treated as short term if you held the shares 12 months or less, long term if you held the shares for longer.
U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on their "net investment income," including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).
Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund received from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consists of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. The Fund (or its administrative agent) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.
More information about taxes is in the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks of emerging country issuers. The Fund may change its investment objective without shareholder approval.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the 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 of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.
The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings. The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that it may invest a large percentage of its assets in a single issuer or a relatively small number of issuers. Certain of the Fund's principal risks are summarized below.
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities include publicly and privately issued equity securities, common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock and convertible securities, as well as instruments that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Equity securities also include ADRs and GDRs, which are traded on U.S. exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Fluctuations in the value of the equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund's NAV 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 SECURITIES
Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through 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 United States 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. While ADRs and GDRs provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in ADRs and GDRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. Investment in emerging markets subjects the Fund to a greater risk of loss than investments in a developed market. This is due to, among other things, greater market volatility, lower trading volume, political and economic instability, high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, greater risk of market shut down, and more governmental limitations on foreign investment policy than those typically found in a developed market. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than in other countries. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility in the Fund's investments in emerging market countries.
OTHER RISKS
In addition to the principal risks identified above, an investment in the Fund may be subject to other, non-principal risks. Set forth below are summaries of certain other risks associated with investing in the Fund.
DERIVATIVES
The Fund may invest in derivatives, a category of investments that includes forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures, options and swaps to protect its investments against changes resulting from market conditions (a practice called "hedging"), to reduce transaction costs or to manage cash flows. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures and options are called derivatives because their value is based on an underlying asset or economic factor. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund's gains or losses. Derivatives also may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like. The Fund may have to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations under a derivatives transactions. There are various factors that affect the Fund's ability to achieve its objectives with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends on the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The Fund's investments in forward foreign currency exchange contracts and swaps also may be subject to credit risk and valuation risk. Credit risk is the risk that the
counterparty to a derivative contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value.
The Fund may use derivatives as a hedging technique to reduce the risks of its investments in equity securities. However, hedging will not necessarily fully protect the Fund against all anticipated risks. Moreover, hedging transactions involve costs and risks of their own. If the Fund employs a hedge and the market rises, the Fund may lose money or forego the opportunity to capitalize on market increases. As a result, hedging may not improve the Fund's performance either on an absolute or risk-adjusted basis.
SHORT-TERM INVESTING
The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as U.S. government securities. These instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund's principal investment strategy, and may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The Fund will use temporary strategies if the Adviser believes that pursuing the Fund's investment objective will subject it to a significant risk of loss. The Fund has a policy requiring it to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, at the time of initial purchase, in particular types of securities as described in the Fund's principal investment strategy and will not change this policy without 60 days' prior written notice to shareholders. In addition to the temporary defensive measures discussed above, the Fund may also temporarily deviate from this 80% policy in other limited, appropriate circumstances, such as if the Fund experiences unusually large cash inflows or redemptions. When the Adviser pursues a temporary defensive strategy, the Fund may not profit from favorable developments that they would have otherwise profited from if they were pursuing their normal strategies.
The Fund may also employ investment practices that this Prospectus does not describe, such as participating in repurchase agreements, when-issued and forward commitment transactions, lending of securities, borrowing and other techniques. For more information concerning these and any of the Fund's other investment practices and their risks, please read the SAI.
INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio securities is available in the SAI.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Acadian Asset Management LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a Delaware limited liability company located at 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Acadian serves as the Fund's investment adviser. As of September 30, 2016, the Adviser had approximately $73.6 billion in assets under management. Acadian was founded in 1986 and is a subsidiary of OMAM Affiliate Holdings LLC, which is an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Old Mutual plc, a publicly listed company on the NYSE.
The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Fund's assets on a discretionary basis, subject to the oversight of the Board. For its services, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 1.00% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep total
annual fund operating expenses from exceeding 2.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser intends to continue these voluntary fee reductions and expense limitations until further notice, but may discontinue all or part of these fee reductions or expense reimbursements at any time.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the Adviser received advisory fees in the amount of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's approval of the Fund's investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund's annual report dated October 31, 2015, which covers the period from November 1, 2014 to October 31, 2015.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The following portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.
John Chisholm, CFA, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, joined Acadian in 1987 and is responsible for the oversight of Acadian's investment process and investment team. He continues to actively manage Acadian portfolios and direct research to enhance the investment approach, as he has since 1987. Earlier in his career, Mr. Chisholm served as systems engineer at Draper Laboratories and as an analyst for the International Asset Management Department at the State Street Bank and Trust Company (now SSgA). A CFA charterholder, he is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society. Mr. Chisholm holds a B.S. in Engineering and a Master of Science in Management, both from MIT.
Brendan Bradley, Ph.D., Director, Portfolio Management, joined Acadian in 2004 as a senior member of the Research and Portfolio Management teams. In 2010, he was appointed Director of Managed Volatility Strategies, and in 2013 became Director, Portfolio Management, overseeing portfolio management policy. He is a member of the Acadian Executive Committee and Operating Committee. Prior to Acadian, Mr. Bradley was a vice president at Upstream Technologies, where he designed and implemented investment management systems and strategies. His professional background also includes work as a research analyst and consultant at Samuelson Portfolio Strategies. Mr. Bradley obtained a B.A. in Physics from Boston College and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Boston University.
Brian Wolahan, CFA, Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, joined
Acadian in 1990. Prior to his current role as Senior Portfolio Manager, he
served as Director, Portfolio Management overseeing portfolio management
policy, as well as co-Director of Research responsible for developing and
applying investment techniques to evaluate markets and securities. Before
joining Acadian, he worked in the Systems Planning Group at Bank of New England
and as a senior systems analyst at Mars Incorporated. He is a CFA charterholder
and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society. Mr. Wolahan holds a B.S.
in Accounting from Lehigh University and a Master of Science in Management from
MIT.
Asha Mehta, CFA, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, joined Acadian in 2007. Her responsibilities have included portfolio management, research on responsible investing, stock selection strategies for developing and established markets, and enhancements to the Acadian investment process. Prior to joining Acadian, Ms. Mehta was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, where she executed energy and power deals in the emerging markets. She has also worked at Johnson & Johnson in a strategy role to improve product access in developing markets. Early in her career, she worked in microfinance in India. She is a CFA charterholder and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society. Ms. Mehta earned a B.A. and B.S. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. with Honors from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund shares.
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its 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 Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see "Payments to Financial Intermediaries" in the SAI.
In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLAN
The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan that provides that the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for shareholder services in an annual amount not to exceed 0.25% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund's Investor Class Shares and 0.10% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund's Y Class Shares. The services for which financial intermediaries are compensated may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders' accounts and other shareholder services.
OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE FUND
The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder services fees the Fund may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Fund's shareholder servicing plan.
OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE ADVISER
From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in 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 for the Fund. 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 may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. 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 Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with "shelf space," placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("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.
The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund 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 NAV or price of the Fund's shares.
Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders, as well as information about any fees and/or commissions it charges.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The tables that follow present performance information about the Investor Class Shares of the Fund. The information is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming you reinvested all of your dividends and distributions. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the information provided below has been audited by BBD, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's Annual Report. You can obtain the Annual Report, which contains more performance information, at no charge by calling 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161). The information provided below for periods on or before October 31, 2013 was audited by different independent registered public accounting firms, whose reports reflected unqualified audit opinions.
No information is shown for Y Class Shares or I Class Shares of the Fund because they had not commenced operations prior to the date of this prospectus.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SELECTED PER SHARE DATA & RATIOS FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31, ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS ----------------------------------------------------------- PORTFOLIO 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year $19.30 $19.15 $18.02 $17.56 $19.45 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Income from Operations: Net Investment Income* 0.20 0.27 0.25 0.36 0.35 Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) (3.17) 0.09 1.20 0.43 (2.06) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total from Operations (2.97) 0.36 1.45 0.79 (1.71) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Redemption Fees* 0.00^ 0.00^ 0.00^ 0.00^ 0.00^ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Dividends and Distributions from: Net Investment Income (0.21) (0.21) (0.32) (0.33) (0.18) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total Dividends and Distributions (0.21) (0.21) (0.32) (0.33) (0.18) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net Asset Value, End of Year $16.12 $19.30 $19.15 $18.02 $17.56 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Total Return+ (15.51)% 1.95% 8.05% 4.74% (8.89)% ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net Assets, End of Year $1,587,573 $1,688,011 $1,346,635 $820,947 $922,389 (Thousands) Ratio of Expenses to Average Net 1.51% 1.50% 1.48% 1.31% 1.29% Assets(1) Ratio of Net Investment Income to 1.10% 1.41% 1.35% 2.04% 1.78% Average Net Assets Portfolio Turnover Rate 32% 37% 45% 44% 49% |
* PER SHARE AMOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ARE BASED ON AVERAGE OUTSTANDING SHARES.
^ AMOUNT WAS LESS THAN $0.01 PER SHARE.
+ RETURNS SHOWN DO NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF TAXES THAT A SHAREHOLDER WOULD PAY ON PORTFOLIO DISTRIBUTIONS OR THE REDEMPTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES.
(1) THE RATIO OF EXPENSES TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS EXCLUDES THE EFFECT OF FEES PAID INDIRECTLY. IF THESE EXPENSE OFFSETS WERE INCLUDED, THE RATIO WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME AS THE RATIO REPORTED.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
Investors who would like more information about the Fund should read the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports of the Fund provide additional information about its investments. In the Annual Report, you will also find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the performance of the Fund during the last fiscal year. The SAI contains additional detailed information about The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund and the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (is legally part of) this Prospectus.
Investors can receive free copies of the SAI, shareholder reports and other information about the Fund at http://www.acadian-asset.com/Strategies. Investors can also receive these documents, as well as make shareholder inquiries, by writing to or calling:
Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio P.O. Box 219009 Kansas City, MO 64121 1-866-AAM-6161
You can review and copy information about the Fund (including the SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports) at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at 202-551-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Internet site at: http://www.sec.gov. You may obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
THE TRUST'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 FILE NUMBER IS 811-06400.
ACA-PS-001-1600
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
(INVESTOR CLASS SHARES: AEMGX) (FORMERLY, INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES)
(Y CLASS SHARES: AEMVX)
(I CLASS SHARES: AEMZX)
A SERIES OF THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
OCTOBER 31, 2016
INVESTMENT ADVISER:
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
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 Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio ("Emerging Markets Portfolio") (the "Fund"). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's prospectus dated October 31, 2016 (the "Prospectus"). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The Fund's financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, including notes thereto and the report of BBD, LLP thereon, as contained in the 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders, are incorporated by reference into and are deemed to be part of this SAI. A copy of the Fund's 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders accompanies the delivery of this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Fund's Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Trust at P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009 or by calling the Fund at 1-866-AAM-6161.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE THE TRUST ................................................................ S-1 DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS ..................................... S-2 INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND .......................................... S-32 INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES ................................... S-34 PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ....................................................... S-35 THE ADMINISTRATOR ........................................................ S-37 THE DISTRIBUTOR .......................................................... S-38 PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES ..................................... S-38 TRANSFER AGENT ........................................................... S-39 CUSTODIAN ................................................................ S-39 INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ............................ S-39 LEGAL COUNSEL ............................................................ S-39 TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST ....................................... S-40 PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES .......................................... S-50 DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE ......................................... S-51 TAXES .................................................................... S-52 BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES ................................. S-59 PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS ....................................................... S-62 DESCRIPTION OF SHARES .................................................... S-63 SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY .................................................... S-63 LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES' LIABILITY ........................................ S-63 PROXY VOTING ............................................................. S-64 CODES OF ETHICS .......................................................... S-64 5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS .................................................. S-64 APPENDIX A -- DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS ..................................... A-1 APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ........................ B-1 October 31, 2016 ACA-SX-001-1600 |
THE TRUST
GENERAL. The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 (the "Declaration of Trust"). 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. Each fund of 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) pro rata share of the fund's 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. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.
DESCRIPTION OF MULTIPLE CLASSES OF SHARES. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Fund in Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in shareholder servicing expenses and in the minimum investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the Prospectus. For more information on shareholder servicing expenses, see the "Payments to Financial Intermediaries" section of this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares.
HISTORY OF THE EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO. The Fund is the successor to the UAM Funds, Inc. Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the "Predecessor Fund"). The Predecessor Fund was managed by Acadian Asset Management LLC ("Acadian" or the "Adviser") using the same investment objective, strategies, policies and restrictions as those used by the Fund. The Predecessor Fund's date of inception was June 17, 1993. The Predecessor Fund dissolved and reorganized into the Fund on June 24, 2002. Substantially all of the assets of the Predecessor Fund were transferred to its successor in connection with the Fund's commencement of operations on June 24, 2002.
VOTING RIGHTS. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of members of the Board of Trustees (each, a "Trustee" and collectively, the "Trustees" or the "Board") under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the 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.
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.
Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the
Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
The Fund's investment objective and principal investment strategy are described in the Prospectus. The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund's stated investment policies, including those stated below. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.
DEBT SECURITIES
Corporations and governments use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.
TYPES OF DEBT SECURITIES:
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES -- The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation ("Farmer Mac").
Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund's shares.
On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and
obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the "Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement" or "Agreement"). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury's funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 -- Fannie Mae's support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.
On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. It is believed that the new amendment puts Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because the companies no longer have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios at an annual rate of 15 percent instead of the previous 10 percent, which puts each of them on track to cut their portfolios to a targeted $250 billion in 2018.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS -- U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal Securities ("STRIPS"). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.
CORPORATE BONDS -- Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note.
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES -- Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a "pass-through" of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.
Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and
the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.
Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.
GINNIE MAE -- Ginnie Mae is the principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities. Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned corporation of the U.S. government within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Securities issued by Ginnie Mae are treasury securities, which means the full faith and credit of the U.S. government backs them. Ginnie Mae guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie Mae and backed by pools of Federal Housing Administration-insured or Veterans Administration-guaranteed mortgages. Ginnie Mae does not guarantee the market value or yield of mortgage-backed securities or the value of a Fund's shares. To buy Ginnie Mae securities, the Fund may have to pay a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages, which the Fund may lose if prepayment occurs.
FANNIE MAE -- Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. Fannie Mae is regulated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional mortgages from a list of approved sellers and service providers, including state and federally-chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Securities issued by Fannie Mae are agency securities, which means Fannie Mae, but not the U.S. government, guarantees their timely payment of principal and interest.
FREDDIE MAC -- Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by the U.S. Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders. Freddie Mac supplies lenders with the money to make mortgages and packages the mortgages into marketable securities. The system is designed to create a stable mortgage credit system and reduce the rates paid by homebuyers. Freddie Mac, not the U.S. government, guarantees timely payment of principal and interest.
COMMERCIAL BANKS, SAVINGS AND LOAN INSTITUTIONS, PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE COMPANIES, MORTGAGE BANKERS AND OTHER SECONDARY MARKET ISSUERS -- Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.
RISKS OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES -- Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. The most significant differences of mortgage-backed securities are:
o payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually
monthly); and
o falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay
off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments
of principal on the securities, thus forcing the Fund to reinvest the
money at a lower interest rate.
In addition to the risks associated with changes in interest rates described in "Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities," a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected. If the prepayment rates increase, the Fund may have to reinvest its principal at a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing mortgage-backed securities.
OTHER ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES -- These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk.
Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.
To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion ("liquidity protection"). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool ("credit support"). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.
The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which consist of the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS -- To earn a return on uninvested assets, meet anticipated redemptions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in the short-term securities listed below, U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. Unless otherwise specified, a short-term debt security has a maturity of one year or less.
BANK OBLIGATIONS -- The Fund will only invest in a security issued by a commercial bank if the bank:
o Has total assets of at least $1 billion, or the equivalent in other
currencies (based on the most recent publicly available information
about the bank); and
o Is a U.S. bank and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation; or is a foreign branch of a U. S. bank and the Adviser
believes the security is of an investment quality comparable with
other debt securities that the Fund may purchase.
TIME DEPOSITS -- Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits, such as savings accounts or certificates of deposit, held by a financial institution for a fixed term with the understanding that the depositor can withdraw its money only by giving notice to the institution. However, there may be early withdrawal penalties depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. The Fund may only purchase time deposits maturing from two business days through seven calendar days.
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT -- Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.
BANKERS' ACCEPTANCE -- A bankers' acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods).
COMMERCIAL PAPER -- Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity ranging from 1 to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Fund may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by Standard and Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") or Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"), or, if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated A or better by Moody's or by S&P. See "Appendix A -- Description of Ratings" for a description of commercial paper ratings.
YANKEE BONDS -- Yankee bonds are dollar-denominated bonds issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Investments in these securities involve certain risks that are not typically associated with investing in domestic securities. See "Foreign Securities."
ZERO COUPON BONDS -- These 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. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security's liquidity and the issuer's credit quality. 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. The Fund's investments in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds may require it to sell certain of its securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.
These securities may include treasury securities, such as STRIPS, that have had their interest payments ("coupons") separated from the underlying principal ("corpus") by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. Once the holder of the security has stripped or separated corpus and coupons, it may sell each component separately. The principal or corpus is then sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. The underlying treasury security is held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (I.E., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the U.S. Treasury sells itself.
TERMS TO UNDERSTAND:
MATURITY -- Every debt security has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the amount it borrowed ("principal") from investors. Some debt securities, however, are callable, meaning the issuer can repay the principal earlier, on or after specified dates ("call dates"). Debt securities are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. The effective maturity of a debt security is usually its nearest call date.
Mutual funds that invest in debt securities have no real maturity. Instead, they calculate their weighted average maturity. This number is an average of the effective or anticipated maturity of each debt security held by the
mutual fund, with the maturity of each security weighted by the percentage of the assets of the mutual fund it represents.
DURATION -- Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security, or of a mutual fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. It measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years -- the duration. Effective duration takes into account call features and sinking fund prepayments that may shorten the life of a debt security.
An effective duration of four years, for example, would suggest that for each 1% reduction in interest rates at all maturity levels, the price of a security is estimated to increase by 4%. An increase in rates by the same magnitude is estimated to reduce the price of the security by 4%. By knowing the yield and the effective duration of a debt security, one can estimate total return based on an expectation of how much interest rates, in general, will change. While serving as a good estimator of prospective returns, effective duration is an imperfect measure.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE VALUE OF DEBT SECURITIES -- The total return of a debt instrument is composed of two elements: the percentage change in the security's price and interest income earned. The yield to maturity of a debt security estimates its total return only if the price of the debt security remains unchanged during the holding period and the coupon interest is reinvested at the same yield to maturity. The total return of a debt instrument, therefore, will be determined not only by how much interest is earned, but also by how much the price of the security and interest rates change.
o INTEREST RATES
The price of a debt security generally moves in the opposite direction from interest rates (I.E., if interest rates go up, the value of the bond will go down, and vice versa).
o PREPAYMENT RISK
This risk affects mainly mortgage-backed securities. Unlike other debt securities, falling interest rates can adversely affect the value of mortgage-backed securities, which may cause your share price to fall. Lower rates motivate borrowers to pay off the instruments underlying mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities earlier than expected, resulting in prepayments on the securities. The Fund may then have to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayments at lower interest rates, which can reduce its yield. The unexpected timing of mortgage and asset-backed prepayments caused by the variations in interest rates may also shorten or lengthen the average maturity of the Fund. If left unattended, drifts in the average maturity of the Fund can have the unintended effect of increasing or reducing the effective duration of the Fund, which may adversely affect the expected performance of the Fund.
o EXTENSION RISK
The other side of prepayment risk occurs when interest rates are rising. Rising interest rates can cause the Fund's average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This would increase the sensitivity of the Fund to rising rates and its potential for price declines. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. For these reasons, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of "locking in" interest rates.
o CREDIT RATING
Coupon interest is offered to investors of debt securities as compensation for assuming risk, although short-term treasury securities, such as three-month treasury bills, are considered "risk free." Corporate securities offer higher yields than treasury securities because their payment of interest and complete repayment of principal is less certain. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer may affect the value of a debt security. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the greater the risks that the issuer will fail to pay interest and return principal. To compensate investors for taking on increased risk, issuers with lower credit ratings usually offer their investors a higher "risk premium" in the form of higher interest rates than those available from comparable treasury securities.
Changes in investor confidence regarding the certainty of interest and principal payments of a corporate debt security will result in an adjustment to this "risk premium." Since an issuer's outstanding debt carries a fixed coupon, adjustments to the risk premium must occur in the price, which affects the yield to maturity of the bond. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the bond may lose some or all of its value.
A security rated within the four highest rating categories by a rating agency is called "investment-grade" because its issuer is more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. If a security is not rated or is rated under a different system, the Adviser may determine that it is of investment-grade. The Adviser may retain securities that are downgraded, if it believes that keeping those securities is warranted.
Debt securities rated below investment-grade "junk bonds" are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies. A corporation may issue a Junk Bond because of a corporate restructuring or other similar event. Compared with investment-grade bonds, Junk Bonds carry a greater degree of risk and are less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Market developments and the financial and business condition of the corporation issuing these securities influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the Junk Bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of Junk Bonds and may cause the Fund to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value Junk Bonds accurately.
Rating agencies are organizations that assign ratings to securities based primarily on the rating agency's assessment of the issuer's financial strength. The Fund currently uses ratings compiled by Moody's, S&P, and Fitch Ratings Inc. ("Fitch"). Credit ratings are only an agency's opinion, not an absolute standard of quality, and they do not reflect an evaluation of market risk. The section "Appendix A -- Description of Ratings" contains further information concerning the ratings of certain rating agencies and their significance.
The Adviser may use ratings produced by ratings agencies as guidelines to determine the rating of a security at the time the Fund buys it. A rating agency may change its credit ratings at any time. The Adviser monitors the rating of the security and will take such action, if any, it believes appropriate when it learns that a rating agency has reduced the security's rating. The Fund is not obligated to dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are downgraded. The Fund may invest in securities of any rating.
DERIVATIVES
Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset (such as a stock or a bond), an underlying economic factor (such as an interest rate) or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may use derivatives for a number of purposes including managing risk, gaining exposure to various markets in a cost-efficient manner, reducing transaction costs, remaining fully invested and speculating.
The Fund may also invest in derivatives with the goal of protecting itself from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as "hedging"). When hedging is successful, the Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. In the future, to the extent such use is consistent with the Fund's investment objective and is legally permissible, the Fund may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.
There can be no assurance that a derivative strategy, if employed, will be successful. Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Accordingly, certain derivative transactions may be considered to constitute borrowing transactions for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Such a derivative transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance of a "senior security" by the Fund, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund, if the Fund covers the transaction or segregates sufficient liquid assets (or such assets are "earmarked" on the Fund's books) in accordance with the requirements and interpretations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and its staff. The Fund may enter into agreements with broker-dealers that require the broker-dealers to accept physical settlement for certain types of derivative instruments. If this occurs, the Fund would treat such derivative instruments as being cash settled for purposes of determining the Fund's coverage requirements.
As a result of recent amendments to rules under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), a Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund's use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" ("CPO").
Consistent with the CFTC's new regulations, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 and, therefore, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser's ability to implement the Fund's investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund's performance.
TYPES OF DERIVATIVES:
FUTURES. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.
Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as "contract markets") approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.
Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the "delivery date"). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit "initial margin" with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when
they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract's value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party's position declines, that party must make additional "variation margin" payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as "marking to the market." Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily net asset value, each party marks to market its open futures positions.
Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.
The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.
OPTIONS. An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the "strike price" or "exercise price") at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a "call" (the right to buy the security) or a "put" (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or "OTC" options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.
o PURCHASING PUT AND CALL OPTIONS
When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the "option premium"). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities ("protective puts") or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.
Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option's strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium
paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.
The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:
o Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;
o Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or
o Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.
o SELLING (WRITING) PUT AND CALL OPTIONS
When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.
The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security's value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive the Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.
The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security's value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.
The Fund is permitted to write only "covered" options. At the time of selling a call option, the Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:
o The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;
o A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;
o A call option on the same security or index with a greater exercise price, provided that the Fund also segregates cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices;
o Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or
o In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.
At the time of selling a put option, the Fund may cover the option by, among other things:
o Entering into a short position in the underlying security;
o Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price;
o Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with a lesser exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices; or
o Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.
o OPTIONS ON SECURITIES INDICES
Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.
o OPTIONS ON CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS
An option on a credit default swap ("CDS") gives the holder the right to enter into a CDS at a specified future date and under specified terms in exchange for a purchase price or premium. The writer of the option bears the risk of any unfavorable move in the value of the CDS relative to the market value on the exercise date, while the purchaser may allow the option to expire unexercised.
o OPTIONS ON FUTURES
An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.
The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader's profit or loss on the transaction.
The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.
The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the
Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.
The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.
o OPTIONS ON FOREIGN CURRENCIES
A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of hedging against changes in future currency exchange rates.
The Fund may use foreign currency options given the same circumstances under which it could use forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Fund's securities are denominated would reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remained constant. In order to hedge against such a risk, the Fund may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Fund could sell the currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars and thereby offset, at least partially, the negative effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if the Fund anticipates a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Fund may purchase call options on the currency in order to offset, at least partially, the effects of negative movements in exchange rates. If currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options.
o COMBINED POSITIONS
The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:
o Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);
o Are typically traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers in the inter-bank markets, as opposed to on exchanges regulated by the CFTC (note, however, that under new definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments must be traded on exchanges and centrally cleared);
o Do not require an initial margin deposit; and
o May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to with a commodities exchange.
o FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING STRATEGIES
A "settlement hedge" or "transaction hedge" is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars "locks in" the U.S. dollar price of the security. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.
The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a "position hedge," would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund's investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a "proxy hedge," could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.
Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.
The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a "cross-hedge," will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.
It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (cash) market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.
EQUITY-LINKED SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or "basket" of securities, or sometimes a single stock (referred to as "equity-linked securities"). These securities are used for many of the
same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund's restrictions on investments in illiquid securities.
SWAP AGREEMENTS. A swap agreement is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.
Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty's creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.
Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the swap agreement. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the counterparty to the transaction is creditworthy.
A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund's gains or losses. In order to reduce the risk associated with leveraging, the Fund may cover its current obligations under swap agreements according to guidelines established by the SEC. If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the Fund's accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount the Fund is entitled to receive under the agreement. If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, it will segregate assets with a value equal to the full amount of the Fund's accrued obligations under the swap agreement.
o EQUITY SWAPS
In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.
o TOTAL RETURN SWAPS
Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument--which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets--during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but,
since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the swap or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).
o INTEREST RATE SWAPS
Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are "fixed-for-floating rate swaps," "termed basis swaps" and "index amortizing swaps." Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.
As with a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.
o CURRENCY SWAPS
A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the agreement and returned at the end of the agreement. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.
o INFLATION SWAPS
Inflation swaps are fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivatives where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the "breakeven inflation" rate and generally represents the current difference between treasury yields and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. Inflation swaps are typically designated as "zero coupon," where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of an inflation swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. An inflation swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the "breakeven inflation rate") the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.
o CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS
A credit default swap is an agreement between a "buyer" and a "seller" for credit protection. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection buyer is generally obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront payment and/or a periodic stream of
payments over the term of the agreement until a credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If no default occurs, the seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the full notional amount (the "par value") of the swap.
o CAPS, COLLARS AND FLOORS
Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
RISKS OF DERIVATIVES:
While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Fund's gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.
When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.
Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.
CORRELATION OF PRICES. The Fund's ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser's prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.
Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:
o Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;
o A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and
o Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.
Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.
While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness. Because the value of the Fund's foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund's investments precisely over time.
LACK OF LIQUIDITY. Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:
o Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;
o Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;
o Not be able to hedge its investments; and/or
o Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.
Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:
o An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;
o Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;
o The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;
o Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or
o Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.
MANAGEMENT RISK. Successful use of derivatives by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser's expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser's expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.
PRICING RISK. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.
MARGIN. Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.
If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.
VOLATILITY AND LEVERAGE. The Fund's use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:
o Actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;
o Fiscal and monetary policies; and
o National and international political events.
Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION. The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, grants significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the OTC and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The new law and regulations may negatively impact the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Fund trades. In addition, the SEC proposed new derivatives rules in December 2015 that could limit the Fund's use of derivatives, and adversely impact the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objectives. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities
in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund may 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.
TYPES OF EQUITY SECURITIES:
COMMON STOCKS - Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company's board of directors.
PREFERRED STOCKS - Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES - Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a predetermined number of shares of the issuer's common stock at the Fund's option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer's capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations will pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than debt securities of the same corporation. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its "investment value" (I.E., its value as a fixed income security) or its "conversion value" (I.E., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).
Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security is more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.
A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which the Fund purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.
While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security's underlying common stock. A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics, and other factors. Because the Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund's synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade. However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities. Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing "time value" as maturity approaches), a synthetic
convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss, the market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and the Adviser takes such differences into account when evaluating such positions. When a synthetic convertible position "matures" because of the expiration of the associated option, the Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or different issuer. If the Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed income security.
RIGHTS AND WARRANTS - A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.
An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN EQUITY SECURITIES:
GENERAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN STOCKS - While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors must accept the risks of ownership. Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company's earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company's stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company's financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations. Stockholders of a company that fares poorly can lose money.
Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company's stock may fall because of:
o Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company's products or services;
o Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and
o Changes in financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or inflation rates.
Because preferred stock is generally junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics.
SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES - Investors in small and medium-sized companies typically take on greater risk and price volatility than they would by investing in larger, more established companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of their small or medium size, limited markets and
financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of management depth. The securities of small and medium-sized companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and might not be traded in volumes typical of securities traded on a national securities exchange. Thus, the securities of small and medium capitalization companies are likely to be less liquid, and subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements, than securities of larger, more established companies.
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS ("IPOS") - The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on a Fund with a small asset base. A Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of a Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, a Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.
The Fund's investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which presents risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and may be vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
Foreign securities are debt and equity securities that are traded in markets outside of the U.S. The markets in which these securities are located can be developed or emerging. The Fund can invest in foreign securities in a number of ways, including:
o The Fund can invest directly in foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency;
o The Fund can invest in American Depositary Receipts, European Depositary Receipts and other similar global instruments; and
o The Fund can invest in investment funds.
TYPES OF FOREIGN SECURITIES:
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ("ADRS") - ADRs as well as other "hybrid" forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer's home country holds the underlying shares in trust. 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. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. European Depositary Receipts are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.
ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While these types 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 the 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. 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 depositary 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 depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder 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 frequently 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.
EMERGING MARKETS - An "emerging market country" is generally a country that the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation would consider to be an emerging or developing country. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products ("GNP") than more developed countries. There are currently over 150 countries that the international financial community generally considers to be emerging or developing countries, approximately 50 of which currently have stock markets.
SOVEREIGN DEBT OBLIGATIONS - Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government.
INVESTMENT FUNDS - Some emerging countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If the Fund invests in such investment funds, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their NAV.
RISKS OF FOREIGN SECURITIES:
Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS - Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:
o The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;
o Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;
o The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;
o The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes; and
o A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Fund's ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country.
Some countries require prior governmental approval or limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest. Other countries may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains.
In June 2016, the United Kingdom (the "UK") voted in a referendum to leave the European Union ("EU"). Although the precise timeframe for "Brexit" is uncertain, it is currently expected that the UK will seek to withdraw from the EU by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty with an anticipated completion date within two years from notifying the European Council of the UK's intention to withdraw. It is unclear how withdrawal negotiations will be conducted and what the potential consequences may be. In addition, it is possible that measures could be taken to revote on the issue of Brexit, or that portions of the UK could seek to separate and remain a part of the EU. As a result of the political divisions within the UK and between the UK and the EU that the referendum vote has highlighted and the uncertain consequences of a Brexit, the UK and European economies and the broader global economy could be significantly impacted, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth on markets in the UK, Europe and globally that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund's investments.
INFORMATION AND SUPERVISION - There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than domestic companies.
STOCK EXCHANGE AND MARKET RISK - The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.
Foreign stock markets:
o Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;
o Have substantially less volume;
o Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;
o Have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;
o Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and
o May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.
Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:
o Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards.
o Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis.
o In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States
o Over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated.
o Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights.
o Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK - While the Fund denominates its NAV in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:
o It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;
o Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including U.S. dollars, and their exchange rates;
o Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;
o There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;
o Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and
o The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.
TAXES - Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for the Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments. The Fund does not expect such foreign withholding taxes to have a significant impact on performance.
EMERGING MARKETS - When a Fund invests in securities in emerging markets, it will be subject to risks not typically associated with domestic securities. Foreign investments, especially investments in emerging markets, can be riskier and more volatile than investments in the United States. Adverse political and economic developments or changes in the value of foreign currency can make it more difficult for a Fund to sell its securities and could reduce the value of your shares. Differences in tax and accounting standards and difficulties in obtaining information about foreign companies can negatively affect investment decisions. Unlike more
established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed.
Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:
o Have relatively unstable governments;
o Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;
o Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and
o Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.
Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS ("ETFS")
The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds. ETFs may be structured as investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, typically as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. These ETFs are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market securities indices. An "index-based ETF" seeks to track the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. Alternatively, ETFs may be structured as grantor trusts or other forms of pooled investment vehicles that are not registered or regulated under the 1940 Act. These ETFs typically hold commodities, precious metals, currency or other non-securities investments. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, such as advisory and custody fees. When a Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, including the brokerage costs associated with the purchase and sale of shares of the ETF, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF's expenses. In addition, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to directly own the securities or other investments held by the ETF because of ETF expenses. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities or other investments held by the ETF, although lack of liquidity in the market for the shares of an ETF could result in the ETF's value being more volatile than the underlying securities or other investments.
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by a Fund. The Fund's purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund's expenses. Unless an exception is available, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.
For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as 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 orders issued by the SEC to each of certain iShares, Market Vectors, Vanguard, ProShares, PowerShares, Guggenheim (formerly, Claymore), Direxion, Wisdom Tree, Rydex, First Trust and SPDR exchange-traded funds (collectively, the "ETFs") and procedures approved by the Board, the Fund may invest in the ETFs in excess of the 3% limit described above, provided that the Fund otherwise complies with the conditions of the SEC order, as it may be amended, and any other applicable investment limitations. Neither the ETFs nor their investment advisers make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the ETFs.
NON-DIVERSIFICATION
The Fund is non-diversified, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, which means that a relatively high percentage of assets of the Fund may be invested in the obligations of a limited number of issuers. The value of the shares of the Fund may be more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than the shares of a diversified investment company would be. The Fund intends to satisfy the diversification requirements necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code, which in part requires that the Fund be diversified (I.E., will not invest more than 5% of its assets in the securities in any one issuer) with respect to 50% of their assets.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A
repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income
security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency
thereof, a banker's acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial
bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to
the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day).
Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase
obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is
collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase
agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as
long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is
collateralized fully. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize
the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting
repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose
condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase
agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral
at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price
stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under
Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance
with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the
Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying
collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial
institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the
exercising of the Fund's right to liquidate such collateral could involve
certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a
default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price,
the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may enter into "tri-party" repurchase
agreements. In "tri-party" repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party
custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its
counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of
those custodians. It is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in
repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such
investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts
to more than 15% of the Fund's total assets. The investments of the Fund in
repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the
Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while the Fund will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to the Fund. The Fund will in each instance establish a segregated account with the Trust's custodian bank in which the Fund will maintain cash or cash equivalents or other portfolio securities equal in value to the Fund's obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements.
RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES
While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, it may purchase illiquid securities, including securities that are not readily marketable and securities that are not registered ("restricted securities") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), but which can be offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. The Fund will not hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. If the percentage of the Fund's net assets invested in illiquid securities exceeds 15% due to market activity, the Fund will take appropriate measures to reduce its holdings of illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven business days at approximately the value at which they are being carried on the Fund's books. Illiquid securities may include a wide variety of investments, such as repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), participation interests in loans, commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, and securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid securities include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security (or other illiquid investment) held by the Fund, it may be treated as a liquid security, in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved by the Board. This generally includes securities that are unregistered that can be sold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or securities that are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act, such as commercial paper. While the Adviser monitors the liquidity of restricted securities on a daily basis, the Board oversees and retains ultimate responsibility for the Adviser's liquidity determinations. Several factors that the Board considers in monitoring these decisions include the valuation of a security, the availability of qualified institutional buyers, brokers and dealers that trade in the security and the availability of information about the security's issuer.
SECURITIES LENDING
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 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 by the Fund that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.
The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund's securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.
By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Investing cash collateral subjects the Fund to market risk. The Fund remains obligated to return all collateral to the borrower under the terms of its securities lending arrangements, even if the value of investments made with the collateral decline. Accordingly, if the value of a security in which the cash collateral has been invested declines, the loss would be borne by the Fund, and the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. The Fund 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 above 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 the 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.
SHORT SALES
DESCRIPTION OF SHORT SALES:
Selling a security short is when an investor sells a security it does not own. To sell a security short an investor must borrow the security from someone else to deliver to the buyer. The investor then replaces the security it borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or before the time of replacement. Until it replaces the security, the investor repays the person that lent it the security for any interest or dividends that may have accrued during the period of the loan.
Investors typically sell securities short to:
o Take advantage of an anticipated decline in prices.
o Protect a profit in a security it already owns.
The Fund can lose money if the price of the security it sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Likewise, the Fund can profit if the price of the security declines between those dates. Because the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the Fund could also be subject to a theoretically unlimited loss.
To borrow the security, the Fund may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The Fund will also incur transaction costs in effecting short sales. The Fund's gains and losses will be decreased or increased, as the case may be, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest, or expenses the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.
The broker will retain the net proceeds of the short sale, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.
SHORT SALES AGAINST THE BOX - In addition, the Fund may engage in short sales "against the box." In a short sale against the box, the Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either currently owns or has the right to acquire at no extra cost. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box. For tax purposes, a short sale against the box may be a taxable event to the Fund.
RESTRICTIONS ON SHORT SALES:
The Fund will not short sell a security if:
o After giving effect to such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund's net assets.
o The market value of the securities of any single issuer that have been sold short by the Fund would exceed two percent (2%) of the value of the Fund's net assets.
o Any security sold short would constitute more than two percent (2%) of any class of the issuer's securities.
Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund may: (a) segregate cash or liquid securities at such a level that the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund's short position.
WHEN-ISSUED, DELAYED-DELIVERY AND FORWARD DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS
A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which has not been issued. In a forward delivery transaction, the Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. "Delayed-delivery" refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered, although the Fund may earn income on securities it has in a segregated account to cover its position. The Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.
The Fund uses when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When the Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.
When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because the Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.
The Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities equal in value to commitments for the when-issued, delayed delivery or forward delivery transactions. The Fund will segregate additional liquid assets daily so that the value of such assets is equal to the amount of the commitments.
BORROWING
The Fund may borrow money for investment purposes. Borrowing for investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of the Fund's assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV per share of the Fund will increase more when the Fund's portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Fund's portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds. Under adverse conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor such sales. The Fund intends to use leverage during periods when the Adviser believes that the Fund's investment objective would be furthered.
The Fund may also borrow money to facilitate management of the Fund's portfolio by enabling the Fund to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous. Such borrowing is not for investment purposes and will be repaid by the borrowing Fund promptly. As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund must maintain continuous asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the Fund's assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of the Fund's borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage requirement. Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio securities at a time when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it would be disadvantageous to do so.
SPECIAL RISKS OF CYBER ATTACKS
As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund's operations, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund's distributor, custodian, or any other of the Fund's intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund's ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund's investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund's service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.
INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
The following investment policies are fundamental, which means that the Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The phrase "majority of the outstanding shares" means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund's shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares, whichever is less. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund will determine compliance with the investment limitation percentages below (with the exception of a limitation relating to borrowing and illiquid securities) and other applicable investment requirements immediately after and as a result of its acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, the Fund generally will not consider changes in values, net assets or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment limitations.
The Fund will not:
o Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Fund's Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time.
o Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.
o Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities.
o Concentrate its investments in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities).
o Purchase or sell real estate, except: (1) to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction; (2) that the Fund may invest in securities of issuers that deal or invest in real estate; and (3) that the Fund may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
o Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities except that the Fund may engage in financial futures contracts and related options and currency contracts and related options and may otherwise do so in accordance with applicable law and without registering as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.
o Make loans to other persons, except that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in accordance with applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Fund's Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time. The acquisition of investment securities or other investment instruments shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
In addition to the investment objective of the Fund, the following investment limitations are non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
The Fund may:
o Not borrow money, except that: (1) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the 1940 Act) or enter into reverse repurchase agreements, in amounts up to 33 1 / 3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); (2) the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes; (3) the Fund may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities; and (4) the Fund may purchase securities on margin and engage in short sales to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Notwithstanding the investment restrictions above, the Fund may not borrow amounts in excess of 33 1 / 3% of its total assets, taken at market value, and then only from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes such as the redemption of Fund shares.
o Purchase and sell currencies or securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward-commitment basis.
o Purchase and sell foreign currency, purchase options on foreign currency and foreign currency exchange contracts.
o Invest in the securities of foreign issuers.
o Purchase shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund may, notwithstanding any fundamental policy or other limitation, invest all of its investable assets in securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations.
The 1940 Act currently permits the Fund to invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the outstanding securities of any one investment company, unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder.
o Invest in illiquid and restricted securities to the extent permitted by applicable law.
The Fund intends to follow the policies of the SEC as they are adopted from time to time with respect to illiquid securities, including (1) treating as illiquid securities that may not be disposed of in the ordinary course of business within 7 days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment on its books; and (2) limiting its holdings of such securities to 15% of net assets.
o Write covered call options and may buy and sell put and call options.
o Enter into repurchase agreements.
o Lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional shareholders. These loans may not exceed 33 1 / 3% of the Fund's total assets taken at market value. In addition, the Fund must receive at least 100% collateral.
o Sell securities short and engage in short sales "against the box."
o Enter into swap transactions.
o Not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net
assets in equity securities of issuers that: (1) have their principal
securities trading market in an emerging country; (2) alone or on a
consolidated basis derive 50% or more of annual revenue from goods
produced, sales made or services performed in emerging countries; and
(3) are organized under the laws of, and have principal office in, an
emerging country without 60 days' prior written notice to
shareholders.
Except with respect to the Fund's policies concerning borrowing, 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 the 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. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).
The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:
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, with certain exceptions. The Fund may, at any time, invest more than 25% of its assets in securities issued by the Federal government or its agencies and instrumentalities, and/or state governments and their political sub-divisions, as the SEC Staff does not consider such entities to be the members of any industry.
BORROWING. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.
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 short sales, 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 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 the 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.
COMMODITIES AND REAL ESTATE. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company's ability to invest in commodities or real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund has adopted a fundamental policy that would permit direct investment in commodities or real estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs), commodities, or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
INVESTMENT ADVISER. Acadian Asset Management LLC ("Acadian" or the "Adviser") is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a Delaware limited liability company located at 260 Franklin Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110. Acadian serves as the Fund's investment adviser. As of September 30, 2016, the Adviser had approximately $73.6 billion in assets under management. Acadian was founded in 1986 and is a subsidiary of OMAM Affiliate Holdings LLC, which is an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Old Mutual plc, a publicly listed company on the NYSE.
ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") dated June 24, 2002. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as investment adviser and makes the investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, the Trustees.
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 majority of the shareholders of the Fund; 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 or, with respect to the Fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, 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. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested persons" and "assignment" have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.
ADVISORY FEES PAID TO THE ADVISER. For its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee calculated at an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. Due to the effect of fee waivers by the Adviser, the actual percentage of average daily net assets that the Fund pays in any given year may be different from the rate set forth in its contract with the Adviser. The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep its total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 2.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser intends to continue these voluntary fee reductions and expense limitations until further notice, but may discontinue all or part of these fee reductions or expense reimbursements at any time.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 the Fund paid the following advisory fees:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEES WAIVED BY CONTRACTUAL FEES PAID THE ADVISER TOTAL FEES PAID (AFTER WAIVERS) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUND 2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015 2013 2014 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerging Markets $11,573,313 $14,113,265 $17,135,541 $0 $0 $0 $11,573,313 $14,113,265 $17,135,541 Portfolio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
This section includes information about the Fund's portfolio managers, including information about other accounts managed, the dollar range of Fund shares owned and compensation.
COMPENSATION. Compensation structure varies among professionals, although the basic package involves a generous base salary, strong bonus potential, profit sharing potential, various fringe benefits, and, among the majority of senior investment professionals and certain other key employees, equity ownership in the firm as part of the Acadian Key Employee Limited Partnership (KELP).
Compensation is highly incentive-driven, with Acadian paying up to and sometimes in excess of 100% of base pay for performance bonuses. Bonuses are tied directly to the individual's contribution and performance during the year, with members of the investment team evaluated on such factors as their contributions to the investment process, account retention, portfolio performance, asset growth, and overall firm performance. Since portfolio management is a team approach, investment team members' compensation is not linked to the performance of specific accounts but rather to the individual's overall contribution to the success of the team and the firm's profitability.
FUND SHARES OWNED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. The Fund is required to show the dollar amount range of the portfolio managers' "beneficial ownership" of shares of the Fund 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act").
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES OWNED(1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Chisholm Over $1,000,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Wolahan $10,001 - $50,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brendan Bradley None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asha Mehta $500,001 - $1,000,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
(1) Valuation date is October 31, 2015.
OTHER ACCOUNTS. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2015.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REGISTERED OTHER POOLED INVESTMENT COMPANIES INVESTMENT VEHICLES OTHER ACCOUNTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER NUMBER NUMBER OF TOTAL ASSETS OF TOTAL ASSETS OF TOTAL ASSETS NAME ACCOUNTS (MILLIONS) ACCOUNTS (MILLIONS) ACCOUNTS (MILLIONS) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Chisholm(1) 12(2) $5,812(2) 78(3) $19,219(3) 170(4) $44,041(4) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Wolahan(1) 12(2) $5,812(2) 78(3) $19,219(3) 170(4) $44,041(4) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brendan Bradley(1) 12(2) $5,812(2) 78(3) $19,219(3) 170(4) $44,041(4) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asha Mehta(1) 12(2) $5,812(2) 78(3) $19,219(3) 170(4) $44,041(4) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
(1) These investment professionals function as part of a core equity team of 24 portfolio managers, and the data shown for these portfolio managers reflect firm-level numbers of core equity accounts and assets under management, segregated by investment vehicle type.
(2) Includes 1 account managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $1,405 million in assets.
(3) Includes 11 accounts managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $2,531 million in assets.
(4) Includes 14 accounts managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $5,106 million in assets.
CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. A conflict of interest may arise as a result of a portfolio manager being responsible for multiple accounts, including the Fund, which may have similar investment guidelines and objectives. In addition to the Fund, these accounts may include other mutual funds managed on an advisory or sub-advisory basis,
separate accounts and collective trust accounts. An investment opportunity may be suitable for the Fund as well as for any of the other managed accounts. However, the investment may not be available in sufficient quantity for all of the accounts to participate fully. In addition, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by both the Fund and the Other Accounts. The Other Accounts may have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Fund, may track the same benchmarks or indexes as the Fund tracks, and may sell securities that are eligible to be held, sold or purchased by the Fund. A portfolio manager may be responsible for accounts that have different advisory fee schedules, which may create the incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another in terms of access to investment opportunities. A portfolio manager may also manage accounts whose investment objectives and policies differ from those of the Fund, which may cause the portfolio manager to effect trading in one account that may have an adverse effect on the value of the holdings within another account, including the Fund.
To address and manage these potential conflicts of interest, Acadian has adopted compliance policies and procedures to allocate investment opportunities and to ensure that each of its clients is treated on a fair and equitable basis. Such policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, trade allocation and trade aggregation policies and oversight by investment management and the Compliance team.
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 fund 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 dated November 14, 1991 as amended and restated November 12, 2002 (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 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.
ADMINISTRATION FEES PAID TO THE ADMINISTRATOR. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Fund paid the following amounts for these services:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADMINISTRATION FEES PAID ----------------------------------------------- FUND 2013 2014 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerging Markets Portfolio $899,227 $1,002,108 $1,125,349 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
THE DISTRIBUTOR
The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the "Distributor"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 (the "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 majority of the shareholders of the Trust; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, 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 Board or by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust, upon not more than 60 days' written notice by either party.
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLAN. The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan
under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net
assets of the Investor Class Shares and 0.10% of average daily net assets of
the Y Class Shares will be paid to financial intermediaries. Under the plan,
financial intermediaries may perform, or may compensate other financial
intermediaries for performing, certain shareholder and administrative services,
including: (i) maintaining shareholder accounts; (ii) arranging for bank wires;
(iii) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed by
the financial intermediaries; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders
concerning their investment in the Fund; (v) assisting shareholders in changing
dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing
information periodically to shareholders showing their position in the Fund;
(vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies,
shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend and capital gain distribution
and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and
redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or its
service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting services; (x) processing
dividend and capital gain payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders;
(xi) preparing tax reports; and (xii) providing such other similar
non-distribution services as the Fund may reasonably request to the extent that
the financial intermediary is permitted to do so under applicable laws or
regulations.
OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE FUND. The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder servicing fees the Fund may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Fund's shareholder servicing plan.
OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE ADVISER. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.
These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary's retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary's retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary's retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.
The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.
Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries' customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.
Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.
TRANSFER AGENT
DST Systems, Inc., 333 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the "Transfer Agent"), serves as the Fund's transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.
CUSTODIAN
MUFG Union Bank, N.A., 350 California Street, 6(th) Floor, San Francisco, California 94104 (the "Custodian"), serves as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
BBD, LLP, 1835 Market Street, 26th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by BBD, LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.
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 its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.
Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, Distributor and Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust's service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust's business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds' service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.
The Trustees' role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund's service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund's adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund's independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.
The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser's adherence to the funds' investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds' investments, including, for example, portfolio holdings schedules and reports on the adviser's use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds' investments in ETFs, if any.
The Trust's Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust's policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.
The Board receives reports from the funds' service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Trust's Fair Value Pricing Committee makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds' financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses in the funds' internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management's implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust's internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust's financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust's financial statements.
From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds' goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds' investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds' adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds' and each other's in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board's ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. There are eight members of the Board of Trustees, six of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act ("independent Trustees"). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. George Sullivan, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute a super-majority (75%) of the Board, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.
The Board has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, Governance Committee and Fair Value Pricing Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.
In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Sullivan, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.
Set forth below are the names, years of birth, positions with the Trust and length of time served, and principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more
additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five
years (each calendar year a "Waiver Term") if, and only if, prior to the
beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review
the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued
service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and
(c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general
retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves
excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out
above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI
Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POSITION WITH PRINCIPAL TRUST AND LENGTH OCCUPATIONS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS NAME AND YEAR OF BIRTH OF TIME SERVED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS HELD IN THE PAST 5 YEARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED TRUSTEES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Nesher Chairman of the SEI employee 1974 to Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1946) Board of Trustees(1) present; currently The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, (since 1991) performs various Bishop Street Funds, The KP Funds, services on behalf of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI SEI Investments for Institutional International Trust, SEI which Mr. Nesher is Institutional Investments Trust, SEI compensated. Vice Institutional Managed Trust, Chairman of The SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Advisors' Inner Circle SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Fund III, Winton Adviser Managed Trust, New Series Trust, Winton Covenant Funds, SEI Insurance Diversified Products Trust and SEI Catholic Opportunities Fund Values Trust. Director of SEI (closed-end Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI investment company) Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global and Gallery Trust. Assets Fund plc, SEI Global President, Chief Investments Fund plc, SEI Executive Officer and Investments--Global Funds Trustee of SEI Daily Services, Limited, SEI Investments Income Trust, Global, Limited, SEI Investments SEI Tax Exempt (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments-- Trust, SEI Unit Trust Management (UK) Institutional Managed Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds Trust, SEI PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd. Institutional International Trust, Former Directorships: Director of SEI Institutional SEI Opportunity Fund, L.P. to 2010. Investments Trust, Director of SEI Alpha Strategy SEI Asset Allocation Portfolios, LP to 2013. Trustee of Trust, Adviser SEI Liquid Asset Trust to 2016. Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Insurance Products Trust and SEI Catholic Values Trust. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP, June 2007 to September 2013. President and Director of SEI Opportunity Fund, L.P. to 2010. Vice Chairman of O'Connor EQUUS (closed-end investment company) to April 2016. President Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Liquid Asset Trust to 2016. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POSITION WITH PRINCIPAL TRUST AND LENGTH OCCUPATIONS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS NAME AND YEAR OF BIRTH OF TIME SERVED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS HELD IN THE PAST 5 YEARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William M. Doran Trustee(1) Self-Employed Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1940) (since 1991) Consultant since 2003. The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Partner at Morgan, Bishop Street Funds, The KP Funds, Lewis & Bockius LLP The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund III, (law firm) from 1976 Winton Series Trust, Winton to 2003. Counsel to the Diversified Opportunities Fund Trust, SEI Investments, (closed-end investment company), SIMC, the Gallery Trust, SEI Daily Income Administrator and the Trust, SEI Institutional International Distributor. Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Insurance Products Trust and SEI Catholic Values Trust. Director of SEI Investments (Europe), Limited, SEI Investments--Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Asia), Limited, SEI Global Nominee Ltd. and SEI Investments -- Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited. Director of the Distributor since 2003. Former Directorships: Director of SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP to 2013. Trustee of O'Connor EQUUS (closed-end investment company) until April 2016. Trustee of SEI Liquid Asset Trust to 2016. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John K. Darr Trustee Retired. Chief Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1944) (since 2008) Executive Officer, The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Office of Finance, Bishop Street Funds and The KP Federal Home Loan Funds. Director of Federal Home Banks, from 1992 to Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, Meals on 2007. Wheels, Lewes/Rehoboth Beach and West Rehoboth Land Trust. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POSITION WITH PRINCIPAL TRUST AND LENGTH OCCUPATIONS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS NAME AND YEAR OF BIRTH OF TIME SERVED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS HELD IN THE PAST 5 YEARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph T. Grause, Jr. Trustee Self-Employed Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1952) (since 2011) Consultant since The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, January 2012. Director Bishop Street Funds and The KP of Endowments and Funds. Director of The Korea Fund, Foundations, Inc. Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager -- Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mitchell A. Johnson Trustee Retired. Private Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1942) (since 2005) Investor since 1994. The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, The KP Funds, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Insurance Products Trust and SEI Catholic Values Trust. Director of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac) since 1997. Former Directorships: Director of SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP to 2013. Trustee of SEI SEI Liquid Asset to 2016. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty L. Krikorian Trustee Vice President, Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1943) (since 2005) Compliance, AARP The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Financial Inc., from Bishop Street Funds and The KP 2008 to 2010. Self- Funds. Employed Legal and Financial Services Consultant since 2003. Counsel (in-house) for State Street Bank from 1995 to 2003. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POSITION WITH PRINCIPAL TRUST AND LENGTH OCCUPATIONS OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS NAME AND YEAR OF BIRTH OF TIME SERVED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS HELD IN THE PAST 5 YEARS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce Speca Trustee Global Head of Asset Current Directorships: Trustee of (Born: 1956) (since 2011) Allocation, Manulife The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Asset Management Bishop Street Funds and The KP (subsidiary of Funds. Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President -- Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- George J. Sullivan, Jr. Trustee Retired since January Current Directorships: Trustee/ (Born: 1942) (since 1999) 2012. Self-Employed Director of State Street Navigator Lead Independent Consultant, Newfound Securities Lending Trust, The Trustee Consultants Inc., Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, 1997 to 2011. Bishop Street Funds, The KP Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Insurance Products Trust and SEI Catholic Values Trust. Member of the independent review committee for SEI's Canadian- registered mutual funds. Former Directorships: Director of SEI Opportunity Fund, L.P. to 2010. Director of SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP to 2013. Trustee of SEI Liquid Asset Trust to 2016. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
(1) Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be "interested" persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.
INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE QUALIFICATIONS
The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board
because of their ability to review and understand information about the Fund
provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they
may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management
and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the
management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business
judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund's shareholders.
The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee
based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as
described below.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments Company, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Doran should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as a Partner in the Investment Management and Securities Industry Practice of a large law firm, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Darr should serve as Trustee because of his background in economics, the business experience he gained in a variety of roles with different financial and banking institutions and as a founder of a money management firm, his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2008.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, and his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Johnson should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained as a senior vice president, corporate finance, of a Fortune 500 company, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services and banking industries, the experience he gained serving as a director of other mutual funds, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2005.
The Trust has concluded that Ms. Krikorian should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a legal and financial services consultant, in-house counsel to a large custodian bank and Vice President of Compliance of an investment adviser, her background in fiduciary and banking law, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2005.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, and his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Sullivan should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained as a certified public accountant and financial consultant, his experience in and knowledge of public company accounting and auditing and the financial services industry, the experience he gained as an officer of a large financial services firm in its operations department, and his experience from serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1999.
In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board's overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.
BOARD 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: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund's independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm's compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm's independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund's independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) 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 Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management's responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund'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; (vii) 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 firms' reports on the adequacy of the Trust's internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund's independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund's financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Messrs. Darr, Grause, Johnson, Speca and Sullivan and Ms. Krikorian currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Sullivan serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four (4) times during the most recently completed 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, an interested Trustee, currently serves as the Board's delegate on the Fair Value Pricing Committee. The Fair Value Pricing Committee
meets periodically, as necessary, and met forty-four (44) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.
o GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees of the Trust. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board's operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees and evaluating the qualifications of "interested" Trustee candidates; and (iv) reviewing 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. Ms. Krikorian and Messrs. Darr, Grause, Johnson, Speca and Sullivan currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Ms. Krikorian serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed 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 the 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 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF SHARES NAME DOLLAR RANGE OF FUND SHARES(1) (ALL FUNDS IN THE FUND COMPLEX)(1,2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED TRUSTEES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doran None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nesher None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darr None $10,001-$50,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grause None Over $100,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Johnson None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Krikorian None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speca None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sullivan None None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
(1) Valuation date is December 31, 2015.
(2) The Trust is the only investment company in the Fund Complex.
BOARD COMPENSATION. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PENSION OR RETIREMENT ESTIMATED AGGREGATE BENEFITS ACCRUED ANNUAL BENEFITS COMPENSATION AS PART OF FUND UPON TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM THE NAME FROM THE TRUST EXPENSES RETIREMENT TRUST AND FUND COMPLEX(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED TRUSTEES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doran $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darr $87,923 N/A N/A $87,923 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grause $87,923 N/A N/A $87,923 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Johnson $87,923 N/A N/A $87,923 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Krikorian $87,923 N/A N/A $87,923 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speca $87,923 N/A N/A $87,923 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sullivan $98,685 N/A N/A $98,685 for service on one (1) board --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
(1) The Trust is the only investment company in the Fund Complex.
TRUST OFFICERS. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, positions with the Trust and length of time served, and principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for 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 YEAR POSITION WITH TRUST AND OF BIRTH LENGTH OF TIME SERVED PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS IN PAST 5 YEARS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Beattie President Director of Client Service, SEI Investments (Born: 1965) (since 2011) Company, since 2004. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Connors Treasurer, Controller and Chief Director, SEI Investments, Fund Accounting since (Born: 1984) Financial Officer 2014. Audit Manager, Deloitte & (since 2015) Touche LLP, from 2011 to 2014. Audit Supervisor, BBD, LLP (formerly Briggs, Bunting & Dougherty, LLP), from 2007 to 2011. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dianne M. Vice President and Secretary Counsel at SEI Investments since 2010. Associate Descoteaux (since 2011) at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP from 2006 to (Born: 1977) 2010. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell Emery Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Structured Credit (Born: 1962) (since 2006) Fund, LP since June 2007. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alpha Strategy Portfolios, LP from June 2007 to September 2013. Chief Compliance Officer of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, The KP Funds, The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund III, Winton Series Trust, Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), Gallery Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Liquid Asset Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Insurance Products Trust and SEI Catholic Values Trust. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Opportunity Fund, L.P. until 2010. Chief Compliance Officer of O'Connor EQUUS (closed- end investment company) until to 2016. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Liquid Asset Trust to 2016. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND YEAR POSITION WITH TRUST AND OF BIRTH LENGTH OF TIME SERVED PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS IN PAST 5 YEARS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lisa Whittaker Vice President and Assistant Attorney, SEI Investments Company (2012- (Born: 1978) Secretary (since 2013) present). Compliance Officer, The Glenmede Trust Company, N.A. (2011-2012). Associate, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (2006-2011). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Y. Kim Vice President and Assistant Attorney, SEI Investments Company (2014- (Born: 1981) Secretary (since 2014) present). Associate, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP (2009-2014). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bridget E. Sudall Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Senior Associate and AML Officer, Morgan (Born: 1980) Officer and Privacy Officer Stanley Alternative Investment Partners from April (since 2015) 2011 to March 2015. Investor Services Team Lead, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners from 2007 to 2011. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES
Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for business. Shares of the Fund 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 Fund 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 all of the funds of the Trust 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 during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), 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 Fund's 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 Fund 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 Fund adheres 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 in accordance with procedures adopted by the 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 an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such 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 Fund's pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the 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 Board.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.
DERIVATIVES AND OTHER COMPLEX SECURITIES. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the Fund will value the option at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board.
Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house ("centrally cleared swaps") are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund's futures or centrally cleared swaps position.
Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day's interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day's spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.
If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Board.
USE OF THIRD-PARTY INDEPENDENT PRICING AGENTS AND INDEPENDENT BROKERS. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Fund 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.
If a security price cannot be obtained from an independent, third-party pricing agent, the Administrator shall seek to obtain a bid price from at least one independent broker.
FAIR VALUE PROCEDURES. Securities for which market prices are not "readily available" or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Board and implemented through the Fair Value Pricing Committee. The members of the Fair Value Pricing Committee report, as necessary, to the Board regarding portfolio valuation determinations. The Board, from time to time, will review these methods of valuation and will recommend changes which may be necessary to assure that the investments of the Fund are valued at fair value.
Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security's trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security's primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security's primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates NAV. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Fair Value Pricing Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Fair Value Pricing Committee.
TAXES
The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the 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, local, and foreign tax liabilities.
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.
QUALIFICATION AS A REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY ("RIC"). The Fund is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes and is not combined with the Trust's other funds. The Fund intends to qualify and elects to be treated as a RIC. By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the
federal taxes to which it may be subject. A Fund that qualifies as a RIC will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that the Fund timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.
In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually
to its shareholders at least 90% of its 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 (the
"Distribution Requirement") and also must meet certain additional requirements.
Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund's
gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest,
payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or
other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income
(including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts)
derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or
currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly
traded partnership (the "Qualifying Income Test"); and (ii) at the close of
each quarter of the Fund's taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of the
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 not greater than
5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more
than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the
equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more
than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets is invested in the 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 Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or
similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities
of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the "Asset Test").
Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.
If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Test or Asset Test in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain DE MINIMIS failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such a case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.
The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund's taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A "qualified late year loss" generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as "post-October losses") and certain other late-year losses.
The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If the Fund has a "net capital loss" (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (a "Post-2010 Loss"), the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year. The Fund's unused capital loss carryforwards that arose in taxable years that began on or before December 22, 2010 ("Pre-2011 Losses") are available to be applied against future capital gains, if any, realized by the Fund prior to the expiration of those carryforwards, generally eight years after the year in which they arose. The Fund's Post-2010 Losses must be fully utilized before the Fund will be permitted to utilize carryforwards of Pre-2011 Losses. In addition, the carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.
FEDERAL EXCISE TAX. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which only requires the Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of any calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income for that year and 98.2% 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 on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. The Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Funds to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.
Distributions by the Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax
rate to individuals which is 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax
brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the
securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified
dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from
taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign
corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain
countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock
of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United
States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the
extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend
was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the
date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become "ex-dividend"
(which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains)
are deducted from the Fund's assets before it calculates the net asset value)
with respect to such dividend; (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding
period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the
dividends distributed to the shareholder); (iii) the shareholder is under an
obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related
payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iv) the
shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section
163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such
as pursuant to securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to
treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified
dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from
an ETF or underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such ETF or underlying Fund.
Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions reported to Fund shareholders as capital gain dividends shall be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long the shareholder has owned the shares. The Fund's shareholders will be notified annually by the Fund (or its administrative agent) as to the federal tax status of all distributions made by the Fund.
In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund's distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends-received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividend received by the Fund 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 dividends (including the deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation.
To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a "substitute payment") with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.
If the 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 the 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 Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, 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 your shares for a full year, the Fund 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 Fund.
Shareholders that buy shares when the Fund has realized but not yet distributed income or capital gains will be "buying a dividend" by paying the full price for the shares and gains and receiving back a portion of the price in the form of a taxable distribution and should be avoided by taxable investors.
Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.
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. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.
U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly),are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on "net investment income," including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).
The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after that date. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares the Fund will permit Fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.
FOREIGN TAXES. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to, and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against their federal income tax liability. If the Fund makes the election, it will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund's income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.
Foreign tax credits, if any, received by the Fund as a result of an investment in another RIC (including an ETF which is taxable as a RIC) will not be passed through to you unless the Fund qualifies as a "qualified fund of funds" under the Code. If the Fund is a "qualified fund of funds" it will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. The Fund will be treated as a "qualified fund of funds" under the Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs.
TAX TREATMENT OF COMPLEX SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect the Fund's ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund's ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of their foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund.
With respect to investments in STRIPS, Treasury Receipts, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, the 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 the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, the 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 Fund may acquire market discount bonds. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary income (instead of capital gain) to the extent of the accrued market discount unless the Fund elects to include the market discount in income as it accrues.
The Fund's investment in lower-rated or unrated debt securities may present issues for the Fund if the issuers of these securities default on their obligations because the federal income tax consequences to a holder of such securities are not certain.
In general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward contracts, from futures contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts," and from unlisted options will be treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code. At times, a significant portion of the Fund's returns (both positive and negative) may be attributable to investments in such currency forward contracts. Also, certain foreign exchange gains derived with respect to foreign fixed income securities are subject to special treatment. In general, any such gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company taxable income available to be distributed to shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the Fund's net capital gain. Additionally, if such losses exceed other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would not be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions.
Gains from the sale or other disposition of foreign currencies and other income
(including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts)
derived from investing in stock, securities, or foreign currencies generally
are included as "good income" for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test
described above that must be satisfied in order for the Fund to be treated as a
RIC. It should be noted, however, that for purposes of the Qualifying Income
Test, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue regulations that
would exclude from qualifying income foreign currency gains which are not
directly related to the RIC's principal business of investing in stock or
securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). No
regulations have been issued pursuant to this authorization. It is possible,
however, that such regulations may be issued in the future. If such future
regulations were applied to the Fund, it is possible under certain
circumstances that its qualifying income would no longer satisfy the Qualifying
Income Test and the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC. It is also possible
that the Fund's strategy of investing in foreign currency-related financial
instruments might cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the requirements set forth
under the RIC diversification tests, resulting in its failure to qualify as
RICs. A failure of the diversification tests might result, for example, from a
determination by the IRS that financial instruments in which the Fund invests
are not securities. Moreover, even if the financial instruments are treated as
securities, a determination by the IRS regarding the identity of the issuers of
the securities or the fair market values of the securities that differs from
the determinations made by the Fund could result in the failure by the Fund to
diversify its investments in a manner necessary to satisfy the diversification
tests. The tax treatment of the Fund and its shareholders in the event the Fund
fails to qualify as a RIC are described above, but the failure of the Fund to
maintain its status as a RIC may be avoided in some circumstances if the Fund
complies with certain savings provisions which are also described above.
If the Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as "passive foreign investment companies" or "PFICs," the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund would be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any "excess distribution" from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire
distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders;
(ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing
fund" or "QEF", the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and
distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set
forth above, the Fund's pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital
gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the
Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of
the PFIC, and in such event would be required to distribute to shareholders any
such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set
forth above. The Fund may have to distribute to its shareholders certain
"phantom" income and gain such Fund accrues with respect to its investment in a
PFIC in order to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and to avoid imposition
of the 4% excise tax described above. The Fund intends to make the appropriate
tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to
mitigate the effect of these rules.
The Fund may invest in ETFs that are taxable as RICs under the Code. Accordingly, the income the Fund receives from such ETFs will satisfy the Qualifying Income Test with respect to the Fund's qualification as a RIC. The Fund may also invest in one or more ETFs that are not taxable as RICs under the Code and that may generate non-qualifying income for purposes of satisfying the requirements to be taxable as a RIC under the Code. The Fund anticipates monitoring its investments in such ETFs such that the Fund's non-qualifying income stays within acceptable limits, however, it is possible that such if such income is greater than anticipated that it could cause the Fund to inadvertently fail to qualify as a RIC.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold, at a rate of 28%, and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien).
NON-U.S. INVESTORS. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an "interest-related dividend" or a short-term capital gain dividend," which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described above. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.
A U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate will be imposed on dividends effective July 1, 2014 (and proceeds of sales in respect of Fund shares received by Fund shareholders beginning after December 31, 2018) for shareholders who own their shares through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. The Fund will not pay any additional amounts in respect to any amounts withheld.
TAX-EXEMPT SHAREHOLDERS. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified
pension plans, individual retirement accounts, salary deferral arrangements,
401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal
income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income
("UBTI"). Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being
realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an
investment in the Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual
interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits ("REMICs"); (ii) the Fund
invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool ("TMP") or that has a
subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC,
or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of
the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code.
Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult
their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and
prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly
encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.
TAX SHELTER REPORTING REGULATIONS. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as the Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
STATE TAXES. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.
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 the 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.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.
The Fund's shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder's tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS. Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer's mark-up or reflect a dealer's mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the
purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer's mark-up or reflect a dealer's mark-down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.
In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser and the Board that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of separate transactions.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGGREGATE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS PAID ------------------------------------------------ FUND 2013 2014 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerging Markets Portfolio $1,148,258 $1,020,825 $879,877 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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 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 Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.
To the extent research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Fund's
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 Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Fund, 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 Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research "credits" in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the Fund did not pay any 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.
BROKERAGE WITH FUND AFFILIATES. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund 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 Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Fund did not pay any aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.
SECURITIES OF "REGULAR BROKER-DEALERS." The Fund is required to identify any securities of its "regular brokers and dealers" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, the Fund did not hold any securities of "regular brokers and dealers."
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES. Portfolio turnover rate is defined under SEC rules as the value of the securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one-year or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year. Based on this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one-year are excluded from the calculation of the portfolio turnover rate. The Fund may at times hold investments in short-term instruments, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, the Fund's portfolio turnover rates were as follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND 2014 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio 37% 32% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Board has approved policies 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 Fund's portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Fund's shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund's Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or the principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser's Chief Compliance Officer ("Adviser CCO") to authorize the release of the Fund's portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser CCO, either directly or through reports by the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.
Pursuant to applicable law, the Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). The Fund discloses a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund's 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund's net asset value ("Summary Schedule")) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. The Fund's complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters is available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC on Form N-Q and the Fund's complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters is available in Shareholder Reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.
Quarterly holding 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. Should the Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its Form N-CSR will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-AAM-6161. The Fund generally publishes a complete list of its portfolio holdings on a monthly basis, as of the end of the previous month. For example, the Fund's investments as of the end of January would ordinarily be published at the end of February. The Fund also publishes a list of its ten largest portfolio holdings, and the percentage of the Fund's assets that each of these holdings represents, on a monthly basis, ten (10) days after the end of the month. The portfolio information described above can be found on the internet at http://aicfundholdings.com/acadian. This information will generally remain available until it is replaced by new portfolio holdings information as described above. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Fund's portfolio holdings from publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund.
In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to certain service providers, such as the custodian, administrator or transfer agent, in connection with their services to the Fund. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper, Morningstar, Inc., Frank Russell, Investor Force, PSN, DeMarche and Wilshire Associates may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Fund. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of the Fund's portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information. The Fund's Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.
The Fund's policies and procedures provide that the Adviser's CCO may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making
any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser's CCO must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders and that, to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Fund's shareholders and those of the Fund's Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund exists, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The disclosures will not be made sooner than 10 days after the date of the information.
The Fund requires any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that such information will be used solely to analyze and rank the Fund, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.
The Fund's policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to, or received by, any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Fund's portfolio holdings information.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund. Each share of a fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund 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. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund 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 Fund's 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 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 Fund 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 Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund's complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-AAM-6161; and (ii) on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics (each a "Code of Ethics" and together the "Codes of Ethics") apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees ("access persons"). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics 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 invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The Codes of Ethics further require certain access persons to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings and limited offerings. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.
5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS
As of October 17, 2016, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% and 25% or more of the shares of the Fund. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in account for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons who owned of record or beneficially more than 25% of the Fund's outstanding shares may be deemed to "control" the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS NUMBER OF SHARES CLASS OF SHARES % OF FUND ---------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- --------- NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC 21,752,412.2690 Investor 34.72% FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS 499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5 JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC 10,964,951.2300 Investor 17.50% REINVEST ACCOUNT ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS 101 MONTGOMERY ST SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EDWARD D JONES & CO 10,095,306.1540 Investor 16.11% ATTN MUTUAL FUND SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTING 201 PROGRESS PKWY MARYLAND HEIGHTS MO 63043-3042 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WELLS FARGO BANK, NA FBO 4,727,980.4250 Investor 7.55% OMNIBUS ACCOUNT REINV/REINV XXXXX PO BOX 1533 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55480-1533 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERSHING LLC 4,626,988.4200 Investor 7.39% 1 PERSHING PLZ JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WELLS FARGO BANK, NA FBO 4,155,283.3240 Investor 6.63% OMNIBUS ACCOUNT CASH/CASH XXXXX PO BOX 1533 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55480-1533 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's ("S&P"), and Fitch Ratings ("Fitch"), respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S GLOBAL RATINGS
Ratings assigned on Moody's global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S GLOBAL LONG-TERM RATINGS
Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
NOTE: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
HYBRID INDICATOR (HYB)
The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S GLOBAL SHORT-TERM RATINGS
P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S U.S. MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM OBLIGATION RATINGS
The Municipal Investment Grade ("MIG") scale is used to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer's long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels--MIG 1 through MIG 3--while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.
Moody's U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:
MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S DEMAND OBLIGATION RATINGS
In the case of variable rate demand obligations ("VRDOs"), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody's evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody's evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand ("demand feature"). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade ("VMIG") scale.
Moody's demand obligation ratings are as follows:
VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS
An S&P's issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P's view of the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days--including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P's analysis of the following considerations:
o Likelihood of payment--capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
o Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and the promise S&P imputes;
o Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS*
AAA An obligation rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA An obligation rated 'AA' differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A An obligation rated 'A' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB An obligation rated 'BBB' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
BB; B; CCC; CC; AND C Obligations rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC', and 'C' are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'C' the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB An obligation rated 'BB' is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B An obligation rated 'B' is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated 'BB', but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC An obligation rated 'CCC' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC An obligation rated 'CC' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The 'CC' rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
C An obligation rated 'C' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.
D An obligation rated 'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
NR This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
*The ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S SHORT-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS
A-1 A short-term obligation rated 'A-1' is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 A short-term obligation rated 'A-2' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3 A short-term obligation rated 'A-3' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B A short-term obligation rated 'B' is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C A short-term obligation rated 'C' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D A short-term obligation rated 'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM NOTE RATINGS
An S&P's U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P's opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P's analysis will review the following considerations:
o Amortization schedule--the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
o 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's municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:
SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S CREDIT RATINGS
Fitch's credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.
The terms "investment grade" and "speculative grade" have established themselves over time as shorthand to describe the categories 'AAA' to 'BBB' (investment grade) and 'BB' to 'D' (speculative grade). The terms "investment grade" and "speculative grade" are market conventions, and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. "Investment grade" categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the "speculative" categories either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.
Fitch's credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. In particular, ratings do not deal with the risk of a market value loss on a rated security due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and other market considerations. However, in terms of payment obligation on the rated liability, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ABILITY of an issuer to pay upon a commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the OBLIGATION to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of index-linked bonds).
In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument's documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation's documentation). In such cases, the agency will make clear the assumptions underlying the agency's opinion in the accompanying rating commentary.
DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S LONG-TERM CORPORATE FINANCE OBLIGATIONS RATINGS
AAA Highest credit quality. 'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA Very high credit quality. 'AA' ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A High credit quality. 'A' ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB Good credit quality. 'BBB' ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB Speculative. 'BB' ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.
B Highly speculative. 'B' ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.
CCC Substantial credit risk. 'CCC' ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.
CC Very high levels of credit risk. 'CC' ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.
C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. 'C' ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.
Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned 'RD' or 'D' ratings, but are instead rated in the 'B' to 'C' rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.
Note: The modifiers "+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA' obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below 'CCC'.
DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S SHORT-TERM RATINGS
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as "short term" based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
Fitch's short-term ratings are as follows:
F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.
RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.
D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
APPENDIX B -- PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
(AS OF SEPTEMBER 2014)
POLICY
Whether Acadian will have proxy voting responsibility on behalf of a separate account client is subject to negotiation as part of the overall investment management agreement executed with each client. Should a client desire that Acadian vote proxies on their behalf, Acadian will accept such authority and agree with the client whether votes should be cast in accordance with Acadian's proxy voting policy or in accordance with a client specific proxy voting policy. Should the client wish to retain voting responsibility themselves, Acadian would have no further involvement in the voting process but would remain available to provide reasonable assistance to the client as needed.
Acadian has adopted a proxy voting policy reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies in the best interest of clients. Acadian utilizes the services of Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"), an unaffiliated proxy firm, to help manage the proxy voting process and to research and vote proxies on behalf of Acadian's clients who have instructed Acadian to vote proxies on their behalf. Unless a client provides a client specific voting criteria to be followed when voting proxies on behalf of holdings in their portfolio, each vote is made according to predetermined guidelines agreed to between the proxy service firm and Acadian. Acadian believes that utilizing this proxy service firm helps Acadian vote in the best interest of clients and insulates Acadian's voting decisions from any potential conflicts of interest.
When voting proxies on behalf of our clients, Acadian assumes a fiduciary responsibility to vote in our clients' best interests. In addition, with respect to benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act (ERISA), Acadian acknowledges its responsibility as a fiduciary to vote proxies prudently and solely in the best interest of plan participants and beneficiaries. So that it may fulfill these fiduciary responsibilities to clients, Acadian has adopted and implemented these written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies in the best interest of clients.
PROCEDURES
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
Acadian acknowledges it has a duty of care to its clients that requires it to monitor corporate events and vote client proxies when instructed by the client to do so. To assist in this effort, Acadian has retained ISS to research and vote its proxies. ISS provides proxy-voting analysis and votes proxies in accordance with predetermined guidelines. Relying on ISS to vote proxies is intended to help ensure that Acadian votes in the best interest of its clients and insulates Acadian's voting decisions from any potential conflicts of interest. Acadian will also accept specific written proxy voting instructions from a client and communicate those instructions to ISS to implement when voting proxies involving that client's portfolio.
In specific instances where ISS will not vote a proxy, will not provide a voting recommendation, or other instances where there is an unusual cost or requirement related to a proxy vote, Acadian's Proxy Coordinator will conduct an analysis to determine whether the costs related to the vote outweigh the potential benefit to our client. If we determine, in our discretion, that it is in the best of interest of our client not to participate in the vote Acadian will not participate in the vote on behalf of our client. If we determine that a vote would be in the best interest of our client, the Proxy Coordinator will seek a voting recommendation from an authorized member of our investment team and ensure the vote is cast as they instruct.
Unless contrary instructions are received from a client, Acadian has instructed ISS to not vote proxies in so-called "share blocking" markets. Share-blocking markets are markets where proxy voters have their securities blocked from trading during the period of the annual meeting. The period of blocking typically lasts from a few days to two weeks. During the period, any portfolio holdings in these markets cannot be sold without a formal recall. The recall process can take time, and in some cases, cannot be accomplished at all. This makes a client's portfolio vulnerable to a scenario where a stock is dropping in attractiveness but cannot be sold because it has been blocked. Shareholders who do not vote are not subject to the blocking procedure.
Acadian also reserves the right to override ISS vote recommendations under certain circumstances. Acadian will only do so if they believe that voting contrary to the ISS recommendation is in the best interest of clients. All overrides will be approved by an Officer of Acadian and will be documented with the reasons for voting against the ISS recommendation.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Occasions may arise during the voting process in which the best interest of clients conflicts with Acadian's interests. In these situations ISS will continue to follow the same predetermined guidelines as formally agreed upon between Acadian and ISS before such conflict of interest existed. Conflicts of interest generally include (i) business relationships where Acadian has a substantial business relationship with, or is actively soliciting business from, a company soliciting proxies, or (ii) personal or family relationships whereby an employee of Acadian has a family member or other personal relationship that is affiliated with a company soliciting proxies, such as a spouse who serves as a director of a public company. A conflict could also exist if a substantial business relationship exists with a proponent or opponent of a particular initiative.
If Acadian learns that a conflict of interest exists, its Proxy Coordinator will prepare a report for review with a compliance officer, and senior management if needed, that identifies (i) the details of the conflict of interest, (ii) whether or not the conflict is material, and (iii) procedures to ensure that Acadian makes proxy voting decisions based on the best interests of clients. If Acadian determines that a material conflict exists, it will defer to ISS to vote the proxy in accordance with the predetermined voting policy.
VOTING POLICIES
Acadian has adopted the proxy voting policies developed by ISS, summaries of which can be found at http://www.issgovernance.com/policy and which are deemed to be incorporated herein. The policies have been developed based on ISS' independent, objective analysis of leading corporate governance practices and their support of long-term shareholder value. Acadian may change its proxy voting policy from time to time without providing notice of changes to clients.
VOTING PROCESS
Acadian has appointed the Head of Operations to act as Proxy Coordinator. The Proxy Coordinator acts as coordinator with ISS including ensuring proxies Acadian is responsible to vote are forwarded to ISS, overseeing that ISS is voting assigned client accounts and maintaining appropriate authorization and voting records.
After ISS is notified by the custodian of a proxy that requires voting and/or after ISS cross references their database with a routine download of Acadian holdings and determines a proxy requires voting, ISS will review the proxy and make a voting proposal based on the recommendations provided by their research group. Any electronic proxy votes will be communicated to the proxy solicitor by ISS Global Proxy Distribution Service and Broadridge's Proxy Edge Distribution Service, while non-electronic ballots, or paper ballots, will be faxed, telephoned or sent via Internet. ISS assumes responsibility for the proxies to be transmitted for voting in a timely fashion and maintains a record of the vote, which is provided to Acadian on a monthly basis. Proxy voting records specific to a client's account are available to each client upon request.
PROXY VOTING RECORD
Acadian's Proxy Coordinator will maintain a record containing the following information regarding the voting of proxies: (i) the name of the issuer, (ii) the exchange ticker symbol, (iii) the CUSIP number, (iv) the shareholder meeting date, (v) a brief description of the matter brought to vote; (vi) whether the proposal was submitted by management or a shareholder, (vii) how Acadian/ ISS voted the proxy (for, against, abstained) and (viii) whether the proxy was voted for or against management.
OBTAINING A VOTING PROXY REPORT
Clients may request a copy of these policies and procedures and/or a report on how their individual securities were voted by contacting Acadian at 617-850-3500 or by email at compliance-reporting@acadian-asset.com.
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28. EXHIBITS:
(a)(1) Amended and Restated 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. 033-42484), filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-97-001691 on
February 27, 1997.
(a)(2) Amendment No. 1, dated May 15, 2012, to the Registrant's Amended and
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and
restated February 18, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001135428-12-000262 on May 23, 2012.
(b) Registrant's Second Amended and Restated By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 179 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000087 on February 28, 2012.
(c) Not Applicable.
(d)(1)(i) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated May 3, 1995, between the Registrant and First Manhattan Co. 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-96-001199 on February 28, 1996.
(d)(1)(ii) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001047469-98-021496 on May 21, 1998.
(d)(1)(iii) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-01-500070 on June 22, 2001.
(d)(1)(iv) Amended Schedule A, dated May 13, 2014, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 15, 1999, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 235 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000403 on June 10, 2014.
(d)(1)(v) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Acadian Asset Management LLC (formerly, 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(1)(vi) Amended Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June
24, 2002, between the Registrant and Acadian Asset Management LLC (formerly,
Acadian Asset Management, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-10- 000392 on September 3, 2010.
(d)(1)(vii) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(1)(viii) Amended Schedule A, dated August 30, 2016, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 267 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001529 on August 26, 2016.
(d)(1)(ix) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(1)(x) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(1)(xi) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated August 8, 2008, between the Registrant and Rice, Hall James & Associates LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-09-000641 on December 18, 2009.
(d)(1)(xii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (formerly, 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.
(d)(1)(xiii) Amendment and Revised Schedule A, dated June 1, 2010, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (formerly, Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(21) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-10-000336 on August 30, 2010.
(d)(1)(xiv) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-05-000093 on February 25, 2005.
(d)(1)(xv) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000081 on February 28, 2006.
(d)(1)(xvi) Amended Schedule to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated December 16, 2005, between the Registrant and Westwood Management Corp., to be filed by amendment.
(d)(1)(xvii) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000007 on January 12, 2007.
(d)(1)(xviii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 10, 2010, between the Registrant and Sands Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-10-000173 on April 30, 2010.
(d)(1)(xix) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 24, 2011, between the Registrant and AlphaOne Investment Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(35) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(1)(xx) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 20, 2011, between the Registrant and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(37) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(1)(xxi) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated December 19, 2011, between the Registrant and CBRE Clarion Securities LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(39) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(1)(xxii) Revised Schedule A, dated May 15, 2013, to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and CBRE Clarion Securities LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(40) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 214 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000354 on June 28, 2013.
(d)(1)(xxiii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 20, 2012, between the Registrant and Hamlin Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000195 on March 28, 2012.
(d)(1)(xxiv) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 3, 2012, between the Trust and Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(1)(xxv) Amended Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 3, 2012, between the Trust and Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(49) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 225 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000589 on October 9, 2013.
(d)(1)(xxvi) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between the Registrant and Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxviii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 236 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000442 on June 24, 2014.
(d)(1)(xxvii) Amended Schedule A, dated August 30, 2016, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between the Registrant and Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxvii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(d)(1)(xxviii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated January 31, 2013, between the Registrant and Harvest Global Investments Limited is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 236 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000442 on June 24, 2014.
(d)(1)(xxix) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated September 3, 2013, between the Registrant and AT Investment Advisers, Inc. (formerly, Stein Roe Investment Counsel, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxx) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 236 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000442 on June 24, 2014.
(d)(1)(xxx) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated July 3, 2013, between the Registrant and Fayez Sarofim & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(74) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 219 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000386 on July 26, 2013.
(d)(2)(i) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated December 27, 2011, between Westwood Management Corp. and SKY Harbor Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Westwood Short Duration High Yield Fund and Westwood Opportunistic High Yield Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(29) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(2)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated November 17, 2014, to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated December 27, 2011, between Westwood Management Corp. and SKY Harbor Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Westwood Short Duration High Yield Fund and Westwood Opportunistic High Yield Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 248 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000803 on December 29, 2014.
(d)(2)(iii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(iv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and LSV Asset Management, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(v) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Harris Associates L.P., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(vi) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Thornburg Investment Management, Inc., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity
Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(vii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Marsico Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(viii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(ix) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Fairpointe Capital LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(x) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Phocas Financial Corporation, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xi) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Allianz Global Investors Capital LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Acadian Asset Management LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xiii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Driehaus Capital Management LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xiii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xiv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and OFI SteelPath, Inc., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Income Opportunities Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xiv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and ClariVest Asset Management LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund
and Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xvi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xvi) Amended Schedule A, dated December 15, 2014, to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and ClariVest Asset Management LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund and Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xvii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(d)(2)(xvii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xvii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xviii) Amendment, dated September 1, 2016, to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund, is filed herewith.
(d)(2)(xix) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and BlackRock Financial Management, LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xviii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xx) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated September 5, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Numeric Investors, LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund and Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund, is filed herewith.
(d)(2)(xxi) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Strategic Income Management, LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Income Opportunities Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xx) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xxii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated June 3, 2014, between
Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and AJO, LP, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors
Public Alternatives Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(2)(xxi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC
via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xxiii) Amended Schedule A, dated August 31, 2015, to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated June 3, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and AJO, LP, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxiii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(d)(2)(xxiv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated June 3, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Wells Fargo Portfolio Risk Advisors, a Division of Structured Asset Investors, LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-
1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(d)(2)(xxv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated January 15, 2016, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001304 on April 29, 2016.
(d)(2)(xxvi) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated August 24, 2016, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Franklin Advisers, Inc., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxvi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(d)(2)(xxvii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated August 24, 2016, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxvii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(d)(2)(xxviii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated August 24, 2016, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxviii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(d)(2)(xxix) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated August 24, 2016, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Prime Advisors, Inc., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xxix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(d)(3)(i) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management, relating to the LSV Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(3)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated May 13, 2014, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management, relating to the LSV Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 235 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000403 on June 10, 2014.
(d)(3)(iii) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated September 1, 2016, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC, relating to the Cambiar Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001670 on September 1, 2016.
(d)(3)(iv) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 23, 2016, between the Registrant and Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC, relating to the Rice Hall James Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001304 on April 29, 2016.
(d)(3)(v) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Haverford Investment Management, Inc., relating to the Haverford
Quality Growth Stock Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(25) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(3)(vi) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 10, 2015, between the Registrant and Westwood Management Corp., relating to the Westwood Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 254 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000298 on April 20, 2015.
(d)(3)(vii) Amended Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 10, 2015, between the Registrant and Westwood Management Corp., relating to the Westwood Funds, to be filed by amendment.
(d)(3)(viii) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Edgewood Management LLC, relating to the Edgewood Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(28) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-10-000245 on June 30, 2010.
(d)(3)(ix) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 31, 2010, between the Registrant and Sands Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(34) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(3)(x) Expense Limitation Agreement, effective as of March 28, 2011, between
the Registrant and AlphaOne Investment Services, LLC, relating to the AlphaOne
Small Cap Opportunities Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit
(d)(43) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 154 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001135428-11-000353 on June 29, 2011.
(d)(3)(xi) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated December 15, 2011, between the Registrant and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., relating to the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(38) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(3)(xii) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated May 14, 2013, between the Registrant and CBRE Clarion Securities LLC, relating to the CBRE Clarion Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(41) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 214 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000354 on June 28, 2013.
(d)(3)(xiii) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated April 30, 2013, between the Registrant and Hamlin Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Hamlin High Dividend Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(42) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 210 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000257 on April 30, 2013.
(d)(3)(xiv) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 28, 2012, between the Registrant and Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc., relating to the Thomson Horstmann & Bryant MicroCap Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(d)(3)(xv) Amended Schedule A to the Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 28, 2012, between the Registrant and Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc., relating to the Thomson Horstmann & Bryant MicroCap Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(50) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 225 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000589 on October 9, 2013.
(d)(3)(xvi) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated January 31, 2013, between the Registrant and Harvest Global Investments Limited, relating to the Harvest Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 236 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000442 on June 24, 2014.
(d)(3)(xvii) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 23, 2016, between the Registrant and AT Investment Advisers, Inc., relating to the AT Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(d)(3)(xviii) Expense Limitation Agreement, effective as of July 3, 2013, between the Registrant and Fayez Sarofim & Co., relating to the Sarofim Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(75) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 219 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000386 on July 26, 2013.
(e)(1)(i) Distribution Agreement, dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000094 on February 27, 2015.
(e)(1)(ii) Amendment No. 1, effective as of August 30, 2010, to the Distribution Agreement, dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 158 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-11-000517 on September 16, 2011.
(e)(2)(i) Revised Form of Amended Sub-Distribution and Servicing Agreement for SEI Investments Distribution Co., dated October 2007, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-08-000222 on May 30, 2008.
(f) Not applicable.
(g)(1)(i) Amended and Restated Custody Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(1)(i) of Post-
Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000296 on April 30, 2014.
(g)(1)(ii) Amendment, dated November 6, 2013, to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement dated February 12, 2013 between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000296 on April 30, 2014.
(g)(2)(i) Custodian Agreement, dated June 26, 2001, between the Registrant and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (formerly, Union Bank of California, N.A.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(2)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(g)(2)(ii) Amended Appendix B, dated June 1, 2016, to the Custodian Agreement, dated June 26, 2001, between the Registrant and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (formerly, Union Bank of California, N.A.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(2)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(g)(3)(i) Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(g)(3)(ii) Amendment, dated May 12, 2015, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(g)(3)(iii) Amendment, dated November 6, 2015, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(g)(3)(iv) Amendment, dated August 25, 2016, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is filed herewith.
(h)(1)(i) 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)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(h)(1)(ii) Amendment, dated June 11, 2014, relating to the LSV Funds, to the 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)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 236 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000442 on June 24, 2014.
(h)(1)(iii) Amendment, dated May 18, 2016, to the 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)(1)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001670 on September 1, 2016.
(h)(2)(i) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000495 on August 28, 2003.
(h)(2)(ii) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001135428-03-000630 on December 29, 2003.
(h)(2)(iii) Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000262 on May 23, 2012.
(h)(2)(iv) Amendment, dated April 1, 2009, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(h)(2)(v) Amended Fee Schedule, dated August 30, 2012, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000370 on August 22, 2012.
(h)(2)(vi) Amendment, dated November 13, 2013, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and DST Systems, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(h)(2)(vii) Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Registrant and Atlantic Shareholder Services, LLC, to be filed by amendment.
(h)(2)(viii) Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., to be filed by amendment.
(h)(2)(ix) Amendment to the Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., to be filed by amendment.
(h)(3)(i) Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(h)(3)(ii) Amended Exhibit A to the Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001670 on September 1, 2016.
(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, is filed herewith.
(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, BBD, LLP, relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, is filed herewith.
(k) Not Applicable.
(l) Not Applicable.
(m)(1)(i) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-00-004829 on December 13, 2000.
(m)(1)(ii) Schedule A, as last amended May 13, 2014, to the Distribution Plan, dated August 8, 1994, as amended August 14, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 235 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000403 on June 10, 2014.
(m)(2)(i) Distribution Plan, dated September 17, 2002, relating to Investor Shares of the Rice Hall James SMID Cap Portfolio (formerly, 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000242 on June 1, 2004.
(m)(2)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated November 13, 2007, to the Distribution Plan, dated September 17, 2002, relating to Investor Shares of the Rice Hall James SMID Cap Portfolio (formerly, Rice Hall James Mid Cap Portfolio), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-09-000276 on July 2, 2009.
(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) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000099 on February 28, 2014.
(n)(2) Schedule M and Certificates of Class Designation to the Registrant's Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the LSV Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 235 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000403 on June 10, 2014.
(n)(3) Amended and Restated Schedule B and Certificates of Class Designation to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Cambiar Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 258 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000632 on August 28, 2015.
(n)(4) Amended and Restated Schedule D and Certificates of Class Designation to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Westwood Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(1)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 254 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000298 on April 20, 2015.
(n)(5) Schedule N and Certificates of Class Designation to the Registrant's Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001670 on September 1, 2016.
(o) Not Applicable.
(p)(1) Registrant's Code of Ethics, dated November 2007, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000518 on November 15, 2007.
(p)(2) LSV Asset Management Revised Code of Ethics, dated September 25, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(3) Cambiar Investors, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated April 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 267 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001529 on August 26, 2016.
(p)(4) Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated November 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(5) C.S. McKee, LLP Revised Code of Ethics, dated April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000099 on February 28, 2014.
(p)(6) Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated June 1, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000094 on February 27, 2015.
(p)(7) 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. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000146 on April 30, 2007.
(p)(8) Haverford Investment Management, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics, dated July 2012, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(p)(9) Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated October 2013, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000099 on February 28, 2014.
(p)(10) Acadian Asset Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated January 2016, is filed herewith.
(p)(11) Westwood Management Corp. Revised Code of Ethics, dated July 28, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(12) Edgewood Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated October 1, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(13) Sands Capital Management, LLC Code of Ethics, dated July 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000094 on February 27, 2015.
(p)(14) AlphaOne Investment Services, LLC Code of Ethics, dated May 1, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 158 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-11-000517 on September 16, 2011.
(p)(15) Loomis, Sayles & Company L.P. Revised Code of Ethics, dated September 30, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(16) CBRE Clarion Securities LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated January 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000094 on February 27, 2015.
(p)(17) SKY Harbor Capital Management, LLC Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(21) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.
(p)(18) Hamlin Capital Management, LLC Revised Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000296 on April 30, 2014.
(p)(19) Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000099 on February 28, 2014.
(p)(20) SEI Investments Distribution Co. Code of Ethics, dated September 1, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(21) Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(27) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000370 on August 22, 2012.
(p)(22) Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC Code of Ethics, dated May 3, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(28) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000370 on August 22, 2012.
(p)(23) Harris Associates L.P. Revised Code of Ethics, dated February 14, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(23) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(24) Thornburg Investment Management Inc. Revised Code of Ethics, dated March 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(24) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(25) Marsico Capital Management, LLC Revised Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(25) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(26) Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC Revised Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(26) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(27) Fairpointe Capital LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(27) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(28) Phocas Financial Corporation Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(35) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000370 on August 22, 2012.
(p)(29) Allianz Global Investors Capital LLC Code of Ethics, dated May 5, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000094 on February 27, 2015.
(p)(30) Driehaus Capital Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated June 15, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(31) OFI SteelPath, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics, dated June 1, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(31) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(32) ClariVest Asset Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated September 30, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(33) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(33) Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. Revised Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(34) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(34) BlackRock Financial Management, LLC Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000370 on August 22, 2012.
(p)(35) Harvest Global Investments Limited Revised Code of Ethics, dated October 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(36) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001304 on April 29, 2016.
(p)(36) AT Investment Advisers, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated March 31, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 221 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000503 on September 4, 2013.
(p)(37) Fayez Sarofim & Co. Code of Ethics, dated October 27, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(38) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 255 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000328 on April 30, 2015.
(p)(38) SEI Investments Global Funds Services Code of Ethics, dated February 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(39) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(39) Numeric Investors LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated August 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(40) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(40) Strategic Income Management, LLC Code of Ethics, dated March 2013, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000099 on February 28, 2014.
(p)(41) AJO, LP Code of Ethics, dated January 2, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(p)(42) Wells Fargo Portfolio Risk Advisors, a Division of Structured Asset Investors, LLC Code of Ethics, dated April 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000551 on August 28, 2014.
(p)(43) Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Code of Ethics, dated November 30, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(44) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.
(p)(44) Franklin Advisers, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated May 1, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(p)(45) Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(p)(46) Prime Advisors, Inc. Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(47) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.
(q)(1) Powers of Attorney for Ms. Betty L. Krikorian and Messrs. Robert A. Nesher, William M. Doran, John K. Darr, George J. Sullivan, Jr., Mitchell A. Johnson, Bruce Speca and Joseph T. Grause are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 212 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000327 on June 18, 2013.
(q)(2) Power of Attorney for Mr. Stephen Connors is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (q)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 258 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000632 on August 28, 2015.
ITEM 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT:
Not Applicable.
ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION:
Article VIII of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit (a) to the Registrant's Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") may be permitted to trustees, directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Agreement and 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 1933 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS:
The following lists any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each investment adviser, and each director, officer or partner of that investment adviser, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner, or trustee. Unless noted below, none of the investment advisers, and/or director, officer or partner of each investment adviser, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
Acadian Asset Management LLC ("Acadian") serves as the investment adviser to
the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio and as an investment sub-adviser to the
Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The principal address of
Acadian is 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Acadian is an
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The
information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and
2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS OF CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Chisholm, Executive Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd Affiliated Directorships Vice President, CIO, 110 Cannon Street, 4th Floor Member of Board of London EC4N 6EU Managers United Kingdom ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Affiliated Directorships Ltd 20 Martin Place Level 9, Suite 3 Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Churchill Franklin, CEO, Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Affiliated Directorships Member of Board of Ltd Managers 20 Martin Place Level 9, Suite 3 Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd Affiliated Directorships 110 Cannon Street, 4th Floor London EC4N 6EU United Kingdom ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Cayman Limited G.P. Affiliated Directorships Maples Corporate Services Limited PO Box 309 Ugland House Grand Cayman, KY1-1104 Cayman Islands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ronald Frashure, Chairman Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Affiliated Directorships of the Board of Managers Pte Ltd 8 Shenton Way, #37-02 Singapore 068811 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C-18 |
------------------------------------------ Acadian Cayman Limited G.P. Maples Corporate Services Limited PO Box 309 Ugland House Grand Cayman, KY1-1104 Cayman Islands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Minichiello, Executive Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd Affiliated Directorships Vice President, COO, 110 Cannon Street, 4th Floor Treasurer, Secretary, London EC4N 6EU Member of Board of United Kingdom Managers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Affiliated Directorships Ltd 20 Martin Place Level 9, Suite 3 Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Affiliated Directorships Pte Ltd 8 Shenton Way, #37-02 Singapore 068811 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (Japan) Affiliated Directorships Marunouchi Trust Tower Main 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0005 Japan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ross Dowd, Executive Vice Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd Affiliated Directorships President, Head of Client 110 Cannon Street, 4th Floor Service, Member of Board London EC4N 6EU of Managers United Kingdom ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Cayman Limited G.P. Affiliated Directorships Maples Corporate Services Limited PO Box 309 Ugland House Grand Cayman, KY1-1104 Cayman Islands ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management Affiliated Directorships (Australia) Ltd 20 Martin Place Level 9, Suite 3 Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Affiliated Directorships Pte Ltd 8 Shenton Way, #37-02 Singapore 068811 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C-19 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management (Japan) Affiliated Directorships Marunouchi Trust Tower Main 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0005 Japan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linda Gibson, Member of Executive Vice President and Head of Affiliated Directorships Board of Managers Global Distribution -- OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); 5TH Floor Millennium Bridge House 2 Lambeth Hill London United Kingdom EC4V 4GG ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Director, Executive Vice President and Affiliated Directorships Head of Global Distribution -- OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); 200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management LLC (an Affiliated Directorships investment advisor); 260 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Affiliated Directorships LLC (an investment advisor); JPMorgan Chase Tower 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor Dallas, TX 75201 ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------ OMAM (HFL) Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual Affiliated Directorships (HFL) Inc.) (a holding company for Heitman affiliated financial services firms); 200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 ----------------------------------------- ------------------------------ OMAM International Ltd. (f/k/a Old Affiliated Directorships Mutual Asset Management International, Ltd.) (an investment advisor); Millenium Bridge House 2 Lambeth Hill London England EC4V 4GG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher Hadley, Executive Vice President and Chief Affiliated Directorships Member of Board of Talent Officer -- OM Asset Management Managers PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); 5TH Floor Millennium Bridge House 2 Lambeth Hill London United Kingdom EC4V 4GG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C-20 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Executive Vice President and Chief Affiliated Directorships Talent Officer -- OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); 200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management LLC (an Affiliated Directorships investment advisor) 260 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 ------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aidan Riordan, Member of Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliated Directorships Board of Managers Affiliate Management - OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); 5TH Floor Millennium Bridge House 2 Lambeth Hill London United Kingdom EC4V 4GG ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliated Directorships Affiliate Management -- OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); 200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management LLC (an Affiliated Directorships investment advisor); 260 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Affiliated Directorships LLC (an investment advisor); JPMorgan Chase Tower 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor Dallas, TX 75201 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Campbell Global, LLC (an investment Affiliated Directorships advisor) One South West Columbia, Suite 1720 Portland, OR 97258 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copper Rock Capital Partners LLC (an Affiliated Directorships investment advisor); 200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMAM (HFL) Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual Affiliated Directorships (HFL) Inc.) (a holding company for Heitman affiliated financial services firms); 200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC Affiliated Directorships (an investment advisor); 300 East Lombard Street, Suite 810 Baltimore, MD 21202 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C-21 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (an Affiliated Directorships investment advisor) 6806 Paragon Pl., Ste. 300 Richmond, VA 23230 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Belgrad, Member of Executive Vice President and Chief Affiliated Directorships Board of Managers Financial Officer - OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); 5TH Floor Millennium Bridge House 2 Lambeth Hill London United Kingdom EC4V 4GG ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Director, Executive Vice President and Affiliated Directorships Chief Financial Officer -- OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); 200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acadian Asset Management LLC (an Affiliated Directorships investment advisor); 260 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMAM International Ltd. (f/k/a Old Affiliated Directorships Mutual Asset Management International, Ltd.) (an investment advisor) Millenium Bridge House 2 Lambeth Hill London England EC4V 4GG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
AJO, LP
AJO, LP ("AJO") serves as an investment sub-adviser for the Cornerstone
Advisors Public Alternatives Fund. The principal address of AJO is 230 South
Broad Street, 20th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102. AJO is an
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The
information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and
October 31, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS OF CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RV Capital Arup Datta Royal Group Building Principal, Portfolio Manager Unit 15-05 Director 3 Phillip Street Singapore 048693 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS U.S. LLC
Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC ("AllianzGI US") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The
principal address of AllianzGI US is 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019.
AllianzGI US is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October
31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas Eu Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Holdings LLC Executive Officer, 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julian Sluyters, Member, Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Operating Officer Global Investors U.S. 1633 Broadway Holdings LLC New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Managing Director Distributors LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Fund Chairman-Management Board Management LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Carroll, Member, Executive Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Head of Committee Allianz Global Holdings LLC Retail Distribution, Member- Investors U.S. Holdings LLC 1633 Broadway Operating Committee New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Distributors LLC Executive Officer, Head of Retail 1633 Broadway Distribution US New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Fund Member--Management Board Management LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barbara Claussen, Member, Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Administrative Officer, Member- Global Investors U.S. Holdings 1633 Broadway Operating Committee LLC New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- NFJ Investment Group LLC Managing Director 2100 Ross Ave, Suite 700 Dallas, TX 75201 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benno Fischer, Member, NFJ Investment Group LLC Managing Director, Chief Executive Committee Allianz 2100 Ross Ave, Suite 700 Investment Officer Global Investors U.S. Holdings Dallas, TX 75201 LLC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas Forsyth, Member, Allianz Global Investors Chief Investment Officer Fixed Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Income US Global Investors U.S. Holdings 1633 Broadway LLC New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jill Lohrfink, Member, Executive Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Head of Committee Allianz Global Holdings LLC Institutional--North America Investors U.S. Holdings LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott Migliori, Member, Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Investment Officer Equity US Global Investors U.S. Holdings 1633 Broadway LLC New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Herold Rohweder, Member, Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Global Chief Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Investment Officer Multi-Asset Global Investors U.S. Holdings 1633 Broadway LLC New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susan King, Member, Executive Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Committee Allianz Global Holdings LLC Marketing Officer U.S. Investors U.S. Holdings LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- NFJ Investment Group LLC Managing Director, Chief 2100 Ross Ave, Suite 700 Marketing Officer U.S. Dallas, TX 75201 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Fund Managing Director, Chief Management LLC Marketing Officer U.S. 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Distributors LLC Marketing Officer U.S. 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Jobson, Member, Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Head of Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Product Management and Strategy Global Investors U.S. Holdings 1633 Broadway LLC New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Fund Member--Management Board Management LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erin Bengtson-Olivieri, Member, Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, Chief Executive Committee Allianz Holdings LLC Financial Officer Global Investors U.S. Holdings 1633 Broadway LLC, Chief Financial Officer New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Managing Director Distributors LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Fund Member - Management Board, Management LLC Managing Director, Chief 1633 Broadway Financial Officer New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NFJ Investment Group LLC Managing Director, Chief 2100 Ross Ave, Suite 700 Financial Officer Dallas, TX 75201 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Bonanno, Chief Legal Allianz Global Investors Capital Director Officer, Allianz Global Investors Limited (UK) U.S. LLC (as of December 1, 2014) 353 Strand, London, WC2R 0HS -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Managing Director Distributors LLC 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Allianz Global Investors Managing Director, General Holdings LLC Counsel, Secretary, Secretary of 1633 Broadway Executive Committee and New York, NY 10019 Secretary of Operating Committee -------------------------------------------------------------------- NFJ Investment Group LLC Managing Director, Chief Legal 2100 Ross Ave, Suite 700 Officer Dallas, TX 75201 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Koo, Chief Compliance Allianz Global Investors Director, Deputy Head of U.S. Officer Holdings LLC Compliance 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
ALPHAONE INVESTMENT SERVICES, LLC
AlphaOne Investment Services, LLC ("AlphaOne") serves as the investment adviser
for the AlphaOne Small Cap Opportunities Fund. The principal address of AlphaOne
is 789 E. Lancaster Avenue, Suite 120, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085. AlphaOne
is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and
2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Hondros, President IntrustNet Insurance Services, LLC Chairman and CEO 7 Whippoorwill Rd. Armonk, NY 10504 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
AT INVESTMENT ADVISERS, INC.
AT Investment Advisers, Inc. ("AT") serves as the investment adviser for the AT
Disciplined Equity Fund, AT Income Opportunities Fund and AT Mid Cap Equity
Fund. The principal address of AT is One South Wacker Drive, Suite 3500,
Chicago, Illinois 60606. AT is an investment adviser registered with the SEC
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for
the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY OTHER COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dan Brown, CFO CIBC World Markets Corp. Employee 425 Lexington Ave. 5th Floor New York, NY 10017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
BlackRock Financial Management, LLC ("BlackRock") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund. The principal
address of BlackRock is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.
BlackRock is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940.
The information required by this Item 31 with respect to each director, officer or partner of BlackRock for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015 is incorporated herein by reference to Form ADV filed by BlackRock with the SEC.
CAMBIAR INVESTORS, LLC
Cambiar Investors, LLC ("Cambiar") serves as the investment adviser to the
Cambiar Opportunity Fund, the Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar
Small Cap Fund, the Cambiar Unconstrained Equity Fund, the Cambiar SMID Fund,
the Cambiar Global Equity Fund and the Cambiar International Small
Cap Fund. The principal address of Cambiar is 200 Columbine Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206. Cambiar is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended April 30, 2015 and 2016, no director, officer or partner of Cambiar engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
CBRE CLARION SECURITIES LLC
CBRE Clarion Securities LLC ("CBRE Clarion") serves as the investment adviser
for the CBRE Clarion Long/Short Fund and the CBRE Clarion Global Infrastructure
Value Fund. The principal address of CBRE Clarion is 201 King of Prussia Road,
Suite 600, Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087. CBRE Clarion is an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed
below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T. Ritson Ferguson CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Interested Trustee Chief Executive Officer Income Fund (IGR) and Co-Chief Investment c/o 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite Officer 600, Radnor, PA 19087 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jarrett B. Kling HC Capital Trust Trustee Managing Director -- Sales 300 Barr Harbor Dr, Suite 500 and Marketing West Conshohocken, PA 19428 --------------------------------------------------------------- Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Trustee 1275 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309-3506 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Zitelli CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Chief Compliance Officer General Counsel Income Fund (IGR) c/o 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600, Radnor, PA 19087 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonathan Blome CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer Income Fund (IGR) c/o 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600, Radnor, PA 19087 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
CLARIVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
ClariVest Asset Management LLC ("ClariVest") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund and
Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund. The principal address of
ClariVest is 3611 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92130.
ClariVest is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31,
2014 and 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Rossi Eagle Asset Management Inc. Director, President, Co-Chief Manager 880 Carillon Parkway Operating Officer St Petersburg, FL 33716 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Carillon Tower Advisers President, Co-Chief Operating 880 Carillon Parkway Officer St. Petersburg, Florida 33716 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ClariVest Asset Management LLC Manager 3611 Valley Centre Drive Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Cooper Abbott Eagle Asset Management Inc. Director, Executive Vice President Manager 880 Carillon Parkway - Investments, Co-Chief Operating St Petersburg, FL 33716 Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Carillon Tower Advisers Co-Chief Operating Officer 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, Florida 33716 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ClariVest Asset Management LLC Manager 3611 Valley Centre Drive Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Courtland James Eagle Asset Management Inc. Vice President, Business Manager 880 Carillon Parkway Development St Petersburg, FL 33716 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Carillon Tower Advisers Director 880 Carillon Parkway St. Petersburg, Florida 33716 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ClariVest Asset Management LLC Manager 3611 Valley Centre Drive Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92130 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
CORNERSTONE ADVISORS, INC.
Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. ("Cornerstone") serves as the investment adviser for
the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund, Cornerstone Advisors Income
Opportunities Fund, Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund, Cornerstone
Advisors Real Assets Fund, and Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund. The
principal address of Cornerstone is 225 108th Avenue NE, Suite 400, Bellevue,
Washington 98004-5782. Cornerstone is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Savoy BSquare Director Director / Shareholder 110 -- 110th Avenue NE, Suite 200 Bellevue, WA 98004 ------------------------------------------------------------- Friends of Youth Director --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anne Farrell Seattle Foundation President Emeritus Director 1200 -- 5th Avenue, Suite 1300 Seattle, WA 98101 ------------------------------------------------------------- Seattle University Trustee Emeritus --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delta Dental of Washington Director ------------------------------------------------------------- KCTS Channel 9 Public Television Board Chairwoman ------------------------------------------------------------- National Assoc. of Corporate Directors Directors --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greg Collins Parker Smith & Feek (PS&F) President/CEO Director 2233 112th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98004 ------------------------------------------------------------- Overlake Medical Center Board Chairman ------------------------------------------------------------- Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Director Commerce --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN LLC
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC ("CRM") serves as an investment sub-adviser for
the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The principal address of
CRM is 520 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022. CRM is an
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of CRM engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
C.S. MCKEE, L.P.
C.S. McKee, L.P. ("C.S. McKee") serves as the investment adviser to the McKee
International Equity Portfolio. The principal address of C.S. McKee is One
Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. C.S. McKee is an investment
adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information
listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gregory M. Melvin Dartmouth Capital, Inc. President Chief Investment Officer 750 Stonegate Drive Wexford, PA 15090 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael J. Donnelly Blue Devil Capital President 2051 Murdstone Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15241 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
DRIEHAUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
Driehaus Capital Management LLC ("Driehaus") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The
principal address of Driehaus is 25 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois
60611-2703. Driehaus is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard H. Driehaus Driehaus Capital Holdings Chairman Chairman and Chief Investment LLLP* Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Mutual Funds** Trustee -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Securities LLC*** Chairman ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert H. Gordon Driehaus Capital Holdings President and Chief Executive President and Chief Executive LLLP* Officer Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Mutual Funds** President -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Securities LLC*** President and Chief Executive Officer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janet L. McWilliams Driehaus Capital Holdings Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Secretary LLLP* Secretary and General Counsel -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Mutual Funds** Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Vice President -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Securities LLC*** Managing Director, Secretary and General Counsel ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michelle L. Cahoon Driehaus Capital Holdings Vice President, Treasurer and Managing Director, Treasurer LLLP* Chief Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Mutual Funds** Vice President and Treasurer -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Securities LLC*** Managing Director, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen T. Weber Driehaus Securities LLC*** Managing Director, Sales and Managing Director, Sales and Relationship Management Relationship Management ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas M. Seftenberg Driehaus Securities LLC*** Managing Director, Relationship Managing Director, Relationship Management and Marketing Management and Marketing ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael R. Shoemaker Driehaus Mutual Funds** Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Vice President and Assistant Vice President Chief Compliance Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Securities LLC*** Assistant Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael P. Kailus Driehaus Mutual Funds** Assistant Secretary and Anti- Assistant Secretary Money Laundering Compliance Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- Driehaus Securities LLC*** Assistant Secretary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
* Driehaus Capital Holdings LLLP, located at 25 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611, is a holding company and is the majority owner of Driehaus Capital Management LLC and Driehaus Securities LLC.
** Driehaus Mutual Funds, located at 25 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611, is an open-end management investment company registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
*** Driehaus Securities LLC, located at 25 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611, is a limited-purpose broker-dealer registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
EDGEWOOD MANAGEMENT LLC
Edgewood Management LLC ("Edgewood") serves as the investment adviser to the
Edgewood Growth Fund. The principal address of Edgewood is 535 Madison Avenue,
15th Floor, New York, New York 10022. Edgewood is an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Edgewood engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
FAIRPOINTE CAPITAL LLC
Fairpointe Capital LLC ("Fairpointe") serves as an investment sub-adviser for
the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The principal address of
Fairpointe is One North Franklin Street, Suite 3300, Chicago, Illinois
60606-2401. Fairpointe is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Fairpointe engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
FAYEZ SAROFIM & CO.
Fayez Sarofim & Co. ("Fayez Sarofim") serves as the investment adviser for the
Sarofim Equity Fund. The principal address of Fayez Sarofim is 2907 Two Houston
Center, 909 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77010. Fayez Sarofim is an investment
adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information
listed below is for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS OF CONNECTION WITH OTHER NAME AND POSITION WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Trust Co. Chairman Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Realty Advisors Chairman and Director Co. 8115 Preston Road Suite 400 Dallas, TX 75225 ----------------------------------------------------- Fayez Sarofim Sarofim International Chairman, Chief Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Management Company Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Director (2014); Two Houston Center Investment Officer and Chairman, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Suite 2907 Director Director (2015) Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Chairman, Chief Two Houston Center Executive Officer and Suite 2907 Director Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Kinder Morgan, Inc. Director 500 Dallas Suite 1000 Houston, TX 77002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher B. Sarofim Kemper Corporation Director Vice Chairman One East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Trust Co. Vice Chairman Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Vice Chairman and Management Company President Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Director, Vice Chairman Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raye G. White Sarofim Trust Co. President, Chief Executive Vice President, Secretary, Two Houston Center Executive Officer, Treasurer, Chief Compliance Officer Suite 2907 Treasurer and Director and Director Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Executive Vice Management Company President, Secretary, Two Houston Center Treasurer and Director Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Realty Advisors Secretary, Treasurer and Co. Director 8115 Preston Road Suite 400 Dallas, TX 75225 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Executive Vice Two Houston Center President, Secretary, Suite 2907 Treasurer and Director Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Gentry Lee, Jr., CFA Sarofim Trust Co. Senior Vice President President (2014); Chief Executive Officer, Two Houston Center Co-Chief Investment Officer and Director Suite 2907 (2015) Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Senior Vice President Management Company Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Realty Advisors Senior Vice President Co. 8115 Preston Road Suite 400 Dallas, TX 75225 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Director, President Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph B. Thomas, CFA Sarofim Trust Co. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President Two Houston Center and Director Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Senior Vice President Management Company Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Senior Vice President Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles E. Sheedy, CFA Sarofim Trust Co. Senior Vice President Senior Vice President Two Houston Center and Director Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Realty Advisors Vice Chairman Co. 8115 Preston Road Suite 400 Dallas, TX 75225 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Senior Vice President Management Company Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Senior Vice President Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alan R. Christensen, CFA Sarofim Trust Co. Vice President and Chief Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Two Houston Center Operating Officer (2014); President and Head of Investment Risk Suite 2907 (2014); Vice President (2015) Houston, TX 77010 (2015) ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Vice President and Chief Management Company Operating Officer Two Houston Center (2014); Vice President Suite 2907 (2015) Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Vice President and Chief Two Houston Center Operating Officer Suite 2907 (2014); Vice President Houston, TX 77010 (2015) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel S. Crumrine Sarofim Trust Co. Vice President, Chief Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Two Houston Center Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Suite 2907 Secretary and Director Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim Realty Advisors Vice President and Chief Co. Financial Officer 8115 Preston Road Suite 400 Dallas, TX 75225 ----------------------------------------------------- Sarofim International Vice President and Chief Management Company Financial Officer Two Houston Center Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------- The Sarofim Group, Inc. Vice President and Chief Two Houston Center Financial Officer Suite 2907 Houston, TX 77010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
FIRST MANHATTAN CO.
First Manhattan Co. ("FMC") serves as the investment adviser for the FMC Select
Fund and FMC Strategic Value Fund. The principal address of FMC is 399 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10022-7001. FMC is an investment adviser registered
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for
the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NAME AND POSITION WITH CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David S. Gottesman, Senior Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Member, Board of Directors Managing Director 3555 Farnam Street Omaha, NE 68131 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arthur J. Stainman, Senior Ark Restaurants Corp. Member, Board of Directors Managing Director 85 Fifth Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
FRANKLIN ADVISERS, INC.
Franklin Advisers, Inc. ("Franklin Advisers") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund. The principal
address of Franklin Advisers is One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, California
94403. Franklin Advisers is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Franklin Advisers engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
HAMLIN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Hamlin Capital Management, LLC ("Hamlin") serves as the investment adviser for
the Hamlin High Dividend Equity Fund. The principal address of Hamlin is 640
Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10019. Hamlin is an investment
adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information
listed below is for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Stitzer -- Managing Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC Owner Partner 5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540 Tampa, FL 33609 ------------------------------------------------------- Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC Owner 640 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph Bridy -- Partner & Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC Owner Fixed Income Portfolio 5550 West Executive Drive, Manager Suite 540 Tampa, FL 33609 ------------------------------------------------------- Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC Owner 640 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris D'Agnes -- Partner Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC Owner & Equity Portfolio 5550 West Executive Drive, Manager Suite 540 Tampa, FL 33609 ------------------------------------------------------- Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC Owner 640 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlie Garland -- Partner Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC Owner and Equity Portfolio 5550 West Executive Drive, Manager Suite 540 Tampa, FL 33609 ------------------------------------------------------- Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC Owner 640 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deborah Finegan -- Partner Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC Owner & Chief Operating Officer 5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540 Tampa, FL 33609 ------------------------------------------------------- Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC Owner 640 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
HARRIS ASSOCIATES L.P.
Harris Associates L.P. ("Harris") is a registered investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Harris serves as an investment sub-adviser for
the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The directors and executive
officers of Harris, or Harris Associates, Inc. ("HAI"), its general partner,
have had as their sole business, profession, vocation or employment during the
past two years only their duties as executive officers/employees of Harris;
Harris' ultimate parent company, Natixis Global Asset Management ("NGAM"); HAI;
Harris Associates Investment Trust ("HAIT"), a U.S. registered investment
company consisting of the seven Oakmark Funds for which Harris serves as the
advisor and sponsor; and/or Harris Associates Securities L.P. ("HASLP"), an
affiliated limited-purpose broker-dealer of which Harris is a limited partner.
The business address of Harris, HAI, HAIT and HASLP is 111 S. Wacker Drive,
Suite 4600, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The information listed below is for the
fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER NAME OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert M. Levy HAI Director, Chairman and Chief Chairman, Chief Investment Investment Officer, U.S. Equity Officer, U.S. Equity and -------------------------------------------------------------- Portfolio Manager HAIT Executive Vice President -------------------------------------------------------------- HASLP Chairman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kristi L. Rowsell HAI Director and President President -------------------------------------------------------------- HAIT Trustee and President -------------------------------------------------------------- HASLP President ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas E. Herman HAI Chief Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Treasurer -------------------------------------------------------------- HAIT Principal Financial Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- HASLP Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David G. Herro HAI Director, Deputy Chairman, since Deputy Chairman, Chief 2015, and Chief Investment Investment Officer, Officer, International Equity International Equity, Portfolio -------------------------------------------------------------- Manager and Analyst HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Global Select Fund, Oakmark International Fund and Oakmark International Small Cap Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony P. Coniaris HAI Director, Co-Chief Executive Co-Chief Executive Officer, Officer, since 2015 Portfolio Manager and Analyst -------------------------------------------------------------- HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Select Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin G. Grant HAI Director, Co-Chief Executive Co-Chief Executive Officer, Officer, since 2015 Portfolio Manager and Analyst -------------------------------------------------------------- HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colin P. McFarland HAI Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde S. McGregor HAI Vice President Vice President and Portfolio -------------------------------------------------------------- Manager HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Equity and Income Fund and Oakmark Global Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas W. Murray HAI Vice President and Director of Vice President, Director of U.S. U.S. Research Research, Portfolio Manager -------------------------------------------------------------- and Analyst HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Select Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William C. Nygren HAI Vice President Vice President, Portfolio -------------------------------------------------------------- Manager and Analyst HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Fund, Oakmark Select Fund and Oakmark Global Select Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janet L. Reali HAI Director, Vice President, General Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Counsel and Secretary -------------------------------------------------------------- HAIT Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer -------------------------------------------------------------- HASLP General Counsel,Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Secretary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert A. Taylor HAI Vice President and Director of Vice President, Director of International Research International Research, -------------------------------------------------------------- Portfolio Manager and Analyst HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmark Global Fund and Oakmark International Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael L. Manelli HAI Vice President Vice President, Portfolio -------------------------------------------------------------- Manager and Analyst HAIT Vice President and Portfolio Manager (Oakmont International Small Cap Fund) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pierre Servant HAI Director -------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Global Asset Chief Executive Officer and Management Member of Executive Committee 21 quai d'Austerlitz 75013 Paris, France ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Hailer HAI Director -------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Global Asset President and Chief Executive Management LLC Officer 399 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
HARVEST GLOBAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED
Harvest Global Investments Limited ("Harvest") serves as the investment adviser
for the Harvest Funds China All Assets and the Harvest Funds Intermediate Bond.
The principal address of Harvest is 31/F One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught
Place, Central Hong Kong. Harvest is an investment adviser registered
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER BUSINESS ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zhao Xuejun Harvest Capital Management Director Director Co Limited 8/F, China Resources Building, No.8, Jianguomen Beidajie, Beijing, China ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Wealth Management Director Co., Ltd Unit 4606-10, Shanghai Two ifc, 8 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai P.R.C ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Real Estate Director Investments (Cayman) Limited 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town Grand Cayman KY1- 9005, Cayman Islands ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Real Estate Director Investment (HK) Limited 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Seven Stars Media Director Private Equity Group Limited 13/F, Gloucester Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road, Central, HK ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Hedge Investments Director Limited International Corporation Services Ltd, P.O. box 472, Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1106 ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Hedge Greater China Director Long-short Fund 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Hedge Greater China Director Long-short Seed Fund 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Hedge Greater China Director Long-short US Fund 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Hedge Greater China Director Long-short Offshore Fund 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Capital International Director (Cayman) Limited 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town Grand Cayman KY1-9005 Cayman Islands ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Capital International Director (Hong Kong) Limited 701, 7/F, Tower 2, Silvercord, 30 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- igoldenbeta Network Director Technology (Cayman) Limited 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1- 9005, Cayman Islands ------------------------------------------------------- iGoldenbeta Securities Director Company Limited 31/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Choy Peng Wah Harvest USA Incorporation Director Director 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, City of Dover 19904, Country of Kent, State of Delaware. ------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Holding LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Investments LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Global Investments Director (UK) Limited 5th Floor, 6 St. Andrew Street, London, EC4A 3AE ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Alternative Director Investment Group Limited P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Li Ming Harvest Capital Management Director Director Co Limited 8/F, China Resources Building, No.8, Jianguomen Beidajie, Beijing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wang Wei Harvest Capital Management Chief Risk Officer, Director Co Limited Director 8/F, China Resources Building, No.8, Jianguomen Beidajie, Beijing ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Alternative Director Investment Group Limited Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Alternative Director Investments (HK) Limited 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Capital International Director (Cayman) Limited 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town Grand Cayman KY1-9005 Cayman Islands ------------------------------------------------------- C-38 |
------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Capital International Director (Hong Kong) Limited 701, 7/F, Tower 2, Silvercord, 30 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun Chen Harvest USA Incorporation Director Director 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, City of Dover 19904, Country of Kent, State of Delaware ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Holding LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Investments LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Global Investments Director (UK) Limited 5th Floor, 6 St. Andrew Street, London, EC4A 3AE ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Alternative Director Investments (HK) Limited 31/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kerry Chow Harvest USA Incorporation Director Employee 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, City of Dover 19904, Country of Kent, State of Delaware. ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Holding LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Investments LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- C-39 |
------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- Harvest Global Investments Director (UK) Limited 5th Floor, 6 St. Andrew Street, London, EC4A 3AE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Tong Harvest USA Incorporation Director Employee 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, City of Dover 19904, Country of Kent, State of Delaware. ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Holding LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) Investments LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 ------------------------------------------------------- HGI (USA) LLC Director 708 Third Avenue Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Kwan DKJ Company Limited Director Employee Flat E, 11/F, Block 4, Nam Fu Estate, Quarry Bay, HK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
HAVERFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Haverford Financial Services, Inc. ("Haverford") serves as the investment
adviser for the Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund. The principal address of
Haverford is Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450, Radnor, Pennsylvania
19087-4546. Haverford is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- George W. Connell The Haverford Trust Company Vice Chairman & Indirect Owner Vice Chairman & Owner 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Vice Chairman & Indirect Owner 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drexel Morgan & Co. CEO, President & Owner 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Drexel Morgan Capital Advisers, Director, Indirect Owner Inc. 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 305 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Red Wing Management II, LLC Indirect Owner 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 305 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph J. McLaughlin The Haverford Trust Company Chairman & CEO Chairman, CEO & President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Registered Representative 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Binney H. C. Wietlisbach The Haverford Trust Company President, Director & Secretary Executive Vice President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. CEO & President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry B. Smith The Haverford Trust Company Vice President, CIO & Director Vice President and CIO 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Registered Representative 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Brune The Haverford Trust Company Vice President Vice President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Registered Representative 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John H. Donaldson The Haverford Trust Company Vice President Vice President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy A. Hoyle The Haverford Trust Company Vice President Vice President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. Registered Representative 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey M. Bagley The Haverford Trust Company Vice President Vice President 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MarieElena V. Ness The Haverford Trust Company VP & Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. VP & Chief Compliance Officer 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Drexel Morgan & Co. VP & Chief Compliance Officer 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Regulatory Compliance Assistance, Sole Member LLC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul S. Rovner The Haverford Trust Company VP, CFO, & Assistant Secretary Chief Financial Officer & 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Treasurer Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. VP & CFO 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drexel Morgan & Co. VP & Secretary 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Drexel Morgan Capital Advisers, VP & CFO Inc. 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 305 Radnor, PA 19087 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
INVESTMENT COUNSELORS OF MARYLAND, LLC
Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC ("ICM") serves as the investment adviser
to the ICM Small Company Portfolio. The principal address of ICM is 300 East
Lombard Street, Suite 810, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. ICM is an investment
adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of ICM engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee."
KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.P.
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ("KACALP") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund. The principal
address of KACALP is 1800 Avenue of the Stars, Third Floor, Los Angeles,
California 90067. KACALP is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, the KACALP portfolio manager responsible for the management of the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund did not engage in any other business profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, other than serving as Executive Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Kayne Anderson Energy Total Return Fund ("KYE"), Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company ("KYN"), Kayne Anderson Midstream/Energy Fund ("KMF"), and Kayne Anderson Energy Development Company ("KED"). Each of these are publicly traded closed-end funds managed by KA Fund Advisors, LLC an affiliate of KACALP.
LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, L.P.
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles") serves as the investment
adviser to the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund and
as an investment sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund.
The address of Loomis Sayles is One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts
02111-2621. Loomis Sayles is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert J. Blanding Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc. Director Chairman of the Board One Financial Center, Boston, and Director MA 02111 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Director Ltd. 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Limited Alternate Director The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James's Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Asset Management Japan Co. Director Ltd. Hibiya Kokusai Building --4F -- 2-2-3, Uchisaiwaicho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0011 -- Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel J. Fuss Loomis Sayles Funds I Executive Vice President Vice Chairman, Executive 399 Boylston Street, Boston, Vice President, and MA 02116 Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Funds II Executive Vice President 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pierre Servant Natixis Global Asset Management CEO and Member of the Director 21 quai d'Austerlitz, 75634 Paris Executive Board cedex 13 - France ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John T. Hailer Natixis Global Asset Management, President and CEO, U.S. & Asia Director L.P. 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Funds Trust I Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Funds Trust II Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Funds Trust IV Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Gateway Trust Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Funds I Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Funds II Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin P. Charleston Loomis Sayles Funds I Trustee, President and Chief Chief Executive Officer, 399 Boylston Street, Boston, Executive Officer President, and Director MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Funds II Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Funds Trust I Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Funds Trust II Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Natixis Funds Trust IV Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gateway Trust Trustee 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Limited Executive Vice President The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James's Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Trust Co., LLC Manager and President One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Director Ltd. 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John F. Gallagher III Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc. President Executive Vice President, One Financial Center, Boston, Director of Institutional MA 02111 Services, and Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. President One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Director Ltd. 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jean S. Loewenberg Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc. Director Executive Vice President, One Financial Center, Boston, General Counsel, MA 02111 Secretary, and Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Limited General Counsel and Company The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James's Secretary Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Trust Co., LLC Manager and Secretary One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Director Ltd. 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John R. Gidman Loomis Sayles Solutions, LLC President Executive Vice President, One Financial Center, Boston, Chief Information Officer, MA 02111 and Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaehoon Park, Executive Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Director Vice President, Chief Ltd. Investment Officer, and 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Director Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul J. Sherba Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc. Vice President and Treasurer Executive Vice President, One Financial Center, Boston, Chief Financial Officer, MA 02111 and Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. Vice President and Treasurer One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Trust Co., LLC Manager and Chief Financial One Financial Center, Boston, Officer MA 02111 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Director Ltd. 10 Collyer Quay #14-06, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Loomis Sayles Investments Limited Chief Financial Officer The Economist Plaza, 25 St. James's Street, London, England SW1A 1 HA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT
LSV Asset Management ("LSV") serves as the investment adviser to the LSV Value
Equity Fund, LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund, LSV Small Cap Value Fund, LSV
Global Value Fund, LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund and LSV Global Managed
Volatility Fund. LSV also serves as the investment sub-adviser to the
Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The address of LSV is 155 North
Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, Illinois 60606. LSV is an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed
below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------- ------------------------------- ------------------------ Josh O'Donnell, Kirkland & Ellis LLP Partner Chief Compliance Officer and 300 North LaSalle October 2010 to Chief Legal Officer Chicago, IL 60654 November 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
MARSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Marsico Capital Management, LLC ("Marsico") serves as an investment sub-adviser
for the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The principal address
of Marsico is 1200 17th Street, Suite 1600, Denver, Colorado 80202. Marsico is
an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Marsico engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
METROPOLITAN WEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC ("MetWest") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund. The principal
address of MetWest is 865 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles,
California 90017. MetWest is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
The principal business address of The TCW Group, Inc., TCW Investment Management Company, TCW Asset Management Company, and Trust Company of the West is 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tad Rivelle The TCW Group, Inc. Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Chief Investment Officer TCW Investment Management Income Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laird Landmann The TCW Group, Inc. Group Managing Director President, Group Managing TCW Investment Management Director Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Lippman The TCW Group, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer TCW Investment Management Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Kane The TCW Group, Inc. Group Managing Director Group Managing Director TCW Investment Management Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bryan T. Whalen The TCW Group, Inc. Group Managing Director Group Managing Director TCW Investment Management Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick A. Moore The TCW Group, Inc. Group Managing Director Group Managing Director TCW Investment Management Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Devito The TCW Group, Inc. Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Vice President, TCW Investment Management Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey Engelsman The TCW Group, Inc. Global Chief Compliance Officer Global Chief Compliance TCW Investment Management Officer Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meredith Jackson The TCW Group, Inc. Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President, TCW Investment Management General Counsel, Secretary General Counsel, Secretary Company TCW Asset Management Company Trust Company of the West ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
NUMERIC INVESTORS LLC
Numeric Investors LLC ("Numeric") serves as an investment sub-adviser for the
Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund and Cornerstone Advisors Public
Alternatives Fund. The principal address of Numeric is 470 Atlantic Avenue, 6th
Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Numeric is an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed
below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gregory Bond, Head of Hedge Numeric Holdings LLC Director (September 2014 -- Fund Strategies 470 Atlantic Avenue, Present) 6(th) Floor Boston, MA 02210 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eric Burl, Director (Numeric Silvermine Capital Management President (January 2015 -- Holdings LLC) LLC Present) 281 Tresser Boulevard, Suite 1102 Stamford, CT 06901 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Investments Inc. Director (January 2013 -- Present) 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor President (July 2014 -- Present) New York, NY 10018 Vice President (January 2013 -- July 2014) ------------------------------------------------------------------- GLG LLC President (January 2014 -- 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor Present) New York, NY 10018 Vice President (January 2013 -- January 2014) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Even, Chief Executive Numeric Holdings LLC Director Officer & President 470 Atlantic Avenue, 6th Floor Boston, MA 02210 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trustees of Reservations Investment Committee Member Fund 572 Essex Street Beverly, MA 01915 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Committee Member Investment Management Board 84 State Street, Suite 250 Boston, MA 02109 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Group plc Executive Committee Member Riverbank House (September 2014 -- Present) 2 Swan Lane London EC4R 3AD United Kingdom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Antoine Forterre, Director __ __ (Numeric Holdings LLC) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Furdak, Chief Investment Numeric Holdings LLC Director (2004 -- September Officer & Head of Portfolio 470 Atlantic Avenue, 6th Floor 2014) Management Boston, MA 02210 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Wellesley Youth Hockey Director P.O. Box 812182 Wellesley, MA 02482 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Hanna, Chief Financial GLG LLC Vice President (January 2015 -- Officer 452 Fifth Avenue, 25th Floor Present) New York, NY10018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Silvermine Capital Management Vice President (January 2015 -- LLC Present) 281 Tresser Boulevard, Suite 1102 Stamford, CT 06901 ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Americas Chief Operating Officer 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor (September 2014 -- Present) New York, NY 10018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Numeric Emerging Markets Director (September 2014 -- Small Cap Core Offshore Fund April 2015) Ltd. Ogier Fiduciary Services (BVI) Limited, Nemours Chambers, P.O. Box 3170, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ------------------------------------------------------------------- Numeric Multi-Strategy Market Director (2010 -- April 2015) Neutral Levered Offshore Fund Ltd. Ogier Fiduciary Services (BVI) Limited, Nemours Chambers, P.O. Box 3170, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ------------------------------------------------------------------- Numeric World Market Neutral Director (2010 -- May 2014) Offshore Fund I Ltd. Ogier Fiduciary Services (BVI) Limited, Nemours Chambers, P.O. Box 3170, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ------------------------------------------------------------------- Numeric Absolute Return Fund Director (2011 -- April 2015) Ltd. Ogier Fiduciary Services (BVI) Limited, Nemours Chambers, P.O. Box 3170, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ------------------------------------------------------------------- Numeric Socially Aware Multi- Director (2011 -- April 2015) Strategy Fund Ltd. Ogier Fiduciary Services (BVI) Limited, Nemours Chambers, P.O. Box 3170, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solomon Kuckelman, Secretary GLG LLC Secretary (June 2015 -- Present) 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor New York, NY 10018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Investments Inc. Secretary & Legal Officer (July 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor 2014 -- Present) New York, NY 10018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------- FRM Investment Management Secretary (December 2014 -- (USA) LLC Present) 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor New York, NY 10018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Silvermine Capital Management Secretary (June 2015 -- Present) LLC 281 Tresser Boulevard, Suite 1102 Stamford, CT 06901 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shanta Puchtler, Chief Man Group plc Executive Committee Member Investment Officer & Head of Riverbank House (September 2014 -- Present) Research 2 Swan Lane London EC4R 3AD United Kingdom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emmanuel Roman, Director Man Group plc Director (Numeric Holdings LLC) Riverbank House 2 Swan Lane London EC4R 3AD United Kingdom ------------------------------------------------------------------- Grupo Prisa SA Director (2010 -- March 2015) Avda. de los Artesanos 6 28760 Tres Cantos Madrid, Spain ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hedge Fund Standards Board Director Limited New Bridge Street House 30-34 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6BJ ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Royal Marsden Cancer Director Charity The Royal Marsden Hospital 203 Fulham Road London SW3 6JJ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Greenhouse Sports Limited Director (2009 -- January 2015) (formerly Greenhouse Schools Project Limited) 35 Cosway Street London NW1 5NS ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tate Foundation Trustee/Director Millbank London SW1P 4RG ------------------------------------------------------------------- University of Chicago Trustee (May 2015 -- Present) The Royal Marsden Hospital 203 Fulham Road London SW3 6JJ ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
------------------------------------------------------------------- Penguin Random House Limited Director (October 2015 -- 80 Strand Present) London WC2R 0RL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dunyelle Rosen, Chief Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Board Member Compliance Officer Association P.O. Box 6458 Holliston, MA 01746 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
OFI STEELPATH, INC.
OFI SteelPath, Inc. ("OFI SteelPath") serves as an investment sub-adviser for
the Cornerstone Advisors Income Opportunities Fund. The principal address of
OFI SteelPath is 2100 McKinney Ave., Suite 1401, Dallas, Texas 75201. OFI
SteelPath is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31,
2014 and 2015.
The business address of each Other Company listed below is 225 Liberty Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10281-1008, unless otherwise noted.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kristie M. Feinberg Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. Assistant Treasurer Treasurer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Treasurer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. Senior Vice President & Treasurer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Assistant Treasurer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Institutional, Inc. Treasurer --------------------------------------------------------------------- HarbourView Asset Management Treasurer Corporation --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Trust Company Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Real Asset Treasurer Management, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Private Investments, Inc. Treasurer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholder Services, Inc. Treasurer 6803 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO 80112 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trinity Investment Management Treasurer Corporation 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur S. Gabinet Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel General Counsel --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Chief Legal Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Chief Legal Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Institutional, Inc. Chief Legal Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- HarbourView Asset Management Chief Legal Officer Corporation --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Trust Company Chief Legal Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Real Asset Chief Legal Officer Management, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Private Investments, Inc. Chief Legal Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholder Services, Inc. Chief Legal Officer 6803 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO 80112 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trinity Investment Management Chief Legal Officer Corporation 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David M. Pfeffer Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. Management Director & Director and Chief Treasurer Financial Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Director & Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Director & Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Institutional, Inc. Director & Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- HarbourView Asset Management Director, President & Chief Corporation Financial Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Real Asset Director & Chief Financial Management, Inc. Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Private Investments, Inc. Director & Chief Financial Officer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholder Services, Inc. Director & Chief Financial 6803 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, Officer CO 80112 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trinity Investment Management Director & Chief Financial Corporation Officer 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tremont Group Holdings, Inc. Director 555 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, NY 10580 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur P. Steinmetz Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. Chief Executive Officer, President and Director President & Management Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President & Director --------------------------------------------------------------------- HarbourView Asset Management Director Corporation --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Real Asset Director & President Management, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Ann Picciotto OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Institutional, Inc. Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- HarbourView Asset Management Chief Compliance Officer Corporation --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Trust Company Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Real Asset Chief Compliance Officer Management, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Private Investments, Inc. Chief Compliance Officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trinity Investment Management Chief Compliance Officer Corporation 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janette Aprilante OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Secretary Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. Vice President & Assistant Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Institutional, Inc. Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- HarbourView Asset Management Secretary Corporation --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Global Trust Company Assistant Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Real Asset Secretary Management, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OFI Private Investments, Inc. Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholder Services, Inc. Secretary 6803 S. Tucson Way, Centennial, CO 80112 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trinity Investment Management Secretary Corporation 301 North Spring Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
PARAMETRIC PORTFOLIO ASSOCIATES LLC
Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC ("Parametric") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The
principal address of Parametric is 1918 Eighth Avenue, Suite 3100, Seattle,
Washington 98101. Parametric is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Parametric engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
PHOCAS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Phocas Financial Corporation ("Phocas") serves as an investment sub-adviser for
the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The principal address of
Phocas is 980 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 106, Alameda, California 94501-1001.
Phocas is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Phocas engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
PRIME ADVISORS, INC.
Prime Advisors, Inc. ("Prime") serves as an investment sub-adviser for the
Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund. The principal address of Prime is
22635 NE Marketplace Drive, Redmond, Washington 98053. Prime is an investment
adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Prime engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
RICE HALL JAMES & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC ("Rice Hall James") serves as the investment
adviser to the Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio, Rice Hall James SMID Cap
Portfolio and Rice Hall James Small Cap Portfolio. The principal address of Rice
Hall James is 600 West Broadway, Suite 1000, San Diego, California 92101-3383.
Rice Hall James is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Rice Hall James engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated ("Baird") serves as an investment
sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The
principal address of Baird is 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202. Baird is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October
31, 2014 and October 31, 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS OF CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul E. Purcell RiverFront Investment Holding Group, LLC Director Chairman, Director 1214 East Cary Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mary Ellen Stanek Journal Communications, Inc. Director Director 333 West State Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 ---------------------------------------------------------------- West Bend Mutual Insurance Company Director 1900 South 18th Avenue West Bend, Wisconsin 53095 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Director Company 720 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Wisconsin Energy Corporation and Director Wisconsin Electric Power Company 231 West Michigan Street P.O. Box 1331 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terrance P. Maxwell Investors Real Estate Trust Trustee Chief Financial Officer 1400 31st Avenue SW P.O. Box 1988 Minot, North Dakota 58702 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Greenhouse Funds GP LLC and Greenhouse Board of Managers GP LLC 2711 Centerville Road Wilmington, Delaware 19808 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Art Commission Director 121 South Pinckney Street, Suite 220 Madison, Wisconsin 53703 ---------------------------------------------------------------- University of Wisconsin -- Madison Lecturer Madison, Wisconsin 53706 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Patrick S. Lawton Waterstone Financial, Inc. Director Director 11200 West Plank Court Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226 ---------------------------------------------------------------- BMO Harris Bradley Center Director 1001 North 4th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael J. Schroeder RiverFront Investment Holding Group, LLC Director Director 1214 East Cary Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sanitas Brewing Company Director 1860 38th Street Boulder, Colorado 80302 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Mahler Greenhouse Funds GP LLC and Greenhouse Board of Managers Director GP LLC 2711 Centerville Road Wilmington, Delaware 19808 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
SANDS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Sands Capital Management, LLC ("Sands Capital") serves as the investment
adviser to the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund. The principal address of Sands
Capital is 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 2300, Arlington, Virginia 22209. Sands
Capital is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Sands Capital engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank M. Sands Sands Capital Ventures, LLC Investment Board Member Chief Executive Officer 1101 Wilson Boulevard Suite 2300 Arlington, VA 22209 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Rubin Sands Capital Ventures, LLC Managing Partner Managing Director 1101 Wilson Boulevard Suite 2300 Arlington, VA 22209 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonathan Goodman Sands Capital Ventures, LLC General Counsel and Chief General Counsel and Officer 1101 Wilson Boulevard Compliance Officer Suite 2300 Arlington, VA 22209 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erin Soule Sands Capital Ventures, LLC Director of Finance & Partner 1101 Wilson Boulevard Operations, Treasurer Suite 2300 Arlington, VA 22209 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Nimmo Sands Capital Ventures, LLC Provides client relations service Executive Managing Director 1101 Wilson Boulevard Suite 2300 Arlington, VA 22209 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Giordano Sands Capital Ventures, LLC Provides client relations service Director, Client Relations 1101 Wilson Boulevard Suite 2300 Arlington, VA 22209 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
SKY HARBOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
SKY Harbor Capital Management LLC ("SKY Harbor") serves as investment
sub-adviser for the Registrant's Westwood Short Duration High Yield Fund and
Westwood Opportunistic High Yield Fund. The principal address of SKY Harbor is
20 Horseneck Lane, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. SKY Harbor is an investment
adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
SKY Harbor's Board consists of three management directors who are the co-founders of the firm and three outside directors. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, none of the management directors, officers or employees of SKY Harbor is or has been engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee. The outside directors of SKY Harbor are engaged in other activities as set forth in the chart below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David J. Wermuth Stone Point Capital, LLC Senior Principal and General Director 20 Horseneck Lane Counsel Greenwich, CT 06830 USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fayez S. Muhtadie Stone Point Capital, LLC Principal Director 20 Horseneck Lane Greenwich, CT 06830 USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
STRATEGIC INCOME MANAGEMENT, LLC
Strategic Income Management, LLC ("SiM") serves as an investment sub-adviser
for the Cornerstone Advisors Income Opportunities Fund. The principal address
of SiM is 1200 Westlake Avenue, N. Suite 713, Seattle, Washington 98109. SiM is
an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The
information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and
2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Black Plx Pharma, Inc. Board Member (resignation COO, CCO 8285 El Rio Street, Suite 130 effective November 25, 2013) Houston, TX 77054 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
THOMSON HORSTMANN & BRYANT, INC.
Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc. ("THB") serves as the investment adviser for
the Thomson Horstmann & Bryant MicroCap Fund. The principal address of THB is
501 Merritt 7, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851. THB is an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc. engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
THOMPSON, SIEGEL & WALMSLEY LLC
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC ("TS&W") serves as the investment adviser to
the TS&W Equity Portfolio and the TS&W Fixed Income Portfolio. The principal
address of TS&W is 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300, Richmond, Virginia 23230.
TS&W is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015, no director, officer or partner of TS&W engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
THORNBURG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
Thornburg Investment Management Inc. ("Thornburg") serves as an investment
sub-adviser to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund. The
principal address of Thornburg is 2300 North Ridgetop Road, Santa Fe, New
Mexico, 87506. Thornburg is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Garrett Thornburg, Thornburg Securities Corporation(1), Chairman Chairman 2300 North Ridgetop Road, Santa Fe NM 87506 --------------------------------------------------------------- Thornburg Investment Trust, 2300 Chairman North Ridgetop Road, Santa Fe NM 87506 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
(1) In addition to Thornburg Securities Corporation, Garrett Thornburg maintains controlling beneficial interests in certain non-investment related entities and non-operating entities established for estate planning or investment purposes.
WELLS FARGO PORTFOLIO RISK ADVISORS, A DIVISION OF STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTORS,
LLC
Wells Fargo Portfolio Risk Advisors ("WFPRA"), a division of Structured Asset
Investors, LLC serves as an investment sub-adviser for the Cornerstone Advisors
Public Alternatives Fund. The principal address of WFPRA is 375 Park Avenue,
4th Floor, New York, New York 10152. WFPRA is an investment adviser registered
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for
the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Threadgill 2561 Enterprise LLC Member Chief Administrative Officer 4 Adams Place Harrison, NY 10528 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
WESTWOOD MANAGEMENT CORP.
Westwood Management Corp. ("Westwood") serves as the investment adviser for Westwood Large Cap Value Fund, Westwood Low Volatility Equity Fund, Westwood SMidCap Plus Fund, Westwood SMidCap Fund, Westwood Small Cap Value Fund, Westwood MLP and Strategic Energy Fund, Westwood Income Opportunity Fund, Westwood Worldwide Income Opportunity Fund, Westwood Global Equity Fund, Westwood Global Dividend Fund, Westwood Emerging Markets Fund, Westwood Short Duration High Yield Fund, Westwood Opportunistic High Yield Fund, Westwood Market Neutral Income Fund, Westwood Strategic Global Convertibles Fund and Westwood Emerging Markets Plus Fund. The principal address of Westwood is 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75201. Westwood is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Casey Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* President and Chief President and Chief Executive (NYSE: WHG) Executive Officer and Officer and Director 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Director Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Trust** Director 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood International Advisors Inc. (A) Chief Executive Officer and 181 Bay Street, Suite 2450 Director Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tiffany B. Kice Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer (NYSE: WHG) 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood International Advisors Inc. (A) Chief Financial Officer 181 Bay Street, Suite 2450 Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Trust** Chief Financial Officer 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Advisors, LLC*** Chief Financial Officer One Pacific Place 1125 South 103rd Street, Ste. 580 Omaha, NE 68124 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark R. Freeman, CFA Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* Chief Investment Officer Executive Vice President and (NYSE: WHG) Chief Investment Officer 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sylvia L. Fry Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer (NYSE: WHG) 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Trust** Chief Compliance Officer 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Advisors, LLC*** Chief Compliance Officer One Pacific Place 1125 South 103(rd) Street, Ste. 580 Omaha, NE 68124 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND POSITION WITH NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS CONNECTION WITH OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISER ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY COMPANY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julie K. Gerron Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.* General Counsel General Counsel (NYSE: WHG) 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood International Advisors Inc. (A) General Counsel and Chief 181 Bay Street, Suite 2450 Compliance Officer Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Trust** Chief Compliance Officer 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75201 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Westwood Advisors, LLC*** Chief Compliance Officer One Pacific Place 1125 South 103(rd) Street, Ste. 580 Omaha, NE 68124 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
* Westwood Management Corp., Westwood Trust, Westwood Advisors, LLC, and
Westwood International Advisors Inc. 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.
*** Westwood Advisors, LLC (formerly, McCarthy Group Advisors, LLC) is a SEC registered investment adviser located in Omaha, NE that manages investment limited liability companies.
(A) Westwood International Advisors Inc. is a Canadian Corporation located in Toronto, Ontario that is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF") in Quebec.
ITEM 32. 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.
The Registrant's distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the "Distributor"), acts as distributor for:
SEI Daily Income Trust July 15, 1982 SEI Tax Exempt Trust December 3, 1982 SEI Institutional Managed Trust January 22, 1987 SEI Institutional International Trust August 30, 1988 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 City National Rochdale Funds (f/k/a CNI Charter Funds) April 1, 1999 Causeway Capital Management Trust September 20, 2001 ProShares Trust November 14, 2005 Community Capital Trust (f/k/a Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund) January 8, 2007 TD Asset Management USA Funds July 25, 2007 SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP July 31, 2007 Global X Funds October 24, 2008 ProShares Trust II November 17, 2008 Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (f/k/a FaithShares Trust) August 7, 2009 Schwab Strategic Trust October 12, 2009 RiverPark Funds September 8, 2010 Adviser Managed Trust December 10, 2010 New Covenant Funds March 23, 2012 Cambria ETF Trust August 30, 2012 Highland Funds I (f/k/a Pyxis Funds I) September 25, 2012 KraneShares Trust December 18, 2012 LocalShares Investment Trust May 6, 2013 SEI Insurance Products Trust September 10, 2013 The KP Funds September 19, 2013 The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund III February 12, 2014 J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust April 1, 2014 Winton Series Trust December 11, 2014 SEI Catholic Values Trust March 24, 2015 SEI Hedge Fund SPC June 26, 2015 SEI Energy Debt Fund June 30, 2015 Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund September 1, 2015 Gallery Trust January 8, 2016 RiverPark Commercial Real Estate Fund August 12, 2016 |
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 25 of Part B. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each director or officer is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.
POSITION AND OFFICE POSITIONS AND OFFICES NAME WITH UNDERWRITER WITH REGISTRANT ---- ------------------- ---------------------- William M. Doran Director Trustee Paul F. Klauder Director -- Wayne M. Withrow Director -- Kevin P. Barr Director, President & Chief Executive Officer -- Maxine J. Chou Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, & Treasurer -- Karen E. LaTourette Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer & Assistant Secretary -- John C. Munch General Counsel & Secretary -- Mark J. Held Senior Vice President -- John P. Coary Vice President & Assistant Secretary -- Lori L. White Vice President & Assistant Secretary -- Judith A. Hirx Vice President -- Jason McGhin Vice President -- Gary Michael Reese Vice President -- Robert M. Silvestri Vice President -- |
ITEM 33. 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
800 Nicollett Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302
MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (formerly known as Union Bank, N.A.)
350 California Street
6th Floor
San Francisco, California 94104
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
40 Water Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3661
(b) 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 LLC
260 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
AJO, LP
230 South Broad Street, 20th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC
1633 Broadway
New York, New York 10019
AlphaOne Investment Services, LLC
789 E Lancaster Avenue, Suite 120
Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085
AT Investment Advisers, Inc.
One South Wacker Drive, Suite 3500 Chicago, Illinois 60606
BlackRock Financial Management, LLC
55 East 52(nd) Street
New York, New York 10055
Cambiar Investors, LLC
200 Columbine Street, Suite 800
Denver, Colorado 80206
CBRE Clarion Securities LLC
201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600
Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087
ClariVest Asset Management LLC 3611 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, California 92130
Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.
225 108th Avenue NE, Suite 400
Bellevue, Washington 98004-5782
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC
520 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
C.S. McKee, LLP
One Gateway Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Driehaus Capital Management LLC
25 East Erie Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2703
Edgewood Management LLC
535 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Fairpointe Capital LLC
One North Franklin Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60606-2401
Fayez Sarofim & Co.
2907 Two Houston Center
909 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77010
First Manhattan Co.
399 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022-7001
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
One Franklin Parkway
San Mateo, California 94403
Hamlin Capital Management, LLC
640 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Harris Associates L.P.
111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Harvest Global Investments Limited
31/F One Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place,
Central Hong Kong
Haverford Financial Services, Inc. Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-4546
Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC 300 East Lombard Street Suite 810 Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.
1800 Avenue of the Stars, Third Floor
Los Angeles, California 90067
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2621
LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600,
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Marsico Capital Management, LLC
1200 17th Street, Suite 1600
Denver, Colorado 80202-5824
Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC 865 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1800 Los Angeles, California 90017
Numeric Investors LLC
470 Atlantic Avenue, 6th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
OFI SteelPath, Inc.
2100 McKinney Ave., Suite 1401
Dallas, Texas 75201
Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC 1918 Eighth Avenue, Suite 3100 Seattle, Washington 98101
Phocas Financial Corporation
980 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 106
Alameda, California 94501-1001
Prime Advisors, Inc.
22635 NE Marketplace Drive
Redmond, Virginia 98053
Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC
600 West Broadway, Suite 1000
San Diego, California 92101-3383
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Sands Capital Management, LLC
1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 2300
Arlington, Virginia 22209
SKY Harbor Capital Management, LLC
20 Horseneck Lane
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
Strategic Income Management, LLC 1200 Westlake Ave N, Suite 713 Seattle, Washington 98109
Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc.
501 Merritt 7
Norwalk, Connecticut 06851
Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC
6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Thornburg Investment Management, Inc.
2300 North Ridgetop Road
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506
Wells Fargo Portfolio Risk Advisors,
a Division of Structured Asset Investors, LLC
375 Park Avenue
4th Floor
New York, New York 10152
Westwood Management Corp.
200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
ITEM 34. MANAGEMENT SERVICES: None.
ITEM 35. 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 certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 272 to Registration Statement No. 033-42484 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Oaks, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 31st day of October, 2016.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.
* Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ John K. Darr * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ William M. Doran * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Joseph T. Grause, Jr. * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Mitchell A. Johnson * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Betty L. Krikorian * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Robert A. Nesher * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Bruce Speca * Trustee October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ George J. Sullivan, Jr. * President October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Michael Beattie * Treasurer, Controller & October 31, 2016 ------------------------------ Chief Financial Officer Stephen Connors *By: /s/ Dianne M. Descoteaux ------------------------- Dianne M. Descoteaux Attorney-in-Fact C-69 |
EXHIBIT INDEX (d)(2)(xviii) Amendment, dated September 1, 2016, to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated May 1, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund (d)(2)(xx) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated September 5, 2014, between Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. and Numeric Investors, LLC, relating to the Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund and Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund (g)(3)(iv) Amendment, dated August 25, 2016, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, BBD, LLP, relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (p)(10) Acadian Asset Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated January 2016 |
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
CORNERSTONE ADVISORES INC.
AND
KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.P.
This First Amendment (this "Amendment") to the Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "Agreement") dated as of May 1, 2014, by and between Cornerstone Advisors Inc., ("Adviser") and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ("Sub-Adviser") is entered into as of September 1, 2016 (the "Effective Date") by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser pursuant to Section 11 of the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
The Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(1) Schedule A to the Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as set forth on the attached Schedule A.
Except as amended hereby, the Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall be in full force and effect.
This Amendment is intended to take effect on the Effective Date.
EXECUTED AND AGREED TO by the parties as of the date first written above by their duly authorized representatives:
MANAGER: CORNERSTONE ADVISORS, INC. KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.P. By: /s/ David Shladovsky By: /s/ Bruce Duff -------------------- --------------- Name: David Shladovsky Name: Bruce Duff Title: General Counsel Title: Chief Operating Officer |
AMENDED
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CORNERSTONE ADVISORS INC.
AND
KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.P.
(AMENDED EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2016)
The Fund will pay to the Sub-Adviser as compensation for the Sub-Adviser's services rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the respective Fund as may be allocated by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser from time to time under the following fee schedule:
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of this 5th day of September, 2014 by and between Cornerstone Advisors Inc., a Washington corporation with its principal place of business at 225 -- 108th Avenue NE, Suite 400, Bellevue, Washington 98004-5782 (the "Adviser"), and Numeric Investors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 470 Atlantic Avenue, Sixth Floor, Boston, MA 02210 (the "Sub-Adviser").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Adviser by the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND (the "Trust") on behalf of the series set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (the "Fund"), as may be amended from time to time, and pursuant to the provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of May 1, 2014 between the Adviser and the Fund (the "Management Agreement"), the Adviser has selected the Sub-Adviser to act as sub-investment adviser of the Fund and to provide certain related services, as more fully set forth below, and to perform such services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set forth herein, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser do hereby agree as follows:
1. THE SUB-ADVISER'S SERVICES.
(a) DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES. The Sub-Adviser shall act as sub-investment adviser with respect to the Fund. In such capacity, the Sub-Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board, regularly provide the Fund with investment research, advice and supervision and shall furnish continuously an investment program for such Fund assets as may be allocated by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser (the "Assets"), consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall determine, from time to time, what investments shall be purchased for the Fund and what such securities shall be held or sold by the Fund, subject always to the provisions of the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and its registration statement on Form N- IA (the "Registration Statement") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), covering Fund shares, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), and to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund, as each of the same shall be from time to time in effect. To carry out such obligations, the Sub-Adviser shall exercise full discretion and act for the Fund in the same manner and with the same force and effect as the Fund itself might or could do with respect to purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other such things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases, sales or other transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall, upon written instructions from the Adviser, effect such portfolio transactions for the Fund as the Adviser may from time to time direct; provided however, that the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for any such portfolio transactions effected upon written instructions from the Adviser. No reference in this Agreement to the Sub-Adviser having full discretionary authority over the Fund's investments shall in any way limit the right of the Adviser, in its sole discretion, to establish or revise policies in
connection with the management of the Fund's assets or to otherwise exercise its right to control the overall management of the Fund's assets.
(b) COMPLIANCE. The Sub-Adviser agrees to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), the Commodity Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all other applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and case law that relate to the services and relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its business as a registered investment adviser. The Sub-Adviser also agrees to comply with the objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, of the Fund, and with any policies, guidelines, instructions and procedures approved by the Board or the Adviser and provided to the Sub-Adviser. In selecting the Fund's portfolio securities and performing the Sub-Adviser's obligations hereunder, the Sub-Adviser shall cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification as a regulated investment company. The Sub-Adviser shall maintain compliance procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure the compliance with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the Adviser shall limit the Sub-Adviser's full responsibility for any of the foregoing.
(c) PROXY VOTING. Pursuant to Board authority, the Adviser has the authority to determine how proxies with respect to securities that are held by the Fund shall be voted, and the Adviser may delegate the authority and responsibility to vote proxies for the Fund's securities to the Sub-Adviser. So long as proxy voting authority for the Fund has been delegated to the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser shall provide such assistance to the Sub-Adviser with respect to the voting of proxies for the Fund as the Sub-Adviser may from time to time reasonably request, and the Adviser shall promptly forward to the Sub-Adviser any information or documents necessary for the Sub-Adviser to exercise its proxy voting responsibilities. The Sub-Adviser shall carry out such responsibility in accordance with any instructions that the Board or the Adviser shall provide from time to time, and at all times in a manner consistent with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and its fiduciary responsibilities to the Trust. The Sub-Adviser shall provide periodic reports and keep such records relating to proxy voting as the Board may reasonably request or as may be necessary for the Fund to comply with the 1940 Act and other applicable law. Any such delegation of proxy voting responsibility to the Sub-Adviser may be revoked or modified by the Board or the Adviser at any time.
The Sub-Adviser is authorized to instruct the Fund's custodian and/or broker(s) to forward promptly to the Sub-Adviser or designated service provider copies of all proxies and shareholder communications relating to securities held in the portfolio of a Fund (other than materials relating to legal proceedings against the Fund). The Sub-Adviser may also instruct the Fund's custodian and/or broker(s) to provide reports of holdings in the portfolio of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser has the authority to engage a service provider to assist with administrative functions related to voting Fund proxies. The Trust shall direct the Fund's custodian and/or broker(s) to provide any assistance requested by the Sub-Adviser in facilitating the use of a service provider. In no event shall the Sub-Adviser have any responsibility to vote proxies that are not received on a timely basis. The Trust acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser, consistent with the Sub-Adviser's written proxy voting policies and procedures, may refrain from voting a proxy if, in the Sub-Adviser's discretion, refraining from voting would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
(d) RECORDKEEPING. The Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for the provision of administrative, bookkeeping or accounting services to the Fund, except as otherwise provided herein or as may be necessary for the Sub-Adviser to supply to the Adviser, the Trust or its Board the information required to be supplied under this Agreement.
The Sub-Adviser shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Fund's assets advised by the Sub-Adviser required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the Adviser, or any administrator custodian or transfer agent appointed by the Fund) relating to its responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Fund, and shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed therefore by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the "Fund Books and Records"). The Fund Books and Records shall be available to the Adviser and the Board at any time upon request shall be delivered to the Trust upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available without delay during any day the Trust is open for business.
(e) HOLDINGS INFORMATION AND PRICING. The Sub-Adviser shall provide regular reports regarding the Fund's holdings, and may, on its own initiative, furnish the Adviser, the Trust and its Board from time to time with whatever information the Sub-Adviser believes is appropriate for this purpose. The Sub-Adviser agrees to notify the Adviser and the Board promptly if the Sub-Adviser reasonably believes that the value of any security held by a Fund may not reflect fair value. The Sub-Adviser agrees to provide upon request any pricing information of which the Sub-Adviser is aware to the Adviser, Trust, its Board and/or any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Fund valuation procedures for the purpose of calculating the Trust's net asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board.
(f) COOPERATION WITH AGENTS OF THE ADVISER AND THE TRUST. The Sub-Adviser agrees to cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser, the Trust and any Trust custodian or foreign sub-custodians, any Trust pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Adviser and the Trust with respect to such information regarding the Fund as such entities may reasonably request from time to time in the performance of their obligations, provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons and establish appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
(g) CONSULTATION WITH OTHER SUB-ADVISERS. In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to the Fund or a sub-adviser to a portfolio that is under common control with the Fund concerning transactions for the Fund, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice to any assets of the Fund other than the assets managed by the Sub-Adviser.
2. CODE OF ETHICS. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which it has provided to the Adviser and the Trust. The Sub-Adviser shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Sub-Adviser's Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Sub-Adviser's Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time. Upon request, the Sub-Adviser shall provide the Trust with (i) a copy of the Sub-Adviser's current Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) a certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct
prohibited by the Sub-Adviser's Code of Ethics. Annually, the Sub-Adviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning the Sub-Adviser's Code of Ethics to the Adviser and the Trust's Board. The Sub-Adviser shall respond to requests for information from the Adviser and the Trust as to violations of the Code by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall immediately notify the Adviser and the Trust of any material violation of the Code, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by any Fund.
3. INFORMATION AND REPORTING. The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Adviser, the Trust, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Sub-Adviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Adviser and the Trust may from time to time reasonably request.
(a) NOTIFICATION OF BREACH / COMPLIANCE REPORTS. The Sub-Adviser shall
notify the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer and Adviser immediately upon
detection of (i) any material failure to manage any Fund in accordance with
its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any
material breach of any of the Fund's or the Adviser's policies, guidelines
or procedures. In addition, the Sub-Adviser shall provide a quarterly
report regarding the Fund's compliance with its investment objectives and
policies, applicable law, including, but not limited to the 1940 Act and
Subchapter M of the Code, and the Fund's and the Adviser's policies,
guidelines or procedures as applicable to the Sub-Adviser's obligations
under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges and agrees that the
Adviser may, in its discretion, provide such quarterly compliance
certifications to the Board. The Sub-Adviser agrees to correct any such
failure promptly and to take any action that the Board and/or the Adviser
may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. Upon request,
the Sub-Adviser shall also provide the officers of the Trust with
supporting certifications in connection with such certifications of Fund
financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act. The Sub-Adviser will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the
Sub-Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding
class action suits in which a Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by
reason of the Fund's ownership of shares in the defendant) or the
compliance by the Sub-Adviser with the federal or state securities laws or
(ii) an actual change in control of the Sub-Adviser resulting in an
"assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise
proposed to occur.
(b) INSPECTION. Upon reasonable request, the Sub-Adviser agrees to make its records and premises (including the availability of the Sub-Adviser's employees for interviews) to the extent that they relate to the conduct of services provided to the Fund or the Sub-Adviser's conduct of its business as an investment adviser reasonably available for compliance audits by the Adviser or the Trust's officers, employees, accountants or counsel; in this regard, the Trust and the Adviser acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser shall have no obligation to make available proprietary information unrelated to the services provided to the Fund or any information related to other clients of the Sub-Adviser, except to the extent necessary for the Adviser to confirm the absence of any conflict of interest and compliance with any laws, rules or regulations in the management of the Fund.
(c) BOARD AND FILINGS INFORMATION. The Sub-Adviser will also provide the Adviser and Trust with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Fund required for any meeting of the Board, or for any shareholder report, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form N-PX, Form N-SAR, amended registration statement, proxy statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Sub-Adviser will make its officers and employees available to meet with the Board from time to time on due notice to review its
investment management services to the Fund in light of current and prospective economic and market conditions and shall furnish to the Board such information as may reasonably be necessary in order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto.
(d) TRANSACTION INFORMATION. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Adviser and the Trust such information concerning portfolio transactions as may be necessary to enable the Adviser, Trust or their designated agents to perform such compliance testing on the Fund and the Sub-Adviser's services as the Adviser and the Trust may, in their sole discretion, determine to be appropriate. The provision of such information by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser, Trust or their designated agents in no way relieves the Sub-Adviser of its own responsibilities under this Agreement.
4. BROKERAGE.
(a) PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. In connection with purchases or sales of securities for the account of a Fund, neither the Sub-Adviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees will act as a principal or agent or receive any commission except as permitted by the 1940 Act.
(b) PLACEMENT OF ORDERS. The Sub-Adviser shall arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of securities for a Fund's account with brokers or dealers selected by the Sub-Adviser. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Sub-Adviser is directed at all times to seek for a Fund the most favorable execution and net price available under the circumstances. It is also understood that it is desirable for the Fund that the Sub-Adviser have access to brokerage and research services provided by brokers who may execute brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Fund than may result when allocating brokerage to other brokers, consistent with section 28(e) of the 1934 Act and any Commission staff interpretations thereof. Therefore, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to place orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund with such brokers, subject to review by the Adviser and the Board from time to time with respect to the extent and continuation of this practice. It is understood that the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Sub-Adviser in connection with its or its affiliates' services to other clients.
(c) AGGREGATED TRANSACTIONS. On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as other clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Sub-Adviser will allocate securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in the manner the Sub-Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to a Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.
(d) AFFILIATED BROKERS. The Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates may act as broker in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other investments for a Fund, subject to: (a) the requirement that the Sub-Adviser seek to obtain best execution and price within the policy guidelines determined by the Board and set forth in a Fund's current Registration Statement; (b) the provisions of the 1940 Act; (c) the provisions of the Advisers Act; (d) the provisions of the 1934 Act; and (e) other provisions of applicable law. These brokerage services are not within the scope of the duties of the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of applicable law and any procedures adopted by the Board, the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates may
receive brokerage commissions, fees or other remuneration from a Fund for these services in addition to the Sub-Adviser's fees for services under this Agreement.
5. CUSTODY. Nothing in this Agreement shall permit the Sub-Adviser to take or receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of a Fund.
6. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. The Sub-Adviser will bear its own costs of providing services hereunder. Other than as herein specifically indicated, the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for a Fund's or the Adviser's expenses, including brokerage and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments.
7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.
(a) PROPERLY REGISTERED. The Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and will remain so registered for the duration of this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement, and to the best knowledge of the Sub-Adviser, there is no proceeding or investigation that is reasonably likely to result in the Sub-Adviser being prohibited from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Trust of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser to an investment company. The Sub-Adviser is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state law in connection with its investment management operations.
(b) ADV DISCLOSURE. The Sub-Adviser has provided the Trust with a copy of Part I of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the Commission and its Part II as most recently updated and will, promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the Commission or updating its Part II, furnish a copy of such amendments or updates to the Trust. The information contained in the Adviser's Form ADV is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) FUND DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed and will in the future review, the Registration Statement, summary prospectus, prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic reports to shareholders, reports and schedules filed with the Commission (including any amendment, supplement or sticker to any of the foregoing) and advertising and sales material relating to the Fund (collectively the "Disclosure Documents") and represents and warrants that such Disclosure Documents contain or will contain no untrue statement of any material fact and do not and will not omit any statement of material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(d) USE OF THE NAME "CORNERSTONE ADVISORS." The Sub-Adviser has the right to use the name "CORNERSTONE ADVISORS" in connection with its services to the Trust. The Sub-Adviser is not aware of any threatened or existing actions, claims, litigation or proceedings that would adversely affect or prejudice the rights of the Sub-Adviser or the Trust to use the name "CORNERSTONE ADVISORS."
(e) INSURANCE. The Sub-Adviser maintains errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made
on its insurance policies. Furthermore, the Sub-Adviser shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.
(f) NO DETRIMENTAL AGREEMENT. The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants that it has no arrangement or understanding with any party, other than the Trust, that would influence the decision of the Sub-Adviser with respect to its selection of securities for a Fund, and that all selections shall be done in accordance with what is in the best interest of the Fund.
(g) CONFLICTS. The Sub-Adviser shall act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Trust including requiring any of its personnel with knowledge of Fund activities to place the interest of the Fund first, ahead of their own interests, in all personal trading scenarios that may involve a conflict of interest with the Fund, consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
(h) REPRESENTATIONS. The representations and warranties in this
Section 7 shall be deemed to be made on the date this Agreement is executed
and at the time of delivery of the quarterly compliance report required by
Section 3(a), whether or not specifically referenced in such report.
8. THE NAME "CORNERSTONE ADVISORS." The Adviser has granted to the Trust a license to use the name "CORNERSTONE ADVISORS" (collectively, the "Name") as part of the name of the Fund. The foregoing authorization by the Adviser to the Trust to use the Name as part of the name of the Fund is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to authorize others to use, the Name; the Sub-Adviser acknowledges and agrees that as between the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser, the Adviser has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name and the Sub-Adviser agrees to take such action as may reasonably be requested by the Adviser to give full effect to the provisions of this section. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser agrees that, upon any termination of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will not thereafter transact any business using the name "CORNERSTONE ADVISORS."
9. SUB-ADVISER'S COMPENSATION. The Fund shall pay to the Sub-Adviser, as compensation for the Sub-Adviser's services hereunder, a fee, determined as described in Schedule A that is attached hereto and made a part hereof Such fee shall be computed daily and paid not less than monthly in arrears by the Fund.
The Sub-Adviser will be compensated based on the portion of Fund assets allocated to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser. The method for determining net assets of the Fund for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method for determining net assets for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption prices of Fund shares as described in the Fund's prospectus. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect subject to a pro rata adjustment based on the number of days elapsed in the current month as a percentage of the total number of days in such month.
10. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Sub-Adviser is and shall be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser in any way or otherwise be deemed to be an agent of the Fund, the Trust or the Adviser. If any occasion should arise in which the Sub-Adviser gives any advice to its clients concerning the shares of a Fund, the
Sub-Adviser will act solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
11. ASSIGNMENT AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without (-)the payment of any penalty, (i) in the event of its assignment (as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act) or (ii) in the event of the termination of the Management Agreement; provided that such termination shall not relieve the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser of any liability incurred hereunder.
This Agreement may not be added to or changed orally and may not be modified or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto and in accordance with the 1940 Act, when applicable.
12. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date executed and shall remain in full force and effect continually thereafter, subject to renewal as provided in Section 12(c) and unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 11 hereof or until terminated as follows:
(a) The Trust may cause this Agreement to terminate either (i) by vote of its Board or (ii) with respect to the Fund, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; or
(b) The Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more than sixty (60) days' nor less than thirty (30) days' written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Sub-Adviser; or
(c) The Sub-Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more than sixty (60) days' nor less than thirty (30) days' written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Adviser; or
(d) This Agreement shall automatically terminate two years from the date of its execution unless its renewal is specifically approved at least annually thereafter by (i) a majority vote of the Trustees, including a majority vote of such Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of the Fund for their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided herein, the Sub-Adviser may continue to serve hereunder as to the Fund in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
(e) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section shall be without payment of any penalty.
In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Sub-Adviser shall, immediately upon notice of termination or on such later date as may be specified in such notice, cease all activity on behalf of the Fund and with respect to any of its assets, except as expressly directed by the Adviser or as otherwise required by any fiduciary duties of the Sub-Adviser under applicable law. In addition, the Sub-Adviser shall deliver the Fund's Books and Records to the Adviser by such means and in accordance with such schedule as the Adviser shall direct and shall otherwise cooperate, as reasonably directed by the Adviser, in the transition of portfolio asset management to any successor of the Sub-Adviser, including the Adviser.
13. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS AGREEMENT:
(a) "Affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund" shall have the meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.
(b) "Interested persons" and "Assignment" shall have their respective meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.
14. LIABILITY OF THE SUB-ADVISER.
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall have responsibility for the accuracy and completeness (and liability for the lack thereof) of statements in the Fund's Disclosure Documents.
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall be liable to the Fund for any loss (including transaction costs) incurred by the Fund as a result of any investment made by the Sub-Adviser in contravention of: (i) any investment policy, guideline or restriction set forth in the Registration Statement or as approved by the Board from time to time and provided to the Sub-Adviser; or (ii) applicable law, including but not limited to the 1940 Act and the Code (including but not limited to the Fund's failure to satisfy the diversification or source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Code) (the investments described in this subsection (b) collectively are referred to as "Improper Investments").
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, each
affiliated person of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the
1940 Act, and each person who controls the Trust within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act (any such person, an "Indemnified Party")
against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities
(including the reasonable cost of investigating and defending any alleged
loss, claim, damage, expense or liability and reasonable counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith) to which any such person may become
subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) a breach by the
Sub-Adviser of this Agreement or of the representations and warranties made
by the Sub-Adviser herein; (ii) any Improper Investment; (iii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Disclosure Document or the omission or alleged omission from a Disclosure
Document of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading; or (iv) the Sub-Adviser's
performance or non-performance of its duties hereunder; provided, however,
that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect any Indemnified Party who is
a Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to
its shareholders to which such Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject
by reason or willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office
with the Trust.
15. ENFORCEABILITY . Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms or provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
16. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all litigation arising hereunder, whether direct or indirect, and of any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the affected Fund and that no Trustee, officer or holder of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund shall be personally liable for any of the foregoing liabilities. The Trust's Certificate of Trust, as amended from time to time, is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Such Certificate of Trust and the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust describe in detail the respective responsibilities and limitations on liability of the Trustees, officers, and holders of shares of beneficial interest.
17. CHANGE IN THE ADVISER'S OWNERSHIP. The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall notify the Trust of any anticipated or otherwise reasonably foreseeable change in the ownership of the Sub-Adviser within a reasonable time prior to such change being effected.
18. JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Sub-Adviser consents to the jurisdiction of courts, both state or federal, in Massachusetts, with respect to any dispute under this Agreement.
19. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The headings of paragraphs contained in this Agreement are provided for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its construction.
20. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, hut all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
CORNERSTONE ADVISORS INC.
By: /s/ Bruce Duff -------------- Name: Bruce Duff Title: COO |
NUMERIC INVESTORS LLC
By: /s/ Dunyelle Rosen ------------------ Name: Dunyelle Rosen Title: CCO & Regulatory Counsel |
SIGNATURE PAGE -- SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SCHEDULE A
DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
TO THE
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
DATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 BETWEEN
CORNERSTONE ADVISORS INC.
AND
NUMERIC INVESTORS, LLC
Each Fund will pay to the Sub-Adviser as compensation for the Sub-Adviser's services rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the respective Fund as may be allocated by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser from time to time under the following fee schedule:
FUND RATE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Global Public Equity Fund [REDACTED] Public Alternatives Fund [REDACTED] |
CORNERSTONE ADVISORS INC.
By: /s/ Bruce Duff -------------- Name: Bruce Duff Title: COO |
NUMERIC INVESTORS, LLC
By: /s/ Dunyelle Rosen ------------------ Name: Dunyelle Rosen Title: CCO & Regulatory Counsel |
SCHEDULE A -- SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT TO THE CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND I
AND BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. DATED NOVEMBER 25, 2014
THIS AMENDMENT to the custodian agreement between Advisors' Inner Circle Fund I (the "Trust"), acting on behalf of one or more of its series listed in Schedule 1 attached thereto and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ("BBH&Co." or the "Custodian") dated November 25, 2014, as amended from time to time (the "Agreement") is made as of August 25, 2016 (the "Amendment").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Custodian have entered into the Agreement and the parties now wish to amend the Agreement to add additional series of the Trust to Schedule 1 of the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Agreement may be amended by written agreement of both the Trust and the Custodian;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Trust and the Custodian hereby agree, as follows:
1. The Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund shall be added to the Agreement as a new Fund (as defined in the Agreement) and hereinafter shall also be included when a reference to "Fund" is made in this Amendment or the Agreement, as applicable. Schedule 1 to the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by Schedule 1 attached hereto.
2. Except as amended hereby, all other provisions in the Agreement shall remain the same.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND I By: /s/ Elizabeth E. Prickett By: /s/ Michael Beattie ------------------------- ------------------- Name: Elizabeth E. Prickett Name: Michael Beattie Title: Managing Director Title: President |
SCHEDULE I
TO
THE CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND I AND BROWN
BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. DATED NOVEMBER 25, 2015
List of Funds as of August 25, 2016
Cornerstone Advisors Real Assets Fund
Cornerstone Advisors Income Opportunities Fund
Cornerstone Advisors Global Public Equity Fund
Cornerstone Advisors Public Alternatives Fund
Harvest Funds Intermediate Bond
Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
Cornerstone Advisors Core Plus Bond Fund
MORGAN LEWIS
October 31, 2016
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 (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business 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 following portfolio of the Trust: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the "Fund"). This opinion is being delivered to you in connection with the Trust's filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 272 to the Registration Statement (the "Amendment") to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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, copies of the following documents:
(a) a certificate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts certifying that the Trust is validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
(b) the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust for the Trust and all amendments and supplements thereto (the "Declaration of Trust") and the Second Amended and Restated By-Laws (the "By-Laws");
(c) a certificate executed by Dianne M. Descoteaux, the Secretary of the Trust, certifying as to, and attaching copies of, the Trust's Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, and certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the issuance of the Shares of the Fund; and
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1701 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921 T +1.215.963.5000 United States F +1.215.963.5001 |
(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 and representatives of the Trust. 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 terms of purchase 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 ------------------------------- |
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund and to the use of our report dated December 24, 2015 on the financial statements and financial highlights of the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, a series of shares of beneficial interest of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund. Such financial statements and financial highlights appear in the October 31, 2015 Annual Report to Shareholders that is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information.
/s/ BBD, LLP ------------ BBD, LLP PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC
CODE OF ETHICS
Updated as of January 2016
Summary of Material Code Changes 5 Introduction 6 General Principles 7 Scope of the Code 8 Persons Covered by the Code 8 Reportable Investment Accounts 8 Securities Covered by the Code 9 Blackout Periods and Restrictions 10 Short-Term Trading 10 Old Mutual and Affiliate Stock 11 Securities Transactions requiring Pre-clearance 11 Initial Public Offerings 12 Limited of Private Offerings 12 Exceptions specific to Certain Accounts and Transaction Types 12 Standards of Business Conduct 13 Compliance with Laws and Regulations 13 Conflicts of Interest 14 Conflicts among Client Interests 14 Competing with Client Trades 14 Disclosure of Personal Interest 14 Referrals/Brokerage 14 Vendors and Suppliers 14 Market Manipulation 14 Insider Trading 15 Material Non-public Information 15 Penalties 16 Gifts and Entertainment 16 General Statement 16 Gifts 16 Receipt 16 Offer 17 ERISA,Taft Hartley and Public Plan Clients and Prospects 17 Cash 17 Entertainment (Receipt and Offer) 17 |
ERISA, Taft Hartley and Public Plan Clients and Prospects 17
Updated as of January 2016 2
Expense Reports for Gifts and Entertainment 17 Conferences 18 Quarterly Reporting of Gifts and Entertainment 18 Political Contributions and Compliance with the Pay-to-Play Rule Requirements 18 Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy 19 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 19 Charitable Contributions 20 Confidentiality 20 Service on a Board of Directors 21 Partnerships 21 Other Outside Activities 22 Marketing and Promotional Activities 22 Affiliated Broker-Dealers 22 Compliance Procedures 22 Reporting of Access Person Investment Accounts 22 Duplicate Statements 22 Personal Securities Transactions Pre-clearance 23 Pre-Approval of Political Contributions 23 Quarterly Reporting of Transactions 24 Quarterly Reporting of Gifts and Entertainment 24 Quarterly Reporting of Private Investments 24 Quarterly Reporting of Political Contributions 24 Annual Reporting 24 New Hire Reporting 25 Review and Enforcement 25 Certification of Compliance 25 Initial Certification 25 Acknowledgement of Amendments 26 Annual Certification 26 Access Person Disclosure and Reporting 26 Recordkeeping 27 Form ADV Disclosure 28 Administration and Enforcement of the Code 28 Responsibility to Know Rules 28 Excessive or Inappropriate Trading 28 Updated as of January 2016 3 |
Training and Education 29 New Hires 29 Annual 29 Executive and Compliance and Risk Committee Approvals 29 Report to Fund CCOs and Boards 29 Report to Senior Management 29 Reporting Violations and Whistleblowing Protections 29 Fraud Policy 30 Regulation FD 31 Sanctions 32 Further Information about the Code and Supplements 33 Persons Responsible for Enforcement and Training 33 Questions and Answers 33 Appendices (in pdf only) A. CFA Institute Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct Updated as of January 2016 4 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY OF MATERIAL CODE CHANGES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is a summary of material changes made to the previous Code that had been in effect since February 2015. 1. Revised the Blackout policy to enable the Compliance Group to make exceptions in limited circumstances. (See Part 2, Section D, 1) 2. Revised Entertainment policy to require employees to obtain written pre-approval from a supervisor before accepting entertainment if the anticipated value of the entertainment will exceed $500. (See Part 3, |
Section E, 4)
3. Revised sections related to Gifts and Entertainment to Taft-Hartley and Public Plans to require compliance consultation. (See Part 3, Section E, 2(b) and 4)
4. Revised the section on Conferences to provide more clarity. (See Part 3,
Section E, 6)
5. Revised Pay-to-Play section to remove introductory paragraph. (See Part 3,
Section F)
6. Revised reporting and escalation process related to Code violations to involve the Compliance and Risk Committee as the primary recipient. (See
Part 4, Section H and Part 8, E)
7. Revised section on Sanctions for Code violations. (See Part 8, Section I)
8. Updated the US contact number to report fraud and other whistleblower incidents. (See Part 8, Section G)
Updated as of January 2016 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acadian Asset Management LLC ("Acadian") is primarily a quantitative based equity investment manager following over 35,000 securities on a daily basis. With limited exceptions(1), daily buy and sell lists are generated automatically via an optimizer, and are not the result of individual stock selection or buy and sell decisions of any employee. There is no "recommended" list maintained. As a result, on any given day it is possible that our trade optimizer could recommend that any security in the universe of over 35,000 be traded on behalf of a client. With limited exceptions, Acadian engages in "program" trading through the program trading desks of global securities brokers. No brokers or dealers affiliated with Acadian are utilized for trading. Acadian's Code of Ethics (the "Code") attempts to recognize this approach to investment management by striking a balance in an effort to ensure that a client is not materially impacted by the actions of Acadian or an Acadian "Access Person" while continuing to permit such Access Persons to engage in personal trading and activities that the firm deems permissible. Compliance with the Code is a condition of employment. Acadian has adopted this Code pursuant to Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act") and rule amendments under Section 204 of the Advisers Act. The Code sets forth standards of conduct expected of Acadian's employees, and certain consultants, and contractors and addresses conflicts that may arise from personal trading. Acadian has also adopted the CFA Institute Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct attached as Appendix A. The policies and procedures outlined in the Code are intended to promote compliance with fiduciary standards by Acadian and our Access Persons. As a fiduciary, Acadian has the responsibility to render professional, continuous and unbiased investment advice, owes our clients a duty of honesty, good faith and fair dealing, must act at all times in the best interests of our clients, and must avoid or disclose conflicts of interests. |
This Code is designed to:
o Protect Acadian's clients by deterring misconduct;
o Guard against violations of the securities laws;
o Educate Access Persons regarding Acadian's expectations and the laws governing their conduct;
o Remind Access Persons that they are in a position of trust and must act with complete propriety at all times;
o Protect the reputation of Acadian; and
o Establish policies and procedures for Access Persons to follow so that Acadian may determine whether Access Persons are complying with our ethical principles and regulatory requirements.
This Code is based upon the principle that the members of our Board of Managers, officers, and other Access Persons owe a fiduciary duty to, among others, our clients to conduct their affairs, including their personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid (i) materially serving their own personal interests ahead of clients; (ii) materially taking inappropriate advantage of their position with Acadian; and (iii) any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility. This fiduciary duty includes the duty of
Updated as of January 2016 6
Acadian's Chief Compliance Officer to report violations of the Code to Acadian's Executive Committee, and if deemed necessary, to our full Board of Managers, and the Board of Directors of any U.S. registered investment company for which Acadian acts as adviser or sub-adviser.
SCHWAB COMPLIANCE TECHNOLOGIES
Schwab Compliance Technologies ("SCT") is utilized for all Code of Ethics reporting.
Our principles and philosophy regarding ethics stress Acadian's overarching fiduciary duty to our clients and the obligation of our Access Persons to uphold that fundamental duty. In recognition of the trust and confidence placed in Acadian by our clients and to give effect to the belief that Acadian's operations should be directed to benefit our clients, Acadian has adopted the following general principles to guide the actions of our Access Persons:
1. The interests of clients are paramount. All Access Persons must conduct themselves and their operations to give maximum effect to this belief by placing the interests of clients before their own.
2. All personal transactions in securities by Access Persons must be accomplished so as not to conflict materially with the interests of any client.
3. All Access Persons must avoid actions or activities that allow (or appear to allow) a person to profit or benefit from his or her position with respect to a client, or that otherwise bring into question the person's independence or judgment.
4. Personal, financial, and other potentially sensitive information concerning the firm, our clients, our prospects, and other Access Persons will be kept strictly confidential. Access Persons will only access this information if it is required to complete their jobs and will only disclose such information to others if it is required to complete their jobs and to deliver the services for which the client has contracted.
5. All Access Persons will conduct themselves honestly, with integrity and in a professional manner to preserve and protect Acadian's reputation.
6. All Access Persons will comply with all laws and regulations applicable to our business activities.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and U.S. federal law require that the Code not only be adopted but that it also is enforced with reasonable diligence.
The Compliance Group will keep records of any violation of the Code and of the actions taken as a result of such violations. Failure to comply with the Code may result in disciplinary action, including monetary penalties and the potential for the termination of employment. In addition, non-compliance with the Code can have severe ramifications, including enforcement actions by regulatory authorities, criminal fines, civil injunctions and penalties, disgorgement of profits, and sanctions on your ability to remain employed in any capacity in the investment advisory business.
Updated as of January 2016 7
A. PERSONS COVERED BY THE CODE
Whether an individual is considered an "Access Person" or "Supervised Person" under the Code and thus subject to Code compliance is dependent upon various factors including: job responsibilities the individual has on behalf of the firm, type of access they have to certain internal portfolio construction, research, and trading databases, and whether they primarily work on-site. Ultimate determination as to whether any individual or action is subject to or exempt from the Code, or if a Code exception should be granted, is left to the Chief Compliance Officer.
An "Access Person(s)" may include employees, consultants, and contractors, whose job responsibilities require him or her to spend a significant amount of time working on-site or that give him or her access to Acadian's research and/or trading databases. Any individual that does not have access to Acadian's research and trading databases would typically not be considered an Access Person for purposes of the Code but would instead be considered a "Supervised Person".
Certain IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS(2), or other persons subject to the financial support of an Access Person, are subject to certain requirements imposed on an "Access Person" under the Code. For these individuals, an Access Person must report their covered investment accounts, pre-clear their personal securities transactions in covered securities, ensure their personal securities transactions comply with blackout and sixty-day trading restrictions, and provide duplicate copies of their account statements upon request.
Each Access Person should inform a Compliance Officer when their immediate family members change. Each Access Person is also required to ensure that any immediate family member as defined herein, or person subject to the Access Person's financial support, is complying with applicable Code requirement. Access Persons should educate these individuals on their requirements. Oversight is a must. Non-compliance with the Code by any of these individuals will have the same ramifications on the Access Person as if it were the employee who did not comply.
Members of Acadian's Board of Managers employed by Old Mutual, along with any other nonresident officer, director, manager or employee of Acadian, who is subject to another Code of Ethics that complies with Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and whose Code has been reviewed and approved by Acadian's Chief Compliance Officer, or who does not have access to Acadian's internal research and trading information, shall be exempt from the Access Person requirements imposed by this Code.
B. REPORTABLE INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Each Access Person must report any accounts in which he or she has a direct or indirect beneficial interest and in which a security is eligible for purchase or sale. Examples of reportable accounts typically include:
o individual and joint accounts including accounts established through your employment with Acadian such as a 401K and/or deferred compensation account
o accounts in the name of an IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER as defined in the Code
o accounts in the name of any individual subject to your financial support
o trust accounts
Updated as of January 2016 8
o estate accounts
o accounts where you have power of attorney or trading authority
o other types of accounts in which you have a present or future interest in the income, principal or right to obtain title to securities.
EXCEPTION: 529 plans that are not managed or offered by an affiliate are not considered a reportable account under the Code. Further, any transactions within such plans do not require pre-clearance or reporting on a holdings report.
C. SECURITIES COVERED BY THE CODE
For purposes of the Code and our reporting requirements, the term "covered security" will include the following:
o any stock or corporate bond;
o ETFs and Depositary Receipts (e. g. , ADRs, EDRs and GDRs);
o municipal, Government Sponsored Entities (GSE) and agency bonds;
o investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency;
o commodity futures;
o options or warrants to purchase or sell securities;
o limited partnerships meeting the SEC's definition of a "security" (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes);
o UITs, foreign (offshore) mutual funds, and closed-end investment companies; ARE (3)
o shares of open-end mutual funds that advised or sub-advised by Acadian ,
o shares of open-end mutual funds advised or sub-advised by Acadian affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual umbrella(4); and
o private investment funds (including Acadian managed commingled funds), hedge funds, and investment clubs.
Additional types of securities may be added at the discretion of the Compliance Group as new types of securities are offered and traded in the market and/or Acadian's business changes.
However, the following are excluded:
o direct obligations of the U.S. government;
o bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements;
o shares issued by money market funds (domiciled inside or outside the United States); and
o shares of open-end mutual funds that ARE NOT advised or sub-advised by Acadian or one of Acadian's affiliates, including all companies under the Old Mutual ownership umbrellas.
o 529 plans that are not managed or offered by an affiliate.
(4) Old Mutual, Acadian's parent company, provides Acadian with a quarterly update of all affiliated funds. Upon receipt by Acadian, the Compliance Group posts the list to the Compliance section of the intranet. These funds do not require pre-clearance prior to purchase however they must be reported on your year-end holdings report. Please consult this list when preparing the report.
Updated as of January 2016 9
D. BLACKOUT PERIODS AND RESTRICTIONS.
Acadian's quantitative investment process has the potential of recommending for purchase or sale on any given day among all of our client portfolios any of the over 35,000 securities covered in our potential investment universe. As a result, adoption of a hard blackout period of any length of time would severely restrict the ability of any Access Person to engage in personal trading. Acadian has determined that we will permit our Access Persons to continue to engage in personal trading in individual securities provided the Access Person's trade does not have a material negative impact on the execution price received by the client and the firm is not trading in that (or a related) security that day.(5) Access Persons will be permitted to trade subject to the following conditions:
(1) NO PERSONAL TRADES WILL BE PERMITTED IN ANY INDIVIDUAL SECURITY ON THE SAME DAY THAT ACADIAN TRADES THAT SECURITY OR A SIMILAR LINE OF THE SAME SECURITY ON BEHALF OF ANY CLIENT.
For purposes of clarity, this applies to any individual stock, bond, ETF, Depositary Receipt, and to any individual security underlying any Depositary Receipt or a different class of the security being traded. For example, the purchase of an ADR would not be permitted if we were trading in the underlying security and vice versa. On a case-by-case basis, an exemption to this restriction may be granted by a compliance officer if it is determined no harm will occur to our clients.
Acadian's Compliance Group may allow exceptions to this "blackout" policy on a case-by-case basis when the abusive practices that the policy is designed to prevent, such as front running or conflicts of interest, are not present AND the equity of the situation strongly supports an exemption.
(2) SHORT-TERM TRADING RESTRICTION.
Access Persons are reminded that they are specifically prohibited from engaging in any form of market timing or short-term trading in mutual funds advised or sub- advised by Acadian or in any other covered security.
Acadian has adopted a sixty (60) day hold requirement in an effort to avoid conflicts of interests and to ensure that the interests of our clients are placed first. This requirement is intended to deter front running, market manipulation and the potential misuse of Acadian internal resources.
Acadian's Compliance Group may allow exceptions to this short-term trading restriction on a case-by-case basis when the abusive practices that the policy is designed to prevent, such as front running or conflicts of interest, are not present AND the equity of the situation strongly supports an exemption.
Unless an exception is granted by the Compliance Group, no Access Person may execute opposing trades (buy/sell, sell/buy) in a covered security within sixty (60) calendar days. Trades made in violation of this prohibition are subject to being unwound. Otherwise, any profit realized on such short-term trades shall be subject to disgorgement to a charity or to a client if appropriate at the discretion of the Compliance Group.
Updated as of January 2016 10
An Access Person wishing to execute a short-term trade must request an exception when entering the Pre-Clearance request.
E. OLD MUTUAL STOCK OR OTHER AFFILIATE STOCK
FOR CLIENTS:
Acadian is restricted from purchasing or recommending the purchase or sale of Old Mutual stock or any Old Mutual affiliate stock ("OMAM securities") on behalf of our clients.
FOR ACCESS PERSONS:
Acadian Access Persons, Supervised Persons, or their immediate family members may invest in OMAM securities. To reduce the risk that such investment might be found to have resulted from insider trading or another violation of securities laws, Old Mutual has established a policy setting forth when trading in OMAM securities is not permitted or appropriate. This Policy applies to all Acadian Access Persons, Supervised Persons, or their immediate family members.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS/PROHIBITIONS OF OLD MUTUAL'S POLICY:
o Prohibits trading in any OMAM securities when in possession of material, nonpublic information ("MNPI")
o Prohibits communicating MNPI to any third-party unless for legitimate purposes.
o Prohibits engaging in any transaction involving any OMAM securities during a blackout period. Blackout periods will be communicated to Acadian compliance.
o Prohibits engaging in short sales of OMAM securities or trading in naked options.
o Requires obtaining PRE-CLEARANCE FROM OM(US)H COMPLIANCE prior to trading in any OMAM security.
Please send your pre-clearance request to Acadian compliance and we will facilitate on your behalf with OM(US)H Compliance.
Old Mutual is responsible for providing Acadian with an updated list of publicly traded affiliated companies. Any updates will be available through the Compliance Group.
F. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS REQUIRING PRE-CLEARANCE
With limited exceptions noted in section G below, discretionary transactions executed by an Access Person in the following covered securities must be "pre-cleared" with the Compliance Group in accordance with the procedures outlined herein prior to execution:
o any stock or corporate bond;
o ETFs and Depositary Receipts (e. g. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs);
o investment or futures contracts with the exception of currency;
o options or warrants to purchase or sell securities;
o limited partnerships meeting the SEC's definition of a "security" (including limited liability and other companies that are treated as partnerships for U. S. federal income tax purposes);
o UITs, foreign mutual funds, and closed-end investment companies;
o shares of open-end mutual funds that ARE advised or sub-advised by Acadian (unless in the Acadian 401K or deferred compensation plan),
Updated as of January 2016 11
o private investment funds (including Acadian managed commingled funds), hedge funds, and investment clubs.
Additional types of securities may be added to the pre-clearance requirements at the discretion of the Compliance Group as new types of securities are offered and traded in the market and/or Acadian's business changes.
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS Acadian as a firm typically does not participate in initial public offerings (IPO). Access Persons must pre-clear for their personal accounts purchases of any securities in an IPO. Acadian will maintain a written record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the personal acquisition of an IPO for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval was granted. Before granting such approval, Acadian will evaluate such investment to determine that the investment creates no material conflict between the Access Person and Acadian. Acadian may consider approving the transaction if it can determine that: (i) the investment did not result from directing the Firm's brokerage business to the underwriter of the issuer of the security, (ii) the Access Person is not misappropriating an opportunity that should have been offered to eligible clients, and (iii) the Access Person's investment decisions for clients will not be unduly influenced by his or her personal holdings, and investment decisions are based solely on the best interests of clients.
LIMITED OR PRIVATE OFFERINGS Access Persons must pre-clear for their personal accounts purchases or sales of any securities in limited or private offerings (commonly referred to as private placements). Acadian will maintain a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision to approve the personal acquisition of a private placement for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval was granted. Before granting such approval, Acadian will evaluate such investment to determine that the investment creates no material conflict between the Access Person and Acadian. Acadian may consider approving the transaction if it can determine that: (i) the investment did not result from directing the Firm's brokerage business to the underwriter of the issuer of the security, (ii) the Access Person is not misappropriating an opportunity that should have been offered to eligible clients, and (iii) the Access Person's investment decisions for clients will not be unduly influenced by his or her personal holdings, and investment decisions are based solely on the best interests of clients. Access Persons are permitted to invest in private offerings offered and/or managed by Acadian provided they meet the investment qualifications of the particular investment.
Investment accounts established through your employment with Acadian, including your 401K account and any deferred compensation account, are reportable accounts but are exempt from the requirements to pre-clear trades. Notwithstanding, if any of the holdings in these accounts are in "affiliated" funds you must report any holdings on your year-end holdings report. For example, this would include the required reporting of any affiliate-managed fund in the deferred compensation plan as well as in the 401K plan.
G. EXCEPTIONS SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN ACCOUNT AND TRANSACTION TYPES:
1. Transactions occurring within investment accounts in which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control over the transactions do not require preclearance, are not subject to blackout or holding period restrictions, and do not require reporting on holding reports provided the following conditions are met:
o The account is disclosed to a compliance officer before trading commences and the compliance officer is provided with necessary documentation to confirm that the Access Person will not have direct or indirect influence over transactions in the account; and
o The Access Person and/or the investment manager for the account provides written confirmation periodically at the request of a compliance officer that the
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Access Person did not have any direct or indirect influence on any of the transactions executed in the account.
Examples of such accounts include accounts where the Access Person has granted to a broker, dealer, trust officer or other third party non-Access Person full discretion to execute transactions on behalf of the Access Person without consultation or Access Person input or direction (an example would be Managed Accounts and the party directing the transaction has utilized such discretion).
2. Transactions occurring within a reported investment account that are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan or a pre-established dollar cost averaging type contribution plan do not require preclearance, are not subject to blackout or holding period restrictions, and do not require reporting on holding reports.
3. The following transactions in covered securities within a reported investment account are exempt from the Code's pre-clearance, blackout and short-term trading requirements but must be disclosed on year-end holding reports:
a. purchases or sales that are involuntary on the part of the Access Person
b. purchases or sales within Acadian's 401k or deferred compensation plans
c. purchases or sales effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of our securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired
d. purchases or sales of currencies and interest rate instruments or futures or options on them
e. purchases or sales of municipal, Government Sponsored Entities (GSE) and agency bond
f. purchases or sales of commodity futures
The Code sets forth standards of business conduct that we require of our Access Persons. Access Persons should maintain the highest ethical standards in carrying out Acadian's business activities. Acadian's reputation is one of our most important assets. Maintaining the trust and confidence of clients is a vital responsibility. This section sets forth Acadian's business conduct standards.
A. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Each Access Person must comply with all laws and regulations applicable to our business, including all securities laws, and all firm policies and procedures including, but not limited to, those found in thisCode of Ethics, the Compliance Manual, the IT Security Policy, and the Human Resources Manual. Access Persons are not permitted to:
a. engage in any act, practice, or course of conduct that operates or would operate as a fraud, deceit, or manipulative practice upon any person;
b. make false or misleading statements, spread rumors, or fail to disclose material facts;
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c. engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price or market manipulation; or
d. utilize or transmit to others "inside" information as more fully described herein.
B. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
As a fiduciary, Acadian has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty and good faith to act in the best interests of our clients. Compliance with this duty can be achieved by trying to avoid conflicts of interest, including those between personal and Acadian related activities, and by fully disclosing all material facts concerning any conflict that does arise with respect to any client. Client specific conflicts are reviewed and addressed directly with the individual client. We conduct an ongoing review for actual and potential conflicts that may be systemic to Acadian and our processes. We disclose these conflicts as part of our Compliance Manual, which is typically updated annually, as well as in Form ADV, Part 2A, which is updated and delivered annually to each client. Examples of certain conflicts related to the Code include:
1. CONFLICTS AMONG CLIENT INTERESTS. Conflicts of interest may arise where Acadian or our Access Persons have reason to favor the interests of one client over another client (e.g., larger accounts over smaller accounts, accounts compensated by performance fees over accounts not so compensated, accounts in which Access Persons have made material personal investments, or accounts of close friends or relatives of Access Persons, etc.). Access Persons are prohibited from engaging in inappropriate favoritism of one client over another client.
2. COMPETING WITH CLIENT TRADES. As referenced in the section on Personal Transactions, an Access Person is prohibited from engaging in any securities transactions on the day Acadian trades in the security on behalf of a client and any other transaction that would result in a material negative impact to a client.
3. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INTEREST. Access Persons are prohibited from recommending, implementing or considering any securities transaction for a client without having first disclosed to the Compliance Group any material beneficial ownership, business or personal relationship, or other material interest in the issuer. A member of the Compliance Group will analyze the conflict and determine the appropriate course of action including potential recusal of the Access Person from the decision of the placement of the security at issue on a no-buy list.
4. REFERRALS/BROKERAGE. Access Persons are required to act in the best interests of our clients regarding execution and other costs paid by clients for brokerage services. As part of this principle, Access Persons will strictly adhere to Acadian's policies and procedures regarding brokerage allocation, best execution, soft dollars and other related policies. Access Persons should refrain from undertaking personal investment transactions with the same individual employee at a broker-dealer firm with whom Acadian conducts business for our clients.
5. VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS. Each Access Person is required to disclose any personal investments or other interests in vendors or suppliers with respect to which that person negotiates or makes decisions on behalf of Acadian. Access Persons with such interests are prohibited from negotiating or making decisions regarding Acadian's business with those companies.
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C. MARKET MANIPULATION
Access Persons are prohibited from making any statements or taking any action intended to manipulate the price of a security or the market for a security. Manipulative conduct includes the creation or spreading of false rumors or other information intended to influence the price of a security. Access Persons are advised to ensure any statement that they may make in a public forum is true, accurate, and not misleading. This includes any statements that you may make independent of your employment with Acadian or beyond your authority as an Acadian employee, including via any personal blogs, websites or chat rooms.
Please note that Acadian policies currently prohibit all employees from conducting Acadian related investment business via personal email or through social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) sites.
D. INSIDER TRADING
As a general rule, it is against the law to buy or sell any securities while in possession of material, non-public information relevant to that security (sometimes called "inside information"), or to communicate such information to others who trade on the basis of such information (commonly known as "tipping"). Information is "material" as to a security if a reasonable investor would consider the information significant in deciding whether to buy, hold or sell the security, i.e., any information that might affect the price of the security. Material information can be positive or negative and can relate to virtually any aspect of the Company's business.
Access Persons are prohibited from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, while in possession of material non-public information and from communicating material non-public information to others in violation of the law. This specifically includes personally trading or informing others of the securities held in a client portfolio or transactions contemplated on behalf of any client.
INSIDER TRADING - MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION.
The term "material non-public information" relates not only to issuers but may also include Acadian's AUM, internal information, securities recommendations and client securities holdings and transactions. Information is "material" when there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions. Generally, this is information the disclosure of which will have a substantial effect on the price of a company's securities. Examples of events or developments that should be presumed to be "material" with respect to Acadian's activities and not to be discussed outside Acadian would be:
o knowledge of a trend in revenues, earnings, or assets under management not yet fully disclosed to the public (Acadian AUM must not be released to the public until SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS after each month end);
o acquisition, material loss, or regulatory action;
o material change in the number of clients;
o significant legal exposure due to actual, pending or threatened litigation;
o a purchase or sale of substantial assets;
o changes in senior management or other major personnel changes; and
o changes in our auditors or a notification from its auditors that we may no longer rely on the auditor's audit report.
These examples are illustrative only; many other types of information may be considered "material," depending on the circumstances. The materiality of particular information is subject to reassessment on a regular basis. Information is "non-public" as to a security until it has been effectively communicated to the marketplace through a press release or other appropriate news media and enough time has elapsed to permit the investment market to absorb and evaluate the
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information. In many cases, this process may require the passage of several trading days after any initial disclosure. If there can be any doubt whatsoever as to whether information has been effectively communicated to the marketplace, such information should be considered non-public until such time as there is no doubt. You should direct any questions about whether information is material to the Compliance Group.
INSIDER TRADING - PENALTIES
Both the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") are very effective at detecting and pursuing insider trading cases and they have aggressively prosecuted insider traders and tippers. Any person who engages in insider trading or tipping can face a substantial jail term (up to 20 years), civil penalties of up to three times the profit gained (or loss avoided) by that person and/or his or her "tippee," and criminal fines of up to $5,000,000. In addition, if it is found that the Company failed to take appropriate steps to prevent insider trading, the Company may be subject to significant criminal fines and civil penalties of up to $1,000,000 or, if greater, three times the profit gained (or loss avoided) as a result of the insider trading.
You may also be sued by those seeking to recover damages for insider trading violations. Regardless of whether a government inquiry occurs, Acadian views seriously any violation of our insider trading policies, and such violations constitute grounds for disciplinary sanctions, including immediate dismissal and reporting to legal and regulatory authorities.
BEFORE EXECUTING ANY TRADE FOR YOURSELF OR OTHERS, INCLUDING CLIENTS, AN ACCESS PERSON MUST DETERMINE WHETHER HE OR SHE HAS ACCESS TO MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION.
If you think that you might have access to material non-public information, you should take the following steps:
1. report the information and proposed trade immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer.
2. do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others, including clients.
3. do not communicate the information inside or outside Acadian, other than to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.
E. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
1. GENERAL STATEMENT
A conflict of interest occurs when the personal interests of Access Persons interfere or could potentially interfere with their responsibilities to Acadian and our clients. Access Persons may not accept inappropriate gifts, favors, entertainment, special accommodations or other things of material value that could influence their decision-making or make them feel beholden to a person or firm. Access Persons are expressly prohibited from letting gifts, gratuities or entertainment influence their selection of any broker, dealer or vendor for Acadian business. Similarly, Access Persons may not offer gifts, favors, entertainment or other things of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making a client feel beholden to Acadian or the Access Person.
2. GIFTS
a. RECEIPT - No Access Person may receive gifts totaling more than de minimis value ($100 per calendar year) from any PERSON OR ENTITY that does business with or on behalf of Acadian. For example, regardless of the number of employees at XYZ
Updated as of January 2016 16
broker who provide a gift, the aggregate value of the gifts that can be accepted by an employee from all individuals associated with XYZ broker is $100.
Access Persons are expressly prohibited from soliciting any gift.
b. OFFER -- No Access Person may give or offer any gift of more than de minimis value ($100 per year) to existing clients or prospective clients. Access Persons may not give gifts if the intent is to retain or gain business. In certain countries in which we may conduct business, the offer of a gift may be a cultural norm. In such cases, it may be permissible to exceed the de minimis value provided the gift is reasonable in value and has been approved by a Senior Manager.
GIFTS TO ERISA, TAFT-HARTLEY, AND PUBLIC PLAN CLIENTS AND
PROSPECTS
Regulations relating to the investment management of ERISA, state or municipal pension funds, and Taft-Hartley clients often severely restrict or prohibit the offer of gifts of any value to their representatives. The Compliance Group should be consulted prior to providing any type of gift of any value to such clients or prospects as restrictions vary and many require detailed reporting be provided of such activity both by Acadian as provider and by the recipient. It is also advisable as a best practice to consult with the intended recipient before making such an offer.
3. CASH - No Access Person may give or accept cash gifts or cash equivalents to or from a client or prospective client or any other entity that conducts investment related business with or on behalf of Acadian.
4. ENTERTAINMENT - No Access Person may provide or accept extravagant or excessive entertainment to or from a client, prospective client, or any person or entity that does or seeks to do investment related business with or on behalf of Acadian. Access Persons may provide or accept an occasional business entertainment event, at a venue where business is typically discussed, such as dinner or a sporting event, of reasonable value, provided that the person or a representative of the entity providing the entertainment is present.
Written pre-approval from an Access Person's supervisor is required prior to accepting any entertainment if the anticipated value of the entertainment offered to the Access Person is reasonably expected to exceed $500.
Access Persons are expressly prohibited from soliciting any entertainment.
ENTERTAINMENT TO ERISA, TAFT-HARTLEY AND PUBLIC PLAN CLIENTS AND
PROSPECTS
Regulations relating to the investment management of ERISA, state or municipal pension funds, and Taft-Hartley clients often severely restrict or prohibit the offer of entertainment of any value (Including coffee, meals, drinks etc.) to their representatives. The Compliance Group should be consulted prior to providing any type of entertainment of any value to such clients or prospects as restrictions vary and many require detailed reporting be provided of such activity both by Acadian as provider and by the recipient. It is also advisable as a best practice to consult with the intended recipient before making such an offer.
5. DETAILED EXPENSE REPORTS REQUIRED FOR GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
For all gifts and entertainment purchased for or provided to a client or prospect, make certain that the expense report submitted for reimbursement clearly discloses what was provided, the names of each individual recipient, and the organization that each recipient represented. Appropriate supporting receipts
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must be provided. Certain ERISA, public plan clients, and Taft-Hartley plan clients require that we provide detailed gift and entertainment reports related to their representatives.
6. CONFERENCES -- Employee attendance at all third-party sponsored industry conferences is subject to supervisor approval. If the conference involves potential clients, prospects, or consultants, and Acadian's attendance at the conference will be paid for by the host or a third party (including conference fee, travel and lodging as examples), this should be disclosed prior to attendance to the Compliance Group. The Compliance Group will review, among other factors, the purpose of the conference, the conference agenda, and the proposed costs that will be paid or reimbursed by the third party. With the exception of the need to obtain prior supervisor approval, the above guidance does not apply to Old Mutual sponsored and hosted conferences.
It is against Acadian policy to sponsor or pay to attend any conference where our payment is a primary consideration of whether we will be awarded business from any client or prospective client who may be in attendance.
7. QUARTERLY REPORTING -- Acadian will require all Access Persons to report any gifts or entertainment received on a quarterly basis. Gifts and entertainment provided will be monitored through the periodic review of expense reports.
F. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE PAY-TO-PLAY RULE REQUIREMENTS
Acadian as a firm is prohibited from making political contributions. Political contributions requested by a client or prospect will be prohibited as these may be deemed as an attempt to retain or win business.
Rule 206(4)-5 (the "Rule") under the Advisers Act seeks to curtail "pay to play" practices by investment advisers that provide advisory services to a state or local government entity or to an investment pool in which a state or local governmental entity invests.
There are three key elements of the Rule:
(i) a two-year "time-out" from receiving compensation for providing advisory services to certain government entities after certain political contributions are made,
(ii) a prohibition on soliciting contributions and payments, and
(iii) a prohibition from paying third parties for soliciting government clients.
For purposes of the Code and the Rule, an "OFFICIAL" is any person (including any election committee for the person) who was, at the time of the contribution, an incumbent, candidate or successful candidate for elective office of a government entity, if the office: (i) is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an investment adviser by a government entity, or (ii) has authority to appoint any person who is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of an investment adviser by a government entity.
A "GOVERNMENT ENTITY" includes all state and local governments, their agents, and instrumentalities, as well as all public pension plans and other collective government funds, including participant-directed plans such as 403(b), 457, and 529 plans. These entities are typically pension plans that are separate legal entities from state and local governments, but have elected officials as board members.
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To ensure Acadian complies with the Rule, all Acadian Access Persons will be required to adhere to the following procedures:
1. Submit a written pre-approval form to the Compliance Group and receive compliance approval prior to making any political contribution to an "official" (includes incumbents, candidates, and committees as defined above) of a "government entity", regardless of contribution amount.
2. Submit quarter--end and year-end reports of all political contributions made to any official of a government entity.
3. A prohibition from directly or indirectly soliciting political contributions on behalf of any official of a government entity if such individual can directly or indirectly influence the investment advisory business or from soliciting payments to a political party of a state or locality where the investment adviser is providing or seeking to provide investment advisory services to a government entity. Pursuant to this provision, Access Persons are prohibited from:
o indirectly making political contributions to politicians through, for example, spouses, lawyers or affiliated companies;
o "bundling" a large number of small employee contributions to influence an election in the state or locality in which the Investment Adviser is seeking business;
o soliciting contributions from professional service providers;
o consenting to the use of Acadian's name on fundraising literature for a candidate; and
o sponsoring a meeting or conference which features an official as an attendee or guest speaker and which involves fundraising for the official (and, in this case, expenses incurred by the Access Person for hosting the event (such as the cost of the facility or refreshments, or reimbursement of any of the official's expenses for the event) would be a contribution by the Investment Adviser, thereby triggering the two-year "time-out" provisions of the Rule).
4. A prohibition on paying any non-regulated third party for soliciting advisory business from U. S. based government clients on our behalf.
Failure of each Access Person to adhere to the requirements of the Rule could result in Acadian being prohibited from receiving compensation from a government entity for a period of two-years from the date of the contribution.
ANTI-BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION POLICY AND RISKS RELATED TO EMPLOYEE ACTS INCLUDING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND GIFTS/ENTERTAINMENT
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the "FCPA") prohibits corrupt payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or keeping business. The person making or authorizing the payment must have a corrupt intent, and the payment must be intended to induce the recipient to misuse his official position to direct business wrongfully to the payer or to any other person. You should note that the FCPA does not require that a corrupt act succeed in its purpose. The offer or promise of a corrupt payment can constitute a violation of the statute. The FCPA prohibits any corrupt payment intended to influence any act or decision of a foreign official in his or her official capacity, to induce the official to do or omit to do any act in violation of his or her lawful duty, to obtain any improper advantage, or to induce a foreign official to use his or her influence improperly to affect or influence any act or decision. The FCPA prohibits paying, offering, promising to pay (or authorizing to pay or offer) money or anything of value. The prohibition extends only to corrupt payments to a foreign official, a foreign political party or
Updated as of January 2016 19
party official, or any candidate for foreign political office. A "foreign official" means any officer or employee of a foreign government, a public international organization, or any department or agency thereof, or any person acting in an official capacity.
Obligations imposed on Acadian employees go further than compliance with the FCPA. Bribery and corrupt business practices create unfair markets, erode public trust and stifle long-term economic development and are contrary to Acadian's values. Bribery or corruption in any manner or for any purpose or benefit will not be tolerated and any such action by an employee or the firm is strictly prohibited. Acadian employees must be committed to ethical and legal business conduct and must:
o Act legally and with integrity at all times to safeguard its staff members, resources, tangible and intangible assets, and our reputation;
o Create and maintain a trust-based and inclusive internal culture in which bribery and corruption are not tolerated;
o Conduct all business relationships in an ethical and lawful manner; and
o Cooperate fully with law enforcement and regulators locally within the bounds of local legislation.
Employees who deliberately breach the policy will be subject to disciplinary action, potentially leading to dismissal.
All Acadian employees are expected to act legally, ethically, and with integrity at all times to safeguard our employees, resources, assets and reputation. All employees must closely adhere to the gift and entertainment and the political contributions policies and procedures described herein. Any suspicions of bribery or corruption should be reported in accordance with the Whistleblowing policy set out in this Code. Acadian and all Acadian employees are expected to cooperate fully with any law enforcement or regulatory inquiry into any bribery or corruption allegation.
G. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Although Acadian encourages our Access Persons to be charitable, no donations should be made or should appear to have been made for the purpose of obtaining or retaining client business. No donations should be made in the name of any client if such a donation would result in a violation of the client's ethical requirements. This is typically the case with state and municipal clients.
Any request from a client or prospect for a charitable donation should be brought to the attention of a Compliance Officer. Any charitable donation made in response to a client or prospect request should be nominal as not to appear to have been made to obtain or retain the business and should be done in accordance with Acadian's charitable giving policies.
H. CONFIDENTIALITY
Access Persons have the highest fiduciary obligation to protect and keep confidential at all times sensitive non-public information related to our clients, prospects, Access Persons, and the firm. Please also refer to your obligations to protect information from disclosure under Insider Trading and Regulation FD sections of this Code. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:
a. any prospect or client's identity (unless the client consents), any information regarding a client's financial circumstances, business practices, or advice furnished to a client by Acadian;
Updated as of January 2016 20
b. information on specific client accounts, including recent or impending securities transactions by clients and activities of the portfolio managers for client accounts;
c. specific information on Acadian's investments for clients (including former clients) and prospective clients and account transactions and holdings;
d. information on other Access Persons, including their social security numbers, financial account information and account numbers, compensation, benefits, position level and performance rating; and
e. information on Acadian's assets under management, business activities, including new services, products, research, technologies, investment process, and business initiatives, unless disclosure has been authorized by Acadian.
Access Persons should not access information on any client, prospect, or employee that is not required to perform their specific job functions. Access Persons should not discuss or release any non-public information that they may be authorized to access and view to any internal party or external party unless that party has a compelling business need to receive the information.
Access Persons should be sensitive to the problem of inadvertent or accidental disclosure, through careless conversation in a public place or the failure to safeguard papers and documents. Documents and papers should be kept in appropriately marked file folders and locked in file cabinets when appropriate. Any confidential information that must be transmitted over email or via the internet should also be protected in accordance with Acadian's IT Security Policy.
I. SERVICE ON A BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Prior to accepting a position as an officer, director, trustee, partner, or Controlling person in any other company or business venture not related to Acadian, or as a member of an investment organization (e.g., an investment club), Access Persons must disclose the position to the Compliance Group.
While the disclosure of Board membership or service on a charitable/non-profit organization is generally not required, disclosure and pre-approval would be required if your service involved participation on the finance, treasury, or investment committees or their functional roles or equivalents. Acadian may place specific restrictions on such service.
Each Board position should also be disclosed to the Compliance Group at least annually. Notice of such positions may be given to a compliance officer of any Fund advised or sub-advised by the Company.
As a firm policy, Acadian will restrict from our potential investment universe, and will not invest in or recommend client investment in, any publicly traded company for which an Acadian employee serves as a Board member.
J. PARTNERSHIPS
Any non-Acadian related non-investment partnership or similar arrangement, either participated in or formulated by an Access Person, should be disclosed to the Compliance Group prior to formation, or if already in existence at the time of employment, as part of New Hire reporting. Any such partnership interest should also be disclosed to the Compliance Group at least annually. Investment partnerships such as participating as a passive "partner" in a hedge fund would require pre-clearance and reporting on holdings reports.
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K. OTHER OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
Access Persons may not engage in outside business interests or employment that could in any way materially conflict with the proper performance of their duties as Access Persons of Acadian. All Access Persons should inform their Department Supervisor and Human Resources prior to accepting any employment outside of Acadian if it had the potential of impacting or conflicting with their responsibilities to Acadian. Supervisors will involve the Compliance Group as needed.
L. MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Acadian has instituted policies and procedures relating to our creation and distribution of marketing, performance, advertising, and promotional materials to ensure compliance with relevant securities laws and GIPs. All oral and written statements made by Access Persons to the public, regardless of format or audience, must be professional, accurate, balanced and not misleading in any way.
M. AFFILIATED BROKER-DEALERS
Acadian has affiliated broker-dealers through the common ownership of our parent company and as a result of certain employees holding securities licenses. Acadian will not utilize the services of any of these firms to trade for the accounts of any firm client. Acadian will also abide by any restrictions imposed by a client regarding the use of any specific broker-dealer including those that may be an affiliate of a client.
Access Persons are expected to respond truthfully and accurately to all requests for information. With general exceptions as outlined below, any reports, statements or confirmations described herein, submitted through the SCT system, or created under this Code will be treated as confidential to the extent possible.
Access Persons should be aware that copies of such reports, statements or confirmations, or summaries of each, may be provided to their supervisors, to senior management, to Old Mutual's compliance, internal audit, legal or risk management teams, to compliance personnel and the Board of Directors of any registered investment company client, to outside counsel, and/or to regulatory authorities upon appropriate request. To the extent possible, efforts will be made to preserve the confidentiality of any personal information contained on any such report prior to providing is to the requesting party.
A. REPORTING OF ACCESS PERSON INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
All Access Persons are required to notify the Compliance Group in writing of any investment account in which he or she has direct or indirect beneficial interest in which a security can be purchased.
B. DUPLICATE STATEMENTS
Acadian's Compliance Group, in its discretion, will determine if the receipt of duplicate investment account statements for any Access Person's investment account will further enhance the Compliance Group's ability to oversee and enforce the Code.
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The purpose of receiving "duplicates" is to independently confirm Code compliance, especially as it relates to compliance with pre-clearance of trades, the blackout period, and reporting.
Duplicate investment account statements will typically be requested directly from the broker or adviser for any Access Person investment accounts where the Access Person exercises investment discretion over the account and has the ability to trade in covered securities including individual stocks, Acadian or affiliated managed funds, or other types of covered securities that may conflict with the type of investments Acadian makes for our clients.
Despite making such a request of a broker or adviser, we cannot guarantee a response. In such instances, the Compliance Group will make a determination if an alternative source of receiving statements should be pursued, including requesting statements directly from the Access Person.
Duplicate investment account statements are typically not requested or received for the following types of accounts:
o accounts in which individual stocks, bonds, Depositary Receipts, ETFs, and Acadian advised or sub-advised mutual funds cannot be purchased or sold;
o accounts where the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control over transactions in the account; and
o Acadian's 401K and deferred compensation plan accounts.
C. PRE-CLEARANCE OF PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
All Access Persons must strictly comply with Acadian's policies and procedures regarding personal securities transactions in covered securities including requesting pre-clearance before trading in a covered security.
PRE-CLEARANCE APPROVAL IS TYPICALLY ONLY EFFECTIVE ON THE DAY GRANTED.
Pre-clearance requests, once granted, are only effective until the close of the market on which the "cleared" security trades. If the trade is not executed before market close on the day the pre-clearance was requested and granted, then the request would need to be re-submitted the following day. For example, pre-clearance requests granted on Monday in the U.S. for a security trading in the U.S. are effective until the close of U.S. markets that Monday.
One exception relates to the pre-clearance of a security trading on a foreign exchange. A request to trade a security trading on a foreign exchange made after close of the exchange but prior to the reopen of the exchange for the next trading day would be approved until the close of that foreign exchange on the next trading day.
No one, including the Chief Compliance Officer, is authorized to approve his or her own trades.
D. PRE-APPROVAL OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Each Acadian employee or consultant who is an Access Person must submit a pre-approval request to a member of the Compliance Group and receive compliance approval prior to making any political contribution to any "official" of a "government entity" regardless of contribution amount. Please refer to the Political Contributions section of the Code s for the definition of official, government entity, and additional details.
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E. QUARTERLY REPORTING
1. TRANSACTIONS
Within one month of each quarter end (i.e. end of April, July, October, and January) all Access Persons must submit a quarterly report to the Compliance Group to report either no reportable trading activity or all transactions involving covered securities in which they have direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership and the account in which the security was purchased or sold.
2. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Each Access Person must submit a report within one month of each quarter end (end of April , July, October, and January) to report any gifts or entertainment received from any person or organization doing or seeking to do business with Acadian. Supervisor approval is required on any form where there is something to report. A report is required even if there is nothing to report but supervisor approval on such report is not required.
3. PRIVATE INVESTMENTS
Within one month of each quarter end (end of April, July, October, and January) all Access Persons must submit a report to certify that they either have no private investments to report or attest to all pre-existing private investments including any that were acquired within the previous quarter.
4. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Each Access Person must submit a report within one month of each quarter end (end of April , July, October, and January) to report any political contributions made to any official of a government entity as defined in the Code. A signed report is required even if there is nothing to report.
F. ANNUAL REPORTING
By January 31 of each year, each Access Person must complete and submit a listing as of December 31 of the prior year of:
(1) each investment account in which they have a direct or indirect interest in which a security can be purchased;
(2) their investment holdings in covered securities (including a separate report for "private investments") including security name, share amount, price per share and principal amount;
(3) a listing of all non-Acadian and non-investment related directorships or partnerships in which they are involved; and
(4) a list of all political contributions made including candidate name, elected office, amount, and date.
(5) Any other reports requested by the Compliance Group specific to the Access Person.
Your year-end investment holdings report must contain ALL holdings in covered securities in ANY COVERED ACCOUNTS including those positions held in Acadian's 401K plan, and deferred compensation plan.
On an annual basis, each Access Person will also be required to provide certification of their receipt of the Code of Ethics and an acknowledgement of their obligation to comply with its requirements.
Updated as of January 2016 24
G. NEW HIRE REPORTING New Access Persons are required to file the following attestations within TEN (10) BUSINESS DAYS of their hire date: a. Initial Affirmation acknowledging receipt of and compliance with the Code. |
b. Initial Report of Reportable Investment Accounts.
c. Initial Report of Securities Holdings.
d. Access Person Partnership Involvement Relationship Report.
e. Access Person Report of Director/Relationship Involvement.
f. Access Person Report of Political Contributions for prior two years from hire date.
H. REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT OF PERSONAL TRANSACTION COMPLIANCE AND GENERAL CODE COMPLIANCE
The Compliance Group will periodically review personal securities transactions reports and other reports submitted by Access Persons. The review may include, but not limited to, the following:
a. An assessment of whether the Access Person followed the Code and any required internal procedures, such as pre-clearance, including the comparison of "Pre- clearance" submissions to any account statements that may have been received from brokers, advisers or other sources;
b. Comparison of personal trading to any blackout period;
c. An assessment of whether the Access Person and Acadian are trading in the same securities and, if so, whether clients are receiving terms as favorable as the Access Person;
d. Periodically analyzing the Access Person's trading for patterns that may indicate potential compliance issues including front running, excessive or short term trading or market timing; and
e. Any pattern of trading or activity raising the appearance that the Access Person may be taking advantage of their position at Acadian.
Before any determination is made that a code violation has been committed by an Access Person, the Access Person will have the opportunity to supply additional explanatory material. If the Chief Compliance Officer initially determines that a material violation has occurred, he will prepare a written summary of the occurrence, together with all supporting information/documentation including any explanatory material provided by the Access Person, and present the situation to Acadian's Compliance and Risk Committee, and, if the CCO and Committee deem it necessary, to the Acadian Executive Committee or Board of Managers. Depending on the incident, Old Mutual's Legal and Compliance groups may become involved as well as outside counsel for evaluation and recommendation for resolution.
Acadian's CCO reports all Code violations and their resolution, regardless of materiality, to Acadian's Compliance and Risk Committee at least quarterly. Further, if the CCO and the Committee deem it necessary, a Code violation may also be reported to the Acadian Executive Committee, the Board of Managers, and the Board of Directors of any U.S. registered investment company for which Acadian acts as adviser or sub-adviser.
I. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE
1. INITIAL CERTIFICATION. Compliance with the Code is a condition of hire and ongoing employment at Acadian. Each Access Person is provided with a copy of the Code when hired and receives training on the Code from a Compliance Officer. Acadian requires all Access Persons to certifythat they have: (a)
Updated as of January 2016 25
received a copy of the Code; (b) read and understand all provisions of the Code; and (c) agreed to comply with the terms of the Code.
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS. Acadian will provide Access Persons with any material amendments to our Code and Access Persons will submit an acknowledgement that they have received, read, and understood the amendments to the Code. Acadian and members of our compliance staff will make every attempt to bring important changes to the attention of Access Persons.
3. ANNUAL CERTIFICATION. All Access Persons and supervised persons are required annually to certify that they have received, read, understood, and complied with the Code.
Acadian has certain disclosure obligations to our clients and regulators. Each Access Person has an immediate and ongoing obligation to notify a Compliance Officer if any of the responses to the questions listed below are "yes" or become "yes" at anytime.
(1) In the past ten years, have you:
(a) been convicted of or plead guilty to nolo contendere ("no contest") in a domestic, foreign, or military court to any felony?
(b) been charged with any felony?
(2) In the past ten years, have you:
(a) been convicted of or plead guilty or nolo contendere ("no contest")
in a domestic, foreign or military court to a misdemeanor involving:
investments or an investment related business, or any fraud, false
statements, or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery,
perjury, forgery, counterfeiting, extortion, or a conspiracy to commit
any of these offenses?
(b) been charged with a misdemeanor listed in 2(a)?
3. Has the SEC or the Commodity Futures trading Association (CFTC) ever:
(a) found you to have made a false statement or omission?
(b) found you to have been involved in a violation of SEC or CFTC regulations or statutes?
(c) found you to have been a cause of an investment related business having its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?
(d) entered an order against you in connection with investment related activity?
(e) imposed a civil money penalty on you or ordered you to cease and desist from any activity?
4. Has any other federal regulatory agency, any state regulatory agency, or any foreign financial regulatory authority:
Updated as of January 2016 26
(a) ever found you to have made a false statement or omission, or been dishonest, unfair, or unethical?
(b) ever found you to have been involved in a violation of investment related regulations or statutes?
(c) ever found you to have been a cause of an investment related business having its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?
(d) in the past ten years, entered an order against you in connection with an investment related activity?
(e) ever denied, suspended, revoked or otherwise prevented you from associating with an investment related business?
5. Has any self-regulatory organization or commodities exchange ever:
(a) found you to have made a false statement or omission?
(b) found you to have been involved in a violation of its rules?
(c) found you to have been the cause of an investment related business having its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?
(d) disciplined you by barring or suspending you from association with other advisers or otherwise restricting your activities?
6. Has the authorization to act as an attorney, accountant, or federal contractor granted to you ever been revoked or suspended?
7. Are you the subject of any regulatory proceeding?
8. Has any domestic or foreign court:
(a) in the past ten years, enjoined you in connection with any investment related activity?
(b) ever found that you were involved in a violation of investment related statutes or regulations?
(c) ever dismissed, pursuant to a settlement agreement, an investment related civil action brought against you by a state or foreign financial regulatory authority?
9. Are you now the subject of any civil proceeding that could result in a "yes" answer to item 8 above?
Acadian will maintain the following records pertaining to the Code in a readily accessible place:
o A copy of each Code that has been in effect at any time during the past five years;
o A record of any violation of the Code and any action taken as a result of such violation for five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred;
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o A record of all acknowledgements of receipt of the Code and amendments for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, an Access Person (these records must be kept for five years after the individual ceases to be an Access Person of Acadian);
o Holdings and transactions reports made pursuant to the Code;
o A list of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, Access Persons;
o A record of any decision and supporting reasons for approving the acquisition of covered securities by Access Persons including IPOs and limited offerings for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which approval was granted;
o A record of persons responsible for reviewing Access Persons' reports currently or during the last five years; and
o A copy of reports provided to the Board of Directors of any U. S. registered management investment company for which Acadian acts as adviser or sub-adviser regarding the Code.
Acadian will include on Schedule F of Form ADV, Part 2A a description of Acadian's Code and a description of conflicts identified with our investment process and operations. We will deliver a copy of Form ADV, Part 2A to each client annually and will provide a copy of our Code to any client or prospective client upon request.
RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE RULES
Access Persons are responsible for their actions under the law and are therefore required to be sufficiently familiar with applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations to avoid violating them. Claimed ignorance of any rule or regulation or of any requirement under this Code or any other Acadian policy or procedure is not a defense for employee misconduct.
A. EXCESSIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE TRADING
Acadian understands that it is appropriate for Access Persons to participate in the public securities markets as part of their overall personal investment programs. As in other areas, however, this should be done in a way that limits potential conflicts with the interests of any client account. Further, it is important to recognize that otherwise appropriate trading, if excessive (measured in terms of frequency, complexity of trading programs, numbers of trades, or other measures as deemed appropriate by the Compliance Group), may compromise the best interests of any client if such excessive trading is conducted during the workday or using Acadian resources. Accordingly, if personal trading rises to such dimension as to create an environment that is not consistent with the Code, such personal transactions may be brought to the attention of the Access Person's supervisor and may not be approved or may be limited by the Compliance Group.
Updated as of January 2016 28
B. TRAINING AND EDUCATION
NEW HIRES
Employment at Acadian is contingent upon compliance with the Code. Each new hire receives a copy of the Code and must complete an affirmation of receipt and understanding. A member of the Compliance Group will meet with each new hire within their first week of employment to review the Code and to respond to any questions.
ANNUAL
Mandatory annual Code training is required for all Access Persons. This training will be developed and led if in person by members of the Compliance Group and will reinforce key sections of the Code as well as any other hot button areas as determined by business changes or regulatory focus.
C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND COMPLIANCE AND RISK COMMITTEE APPROVAL
The Code will be submitted to Acadian's Executive Committee, as representatives of the Board of Managers, annually for approval. Any material amendments will also be sent to the Executive Committee for approval. Such approvals will also be obtained from the Compliance and Risk Committee.
D. REPORT TO THE BOARD(S) OF INVESTMENT COMPANY CLIENTS
At the frequency requested and in compliance with Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, Acadian will comply with any reporting requirements imposed by the Board of Directors of each of our U.S. registered investment company clients as well as any other reporting related to our Code requested by any client. A copy of our Code is provided to clients and prospects upon request. Reports typically provided to Fund Board's include a description of any issues arising under the Code since the last report, information about material violations of the Code, sanctions imposed in response to such violations, and any material changes made to the Code. Acadian will also provide reports when requested certifying that we have adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the code.
E. REPORT TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT
The Chief Compliance Officer will provide a report on a quarterly basis to Acadian's Compliance and Risk Committee noting any violations of the Code. Any material violations will be escalated promptly.
F. REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND WHISTLEBLOWING PROTECTIONS
Acadian is committed to fostering an environment of ethical and fair business conduct that requires all employees to act honestly and with integrity at all times. Employees are required to report to the Chief Compliance Officer or a senior manager all potential instances of serious malpractice, material violations of company policies, and material violations of the Code. Employees are required to cooperate fully with any and all investigations into such matters. Failure to adhere to these policies will be considered a violation of the Code and will subject the employee to disciplinary action including the potential for termination of employment.
Good faith reports of such potentially serious or material violations may be made without fear of retribution either directly to the Chief Compliance Officer or on a confidential basis via either a written statement in a sealed envelope or in any other way the Access Person feels is necessary
Updated as of January 2016 29
to preserve his or her confidentiality. A report can also be made to the Old Mutual Fraud Hotline listed in the Fraud section below. These reports will be treated as confidential and the source of the report protected to the extent permitted by law provided that the "whistleblower" (1) genuinely believes that the knowledge or suspicions disclosed are true and relate to serious malpractice; and (2) that the communication is clear from the outset that a confidential "whistleblowing" disclosure is being made. All such reports will be investigated promptly and thoroughly and all legal requirements will be complied with.
G. FRAUD POLICY
All Acadian employees are expected to act legally, ethically, and with integrity at all times to safeguard our employees, resources, assets and reputation. The commission of a fraud of any kind is prohibited. Failure by any Acadian employee to comply with this policy could result in disciplinary action being taken against that individual.
For the purpose of the Code, fraud is defined as: "Any deliberate action or inaction involving dishonesty or deception, which may result in the diminution of client account or shareholder value, either through financial loss or reputational damage, whether or not there is personal benefit to the fraudster."
WHAT CONSTITUTES FRAUD?
The legal definition of fraud may vary depending on the legal statutes of the
various jurisdictions in which Acadian operates. In some jurisdictions, no
precise legal definition of fraud exists, although many of the offenses
referred to as fraud may be prohibited by local statute or be deemed criminal
offenses by local statute. The term is generally used to describe acts such as:
deception, bribery, forgery, extortion, corruption, theft, conspiracy,
embezzlement, misappropriation, false representation, concealment of material
facts and collusion. Some examples of fraud include, among others:
o Dishonest or fraudulent activities, such as embezzlement, deceit, collusion or conspiracy
o Bribery, corruption or abuse of office
o Theft
o Abuse or misuse of company property
o Deliberate misapplication or misappropriation of company funds or assets
o Deliberate or suspicious unacceptable loss of assets in the care of any member of OMAM
o Forgery or alteration of documents
o Making use of or knowingly possessing forged or falsified documents
o Providing false or misleading information
o Deliberate theft, sale or misuse of sensitive documentation or information
o Deliberate false creation of records within or unauthorized amendments to databases, administration systems and accounting records
o Targeted attempts to use technology/electronic communications to hack or breach security controls
o Intentional destruction (excepted as allowed per our Record Management Policy) or suspicious disappearance of records
o Concealment of material facts
o Deliberate intentional misapplication of accounting principles
o Any improper act, which may damage the reputation of OMAM or any of its members
o Any similar or related activity or irregularity
Fraud can be perpetrated internally by employees or contractors, externally by clients, intermediaries or other third parties.
Updated as of January 2016 30
Any individual who is unclear as to what may constitute an act of fraud should seek further guidance from his/her direct manager or from the Chief Compliance Officer as appropriate.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT FRAUD HAS BEEN COMMITTED?
All staff is encouraged to immediately report any fraud that is suspected or discovered. Any such activity should be reported initially to their immediate manager and/or the Chief Compliance Officer, except where either of those individuals is suspected of involvement.
Immediate managers are responsible for reporting all instances of suspected or discovered fraud to the Chief Compliance Officer who is responsible for escalating as required under relevant firm policy.
The reporting of suspected or known fraud may be made and will be investigated in accordance with the Whistleblowing policies described within the Code and, if made in good faith, will be protected from retaliation. Acadian respects the right of an individual to retain anonymity when reporting fraud using the contact information provided below:
Molly Mugler, SVP,General Counsel
617.369.7321 mmugler@oldmutualus.com
Old Mutual Fraud Hotline 855 326 9742 (in US) 0800 0285 010 (in UK)
Webform URL:
WWW.REPORTLINEWEB.COM/OLDMUTUALHOLDINGS
International Webform:
HTTPS://IWF.TNWGRC.COM/OLDMUTUALHOLDINGS
H. REGULATION FD
As an affiliate of OM Asset Management plc ("OMAM"),a publicly traded company, Acadian is committed to fair disclosure of information related to Acadian or OMAM that could influence the value of OMAM's securities and will not act to advantage any particular analyst or investor, consistent with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC's") Fair Disclosure Regulation ("Regulation FD").
OMAM will continue to provide current and potential investors with information reasonably required to make an informed decision on whether to invest in OMAM's securities, as required by law or as determined appropriate by OMAM management.
Acadian prohibits employees from making any disclosure of material nonpublic information about Acadian or OMAM to anyone outside Acadian (other than for business purposes to persons who first are obliged to maintain confidentiality with respect to such information) unless OMAM discloses it to the public at the same time in a manner consistent with Regulation FD. Examples of activities subject to this policy include:
o Quarterly earnings releases and related conference calls;
o Providing guidance as to OMAM's financial performance or results;
o Contact with financial analysts covering OMAM;
o Reviewing analyst reports and similar materials;
o Referring to or distributing analyst reports regarding OMAM;
o Analyst and investor visits;
o Speeches, interviews, seminars and conferences;
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o Responding to market rumors;
o Responding to media inquiries regarding financial or other material events; and
o Postings on Acadian's or OMAM's website.
DEFINITIONS OF "MATERIAL" AND "NONPUBLIC"
Information is "material" if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making an investment decision or it could reasonably be expected to have a substantial effect on the price of OMAM's securities. While it is not practical to compile an exhaustive list, information concerning any of the following items specific to Acadian or OMAM should be reviewed carefully to determine whether such information is, or is not, material:
o Earnings, including whether OMAM will or will not meet expectations;
o Changes in Acadian assets under management;
o Material change in the number of clients;
o Mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, joint ventures, or changes in assets under management;
o Acquisition or loss of an important client or contract;
o Changes in senior management;
o Changes in compensation policy;
o A change in auditors or auditor notification that Acadian or OMAM may no longer rely on an audit report;
o A change in an auditor's opinion with respect to Acadian's or OMAM's financial statements;
o The issuance by the auditors of a going concern qualification;
o Financings and other events regarding OMAM's securities (e. g. , defaults on debt securities, calls of securities for redemption, repurchase plans, stock splits, public or private sales of additional securities);
o Transactions with directors, officers or principal security holders;
o Regulatory approvals or changes in regulations and any analysis of how they affect OMAM; and o Significant litigation.
"Nonpublic" information is information that has not been previously disclosed to the general public by means of a press release, SEC filing or other media for broad public access. Disclosure to even a large group of analysts or stockholders does not constitute disclosure to the public.
I. SANCTIONS
Any violation of the Code may result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, a warning, fines, disgorgement, suspension, demotion, or termination of employment. In addition to sanctions, violations may result in referral to civil or criminal authorities where appropriate.
The following is a non-exclusive list of factors that will be considered when determining the appropriateness of any sanction related to a Code violation:
o What requirement was violated
o Client harm
o Frequency of occurences
o Evidence of willful or reckless disregard of the Code requirement
o Your honest and timely cooperation
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J. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CODE AND SUPPLEMENTS
Access Persons are encouraged to contact any member of the Compliance Group with any questions about permissible conduct under the Code.
Old Mutual's Anti-bribery and Corruption Risk Policy, Fraud Policy, Whistleblowing Arrangements and Sanctions Compliance policy are adopted as supplements to the Code.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER: SCOTT DIAS SENIOR COMPLIANCE OFFICER: CYNTHIA KELLY COMPLIANCE OFFICER: ALISON PEABODY COMPLIANCE OFFICER: KRISTIN WILL COMPLIANCE OFFICER: MICHAEL KELSEY |
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
Training on Code requirements will be provided by members of the Compliance Group. Additional training on firm policies may also be provided by members of the Human Resources Group.
Acadian's Compliance and Risk Committee, Executive Committee, and our Board of Managers are also responsible for Code implementation and enforcement.
All Access Persons will be subject to annual Code of Ethics training. A copy the Code and any amendments will be provided to all Access Persons and supervised persons annually along with a request for a written acknowledgment of receipt and compliance.
Do not hesitate to contact any member of the Compliance Group with questions by either emailing COMPLIANCE-REPORTING@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM or contacting one of the individuals below.
CKELLY@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM or x6837
APEABODY@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM or x6875
KWILL@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM or x6849
MKELSEY@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM or x3531
SDIAS@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM or x3519
A. CFA Institute Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct
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